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[1] THE MAN OUTSIDE By EVELYN E. SMITH Illustrated by DILLON [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction August 1957. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] No one, least of all Martin, could dispute that a man's life should be guarded by his kin—but by those who hadn't been born yet? [4] Nobody in the neighborhood was surprised when Martin's mother disappeared and Ninian came to take care of him. [5] Mothers had a way of disappearing around those parts and the kids were often better off without them. [6] Martin was no exception. [7] He'd never had it this good while he was living with his old lady. [8] As for his father, Martin had never had one. [9] He'd been a war baby, born of one of the tides of soldiers—enemies and allies, both—that had engulfed the country in successive waves and bought or taken the women. [10] So there was no trouble that way. [11] Sometimes he wondered who Ninian really was. [12] Obviously that story about her coming from the future was just a gag. [13] Besides, if she really was his great-great-grand-daughter, as she said, why would she tell him to call her " Aunt Ninian "? [14] Maybe he was only eleven, but he'd been around and he knew just what the score was. [15] At first he'd thought maybe she was some new kind of social worker, but she acted a little too crazy for that. [16] He loved to bait her, as he had loved to bait his mother. [17] It was safer with Ninian, though, because when he pushed her too far, she would cry instead of mopping up the floor with him. [18] "But I can't understand," he would say, keeping his face straight. [19] "Why do you have to come from the future to protect me against your cousin Conrad?" [20] "Because he's coming to kill you." [21] "Why should he kill me? [22] I ain't done him nothing." [23] Ninian sighed. [24] "He's dissatisfied with the current social order and killing you is part of an elaborate plan he's formulated to change it. [25] You wouldn't understand." [26] "You're damn right. [27] I don't understand. [28] What's it all about in straight gas?" [29] "Oh, just don't ask any questions," Ninian said petulantly. [30] "When you get older, someone will explain the whole thing to you." [31] So Martin held his peace, because, on the whole, he liked things the way they were. [32] Ninian really was the limit, though. [33] All the people he knew lived in scabrous tenement apartments like his, but she seemed to think it was disgusting. [34] "So if you don't like it, clean it up," he suggested. [35] She looked at him as if he were out of his mind. [36] "Hire a maid, then!" [37] he jeered. [38] And darned if that dope didn't go out and get a woman to come clean up the place! [39] He was so embarrassed, he didn't even dare show his face in the streets—especially with the women buttonholing him and demanding to know what gave. [40] They tried talking to Ninian, but she certainly knew how to give them the cold shoulder. [41] One day the truant officer came to ask why Martin hadn't been coming to school. [42] Very few of the neighborhood kids attended classes very regularly, so this was just routine. [43] But Ninian didn't know that and she went into a real tizzy, babbling that Martin had been sick and would make up the work. [44] Martin nearly did get sick from laughing so hard inside. [45] But he laughed out of the other side of his mouth when she went out and hired a private tutor for him. [46] A tutor—in that neighborhood! [47] Martin had to beat up every kid on the block before he could walk a step without hearing "Fancy Pants!" [48] yelled after him. [49] Ninian worried all the time. [50] It wasn't that she cared what these people thought of her, for she made no secret of regarding them as little better than animals, but she was shy of attracting attention. [51] There were an awful lot of people in that neighborhood who felt exactly the same way, only she didn't know that, either. [52] She was really pretty dumb, Martin thought, for all her fancy lingo. [53] "It's so hard to think these things out without any prior practical application to go by," she told him. [54] He nodded, knowing what she meant was that everything was coming out wrong. [55] But he didn't try to help her; he just watched to see what she'd do next. [56] Already he had begun to assume the detached role of a spectator. [57] When it became clear that his mother was never going to show up again, Ninian bought one of those smallish, almost identical houses that mushroom on the fringes of a city after every war, particularly where intensive bombing has created a number of desirable building sites. [58] "This is a much better neighborhood for a boy to grow up in," she declared. [59] "Besides, it's easier to keep an eye on you here." [60] And keep an eye on him she did—she or a rather foppish young man who came to stay with them occasionally. [61] Martin was told to call him Uncle Raymond. [62] From time to time, there were other visitors—Uncles Ives and Bartholomew and Olaf, Aunts Ottillie and Grania and Lalage, and many more—all cousins to one another, he was told, all descendants of his. [63] Martin was never left alone for a minute. [64] He wasn't allowed to play with the other kids in the new neighborhood. [65] Not that their parents would have let them, anyway. [66] The adults obviously figured that if a one-car family hired private tutors for their kid, there must be something pretty wrong with him. [67] So Martin and Ninian were just as conspicuous as before. [68] But he didn't tip her off. [69] She was grown up; she was supposed to know better than he did. [70] He lived well. [71] He had food to eat that he'd never dreamed of before, warm clothes that no one had ever worn before him. [72] He was surrounded by more luxury than he knew what to do with. [73] The furniture was the latest New Grand Rapids African modern. [74] There were tidy, colorful Picasso and Braque prints on the walls. [75] And every inch of the floor was modestly covered by carpeting, though the walls were mostly unabashed glass. [76] There were hot water and heat all the time and a freezer well stocked with food—somewhat erratically chosen, for Ninian didn't know much about meals. [77] The non-glass part of the house was of neat, natural-toned wood, with a neat green lawn in front and a neat parti-colored garden in back. [78] Martin missed the old neighborhood, though. [79] He missed having other kids to play with. [80] He even missed his mother. [81] Sure, she hadn't given him enough to eat and she'd beaten him up so hard sometimes that she'd nearly killed him—but then there had also been times when she'd hugged and kissed him and soaked his collar with her tears. [82] She'd done all she could for him, supporting him in the only way she knew how—and if respectable society didn't like it, the hell with respectable society. [83] From Ninian and her cousins, there was only an impersonal kindness. [84] They made no bones about the fact that they were there only to carry out a rather unpleasant duty. [85] Though they were in the house with him, in their minds and in their talk they were living in another world—a world of warmth and peace and plenty where nobody worked, except in the government service or the essential professions. [86] And they seemed to think even that kind of job was pretty low-class, though better than actually doing anything with the hands. [87] In their world, Martin came to understand, nobody worked with hands; everything was done by machinery. [88] All the people ever did was wear pretty clothes and have good times and eat all they wanted. [89] There was no devastation, no war, no unhappiness, none of the concomitants of normal living. [90] It was then that Martin began to realize that either the whole lot of them were insane, or what Ninian had told him at first was the truth. [91] They came from the future. [92] When Martin was sixteen, Raymond took him aside for the talk Ninian had promised five years before. [93] "The whole thing's all my brother Conrad's fault. [94] You see, he's an idealist," Raymond explained, pronouncing the last word with distaste. [95] Martin nodded gravely. [96] He was a quiet boy now, his brief past a dim and rather ridiculous memory. [97] Who could ever imagine him robbing a grocery store or wielding a broken bottle now? [98] He still was rather undersized and he'd read so much that he'd weakened his eyes and had to wear glasses. [99] His face was pallid, because he spent little time in the sun, and his speech rather overbred, his mentors from the future having carefully eradicated all current vulgarities. [100] "And Conrad really got upset over the way Earth has been exploiting the not so intelligent life-forms on the other planets," Raymond continued. [101] "Which is distressing—though, of course, it's not as if they were people. [102] Besides, the government has been talking about passing laws to do away with the—well, abuses and things like that, and I'm sure someday everything will come out all right. [103] However, Conrad is so impatient." [104] "I thought, in your world, machines did all the work," Martin suggested. [105] "I've told you—our world is precisely the same as this one!" [106] Raymond snapped. [107] "We just come a couple of centuries or so later, that's all. [108] But remember, our interests are identical. [109] We're virtually the same people ... although it is amazing what a difference two hundred odd years of progress and polish can make in a species, isn't it?" [110] He continued more mildly: "However, even you ought to be able to understand that we can't make machinery without metal. [111] We need food. [112] All that sort of thing comes from the out-system planets. [113] And, on those worlds, it's far cheaper to use native labor than to ship out all that expensive machinery. [114] After all, if we didn't give the natives jobs, how would they manage to live?" [115] "How did they live before? [116] Come to think of it, if you don't work, how do you live now?... [117] I don't mean in the now for me, but the now for you," Martin explained laboriously. [118] It was so difficult to live in the past and think in the future. [119] "I'm trying to talk to you as if you were an adult," Raymond said, "but if you will persist in these childish interruptions—" "I'm sorry," Martin said. [120] But he wasn't, for by now he had little respect left for any of his descendants. [121] They were all exceedingly handsome and cultivated young people, with superior educations, smooth ways of speaking and considerable self-confidence, but they just weren't very bright. [122] And he had discovered that Raymond was perhaps the most intelligent of the lot. [123] Somewhere in that relatively short span of time, his line or—more frightening—his race had lost something vital. [124] Unaware of the near-contempt in which his young ancestor held him, Raymond went on blandly: "Anyhow, Conrad took it upon himself to feel particularly guilty, because, he decided, if it hadn't been for the fact that our great-grandfather discovered the super-drive, we might never have reached the stars. [125] Which is ridiculous—his feeling guilty, I mean. [126] Perhaps a great-grandfather is responsible for his great-grandchildren, but a great-grandchild can hardly be held accountable for his great-grandfather." [127] "How about a great-great-grandchild?" [128] Martin couldn't help asking. [129] Raymond flushed a delicate pink. [130] "Do you want to hear the rest of this or don't you?" [131] "Oh, I do!" [132] Martin said. [133] He had pieced the whole thing together for himself long since, but he wanted to hear how Raymond would put it. [134] "Unfortunately, Professor Farkas has just perfected the time transmitter. [135] Those government scientists are so infernally officious—always inventing such senseless things. [136] It's supposed to be hush-hush, but you know how news will leak out when one is always desperate for a fresh topic of conversation." [137] Anyhow, Raymond went on to explain, Conrad had bribed one of Farkas' assistants for a set of the plans. [138] Conrad's idea had been to go back in time and "eliminate!" [139] their common great-grandfather. [140] In that way, there would be no space-drive, and, hence, the Terrestrials would never get to the other planets and oppress the local aborigines. [141] "Sounds like a good way of dealing with the problem," Martin observed. [142] Raymond looked annoyed. [143] "It's the adolescent way," he said, "to do away with it, rather than find a solution. [144] Would you destroy a whole society in order to root out a single injustice?" [145] "Not if it were a good one otherwise." [146] "Well, there's your answer. [147] Conrad got the apparatus built, or perhaps he built it himself. [148] One doesn't inquire too closely into such matters. [149] But when it came to the point, Conrad couldn't bear the idea of eliminating our great-grandfather—because our great-grandfather was such a good man, you know." [150] Raymond's expressive upper lip curled. [151] "So Conrad decided to go further back still and get rid of his great-grandfather's father—who'd been, by all accounts, a pretty worthless character." [152] "That would be me, I suppose," Martin said quietly. [153] Raymond turned a deep rose. [154] "Well, doesn't that just go to prove you mustn't believe everything you hear?" [155] The next sentence tumbled out in a rush. [156] "I wormed the whole thing out of him and all of us—the other cousins and me—held a council of war, as it were, and we decided it was our moral duty to go back in time ourselves and protect you." [157] He beamed at Martin. [158] The boy smiled slowly. [159] "Of course. [160] You had to. [161] If Conrad succeeded in eliminating me, then none of you would exist, would you?" [162] Raymond frowned. [163] Then he shrugged cheerfully. [164] "Well, you didn't really suppose we were going to all this trouble and expense out of sheer altruism, did you?" [165] he asked, turning on the charm which all the cousins possessed to a consternating degree. [166] Martin had, of course, no illusions on that score; he had learned long ago that nobody did anything for nothing. [167] But saying so was unwise. [168] "We bribed another set of plans out of another of the professor's assistants," Raymond continued, as if Martin had answered, "and—ah—induced a handicraft enthusiast to build the gadget for us." [169] Induced , Martin knew, could have meant anything from blackmail to the use of the iron maiden. [170] "Then we were all ready to forestall Conrad. [171] If one of us guarded you night and day, he would never be able to carry out his plot. [172] So we made our counter-plan, set the machine as far back as it would go—and here we are!" [173] "I see," Martin said. [174] Raymond didn't seem to think he really did. [175] "After all," he pointed out defensively, "whatever our motives, it has turned into a good thing for you. [176] Nice home, cultured companions, all the contemporary conveniences, plus some handy anachronisms—I don't see what more you could ask for. [177] You're getting the best of all possible worlds. [178] Of course Ninian was a ninny to locate in a mercantile suburb where any little thing out of the way will cause talk. [179] How thankful I am that our era has completely disposed of the mercantiles—" "What did you do with them?" [180] Martin asked. [181] But Raymond rushed on: "Soon as Ninian goes and I'm in full charge, we'll get a more isolated place and run it on a far grander scale. [182] Ostentation—that's the way to live here and now; the richer you are, the more eccentricity you can get away with. [183] And," he added, "I might as well be as comfortable as possible while I suffer through this wretched historical stint." [184] "So Ninian's going," said Martin, wondering why the news made him feel curiously desolate. [185] Because, although he supposed he liked her in a remote kind of way, he had no fondness for her—or she, he knew, for him. [186] "Well, five years is rather a long stretch for any girl to spend in exile," Raymond explained, "even though our life spans are a bit longer than yours. [187] Besides, you're getting too old now to be under petticoat government." [188] He looked inquisitively at Martin. [189] "You're not going to go all weepy and make a scene when she leaves, are you?" [190] "No...." Martin said hesitantly. [191] "Oh, I suppose I will miss her. [192] But we aren't very close, so it won't make a real difference." [193] That was the sad part: he already knew it wouldn't make a difference. [194] Raymond clapped him on the shoulder. [195] "I knew you weren't a sloppy sentimentalist like Conrad. [196] Though you do have rather a look of him, you know." [197] Suddenly that seemed to make Conrad real. [198] Martin felt a vague stirring of alarm. [199] He kept his voice composed, however. [200] "How do you plan to protect me when he comes?" [201] "Well, each one of us is armed to the teeth, of course," Raymond said with modest pride, displaying something that looked like a child's combination spaceman's gun and death ray, but which, Martin had no doubt, was a perfectly genuine—and lethal—weapon. [202] "And we've got a rather elaborate burglar alarm system." [203] Martin inspected the system and made one or two changes in the wiring which, he felt, would increase its efficiency. [204] But still he was dubious. [205] "Maybe it'll work on someone coming from outside this house , but do you think it will work on someone coming from outside this time ?" [206] "Never fear—it has a temporal radius," Raymond replied. [207] "Factory guarantee and all that." [208] "Just to be on the safe side," Martin said, "I think I'd better have one of those guns, too." [209] "A splendid idea!" [210] enthused Raymond. [211] "I was just about to think of that myself!" [212] When it came time for the parting, it was Ninian who cried—tears at her own inadequacy, Martin knew, not of sorrow. [213] He was getting skillful at understanding his descendants, far better than they at understanding him. [214] But then they never really tried. [215] Ninian kissed him wetly on the cheek and said she was sure everything would work out all right and that she'd come see him again. [216] She never did, though, except at the very last. [217] Raymond and Martin moved into a luxurious mansion in a remote area. [218] The site proved a well-chosen one; when the Second Atomic War came, half a dozen years later, they weren't touched. [219] Martin was never sure whether this had been sheer luck or expert planning. [220] Probably luck, because his descendants were exceedingly inept planners. [221] Few people in the world then could afford to live as stylishly as Martin and his guardian. [222] The place not only contained every possible convenience and gadget but was crammed with bibelots and antiques, carefully chosen by Raymond and disputed by Martin, for, to the man from the future, all available artifacts were antiques. [223] Otherwise, Martin accepted his new surroundings. [224] His sense of wonder had become dulled by now and the pink pseudo-Spanish castle—"architecturally dreadful, of course," Raymond had said, "but so hilariously typical"—impressed him far less than had the suburban split-level aquarium. [225] "How about a moat?" [226] Martin suggested when they first came. [227] "It seems to go with a castle." [228] "Do you think a moat could stop Conrad?" [229] Raymond asked, amused. [230] "No," Martin smiled, feeling rather silly, "but it would make the place seem safer somehow." [231] The threat of Conrad was beginning to make him grow more and more nervous. [232] He got Raymond's permission to take two suits of armor that stood in the front hall and present them to a local museum, because several times he fancied he saw them move. [233] He also became an adept with the ray gun and changed the surrounding landscape quite a bit with it, until Raymond warned that this might lead Conrad to them. [234] During those early years, Martin's tutors were exchanged for the higher-degreed ones that were now needful. [235] The question inevitably arose of what the youth's vocation in that life was going to be. [236] At least twenty of the cousins came back through time to hold one of their vigorous family councils. [237] Martin was still young enough to enjoy such occasions, finding them vastly superior to all other forms of entertainment. [238] "This sort of problem wouldn't arise in our day, Martin," Raymond commented as he took his place at the head of the table, "because, unless one specifically feels a call to some profession or other, one just—well, drifts along happily." [239] "Ours is a wonderful world," Grania sighed at Martin. [240] "I only wish we could take you there. [241] I'm sure you would like it." [242] "Don't be a fool, Grania!" [243] Raymond snapped. [244] "Well, Martin, have you made up your mind what you want to be?" [245] Martin affected to think. [246] "A physicist," he said, not without malice. [247] "Or perhaps an engineer." [248] There was a loud, excited chorus of dissent. [249] He chuckled inwardly. [250] "Can't do that," Ives said. [251] "Might pick up some concepts from us. [252] Don't know how; none of us knows a thing about science. [253] But it could happen. [254] Subconscious osmosis, if there is such a thing. [255] That way, you might invent something ahead of time. [256] And the fellow we got the plans from particularly cautioned us against that. [257] Changing history. [258] Dangerous." [259] "Might mess up our time frightfully," Bartholomew contributed, "though, to be perfectly frank, I can't quite understand how." [260] "I am not going to sit down and explain the whole thing to you all over again, Bart!" [261] Raymond said impatiently. [262] "Well, Martin?" [263] "What would you suggest?" [264] Martin asked. [265] "How about becoming a painter? [266] Art is eternal. [267] And quite gentlemanly. [268] Besides, artists are always expected to be either behind or ahead of their times." [269] "Furthermore," Ottillie added, "one more artist couldn't make much difference in history. [270] There were so many of them all through the ages." [271] Martin couldn't hold back his question. [272] "What was I, actually, in that other time?" [273] There was a chilly silence. [274] "Let's not talk about it, dear," Lalage finally said. [275] "Let's just be thankful we've saved you from that !" [276] So drawing teachers were engaged and Martin became a very competent second-rate artist. [277] He knew he would never be able to achieve first rank because, even though he was still so young, his work was almost purely intellectual. [278] The only emotion he seemed able to feel was fear—the ever-present fear that someday he would turn a corridor and walk into a man who looked like him—a man who wanted to kill him for the sake of an ideal. [279] But the fear did not show in Martin's pictures. [280] They were pretty pictures. [281] Cousin Ives—now that Martin was older, he was told to call the descendants cousin —next assumed guardianship. [282] Ives took his responsibilities more seriously than the others did. [283] He even arranged to have Martin's work shown at an art gallery. [284] The paintings received critical approval, but failed to evoke any enthusiasm. [285] The modest sale they enjoyed was mostly to interior decorators. [286] Museums were not interested. [287] "Takes time," Ives tried to reassure him. [288] "One day they'll be buying your pictures, Martin. [289] Wait and see." [290] Ives was the only one of the descendants who seemed to think of Martin as an individual. [291] When his efforts to make contact with the other young man failed, he got worried and decided that what Martin needed was a change of air and scenery. [292] "'Course you can't go on the Grand Tour. [293] Your son hasn't invented space travel yet. [294] But we can go see this world. [295] What's left of it. [296] Tourists always like ruins best, anyway." [297] So he drew on the family's vast future resources and bought a yacht, which Martin christened The Interregnum . [298] They traveled about from sea to ocean and from ocean to sea, touching at various ports and making trips inland. [299] Martin saw the civilized world—mostly in fragments; the nearly intact semi-civilized world and the uncivilized world, much the same as it had been for centuries. [300] It was like visiting an enormous museum; he couldn't seem to identify with his own time any more. [301] The other cousins appeared to find the yacht a congenial head-quarters, largely because they could spend so much time far away from the contemporary inhabitants of the planet and relax and be themselves. [302] So they never moved back to land. [303] Martin spent the rest of his life on The Interregnum . [304] He felt curiously safer from Conrad there, although there was no valid reason why an ocean should stop a traveler through time. [305] More cousins were in residence at once than ever before, because they came for the ocean voyage. [306] They spent most of their time aboard ship, giving each other parties and playing an avant-garde form of shuffleboard and gambling on future sporting events. [307] That last usually ended in a brawl, because one cousin was sure to accuse another of having got advance information about the results. [308] Martin didn't care much for their company and associated with them only when not to have done so would have been palpably rude. [309] And, though they were gregarious young people for the most part, they didn't court his society. [310] He suspected that he made them feel uncomfortable. [311] He rather liked Ives, though. [312] Sometimes the two of them would be alone together; then Ives would tell Martin of the future world he had come from. [313] The picture drawn by Raymond and Ninian had not been entirely accurate, Ives admitted. [314] True, there was no war or poverty on Earth proper, but that was because there were only a couple of million people left on the planet. [315] It was an enclave for the highly privileged, highly interbred aristocracy, to which Martin's descendants belonged by virtue of their distinguished ancestry. [316] "Rather feudal, isn't it?" [317] Martin asked. [318] Ives agreed, adding that the system had, however, been deliberately planned, rather than the result of haphazard natural development. [319] Everything potentially unpleasant, like the mercantiles, had been deported. [320] "Not only natives livin' on the other worlds," Ives said as the two of them stood at the ship's rail, surrounded by the limitless expanse of some ocean or other. [321] "People, too. [322] Mostly lower classes, except for officials and things. [323] With wars and want and suffering," he added regretfully, "same as in your day.... Like now, I mean," he corrected himself. [324] "Maybe it is worse, the way Conrad thinks. [325] More planets for us to make trouble on. [326] Three that were habitable aren't any more. [327] Bombed. [328] Very thorough job." [329] "Oh," Martin murmured, trying to sound shocked, horrified—interested, even. [330] "Sometimes I'm not altogether sure Conrad was wrong," Ives said, after a pause. [331] "Tried to keep us from getting to the stars, hurting the people—I expect you could call them people—there. [332] Still—" he smiled shamefacedly—"couldn't stand by and see my own way of life destroyed, could I?" [333] "I suppose not," Martin said. [334] "Would take moral courage. [335] I don't have it. [336] None of us does, except Conrad, and even he—" Ives looked out over the sea. [337] "Must be a better way out than Conrad's," he said without conviction. [338] "And everything will work out all right in the end. [339] Bound to. [340] No sense to—to anything, if it doesn't." [341] He glanced wistfully at Martin. [342] "I hope so," said Martin. [343] But he couldn't hope; he couldn't feel; he couldn't even seem to care. [344] During all this time, Conrad still did not put in an appearance. [345] Martin had gotten to be such a crack shot with the ray pistol that he almost wished his descendant would show up, so there would be some excitement. [346] But he didn't come. [347] And Martin got to thinking.... [348] He always felt that if any of the cousins could have come to realize the basic flaw in the elaborate plan they had concocted, it would have been Ives. [349] However, when the yacht touched at Tierra del Fuego one bitter winter, Ives took a severe chill. [350] They sent for a doctor from the future—one of the descendants who had been eccentric enough to take a medical degree—but he wasn't able to save Ives. [351] The body was buried in the frozen ground at Ushuaia, on the southern tip of the continent, a hundred years or more before the date of his birth. [352] A great many of the cousins turned up at the simple ceremony. [353] All were dressed in overwhelming black and showed a great deal of grief. [354] Raymond read the burial service, because they didn't dare summon a clerical cousin from the future; they were afraid he might prove rather stuffy about the entire undertaking. [355] "He died for all of us," Raymond concluded his funeral eulogy over Ives, "so his death was not in vain." [356] But Martin disagreed. [357] The ceaseless voyaging began again. [358] The Interregnum voyaged to every ocean and every sea. [359] Some were blue and some green and some dun. [360] After a while, Martin couldn't tell one from another. [361] Cousin after cousin came to watch over him and eventually they were as hard for him to tell apart as the different oceans. [362] All the cousins were young, for, though they came at different times in his life, they had all started out from the same time in theirs. [363] Only the young ones had been included in the venture; they did not trust their elders. [364] As the years went by, Martin began to lose even his detached interest in the land and its doings. [365] Although the yacht frequently touched port for fuel or supplies—it was more economical to purchase them in that era than to have them shipped from the future—he seldom went ashore, and then only at the urging of a newly assigned cousin anxious to see the sights. [366] Most of the time Martin spent in watching the sea—and sometimes he painted it. [367] There seemed to be a depth to his seascapes that his other work lacked. [368] When he was pressed by the current cousin to make a land visit somewhere, he decided to exhibit a few of his sea paintings. [369] That way, he could fool himself into thinking that there was some purpose to this journey. [370] He'd come to believe that perhaps what his life lacked was purpose, and for a while he kept looking for meaning everywhere, to the cousin's utter disgust. [371] "Eat, drink and be merry, or whatever you Romans say when you do as you do," the cousin—who was rather woolly in history; the descendants were scraping bottom now—advised. [372] Martin showed his work in Italy, so that the cousin could be disillusioned by the current crop of Romans. [373] He found that neither purpose nor malice was enough; he was still immeasurably bored. [374] However, a museum bought two of the paintings. [375] Martin thought of Ives and felt an uncomfortable pang of a sensation he could no longer understand. [376] "Where do you suppose Conrad has been all this time?" [377] Martin idly asked the current cousin—who was passing as his nephew by now. [378] The young man jumped, then glanced around him uncomfortably. [379] "Conrad's a very shrewd fellow," he whispered. [380] "He's biding his time—waiting until we're off guard. [381] And then—pow!—he'll attack!" [382] "Oh, I see," Martin said. [383] He had often fancied that Conrad would prove to be the most stimulating member of the whole generation. [384] But it seemed unlikely that he would ever have a chance for a conversation with the young man. [385] More than one conversation, anyhow. [386] "When he does show up, I'll protect you," the cousin vowed, touching his ray gun. [387] "You haven't a thing to worry about." [388] Martin smiled with all the charm he'd had nothing to do but acquire. [389] "I have every confidence in you," he told his descendant. [390] He himself had given up carrying a gun long ago. [391] There was a war in the Northern Hemisphere and so The Interregnum voyaged to southern waters. [392] There was a war in the south and they hid out in the Arctic. [393] All the nations became too drained of power—fuel and man and will—to fight, so there was a sterile peace for a long time. [394] The Interregnum roamed the seas restlessly, with her load of passengers from the future, plus one bored and aging contemporary. [395] She bore big guns now, because of the ever-present danger of pirates. [396] Perhaps it was the traditionally bracing effect of sea air—perhaps it was the sheltered life—but Martin lived to be a very old man. [397] He was a hundred and four when his last illness came. [398] It was a great relief when the family doctor, called in again from the future, said there was no hope. [399] Martin didn't think he could have borne another year of life. [400] All the cousins gathered at the yacht to pay their last respects to their progenitor. [401] He saw Ninian again, after all these years, and Raymond—all the others, dozens of them, thronging around his bed, spilling out of the cabin and into the passageways and out onto the deck, making their usual clamor, even though their voices were hushed. [402] Only Ives was missing. [403] He'd been the lucky one, Martin knew. [404] He had been spared the tragedy that was going to befall these blooming young people—all the same age as when Martin had last seen them and doomed never to grow any older. [405] Underneath their masks of woe, he could see relief at the thought that at last they were going to be rid of their responsibility. [406] And underneath Martin's death mask lay an impersonal pity for those poor, stupid descendants of his who had blundered so irretrievably. [407] There was only one face which Martin had never seen before. [408] It wasn't a strange face, however, because Martin had seen one very like it in the looking glass when he was a young man. [409] "You must be Conrad," Martin called across the cabin in a voice that was still clear. [410] "I've been looking forward to meeting you for some time." [411] The other cousins whirled to face the newcomer. [412] "You're too late, Con," Raymond gloated for the whole generation. [413] "He's lived out his life." [414] "But he hasn't lived out his life," Conrad contradicted. [415] "He's lived out the life you created for him. [416] And for yourselves, too." [417] For the first time, Martin saw compassion in the eyes of one of his lineage and found it vaguely disturbing. [418] It didn't seem to belong there. [419] "Don't you realize even yet," Conrad went on, "that as soon as he goes, you'll go, too—present, past, future, wherever you are, you'll go up in the air like puffs of smoke?" [420] "What do you mean?" [421] Ninian quavered, her soft, pretty face alarmed. [422] Martin answered Conrad's rueful smile, but left the explanations up to him. [423] It was his show, after all. [424] "Because you will never have existed," Conrad said. [425] "You have no right to existence; it was you yourselves who watched him all the time, so he didn't have a chance to lead a normal life, get married, have children ...." Most of the cousins gasped as the truth began to percolate through. [426] "I knew from the very beginning," Conrad finished, "that I didn't have to do anything at all. [427] I just had to wait and you would destroy yourselves." [428] "I don't understand," Bartholomew protested, searching the faces of the cousins closest to him. [429] "What does he mean, we have never existed? [430] We're here, aren't we? [431] What—" "Shut up!" [432] Raymond snapped. [433] He turned on Martin. [434] "You don't seem surprised." [435] The old man grinned. [436] "I'm not. [437] I figured it all out years ago." [438] At first, he had wondered what he should do. [439] Would it be better to throw them into a futile panic by telling them or to do nothing? [440] He had decided on the latter; that was the role they had assigned him—to watch and wait and keep out of things—and that was the role he would play. [441] "You knew all the time and you didn't tell us!" [442] Raymond spluttered. [443] "After we'd been so good to you, making a gentleman out of you instead of a criminal.... That's right," he snarled, "a criminal! [444] An alcoholic, a thief, a derelict! [445] How do you like that?" [446] "Sounds like a rich, full life," Martin said wistfully. [447] What an exciting existence they must have done him out of! [448] But then, he couldn't help thinking, he—he and Conrad together, of course—had done them out of any kind of existence. [449] It wasn't his responsibility, though; he had done nothing but let matters take whatever course was destined for them. [450] If only he could be sure that it was the better course, perhaps he wouldn't feel that nagging sense of guilt inside him. [451] Strange—where, in his hermetic life, could he possibly have developed such a queer thing as a conscience? [452] "Then we've wasted all this time," Ninian sobbed, "all this energy, all this money, for nothing!" [453] "But you were nothing to begin with," Martin told them. [454] And then, after a pause, he added, "I only wish I could be sure there had been some purpose to this." [455] He didn't know whether it was approaching death that dimmed his sight, or whether the frightened crowd that pressed around him was growing shadowy. [456] "I wish I could feel that some good had been done in letting you be wiped out of existence," he went on voicing his thoughts. [457] "But I know that the same thing that happened to your worlds and my world will happen all over again. [458] To other people, in other times, but again. [459] It's bound to happen. [460] There isn't any hope for humanity." [461] One man couldn't really change the course of human history, he told himself. [462] Two men, that was—one real, one a shadow. [463] Conrad came close to the old man's bed. [464] He was almost transparent. [465] "No," he said, "there is hope. [466] They didn't know the time transmitter works two ways. [467] I used it for going into the past only once—just this once. [468] But I've gone into the future with it many times. [469] And—" he pressed Martin's hand—"believe me, what I did—what we did, you and I—serves a purpose. [470] It will change things for the better. [471] Everything is going to be all right." [472] Was Conrad telling him the truth, Martin wondered, or was he just giving the conventional reassurance to the dying? [473] More than that, was he trying to convince himself that what he had done was the right thing? [474] Every cousin had assured Martin that things were going to be all right. [475] Was Conrad actually different from the rest? [476] His plan had worked and the others' hadn't, but then all his plan had consisted of was doing nothing. [477] That was all he and Martin had done ... nothing. [478] Were they absolved of all responsibility merely because they had stood aside and taken advantage of the others' weaknesses? [479] "Why," Martin said to himself, "in a sense, it could be said that I have fulfilled my original destiny—that I am a criminal." [480] Well, it didn't matter; whatever happened, no one could hold him to blame. [481] He held no stake in the future that was to come. [482] It was other men's future—other men's problem. [483] He died very peacefully then, and, since he was the only one left on the ship, there was nobody to bury him. [484] The unmanned yacht drifted about the seas for years and gave rise to many legends, none of them as unbelievable as the truth.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "What is the plot of the story?": 1. [1] THE MAN OUTSIDE By EVELYN E. SMITH Illustrated by DILLON [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction August 1957. 2. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] 3. [3] No one, least of all Martin, could dispute that a man's life should be guarded by his kin—but by those who hadn't been born yet? 4. [4] Nobody in the neighborhood was surprised when Martin's mother disappeared and Ninian came to take care of him. 5. [5] Mothers had a way of disappearing around those parts and the kids were often better off without them. 6. [6] Martin was no exception. 7. [7] He'd never had it this good while he was living with his old lady. 8. [8] As for his father, Martin had never had one. 9. [9] He'd been a war baby, born of one of the tides of soldiers—enemies and allies, both—that had engulfed the country in successive waves and bought or taken the women. 10. [10] So there was no trouble that way. 11. [11] Sometimes he wondered who Ninian really was. 12. [12] Obviously that story about her coming from the future was just a gag. 13. [13] Besides, if she really was his great-great-grand-daughter, as she said, why would she tell him to call her " Aunt Ninian "? 14. [14] Maybe he was only eleven, but he'd been around and he knew just what the score was. 15. [15] At first he'd thought maybe she was some new kind of social worker, but she acted a little too crazy for that. 16. [16] He loved to bait her, as he had loved to bait his mother. 17. [17] It was safer with Ninian, though, because when he pushed her too far, she would cry instead of mopping up the floor with him. 18. [18] "But I can't understand," he would say, keeping his face straight. 19. [19] "Why do you have to come from the future to protect me against your cousin Conrad?" 20. [20] "Because he's coming to kill you." 21. [21] "Why should he kill me? 22. [22] I ain't done him nothing." 23. [23] Ninian sighed. 24. [24] "He's dissatisfied with the current social order and killing you is part of an elaborate plan he's formulated to change it. 25. [25] You wouldn't understand." 26. [26] "You're damn right. 27. [27] I don't understand. 28. [28] What's it all about in straight gas?" 29. [29] "Oh, just don't ask any questions," Ninian said petulantly. 30. [30] "When you get older, someone will explain the whole thing to you." 31. [31] So Martin held his peace, because, on the whole, he liked things the way they were. 32. [32] Ninian really was the limit, though. 33. [33] All the people he knew lived in scabrous tenement apartments like his, but she seemed to think it was disgusting. 34. [34] "So if you don't like it, clean it up," he suggested. 35. [35] She looked at him as if he were out of his mind. 36. [36] "Hire a maid, then!" 37. [37] he jeered. 38. [38] And darned if that dope didn't go out and get a woman to come clean up the place! 39. [39] He was so embarrassed, he didn't even dare show his face in the streets—especially with the women buttonholing him and demanding to know what gave. 40. [40] They tried talking to Ninian, but she certainly knew how to give them the cold shoulder. 41. [41] One day the truant officer came to ask why Martin hadn't been coming to school. 42. [42] Very few of the neighborhood kids attended classes very regularly, so this was just routine. 43. [43] But Ninian didn't know that and she went into a real tizzy, babbling that Martin had been sick and would make up the work. 44. [44] Martin nearly did get sick from laughing so hard inside. 45. [45] But he laughed out of the other side of his mouth when she went out and hired a private tutor for him. 46. [46] A tutor—in that neighborhood! 47. [47] Martin had to beat up every kid on the block before he could walk a step without hearing "Fancy Pants!" yelled after him. 48. [48] Ninian worried all the time. 49. [49] It wasn't that she cared what these people thought of her, for she made no secret of regarding them as little better than animals, but she was shy of attracting attention. 50. [50] There were an awful lot of people in that neighborhood who felt exactly the same way, only she didn't know that, either. 51. [51] She was really pretty dumb, Martin thought, for all her fancy lingo. 52. [52] "It's so hard to think these things out without any prior practical application to go by," she told him. 53. [53] He nodded, knowing what she meant was that everything was coming out wrong. 54. [54] But he didn't try to help her; he just watched to see what she'd do next. 55. [55] Already he had begun to assume the detached role of a spectator. 56. [56] When it became clear that his mother was never going to show up again, Ninian bought one of those smallish, almost identical houses that mushroom on the fringes of a city after every war, particularly where intensive bombing has created a number of desirable building sites. 57. [57] "This is a much better neighborhood for a boy to grow up in," she declared. 58. [58] "Besides, it's easier to keep an eye on you here." 59. [59] And keep an eye on him she did—she or a rather foppish young man who came to stay with them occasionally. 60. [60] Martin was told to call him Uncle Raymond. 61. [61] From time to time, there were other visitors—Uncles Ives and Bartholomew and Olaf, Aunts Ottillie and Grania and Lalage, and many more—all cousins to one another, he was told, all descendants of his. 62. [62] Martin was never left alone for a minute. 63. [63] He wasn't allowed to play with the other kids in the new neighborhood. 64. [64] Not that their parents would have let them, anyway. 65. [65] The adults obviously figured that if a one-car family hired private tutors for their kid, there must be something pretty wrong with him. 66. [66] So Martin and Ninian were just as conspicuous as before. 67. [67] But he didn't tip her off. 68. [68] She was grown up; she was supposed to know better than he did. 69. [69] He lived well. 70. [70] He had food to eat that he'd never dreamed of before, warm clothes that no one had ever worn before him. 71. [71] He was surrounded by more luxury than he knew what to do with. 72. [72] The furniture was the latest New Grand Rapids African modern. 73. [73] There were tidy, colorful Picasso and Braque prints on the walls. 74. [74] And every inch of the floor was modestly covered by carpeting, though the walls were mostly unabashed glass. 75. [75] There were hot water and heat all the time and a freezer well stocked with food—somewhat erratically chosen, for Ninian didn't know much about meals. 76. [76] The non-glass part of the house was of neat, natural-toned wood, with a neat green lawn in front and a neat parti-colored garden in back. 77. [77] Martin missed the old neighborhood, though. 78. [78] He missed having other kids to play with. 79. [79] He even missed his mother. 80. [80] Sure, she hadn't given him enough to eat and she'd beaten him up so hard sometimes that she'd nearly killed him—but then there had also been times when she'd hugged and kissed him and soaked his collar with her tears. 81. [81] She'd done all she could for him, supporting him in the only way she knew how—and if respectable society didn't like it, the hell with respectable society. 82. [82] From Ninian and her cousins, there was only an impersonal kindness. 83. [83] They made no bones about the fact that they were there only to carry out a rather unpleasant duty. 84. [84] Though they were in the house with him, in their minds and in their talk they were living in another world—a world of warmth and peace and plenty where nobody worked, except in the government service or the essential professions. 85. [85] And they seemed to think even that kind of job was pretty low-class, though better than actually doing anything with the hands. 86. [86] In their world, Martin came to understand, nobody worked with hands; everything was done by machinery. 87. [87] All the people ever did was wear pretty clothes and have good times and eat all they wanted. 88. [88] There was no devastation, no war, no unhappiness, none of the concomitants of normal living. 89. [89] It was then that Martin began to realize that either the whole lot of them were insane, or what Ninian had told him at first was the truth. 90. [90] They came from the future. 91. [91] When Martin was sixteen, Raymond took him aside for the talk Ninian had promised five years before. 92. [92] "The whole thing's all my brother Conrad's fault. 93. [93] You see, he's an idealist," Raymond explained, pronouncing the last word with distaste. 94. [94] Martin nodded gravely. 95. [95] He was a quiet boy now, his brief past a dim and rather ridiculous memory. 96. [96] Who could ever imagine him robbing a grocery store or wielding a broken bottle now? 97. [97] He still was rather undersized and he'd read so much that he'd weakened his eyes and had to wear glasses. 98. [98] His face was pallid, because he spent little time in the sun, and his speech rather overbred, his mentors from the future having carefully eradicated all current vulgarities. 99. [99] "And Conrad really got upset over the way Earth has been exploiting the not so intelligent life-forms on the other planets," Raymond continued. 100. [100] "Which is distressing—though, of course, it's not as if they were people. 101. [101] Besides, the government has been talking about passing laws to do away with the—well, abuses and things like that, and I'm sure someday everything will come out all right. 102. [102] However, Conrad is so impatient." 103. [103] "I thought, in your world, machines did all the work," Martin suggested. 104. [104] "I've told you—our world is precisely the same as this one!" 105. [105] Raymond snapped. 106. [106] "We just come a couple of centuries or so later, that's all. 107. [107] But remember, our interests are identical. 108. [108] We're virtually the same people ... although it is amazing what a difference two hundred odd years of progress and polish can make in a species, isn't it?" 109. [109] He continued more mildly: "However, even you ought to be able to understand that we can't make machinery without metal. 110. [110] We need food. 111. [111] All that sort of thing comes from the out-system planets. 112. [112] And, on those worlds, it's far cheaper to use native labor than to ship out all that expensive machinery. 113. [113] After all, if we didn't give the natives jobs, how would they manage to live?" 114. [114] "How did they live before? 115. [115] Come to think of it, if you don't work, how do you live now?... 116. [116] I don't mean in the now for me, but the now for you," Martin explained laboriously. 117. [117] It was so difficult to live in the past and think in the future. 118. [118] "I'm trying to talk to you as if you were an adult," Raymond said, "but if you will persist in these childish interruptions—" "I'm sorry," Martin said. 119. [119] But he wasn't, for by now he had little respect left for any of his descendants. 120. [120] They were all exceedingly handsome and cultivated young people, with superior educations, smooth ways of speaking and considerable self-confidence, but they just weren't very bright. 121. [121] And he had discovered that Raymond was perhaps the most intelligent of the lot. 122. [122] Somewhere in that relatively short span of time, his line or—more frightening—his race had lost something vital. 123. [123] Unaware of the near-contempt in which his young ancestor held him, Raymond went on blandly: "Anyhow, Conrad took it upon himself to feel particularly guilty, because, he decided, if it hadn't been for the fact that our great-grandfather discovered the super-drive, we might never have reached the stars. 124. [124] Which is ridiculous—his feeling guilty, I mean. 125. [125] Perhaps a great-grandfather is responsible for his great-grandchildren, but a great-grandchild can hardly be held accountable for his great-grandfather." 126. [126] "How about a great-great-grandchild?" 127. [127] Martin couldn't help asking. 128. [128] Raymond flushed a delicate pink. 129. [129] "Do you want to hear the rest of this or don't you?" 130. [130] "Oh, I do!" 131. [131] Martin said. 132. [132] He had pieced the whole thing together for himself long since, but he wanted to hear how Raymond would put it. 133. [133] "Unfortunately, Professor Farkas has just perfected the time transmitter. 134. [134] Those government scientists are so infernally officious—always inventing such senseless things. 135. [135] It's supposed to be hush-hush, but you know how news will leak out when one is always desperate for a fresh topic of conversation." 136. [136] Anyhow, Raymond went on to explain, Conrad had bribed one of Farkas' assistants for a set of the plans. 137. [137] Conrad's idea had been to go back in time and "eliminate!" 138. [138] their common great-grandfather. 139. [139] In that way, there would be no space-drive, and, hence, the Terrestrials would never get to the other planets and oppress the local aborigines. 140. [140] "Sounds like a good way of dealing with the problem," Martin observed. 141. [141] Raymond looked annoyed. 142. [142] "It's the adolescent way," he said, "to do away with it, rather than find a solution. 143. [143] Would you destroy a whole society in order to root out a single injustice?" 144. [144] "Not if it were a good one otherwise." 145. [145] "Well, there's your answer. 146. [146] Conrad got the apparatus built, or perhaps he built it himself. 147. [147] One doesn't inquire too closely into such matters. 148. [148] But when it came to the point, Conrad couldn't bear the idea of eliminating our great-grandfather—because our great-grandfather was such a good man, you know." 149. [149] Raymond's expressive upper lip curled. 150. [150] "So Conrad decided to go further back still and get rid of his great-grandfather's father—who'd been, by all accounts, a pretty worthless character." 151. [151] "That would be me, I suppose," Martin said quietly. 152. [152] Raymond turned a deep rose. 153. [153] "Well, doesn't that just go to prove you mustn't believe everything you hear?" 154. [154] The next sentence tumbled out in a rush. 155. [155] "I wormed the whole thing out of him and all of us—the other cousins and me—held a council of war, as it were, and we decided it was our moral duty to go back in time ourselves and protect you." 156. [156] He beamed at Martin. 157. [157] The boy smiled slowly. 158. [158] "Of course. 159. [159] You had to. 160. [160] If Conrad succeeded in eliminating me, then none of you would exist, would you?" 161. [161] Raymond frowned. 162. [162] Then he shrugged cheerfully. 163. [163] "Well

What is the relationship between Martin and Ives?

[1] THE MAN OUTSIDE By EVELYN E. SMITH Illustrated by DILLON [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction August 1957. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] No one, least of all Martin, could dispute that a man's life should be guarded by his kin—but by those who hadn't been born yet? [4] Nobody in the neighborhood was surprised when Martin's mother disappeared and Ninian came to take care of him. [5] Mothers had a way of disappearing around those parts and the kids were often better off without them. [6] Martin was no exception. [7] He'd never had it this good while he was living with his old lady. [8] As for his father, Martin had never had one. [9] He'd been a war baby, born of one of the tides of soldiers—enemies and allies, both—that had engulfed the country in successive waves and bought or taken the women. [10] So there was no trouble that way. [11] Sometimes he wondered who Ninian really was. [12] Obviously that story about her coming from the future was just a gag. [13] Besides, if she really was his great-great-grand-daughter, as she said, why would she tell him to call her " Aunt Ninian "? [14] Maybe he was only eleven, but he'd been around and he knew just what the score was. [15] At first he'd thought maybe she was some new kind of social worker, but she acted a little too crazy for that. [16] He loved to bait her, as he had loved to bait his mother. [17] It was safer with Ninian, though, because when he pushed her too far, she would cry instead of mopping up the floor with him. [18] "But I can't understand," he would say, keeping his face straight. [19] "Why do you have to come from the future to protect me against your cousin Conrad?" [20] "Because he's coming to kill you." [21] "Why should he kill me? [22] I ain't done him nothing." [23] Ninian sighed. [24] "He's dissatisfied with the current social order and killing you is part of an elaborate plan he's formulated to change it. [25] You wouldn't understand." [26] "You're damn right. [27] I don't understand. [28] What's it all about in straight gas?" [29] "Oh, just don't ask any questions," Ninian said petulantly. [30] "When you get older, someone will explain the whole thing to you." [31] So Martin held his peace, because, on the whole, he liked things the way they were. [32] Ninian really was the limit, though. [33] All the people he knew lived in scabrous tenement apartments like his, but she seemed to think it was disgusting. [34] "So if you don't like it, clean it up," he suggested. [35] She looked at him as if he were out of his mind. [36] "Hire a maid, then!" [37] he jeered. [38] And darned if that dope didn't go out and get a woman to come clean up the place! [39] He was so embarrassed, he didn't even dare show his face in the streets—especially with the women buttonholing him and demanding to know what gave. [40] They tried talking to Ninian, but she certainly knew how to give them the cold shoulder. [41] One day the truant officer came to ask why Martin hadn't been coming to school. [42] Very few of the neighborhood kids attended classes very regularly, so this was just routine. [43] But Ninian didn't know that and she went into a real tizzy, babbling that Martin had been sick and would make up the work. [44] Martin nearly did get sick from laughing so hard inside. [45] But he laughed out of the other side of his mouth when she went out and hired a private tutor for him. [46] A tutor—in that neighborhood! [47] Martin had to beat up every kid on the block before he could walk a step without hearing "Fancy Pants!" [48] yelled after him. [49] Ninian worried all the time. [50] It wasn't that she cared what these people thought of her, for she made no secret of regarding them as little better than animals, but she was shy of attracting attention. [51] There were an awful lot of people in that neighborhood who felt exactly the same way, only she didn't know that, either. [52] She was really pretty dumb, Martin thought, for all her fancy lingo. [53] "It's so hard to think these things out without any prior practical application to go by," she told him. [54] He nodded, knowing what she meant was that everything was coming out wrong. [55] But he didn't try to help her; he just watched to see what she'd do next. [56] Already he had begun to assume the detached role of a spectator. [57] When it became clear that his mother was never going to show up again, Ninian bought one of those smallish, almost identical houses that mushroom on the fringes of a city after every war, particularly where intensive bombing has created a number of desirable building sites. [58] "This is a much better neighborhood for a boy to grow up in," she declared. [59] "Besides, it's easier to keep an eye on you here." [60] And keep an eye on him she did—she or a rather foppish young man who came to stay with them occasionally. [61] Martin was told to call him Uncle Raymond. [62] From time to time, there were other visitors—Uncles Ives and Bartholomew and Olaf, Aunts Ottillie and Grania and Lalage, and many more—all cousins to one another, he was told, all descendants of his. [63] Martin was never left alone for a minute. [64] He wasn't allowed to play with the other kids in the new neighborhood. [65] Not that their parents would have let them, anyway. [66] The adults obviously figured that if a one-car family hired private tutors for their kid, there must be something pretty wrong with him. [67] So Martin and Ninian were just as conspicuous as before. [68] But he didn't tip her off. [69] She was grown up; she was supposed to know better than he did. [70] He lived well. [71] He had food to eat that he'd never dreamed of before, warm clothes that no one had ever worn before him. [72] He was surrounded by more luxury than he knew what to do with. [73] The furniture was the latest New Grand Rapids African modern. [74] There were tidy, colorful Picasso and Braque prints on the walls. [75] And every inch of the floor was modestly covered by carpeting, though the walls were mostly unabashed glass. [76] There were hot water and heat all the time and a freezer well stocked with food—somewhat erratically chosen, for Ninian didn't know much about meals. [77] The non-glass part of the house was of neat, natural-toned wood, with a neat green lawn in front and a neat parti-colored garden in back. [78] Martin missed the old neighborhood, though. [79] He missed having other kids to play with. [80] He even missed his mother. [81] Sure, she hadn't given him enough to eat and she'd beaten him up so hard sometimes that she'd nearly killed him—but then there had also been times when she'd hugged and kissed him and soaked his collar with her tears. [82] She'd done all she could for him, supporting him in the only way she knew how—and if respectable society didn't like it, the hell with respectable society. [83] From Ninian and her cousins, there was only an impersonal kindness. [84] They made no bones about the fact that they were there only to carry out a rather unpleasant duty. [85] Though they were in the house with him, in their minds and in their talk they were living in another world—a world of warmth and peace and plenty where nobody worked, except in the government service or the essential professions. [86] And they seemed to think even that kind of job was pretty low-class, though better than actually doing anything with the hands. [87] In their world, Martin came to understand, nobody worked with hands; everything was done by machinery. [88] All the people ever did was wear pretty clothes and have good times and eat all they wanted. [89] There was no devastation, no war, no unhappiness, none of the concomitants of normal living. [90] It was then that Martin began to realize that either the whole lot of them were insane, or what Ninian had told him at first was the truth. [91] They came from the future. [92] When Martin was sixteen, Raymond took him aside for the talk Ninian had promised five years before. [93] "The whole thing's all my brother Conrad's fault. [94] You see, he's an idealist," Raymond explained, pronouncing the last word with distaste. [95] Martin nodded gravely. [96] He was a quiet boy now, his brief past a dim and rather ridiculous memory. [97] Who could ever imagine him robbing a grocery store or wielding a broken bottle now? [98] He still was rather undersized and he'd read so much that he'd weakened his eyes and had to wear glasses. [99] His face was pallid, because he spent little time in the sun, and his speech rather overbred, his mentors from the future having carefully eradicated all current vulgarities. [100] "And Conrad really got upset over the way Earth has been exploiting the not so intelligent life-forms on the other planets," Raymond continued. [101] "Which is distressing—though, of course, it's not as if they were people. [102] Besides, the government has been talking about passing laws to do away with the—well, abuses and things like that, and I'm sure someday everything will come out all right. [103] However, Conrad is so impatient." [104] "I thought, in your world, machines did all the work," Martin suggested. [105] "I've told you—our world is precisely the same as this one!" [106] Raymond snapped. [107] "We just come a couple of centuries or so later, that's all. [108] But remember, our interests are identical. [109] We're virtually the same people ... although it is amazing what a difference two hundred odd years of progress and polish can make in a species, isn't it?" [110] He continued more mildly: "However, even you ought to be able to understand that we can't make machinery without metal. [111] We need food. [112] All that sort of thing comes from the out-system planets. [113] And, on those worlds, it's far cheaper to use native labor than to ship out all that expensive machinery. [114] After all, if we didn't give the natives jobs, how would they manage to live?" [115] "How did they live before? [116] Come to think of it, if you don't work, how do you live now?... [117] I don't mean in the now for me, but the now for you," Martin explained laboriously. [118] It was so difficult to live in the past and think in the future. [119] "I'm trying to talk to you as if you were an adult," Raymond said, "but if you will persist in these childish interruptions—" "I'm sorry," Martin said. [120] But he wasn't, for by now he had little respect left for any of his descendants. [121] They were all exceedingly handsome and cultivated young people, with superior educations, smooth ways of speaking and considerable self-confidence, but they just weren't very bright. [122] And he had discovered that Raymond was perhaps the most intelligent of the lot. [123] Somewhere in that relatively short span of time, his line or—more frightening—his race had lost something vital. [124] Unaware of the near-contempt in which his young ancestor held him, Raymond went on blandly: "Anyhow, Conrad took it upon himself to feel particularly guilty, because, he decided, if it hadn't been for the fact that our great-grandfather discovered the super-drive, we might never have reached the stars. [125] Which is ridiculous—his feeling guilty, I mean. [126] Perhaps a great-grandfather is responsible for his great-grandchildren, but a great-grandchild can hardly be held accountable for his great-grandfather." [127] "How about a great-great-grandchild?" [128] Martin couldn't help asking. [129] Raymond flushed a delicate pink. [130] "Do you want to hear the rest of this or don't you?" [131] "Oh, I do!" [132] Martin said. [133] He had pieced the whole thing together for himself long since, but he wanted to hear how Raymond would put it. [134] "Unfortunately, Professor Farkas has just perfected the time transmitter. [135] Those government scientists are so infernally officious—always inventing such senseless things. [136] It's supposed to be hush-hush, but you know how news will leak out when one is always desperate for a fresh topic of conversation." [137] Anyhow, Raymond went on to explain, Conrad had bribed one of Farkas' assistants for a set of the plans. [138] Conrad's idea had been to go back in time and "eliminate!" [139] their common great-grandfather. [140] In that way, there would be no space-drive, and, hence, the Terrestrials would never get to the other planets and oppress the local aborigines. [141] "Sounds like a good way of dealing with the problem," Martin observed. [142] Raymond looked annoyed. [143] "It's the adolescent way," he said, "to do away with it, rather than find a solution. [144] Would you destroy a whole society in order to root out a single injustice?" [145] "Not if it were a good one otherwise." [146] "Well, there's your answer. [147] Conrad got the apparatus built, or perhaps he built it himself. [148] One doesn't inquire too closely into such matters. [149] But when it came to the point, Conrad couldn't bear the idea of eliminating our great-grandfather—because our great-grandfather was such a good man, you know." [150] Raymond's expressive upper lip curled. [151] "So Conrad decided to go further back still and get rid of his great-grandfather's father—who'd been, by all accounts, a pretty worthless character." [152] "That would be me, I suppose," Martin said quietly. [153] Raymond turned a deep rose. [154] "Well, doesn't that just go to prove you mustn't believe everything you hear?" [155] The next sentence tumbled out in a rush. [156] "I wormed the whole thing out of him and all of us—the other cousins and me—held a council of war, as it were, and we decided it was our moral duty to go back in time ourselves and protect you." [157] He beamed at Martin. [158] The boy smiled slowly. [159] "Of course. [160] You had to. [161] If Conrad succeeded in eliminating me, then none of you would exist, would you?" [162] Raymond frowned. [163] Then he shrugged cheerfully. [164] "Well, you didn't really suppose we were going to all this trouble and expense out of sheer altruism, did you?" [165] he asked, turning on the charm which all the cousins possessed to a consternating degree. [166] Martin had, of course, no illusions on that score; he had learned long ago that nobody did anything for nothing. [167] But saying so was unwise. [168] "We bribed another set of plans out of another of the professor's assistants," Raymond continued, as if Martin had answered, "and—ah—induced a handicraft enthusiast to build the gadget for us." [169] Induced , Martin knew, could have meant anything from blackmail to the use of the iron maiden. [170] "Then we were all ready to forestall Conrad. [171] If one of us guarded you night and day, he would never be able to carry out his plot. [172] So we made our counter-plan, set the machine as far back as it would go—and here we are!" [173] "I see," Martin said. [174] Raymond didn't seem to think he really did. [175] "After all," he pointed out defensively, "whatever our motives, it has turned into a good thing for you. [176] Nice home, cultured companions, all the contemporary conveniences, plus some handy anachronisms—I don't see what more you could ask for. [177] You're getting the best of all possible worlds. [178] Of course Ninian was a ninny to locate in a mercantile suburb where any little thing out of the way will cause talk. [179] How thankful I am that our era has completely disposed of the mercantiles—" "What did you do with them?" [180] Martin asked. [181] But Raymond rushed on: "Soon as Ninian goes and I'm in full charge, we'll get a more isolated place and run it on a far grander scale. [182] Ostentation—that's the way to live here and now; the richer you are, the more eccentricity you can get away with. [183] And," he added, "I might as well be as comfortable as possible while I suffer through this wretched historical stint." [184] "So Ninian's going," said Martin, wondering why the news made him feel curiously desolate. [185] Because, although he supposed he liked her in a remote kind of way, he had no fondness for her—or she, he knew, for him. [186] "Well, five years is rather a long stretch for any girl to spend in exile," Raymond explained, "even though our life spans are a bit longer than yours. [187] Besides, you're getting too old now to be under petticoat government." [188] He looked inquisitively at Martin. [189] "You're not going to go all weepy and make a scene when she leaves, are you?" [190] "No...." Martin said hesitantly. [191] "Oh, I suppose I will miss her. [192] But we aren't very close, so it won't make a real difference." [193] That was the sad part: he already knew it wouldn't make a difference. [194] Raymond clapped him on the shoulder. [195] "I knew you weren't a sloppy sentimentalist like Conrad. [196] Though you do have rather a look of him, you know." [197] Suddenly that seemed to make Conrad real. [198] Martin felt a vague stirring of alarm. [199] He kept his voice composed, however. [200] "How do you plan to protect me when he comes?" [201] "Well, each one of us is armed to the teeth, of course," Raymond said with modest pride, displaying something that looked like a child's combination spaceman's gun and death ray, but which, Martin had no doubt, was a perfectly genuine—and lethal—weapon. [202] "And we've got a rather elaborate burglar alarm system." [203] Martin inspected the system and made one or two changes in the wiring which, he felt, would increase its efficiency. [204] But still he was dubious. [205] "Maybe it'll work on someone coming from outside this house , but do you think it will work on someone coming from outside this time ?" [206] "Never fear—it has a temporal radius," Raymond replied. [207] "Factory guarantee and all that." [208] "Just to be on the safe side," Martin said, "I think I'd better have one of those guns, too." [209] "A splendid idea!" [210] enthused Raymond. [211] "I was just about to think of that myself!" [212] When it came time for the parting, it was Ninian who cried—tears at her own inadequacy, Martin knew, not of sorrow. [213] He was getting skillful at understanding his descendants, far better than they at understanding him. [214] But then they never really tried. [215] Ninian kissed him wetly on the cheek and said she was sure everything would work out all right and that she'd come see him again. [216] She never did, though, except at the very last. [217] Raymond and Martin moved into a luxurious mansion in a remote area. [218] The site proved a well-chosen one; when the Second Atomic War came, half a dozen years later, they weren't touched. [219] Martin was never sure whether this had been sheer luck or expert planning. [220] Probably luck, because his descendants were exceedingly inept planners. [221] Few people in the world then could afford to live as stylishly as Martin and his guardian. [222] The place not only contained every possible convenience and gadget but was crammed with bibelots and antiques, carefully chosen by Raymond and disputed by Martin, for, to the man from the future, all available artifacts were antiques. [223] Otherwise, Martin accepted his new surroundings. [224] His sense of wonder had become dulled by now and the pink pseudo-Spanish castle—"architecturally dreadful, of course," Raymond had said, "but so hilariously typical"—impressed him far less than had the suburban split-level aquarium. [225] "How about a moat?" [226] Martin suggested when they first came. [227] "It seems to go with a castle." [228] "Do you think a moat could stop Conrad?" [229] Raymond asked, amused. [230] "No," Martin smiled, feeling rather silly, "but it would make the place seem safer somehow." [231] The threat of Conrad was beginning to make him grow more and more nervous. [232] He got Raymond's permission to take two suits of armor that stood in the front hall and present them to a local museum, because several times he fancied he saw them move. [233] He also became an adept with the ray gun and changed the surrounding landscape quite a bit with it, until Raymond warned that this might lead Conrad to them. [234] During those early years, Martin's tutors were exchanged for the higher-degreed ones that were now needful. [235] The question inevitably arose of what the youth's vocation in that life was going to be. [236] At least twenty of the cousins came back through time to hold one of their vigorous family councils. [237] Martin was still young enough to enjoy such occasions, finding them vastly superior to all other forms of entertainment. [238] "This sort of problem wouldn't arise in our day, Martin," Raymond commented as he took his place at the head of the table, "because, unless one specifically feels a call to some profession or other, one just—well, drifts along happily." [239] "Ours is a wonderful world," Grania sighed at Martin. [240] "I only wish we could take you there. [241] I'm sure you would like it." [242] "Don't be a fool, Grania!" [243] Raymond snapped. [244] "Well, Martin, have you made up your mind what you want to be?" [245] Martin affected to think. [246] "A physicist," he said, not without malice. [247] "Or perhaps an engineer." [248] There was a loud, excited chorus of dissent. [249] He chuckled inwardly. [250] "Can't do that," Ives said. [251] "Might pick up some concepts from us. [252] Don't know how; none of us knows a thing about science. [253] But it could happen. [254] Subconscious osmosis, if there is such a thing. [255] That way, you might invent something ahead of time. [256] And the fellow we got the plans from particularly cautioned us against that. [257] Changing history. [258] Dangerous." [259] "Might mess up our time frightfully," Bartholomew contributed, "though, to be perfectly frank, I can't quite understand how." [260] "I am not going to sit down and explain the whole thing to you all over again, Bart!" [261] Raymond said impatiently. [262] "Well, Martin?" [263] "What would you suggest?" [264] Martin asked. [265] "How about becoming a painter? [266] Art is eternal. [267] And quite gentlemanly. [268] Besides, artists are always expected to be either behind or ahead of their times." [269] "Furthermore," Ottillie added, "one more artist couldn't make much difference in history. [270] There were so many of them all through the ages." [271] Martin couldn't hold back his question. [272] "What was I, actually, in that other time?" [273] There was a chilly silence. [274] "Let's not talk about it, dear," Lalage finally said. [275] "Let's just be thankful we've saved you from that !" [276] So drawing teachers were engaged and Martin became a very competent second-rate artist. [277] He knew he would never be able to achieve first rank because, even though he was still so young, his work was almost purely intellectual. [278] The only emotion he seemed able to feel was fear—the ever-present fear that someday he would turn a corridor and walk into a man who looked like him—a man who wanted to kill him for the sake of an ideal. [279] But the fear did not show in Martin's pictures. [280] They were pretty pictures. [281] Cousin Ives—now that Martin was older, he was told to call the descendants cousin —next assumed guardianship. [282] Ives took his responsibilities more seriously than the others did. [283] He even arranged to have Martin's work shown at an art gallery. [284] The paintings received critical approval, but failed to evoke any enthusiasm. [285] The modest sale they enjoyed was mostly to interior decorators. [286] Museums were not interested. [287] "Takes time," Ives tried to reassure him. [288] "One day they'll be buying your pictures, Martin. [289] Wait and see." [290] Ives was the only one of the descendants who seemed to think of Martin as an individual. [291] When his efforts to make contact with the other young man failed, he got worried and decided that what Martin needed was a change of air and scenery. [292] "'Course you can't go on the Grand Tour. [293] Your son hasn't invented space travel yet. [294] But we can go see this world. [295] What's left of it. [296] Tourists always like ruins best, anyway." [297] So he drew on the family's vast future resources and bought a yacht, which Martin christened The Interregnum . [298] They traveled about from sea to ocean and from ocean to sea, touching at various ports and making trips inland. [299] Martin saw the civilized world—mostly in fragments; the nearly intact semi-civilized world and the uncivilized world, much the same as it had been for centuries. [300] It was like visiting an enormous museum; he couldn't seem to identify with his own time any more. [301] The other cousins appeared to find the yacht a congenial head-quarters, largely because they could spend so much time far away from the contemporary inhabitants of the planet and relax and be themselves. [302] So they never moved back to land. [303] Martin spent the rest of his life on The Interregnum . [304] He felt curiously safer from Conrad there, although there was no valid reason why an ocean should stop a traveler through time. [305] More cousins were in residence at once than ever before, because they came for the ocean voyage. [306] They spent most of their time aboard ship, giving each other parties and playing an avant-garde form of shuffleboard and gambling on future sporting events. [307] That last usually ended in a brawl, because one cousin was sure to accuse another of having got advance information about the results. [308] Martin didn't care much for their company and associated with them only when not to have done so would have been palpably rude. [309] And, though they were gregarious young people for the most part, they didn't court his society. [310] He suspected that he made them feel uncomfortable. [311] He rather liked Ives, though. [312] Sometimes the two of them would be alone together; then Ives would tell Martin of the future world he had come from. [313] The picture drawn by Raymond and Ninian had not been entirely accurate, Ives admitted. [314] True, there was no war or poverty on Earth proper, but that was because there were only a couple of million people left on the planet. [315] It was an enclave for the highly privileged, highly interbred aristocracy, to which Martin's descendants belonged by virtue of their distinguished ancestry. [316] "Rather feudal, isn't it?" [317] Martin asked. [318] Ives agreed, adding that the system had, however, been deliberately planned, rather than the result of haphazard natural development. [319] Everything potentially unpleasant, like the mercantiles, had been deported. [320] "Not only natives livin' on the other worlds," Ives said as the two of them stood at the ship's rail, surrounded by the limitless expanse of some ocean or other. [321] "People, too. [322] Mostly lower classes, except for officials and things. [323] With wars and want and suffering," he added regretfully, "same as in your day.... Like now, I mean," he corrected himself. [324] "Maybe it is worse, the way Conrad thinks. [325] More planets for us to make trouble on. [326] Three that were habitable aren't any more. [327] Bombed. [328] Very thorough job." [329] "Oh," Martin murmured, trying to sound shocked, horrified—interested, even. [330] "Sometimes I'm not altogether sure Conrad was wrong," Ives said, after a pause. [331] "Tried to keep us from getting to the stars, hurting the people—I expect you could call them people—there. [332] Still—" he smiled shamefacedly—"couldn't stand by and see my own way of life destroyed, could I?" [333] "I suppose not," Martin said. [334] "Would take moral courage. [335] I don't have it. [336] None of us does, except Conrad, and even he—" Ives looked out over the sea. [337] "Must be a better way out than Conrad's," he said without conviction. [338] "And everything will work out all right in the end. [339] Bound to. [340] No sense to—to anything, if it doesn't." [341] He glanced wistfully at Martin. [342] "I hope so," said Martin. [343] But he couldn't hope; he couldn't feel; he couldn't even seem to care. [344] During all this time, Conrad still did not put in an appearance. [345] Martin had gotten to be such a crack shot with the ray pistol that he almost wished his descendant would show up, so there would be some excitement. [346] But he didn't come. [347] And Martin got to thinking.... [348] He always felt that if any of the cousins could have come to realize the basic flaw in the elaborate plan they had concocted, it would have been Ives. [349] However, when the yacht touched at Tierra del Fuego one bitter winter, Ives took a severe chill. [350] They sent for a doctor from the future—one of the descendants who had been eccentric enough to take a medical degree—but he wasn't able to save Ives. [351] The body was buried in the frozen ground at Ushuaia, on the southern tip of the continent, a hundred years or more before the date of his birth. [352] A great many of the cousins turned up at the simple ceremony. [353] All were dressed in overwhelming black and showed a great deal of grief. [354] Raymond read the burial service, because they didn't dare summon a clerical cousin from the future; they were afraid he might prove rather stuffy about the entire undertaking. [355] "He died for all of us," Raymond concluded his funeral eulogy over Ives, "so his death was not in vain." [356] But Martin disagreed. [357] The ceaseless voyaging began again. [358] The Interregnum voyaged to every ocean and every sea. [359] Some were blue and some green and some dun. [360] After a while, Martin couldn't tell one from another. [361] Cousin after cousin came to watch over him and eventually they were as hard for him to tell apart as the different oceans. [362] All the cousins were young, for, though they came at different times in his life, they had all started out from the same time in theirs. [363] Only the young ones had been included in the venture; they did not trust their elders. [364] As the years went by, Martin began to lose even his detached interest in the land and its doings. [365] Although the yacht frequently touched port for fuel or supplies—it was more economical to purchase them in that era than to have them shipped from the future—he seldom went ashore, and then only at the urging of a newly assigned cousin anxious to see the sights. [366] Most of the time Martin spent in watching the sea—and sometimes he painted it. [367] There seemed to be a depth to his seascapes that his other work lacked. [368] When he was pressed by the current cousin to make a land visit somewhere, he decided to exhibit a few of his sea paintings. [369] That way, he could fool himself into thinking that there was some purpose to this journey. [370] He'd come to believe that perhaps what his life lacked was purpose, and for a while he kept looking for meaning everywhere, to the cousin's utter disgust. [371] "Eat, drink and be merry, or whatever you Romans say when you do as you do," the cousin—who was rather woolly in history; the descendants were scraping bottom now—advised. [372] Martin showed his work in Italy, so that the cousin could be disillusioned by the current crop of Romans. [373] He found that neither purpose nor malice was enough; he was still immeasurably bored. [374] However, a museum bought two of the paintings. [375] Martin thought of Ives and felt an uncomfortable pang of a sensation he could no longer understand. [376] "Where do you suppose Conrad has been all this time?" [377] Martin idly asked the current cousin—who was passing as his nephew by now. [378] The young man jumped, then glanced around him uncomfortably. [379] "Conrad's a very shrewd fellow," he whispered. [380] "He's biding his time—waiting until we're off guard. [381] And then—pow!—he'll attack!" [382] "Oh, I see," Martin said. [383] He had often fancied that Conrad would prove to be the most stimulating member of the whole generation. [384] But it seemed unlikely that he would ever have a chance for a conversation with the young man. [385] More than one conversation, anyhow. [386] "When he does show up, I'll protect you," the cousin vowed, touching his ray gun. [387] "You haven't a thing to worry about." [388] Martin smiled with all the charm he'd had nothing to do but acquire. [389] "I have every confidence in you," he told his descendant. [390] He himself had given up carrying a gun long ago. [391] There was a war in the Northern Hemisphere and so The Interregnum voyaged to southern waters. [392] There was a war in the south and they hid out in the Arctic. [393] All the nations became too drained of power—fuel and man and will—to fight, so there was a sterile peace for a long time. [394] The Interregnum roamed the seas restlessly, with her load of passengers from the future, plus one bored and aging contemporary. [395] She bore big guns now, because of the ever-present danger of pirates. [396] Perhaps it was the traditionally bracing effect of sea air—perhaps it was the sheltered life—but Martin lived to be a very old man. [397] He was a hundred and four when his last illness came. [398] It was a great relief when the family doctor, called in again from the future, said there was no hope. [399] Martin didn't think he could have borne another year of life. [400] All the cousins gathered at the yacht to pay their last respects to their progenitor. [401] He saw Ninian again, after all these years, and Raymond—all the others, dozens of them, thronging around his bed, spilling out of the cabin and into the passageways and out onto the deck, making their usual clamor, even though their voices were hushed. [402] Only Ives was missing. [403] He'd been the lucky one, Martin knew. [404] He had been spared the tragedy that was going to befall these blooming young people—all the same age as when Martin had last seen them and doomed never to grow any older. [405] Underneath their masks of woe, he could see relief at the thought that at last they were going to be rid of their responsibility. [406] And underneath Martin's death mask lay an impersonal pity for those poor, stupid descendants of his who had blundered so irretrievably. [407] There was only one face which Martin had never seen before. [408] It wasn't a strange face, however, because Martin had seen one very like it in the looking glass when he was a young man. [409] "You must be Conrad," Martin called across the cabin in a voice that was still clear. [410] "I've been looking forward to meeting you for some time." [411] The other cousins whirled to face the newcomer. [412] "You're too late, Con," Raymond gloated for the whole generation. [413] "He's lived out his life." [414] "But he hasn't lived out his life," Conrad contradicted. [415] "He's lived out the life you created for him. [416] And for yourselves, too." [417] For the first time, Martin saw compassion in the eyes of one of his lineage and found it vaguely disturbing. [418] It didn't seem to belong there. [419] "Don't you realize even yet," Conrad went on, "that as soon as he goes, you'll go, too—present, past, future, wherever you are, you'll go up in the air like puffs of smoke?" [420] "What do you mean?" [421] Ninian quavered, her soft, pretty face alarmed. [422] Martin answered Conrad's rueful smile, but left the explanations up to him. [423] It was his show, after all. [424] "Because you will never have existed," Conrad said. [425] "You have no right to existence; it was you yourselves who watched him all the time, so he didn't have a chance to lead a normal life, get married, have children ...." Most of the cousins gasped as the truth began to percolate through. [426] "I knew from the very beginning," Conrad finished, "that I didn't have to do anything at all. [427] I just had to wait and you would destroy yourselves." [428] "I don't understand," Bartholomew protested, searching the faces of the cousins closest to him. [429] "What does he mean, we have never existed? [430] We're here, aren't we? [431] What—" "Shut up!" [432] Raymond snapped. [433] He turned on Martin. [434] "You don't seem surprised." [435] The old man grinned. [436] "I'm not. [437] I figured it all out years ago." [438] At first, he had wondered what he should do. [439] Would it be better to throw them into a futile panic by telling them or to do nothing? [440] He had decided on the latter; that was the role they had assigned him—to watch and wait and keep out of things—and that was the role he would play. [441] "You knew all the time and you didn't tell us!" [442] Raymond spluttered. [443] "After we'd been so good to you, making a gentleman out of you instead of a criminal.... That's right," he snarled, "a criminal! [444] An alcoholic, a thief, a derelict! [445] How do you like that?" [446] "Sounds like a rich, full life," Martin said wistfully. [447] What an exciting existence they must have done him out of! [448] But then, he couldn't help thinking, he—he and Conrad together, of course—had done them out of any kind of existence. [449] It wasn't his responsibility, though; he had done nothing but let matters take whatever course was destined for them. [450] If only he could be sure that it was the better course, perhaps he wouldn't feel that nagging sense of guilt inside him. [451] Strange—where, in his hermetic life, could he possibly have developed such a queer thing as a conscience? [452] "Then we've wasted all this time," Ninian sobbed, "all this energy, all this money, for nothing!" [453] "But you were nothing to begin with," Martin told them. [454] And then, after a pause, he added, "I only wish I could be sure there had been some purpose to this." [455] He didn't know whether it was approaching death that dimmed his sight, or whether the frightened crowd that pressed around him was growing shadowy. [456] "I wish I could feel that some good had been done in letting you be wiped out of existence," he went on voicing his thoughts. [457] "But I know that the same thing that happened to your worlds and my world will happen all over again. [458] To other people, in other times, but again. [459] It's bound to happen. [460] There isn't any hope for humanity." [461] One man couldn't really change the course of human history, he told himself. [462] Two men, that was—one real, one a shadow. [463] Conrad came close to the old man's bed. [464] He was almost transparent. [465] "No," he said, "there is hope. [466] They didn't know the time transmitter works two ways. [467] I used it for going into the past only once—just this once. [468] But I've gone into the future with it many times. [469] And—" he pressed Martin's hand—"believe me, what I did—what we did, you and I—serves a purpose. [470] It will change things for the better. [471] Everything is going to be all right." [472] Was Conrad telling him the truth, Martin wondered, or was he just giving the conventional reassurance to the dying? [473] More than that, was he trying to convince himself that what he had done was the right thing? [474] Every cousin had assured Martin that things were going to be all right. [475] Was Conrad actually different from the rest? [476] His plan had worked and the others' hadn't, but then all his plan had consisted of was doing nothing. [477] That was all he and Martin had done ... nothing. [478] Were they absolved of all responsibility merely because they had stood aside and taken advantage of the others' weaknesses? [479] "Why," Martin said to himself, "in a sense, it could be said that I have fulfilled my original destiny—that I am a criminal." [480] Well, it didn't matter; whatever happened, no one could hold him to blame. [481] He held no stake in the future that was to come. [482] It was other men's future—other men's problem. [483] He died very peacefully then, and, since he was the only one left on the ship, there was nobody to bury him. [484] The unmanned yacht drifted about the seas for years and gave rise to many legends, none of them as unbelievable as the truth.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "What is the relationship between Martin and Ives?": 1. [281] Cousin Ives—now that Martin was older, he was told to call the descendants cousin —next assumed guardianship. 2. [282] Ives took his responsibilities more seriously than the others did. 3. [311] He rather liked Ives, though. 4. [337] "Must be a better way out than Conrad's," he said without conviction. 5. [338] "And everything will work out all right in the end. Bound to." 6. [339] "No sense to—to anything, if it doesn't." 7. [340] He glanced wistfully at Martin. 8. [341] "I hope so," said Martin. 9. [348] He always felt that if any of the cousins could have come to realize the basic flaw in the elaborate plan they had concocted, it would have been Ives. 10. [349] However, when the yacht touched at Tierra del Fuego one bitter winter, Ives took a severe chill. 11. [350] They sent for a doctor from the future—one of the descendants who had been eccentric enough to take a medical degree—but he wasn't able to save Ives. 12. [351] The body was buried in the frozen ground at Ushuaia, on the southern tip of the continent, a hundred years or more before the date of his birth. 13. [352] A great many of the cousins turned up at the simple ceremony. 14. [353] All were dressed in overwhelming black and showed a great deal of grief. 15. [354] Raymond read the burial service, because they didn't dare summon a clerical cousin from the future; they were afraid he might prove rather stuffy about the entire undertaking. 16. [355] "He died for all of us," Raymond concluded his funeral eulogy over Ives, "so his death was not in vain." 17. [356] But Martin disagreed.

What is the role of the ‘cousins’ in the story?

[1] THE MAN OUTSIDE By EVELYN E. SMITH Illustrated by DILLON [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction August 1957. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] No one, least of all Martin, could dispute that a man's life should be guarded by his kin—but by those who hadn't been born yet? [4] Nobody in the neighborhood was surprised when Martin's mother disappeared and Ninian came to take care of him. [5] Mothers had a way of disappearing around those parts and the kids were often better off without them. [6] Martin was no exception. [7] He'd never had it this good while he was living with his old lady. [8] As for his father, Martin had never had one. [9] He'd been a war baby, born of one of the tides of soldiers—enemies and allies, both—that had engulfed the country in successive waves and bought or taken the women. [10] So there was no trouble that way. [11] Sometimes he wondered who Ninian really was. [12] Obviously that story about her coming from the future was just a gag. [13] Besides, if she really was his great-great-grand-daughter, as she said, why would she tell him to call her " Aunt Ninian "? [14] Maybe he was only eleven, but he'd been around and he knew just what the score was. [15] At first he'd thought maybe she was some new kind of social worker, but she acted a little too crazy for that. [16] He loved to bait her, as he had loved to bait his mother. [17] It was safer with Ninian, though, because when he pushed her too far, she would cry instead of mopping up the floor with him. [18] "But I can't understand," he would say, keeping his face straight. [19] "Why do you have to come from the future to protect me against your cousin Conrad?" [20] "Because he's coming to kill you." [21] "Why should he kill me? [22] I ain't done him nothing." [23] Ninian sighed. [24] "He's dissatisfied with the current social order and killing you is part of an elaborate plan he's formulated to change it. [25] You wouldn't understand." [26] "You're damn right. [27] I don't understand. [28] What's it all about in straight gas?" [29] "Oh, just don't ask any questions," Ninian said petulantly. [30] "When you get older, someone will explain the whole thing to you." [31] So Martin held his peace, because, on the whole, he liked things the way they were. [32] Ninian really was the limit, though. [33] All the people he knew lived in scabrous tenement apartments like his, but she seemed to think it was disgusting. [34] "So if you don't like it, clean it up," he suggested. [35] She looked at him as if he were out of his mind. [36] "Hire a maid, then!" [37] he jeered. [38] And darned if that dope didn't go out and get a woman to come clean up the place! [39] He was so embarrassed, he didn't even dare show his face in the streets—especially with the women buttonholing him and demanding to know what gave. [40] They tried talking to Ninian, but she certainly knew how to give them the cold shoulder. [41] One day the truant officer came to ask why Martin hadn't been coming to school. [42] Very few of the neighborhood kids attended classes very regularly, so this was just routine. [43] But Ninian didn't know that and she went into a real tizzy, babbling that Martin had been sick and would make up the work. [44] Martin nearly did get sick from laughing so hard inside. [45] But he laughed out of the other side of his mouth when she went out and hired a private tutor for him. [46] A tutor—in that neighborhood! [47] Martin had to beat up every kid on the block before he could walk a step without hearing "Fancy Pants!" [48] yelled after him. [49] Ninian worried all the time. [50] It wasn't that she cared what these people thought of her, for she made no secret of regarding them as little better than animals, but she was shy of attracting attention. [51] There were an awful lot of people in that neighborhood who felt exactly the same way, only she didn't know that, either. [52] She was really pretty dumb, Martin thought, for all her fancy lingo. [53] "It's so hard to think these things out without any prior practical application to go by," she told him. [54] He nodded, knowing what she meant was that everything was coming out wrong. [55] But he didn't try to help her; he just watched to see what she'd do next. [56] Already he had begun to assume the detached role of a spectator. [57] When it became clear that his mother was never going to show up again, Ninian bought one of those smallish, almost identical houses that mushroom on the fringes of a city after every war, particularly where intensive bombing has created a number of desirable building sites. [58] "This is a much better neighborhood for a boy to grow up in," she declared. [59] "Besides, it's easier to keep an eye on you here." [60] And keep an eye on him she did—she or a rather foppish young man who came to stay with them occasionally. [61] Martin was told to call him Uncle Raymond. [62] From time to time, there were other visitors—Uncles Ives and Bartholomew and Olaf, Aunts Ottillie and Grania and Lalage, and many more—all cousins to one another, he was told, all descendants of his. [63] Martin was never left alone for a minute. [64] He wasn't allowed to play with the other kids in the new neighborhood. [65] Not that their parents would have let them, anyway. [66] The adults obviously figured that if a one-car family hired private tutors for their kid, there must be something pretty wrong with him. [67] So Martin and Ninian were just as conspicuous as before. [68] But he didn't tip her off. [69] She was grown up; she was supposed to know better than he did. [70] He lived well. [71] He had food to eat that he'd never dreamed of before, warm clothes that no one had ever worn before him. [72] He was surrounded by more luxury than he knew what to do with. [73] The furniture was the latest New Grand Rapids African modern. [74] There were tidy, colorful Picasso and Braque prints on the walls. [75] And every inch of the floor was modestly covered by carpeting, though the walls were mostly unabashed glass. [76] There were hot water and heat all the time and a freezer well stocked with food—somewhat erratically chosen, for Ninian didn't know much about meals. [77] The non-glass part of the house was of neat, natural-toned wood, with a neat green lawn in front and a neat parti-colored garden in back. [78] Martin missed the old neighborhood, though. [79] He missed having other kids to play with. [80] He even missed his mother. [81] Sure, she hadn't given him enough to eat and she'd beaten him up so hard sometimes that she'd nearly killed him—but then there had also been times when she'd hugged and kissed him and soaked his collar with her tears. [82] She'd done all she could for him, supporting him in the only way she knew how—and if respectable society didn't like it, the hell with respectable society. [83] From Ninian and her cousins, there was only an impersonal kindness. [84] They made no bones about the fact that they were there only to carry out a rather unpleasant duty. [85] Though they were in the house with him, in their minds and in their talk they were living in another world—a world of warmth and peace and plenty where nobody worked, except in the government service or the essential professions. [86] And they seemed to think even that kind of job was pretty low-class, though better than actually doing anything with the hands. [87] In their world, Martin came to understand, nobody worked with hands; everything was done by machinery. [88] All the people ever did was wear pretty clothes and have good times and eat all they wanted. [89] There was no devastation, no war, no unhappiness, none of the concomitants of normal living. [90] It was then that Martin began to realize that either the whole lot of them were insane, or what Ninian had told him at first was the truth. [91] They came from the future. [92] When Martin was sixteen, Raymond took him aside for the talk Ninian had promised five years before. [93] "The whole thing's all my brother Conrad's fault. [94] You see, he's an idealist," Raymond explained, pronouncing the last word with distaste. [95] Martin nodded gravely. [96] He was a quiet boy now, his brief past a dim and rather ridiculous memory. [97] Who could ever imagine him robbing a grocery store or wielding a broken bottle now? [98] He still was rather undersized and he'd read so much that he'd weakened his eyes and had to wear glasses. [99] His face was pallid, because he spent little time in the sun, and his speech rather overbred, his mentors from the future having carefully eradicated all current vulgarities. [100] "And Conrad really got upset over the way Earth has been exploiting the not so intelligent life-forms on the other planets," Raymond continued. [101] "Which is distressing—though, of course, it's not as if they were people. [102] Besides, the government has been talking about passing laws to do away with the—well, abuses and things like that, and I'm sure someday everything will come out all right. [103] However, Conrad is so impatient." [104] "I thought, in your world, machines did all the work," Martin suggested. [105] "I've told you—our world is precisely the same as this one!" [106] Raymond snapped. [107] "We just come a couple of centuries or so later, that's all. [108] But remember, our interests are identical. [109] We're virtually the same people ... although it is amazing what a difference two hundred odd years of progress and polish can make in a species, isn't it?" [110] He continued more mildly: "However, even you ought to be able to understand that we can't make machinery without metal. [111] We need food. [112] All that sort of thing comes from the out-system planets. [113] And, on those worlds, it's far cheaper to use native labor than to ship out all that expensive machinery. [114] After all, if we didn't give the natives jobs, how would they manage to live?" [115] "How did they live before? [116] Come to think of it, if you don't work, how do you live now?... [117] I don't mean in the now for me, but the now for you," Martin explained laboriously. [118] It was so difficult to live in the past and think in the future. [119] "I'm trying to talk to you as if you were an adult," Raymond said, "but if you will persist in these childish interruptions—" "I'm sorry," Martin said. [120] But he wasn't, for by now he had little respect left for any of his descendants. [121] They were all exceedingly handsome and cultivated young people, with superior educations, smooth ways of speaking and considerable self-confidence, but they just weren't very bright. [122] And he had discovered that Raymond was perhaps the most intelligent of the lot. [123] Somewhere in that relatively short span of time, his line or—more frightening—his race had lost something vital. [124] Unaware of the near-contempt in which his young ancestor held him, Raymond went on blandly: "Anyhow, Conrad took it upon himself to feel particularly guilty, because, he decided, if it hadn't been for the fact that our great-grandfather discovered the super-drive, we might never have reached the stars. [125] Which is ridiculous—his feeling guilty, I mean. [126] Perhaps a great-grandfather is responsible for his great-grandchildren, but a great-grandchild can hardly be held accountable for his great-grandfather." [127] "How about a great-great-grandchild?" [128] Martin couldn't help asking. [129] Raymond flushed a delicate pink. [130] "Do you want to hear the rest of this or don't you?" [131] "Oh, I do!" [132] Martin said. [133] He had pieced the whole thing together for himself long since, but he wanted to hear how Raymond would put it. [134] "Unfortunately, Professor Farkas has just perfected the time transmitter. [135] Those government scientists are so infernally officious—always inventing such senseless things. [136] It's supposed to be hush-hush, but you know how news will leak out when one is always desperate for a fresh topic of conversation." [137] Anyhow, Raymond went on to explain, Conrad had bribed one of Farkas' assistants for a set of the plans. [138] Conrad's idea had been to go back in time and "eliminate!" [139] their common great-grandfather. [140] In that way, there would be no space-drive, and, hence, the Terrestrials would never get to the other planets and oppress the local aborigines. [141] "Sounds like a good way of dealing with the problem," Martin observed. [142] Raymond looked annoyed. [143] "It's the adolescent way," he said, "to do away with it, rather than find a solution. [144] Would you destroy a whole society in order to root out a single injustice?" [145] "Not if it were a good one otherwise." [146] "Well, there's your answer. [147] Conrad got the apparatus built, or perhaps he built it himself. [148] One doesn't inquire too closely into such matters. [149] But when it came to the point, Conrad couldn't bear the idea of eliminating our great-grandfather—because our great-grandfather was such a good man, you know." [150] Raymond's expressive upper lip curled. [151] "So Conrad decided to go further back still and get rid of his great-grandfather's father—who'd been, by all accounts, a pretty worthless character." [152] "That would be me, I suppose," Martin said quietly. [153] Raymond turned a deep rose. [154] "Well, doesn't that just go to prove you mustn't believe everything you hear?" [155] The next sentence tumbled out in a rush. [156] "I wormed the whole thing out of him and all of us—the other cousins and me—held a council of war, as it were, and we decided it was our moral duty to go back in time ourselves and protect you." [157] He beamed at Martin. [158] The boy smiled slowly. [159] "Of course. [160] You had to. [161] If Conrad succeeded in eliminating me, then none of you would exist, would you?" [162] Raymond frowned. [163] Then he shrugged cheerfully. [164] "Well, you didn't really suppose we were going to all this trouble and expense out of sheer altruism, did you?" [165] he asked, turning on the charm which all the cousins possessed to a consternating degree. [166] Martin had, of course, no illusions on that score; he had learned long ago that nobody did anything for nothing. [167] But saying so was unwise. [168] "We bribed another set of plans out of another of the professor's assistants," Raymond continued, as if Martin had answered, "and—ah—induced a handicraft enthusiast to build the gadget for us." [169] Induced , Martin knew, could have meant anything from blackmail to the use of the iron maiden. [170] "Then we were all ready to forestall Conrad. [171] If one of us guarded you night and day, he would never be able to carry out his plot. [172] So we made our counter-plan, set the machine as far back as it would go—and here we are!" [173] "I see," Martin said. [174] Raymond didn't seem to think he really did. [175] "After all," he pointed out defensively, "whatever our motives, it has turned into a good thing for you. [176] Nice home, cultured companions, all the contemporary conveniences, plus some handy anachronisms—I don't see what more you could ask for. [177] You're getting the best of all possible worlds. [178] Of course Ninian was a ninny to locate in a mercantile suburb where any little thing out of the way will cause talk. [179] How thankful I am that our era has completely disposed of the mercantiles—" "What did you do with them?" [180] Martin asked. [181] But Raymond rushed on: "Soon as Ninian goes and I'm in full charge, we'll get a more isolated place and run it on a far grander scale. [182] Ostentation—that's the way to live here and now; the richer you are, the more eccentricity you can get away with. [183] And," he added, "I might as well be as comfortable as possible while I suffer through this wretched historical stint." [184] "So Ninian's going," said Martin, wondering why the news made him feel curiously desolate. [185] Because, although he supposed he liked her in a remote kind of way, he had no fondness for her—or she, he knew, for him. [186] "Well, five years is rather a long stretch for any girl to spend in exile," Raymond explained, "even though our life spans are a bit longer than yours. [187] Besides, you're getting too old now to be under petticoat government." [188] He looked inquisitively at Martin. [189] "You're not going to go all weepy and make a scene when she leaves, are you?" [190] "No...." Martin said hesitantly. [191] "Oh, I suppose I will miss her. [192] But we aren't very close, so it won't make a real difference." [193] That was the sad part: he already knew it wouldn't make a difference. [194] Raymond clapped him on the shoulder. [195] "I knew you weren't a sloppy sentimentalist like Conrad. [196] Though you do have rather a look of him, you know." [197] Suddenly that seemed to make Conrad real. [198] Martin felt a vague stirring of alarm. [199] He kept his voice composed, however. [200] "How do you plan to protect me when he comes?" [201] "Well, each one of us is armed to the teeth, of course," Raymond said with modest pride, displaying something that looked like a child's combination spaceman's gun and death ray, but which, Martin had no doubt, was a perfectly genuine—and lethal—weapon. [202] "And we've got a rather elaborate burglar alarm system." [203] Martin inspected the system and made one or two changes in the wiring which, he felt, would increase its efficiency. [204] But still he was dubious. [205] "Maybe it'll work on someone coming from outside this house , but do you think it will work on someone coming from outside this time ?" [206] "Never fear—it has a temporal radius," Raymond replied. [207] "Factory guarantee and all that." [208] "Just to be on the safe side," Martin said, "I think I'd better have one of those guns, too." [209] "A splendid idea!" [210] enthused Raymond. [211] "I was just about to think of that myself!" [212] When it came time for the parting, it was Ninian who cried—tears at her own inadequacy, Martin knew, not of sorrow. [213] He was getting skillful at understanding his descendants, far better than they at understanding him. [214] But then they never really tried. [215] Ninian kissed him wetly on the cheek and said she was sure everything would work out all right and that she'd come see him again. [216] She never did, though, except at the very last. [217] Raymond and Martin moved into a luxurious mansion in a remote area. [218] The site proved a well-chosen one; when the Second Atomic War came, half a dozen years later, they weren't touched. [219] Martin was never sure whether this had been sheer luck or expert planning. [220] Probably luck, because his descendants were exceedingly inept planners. [221] Few people in the world then could afford to live as stylishly as Martin and his guardian. [222] The place not only contained every possible convenience and gadget but was crammed with bibelots and antiques, carefully chosen by Raymond and disputed by Martin, for, to the man from the future, all available artifacts were antiques. [223] Otherwise, Martin accepted his new surroundings. [224] His sense of wonder had become dulled by now and the pink pseudo-Spanish castle—"architecturally dreadful, of course," Raymond had said, "but so hilariously typical"—impressed him far less than had the suburban split-level aquarium. [225] "How about a moat?" [226] Martin suggested when they first came. [227] "It seems to go with a castle." [228] "Do you think a moat could stop Conrad?" [229] Raymond asked, amused. [230] "No," Martin smiled, feeling rather silly, "but it would make the place seem safer somehow." [231] The threat of Conrad was beginning to make him grow more and more nervous. [232] He got Raymond's permission to take two suits of armor that stood in the front hall and present them to a local museum, because several times he fancied he saw them move. [233] He also became an adept with the ray gun and changed the surrounding landscape quite a bit with it, until Raymond warned that this might lead Conrad to them. [234] During those early years, Martin's tutors were exchanged for the higher-degreed ones that were now needful. [235] The question inevitably arose of what the youth's vocation in that life was going to be. [236] At least twenty of the cousins came back through time to hold one of their vigorous family councils. [237] Martin was still young enough to enjoy such occasions, finding them vastly superior to all other forms of entertainment. [238] "This sort of problem wouldn't arise in our day, Martin," Raymond commented as he took his place at the head of the table, "because, unless one specifically feels a call to some profession or other, one just—well, drifts along happily." [239] "Ours is a wonderful world," Grania sighed at Martin. [240] "I only wish we could take you there. [241] I'm sure you would like it." [242] "Don't be a fool, Grania!" [243] Raymond snapped. [244] "Well, Martin, have you made up your mind what you want to be?" [245] Martin affected to think. [246] "A physicist," he said, not without malice. [247] "Or perhaps an engineer." [248] There was a loud, excited chorus of dissent. [249] He chuckled inwardly. [250] "Can't do that," Ives said. [251] "Might pick up some concepts from us. [252] Don't know how; none of us knows a thing about science. [253] But it could happen. [254] Subconscious osmosis, if there is such a thing. [255] That way, you might invent something ahead of time. [256] And the fellow we got the plans from particularly cautioned us against that. [257] Changing history. [258] Dangerous." [259] "Might mess up our time frightfully," Bartholomew contributed, "though, to be perfectly frank, I can't quite understand how." [260] "I am not going to sit down and explain the whole thing to you all over again, Bart!" [261] Raymond said impatiently. [262] "Well, Martin?" [263] "What would you suggest?" [264] Martin asked. [265] "How about becoming a painter? [266] Art is eternal. [267] And quite gentlemanly. [268] Besides, artists are always expected to be either behind or ahead of their times." [269] "Furthermore," Ottillie added, "one more artist couldn't make much difference in history. [270] There were so many of them all through the ages." [271] Martin couldn't hold back his question. [272] "What was I, actually, in that other time?" [273] There was a chilly silence. [274] "Let's not talk about it, dear," Lalage finally said. [275] "Let's just be thankful we've saved you from that !" [276] So drawing teachers were engaged and Martin became a very competent second-rate artist. [277] He knew he would never be able to achieve first rank because, even though he was still so young, his work was almost purely intellectual. [278] The only emotion he seemed able to feel was fear—the ever-present fear that someday he would turn a corridor and walk into a man who looked like him—a man who wanted to kill him for the sake of an ideal. [279] But the fear did not show in Martin's pictures. [280] They were pretty pictures. [281] Cousin Ives—now that Martin was older, he was told to call the descendants cousin —next assumed guardianship. [282] Ives took his responsibilities more seriously than the others did. [283] He even arranged to have Martin's work shown at an art gallery. [284] The paintings received critical approval, but failed to evoke any enthusiasm. [285] The modest sale they enjoyed was mostly to interior decorators. [286] Museums were not interested. [287] "Takes time," Ives tried to reassure him. [288] "One day they'll be buying your pictures, Martin. [289] Wait and see." [290] Ives was the only one of the descendants who seemed to think of Martin as an individual. [291] When his efforts to make contact with the other young man failed, he got worried and decided that what Martin needed was a change of air and scenery. [292] "'Course you can't go on the Grand Tour. [293] Your son hasn't invented space travel yet. [294] But we can go see this world. [295] What's left of it. [296] Tourists always like ruins best, anyway." [297] So he drew on the family's vast future resources and bought a yacht, which Martin christened The Interregnum . [298] They traveled about from sea to ocean and from ocean to sea, touching at various ports and making trips inland. [299] Martin saw the civilized world—mostly in fragments; the nearly intact semi-civilized world and the uncivilized world, much the same as it had been for centuries. [300] It was like visiting an enormous museum; he couldn't seem to identify with his own time any more. [301] The other cousins appeared to find the yacht a congenial head-quarters, largely because they could spend so much time far away from the contemporary inhabitants of the planet and relax and be themselves. [302] So they never moved back to land. [303] Martin spent the rest of his life on The Interregnum . [304] He felt curiously safer from Conrad there, although there was no valid reason why an ocean should stop a traveler through time. [305] More cousins were in residence at once than ever before, because they came for the ocean voyage. [306] They spent most of their time aboard ship, giving each other parties and playing an avant-garde form of shuffleboard and gambling on future sporting events. [307] That last usually ended in a brawl, because one cousin was sure to accuse another of having got advance information about the results. [308] Martin didn't care much for their company and associated with them only when not to have done so would have been palpably rude. [309] And, though they were gregarious young people for the most part, they didn't court his society. [310] He suspected that he made them feel uncomfortable. [311] He rather liked Ives, though. [312] Sometimes the two of them would be alone together; then Ives would tell Martin of the future world he had come from. [313] The picture drawn by Raymond and Ninian had not been entirely accurate, Ives admitted. [314] True, there was no war or poverty on Earth proper, but that was because there were only a couple of million people left on the planet. [315] It was an enclave for the highly privileged, highly interbred aristocracy, to which Martin's descendants belonged by virtue of their distinguished ancestry. [316] "Rather feudal, isn't it?" [317] Martin asked. [318] Ives agreed, adding that the system had, however, been deliberately planned, rather than the result of haphazard natural development. [319] Everything potentially unpleasant, like the mercantiles, had been deported. [320] "Not only natives livin' on the other worlds," Ives said as the two of them stood at the ship's rail, surrounded by the limitless expanse of some ocean or other. [321] "People, too. [322] Mostly lower classes, except for officials and things. [323] With wars and want and suffering," he added regretfully, "same as in your day.... Like now, I mean," he corrected himself. [324] "Maybe it is worse, the way Conrad thinks. [325] More planets for us to make trouble on. [326] Three that were habitable aren't any more. [327] Bombed. [328] Very thorough job." [329] "Oh," Martin murmured, trying to sound shocked, horrified—interested, even. [330] "Sometimes I'm not altogether sure Conrad was wrong," Ives said, after a pause. [331] "Tried to keep us from getting to the stars, hurting the people—I expect you could call them people—there. [332] Still—" he smiled shamefacedly—"couldn't stand by and see my own way of life destroyed, could I?" [333] "I suppose not," Martin said. [334] "Would take moral courage. [335] I don't have it. [336] None of us does, except Conrad, and even he—" Ives looked out over the sea. [337] "Must be a better way out than Conrad's," he said without conviction. [338] "And everything will work out all right in the end. [339] Bound to. [340] No sense to—to anything, if it doesn't." [341] He glanced wistfully at Martin. [342] "I hope so," said Martin. [343] But he couldn't hope; he couldn't feel; he couldn't even seem to care. [344] During all this time, Conrad still did not put in an appearance. [345] Martin had gotten to be such a crack shot with the ray pistol that he almost wished his descendant would show up, so there would be some excitement. [346] But he didn't come. [347] And Martin got to thinking.... [348] He always felt that if any of the cousins could have come to realize the basic flaw in the elaborate plan they had concocted, it would have been Ives. [349] However, when the yacht touched at Tierra del Fuego one bitter winter, Ives took a severe chill. [350] They sent for a doctor from the future—one of the descendants who had been eccentric enough to take a medical degree—but he wasn't able to save Ives. [351] The body was buried in the frozen ground at Ushuaia, on the southern tip of the continent, a hundred years or more before the date of his birth. [352] A great many of the cousins turned up at the simple ceremony. [353] All were dressed in overwhelming black and showed a great deal of grief. [354] Raymond read the burial service, because they didn't dare summon a clerical cousin from the future; they were afraid he might prove rather stuffy about the entire undertaking. [355] "He died for all of us," Raymond concluded his funeral eulogy over Ives, "so his death was not in vain." [356] But Martin disagreed. [357] The ceaseless voyaging began again. [358] The Interregnum voyaged to every ocean and every sea. [359] Some were blue and some green and some dun. [360] After a while, Martin couldn't tell one from another. [361] Cousin after cousin came to watch over him and eventually they were as hard for him to tell apart as the different oceans. [362] All the cousins were young, for, though they came at different times in his life, they had all started out from the same time in theirs. [363] Only the young ones had been included in the venture; they did not trust their elders. [364] As the years went by, Martin began to lose even his detached interest in the land and its doings. [365] Although the yacht frequently touched port for fuel or supplies—it was more economical to purchase them in that era than to have them shipped from the future—he seldom went ashore, and then only at the urging of a newly assigned cousin anxious to see the sights. [366] Most of the time Martin spent in watching the sea—and sometimes he painted it. [367] There seemed to be a depth to his seascapes that his other work lacked. [368] When he was pressed by the current cousin to make a land visit somewhere, he decided to exhibit a few of his sea paintings. [369] That way, he could fool himself into thinking that there was some purpose to this journey. [370] He'd come to believe that perhaps what his life lacked was purpose, and for a while he kept looking for meaning everywhere, to the cousin's utter disgust. [371] "Eat, drink and be merry, or whatever you Romans say when you do as you do," the cousin—who was rather woolly in history; the descendants were scraping bottom now—advised. [372] Martin showed his work in Italy, so that the cousin could be disillusioned by the current crop of Romans. [373] He found that neither purpose nor malice was enough; he was still immeasurably bored. [374] However, a museum bought two of the paintings. [375] Martin thought of Ives and felt an uncomfortable pang of a sensation he could no longer understand. [376] "Where do you suppose Conrad has been all this time?" [377] Martin idly asked the current cousin—who was passing as his nephew by now. [378] The young man jumped, then glanced around him uncomfortably. [379] "Conrad's a very shrewd fellow," he whispered. [380] "He's biding his time—waiting until we're off guard. [381] And then—pow!—he'll attack!" [382] "Oh, I see," Martin said. [383] He had often fancied that Conrad would prove to be the most stimulating member of the whole generation. [384] But it seemed unlikely that he would ever have a chance for a conversation with the young man. [385] More than one conversation, anyhow. [386] "When he does show up, I'll protect you," the cousin vowed, touching his ray gun. [387] "You haven't a thing to worry about." [388] Martin smiled with all the charm he'd had nothing to do but acquire. [389] "I have every confidence in you," he told his descendant. [390] He himself had given up carrying a gun long ago. [391] There was a war in the Northern Hemisphere and so The Interregnum voyaged to southern waters. [392] There was a war in the south and they hid out in the Arctic. [393] All the nations became too drained of power—fuel and man and will—to fight, so there was a sterile peace for a long time. [394] The Interregnum roamed the seas restlessly, with her load of passengers from the future, plus one bored and aging contemporary. [395] She bore big guns now, because of the ever-present danger of pirates. [396] Perhaps it was the traditionally bracing effect of sea air—perhaps it was the sheltered life—but Martin lived to be a very old man. [397] He was a hundred and four when his last illness came. [398] It was a great relief when the family doctor, called in again from the future, said there was no hope. [399] Martin didn't think he could have borne another year of life. [400] All the cousins gathered at the yacht to pay their last respects to their progenitor. [401] He saw Ninian again, after all these years, and Raymond—all the others, dozens of them, thronging around his bed, spilling out of the cabin and into the passageways and out onto the deck, making their usual clamor, even though their voices were hushed. [402] Only Ives was missing. [403] He'd been the lucky one, Martin knew. [404] He had been spared the tragedy that was going to befall these blooming young people—all the same age as when Martin had last seen them and doomed never to grow any older. [405] Underneath their masks of woe, he could see relief at the thought that at last they were going to be rid of their responsibility. [406] And underneath Martin's death mask lay an impersonal pity for those poor, stupid descendants of his who had blundered so irretrievably. [407] There was only one face which Martin had never seen before. [408] It wasn't a strange face, however, because Martin had seen one very like it in the looking glass when he was a young man. [409] "You must be Conrad," Martin called across the cabin in a voice that was still clear. [410] "I've been looking forward to meeting you for some time." [411] The other cousins whirled to face the newcomer. [412] "You're too late, Con," Raymond gloated for the whole generation. [413] "He's lived out his life." [414] "But he hasn't lived out his life," Conrad contradicted. [415] "He's lived out the life you created for him. [416] And for yourselves, too." [417] For the first time, Martin saw compassion in the eyes of one of his lineage and found it vaguely disturbing. [418] It didn't seem to belong there. [419] "Don't you realize even yet," Conrad went on, "that as soon as he goes, you'll go, too—present, past, future, wherever you are, you'll go up in the air like puffs of smoke?" [420] "What do you mean?" [421] Ninian quavered, her soft, pretty face alarmed. [422] Martin answered Conrad's rueful smile, but left the explanations up to him. [423] It was his show, after all. [424] "Because you will never have existed," Conrad said. [425] "You have no right to existence; it was you yourselves who watched him all the time, so he didn't have a chance to lead a normal life, get married, have children ...." Most of the cousins gasped as the truth began to percolate through. [426] "I knew from the very beginning," Conrad finished, "that I didn't have to do anything at all. [427] I just had to wait and you would destroy yourselves." [428] "I don't understand," Bartholomew protested, searching the faces of the cousins closest to him. [429] "What does he mean, we have never existed? [430] We're here, aren't we? [431] What—" "Shut up!" [432] Raymond snapped. [433] He turned on Martin. [434] "You don't seem surprised." [435] The old man grinned. [436] "I'm not. [437] I figured it all out years ago." [438] At first, he had wondered what he should do. [439] Would it be better to throw them into a futile panic by telling them or to do nothing? [440] He had decided on the latter; that was the role they had assigned him—to watch and wait and keep out of things—and that was the role he would play. [441] "You knew all the time and you didn't tell us!" [442] Raymond spluttered. [443] "After we'd been so good to you, making a gentleman out of you instead of a criminal.... That's right," he snarled, "a criminal! [444] An alcoholic, a thief, a derelict! [445] How do you like that?" [446] "Sounds like a rich, full life," Martin said wistfully. [447] What an exciting existence they must have done him out of! [448] But then, he couldn't help thinking, he—he and Conrad together, of course—had done them out of any kind of existence. [449] It wasn't his responsibility, though; he had done nothing but let matters take whatever course was destined for them. [450] If only he could be sure that it was the better course, perhaps he wouldn't feel that nagging sense of guilt inside him. [451] Strange—where, in his hermetic life, could he possibly have developed such a queer thing as a conscience? [452] "Then we've wasted all this time," Ninian sobbed, "all this energy, all this money, for nothing!" [453] "But you were nothing to begin with," Martin told them. [454] And then, after a pause, he added, "I only wish I could be sure there had been some purpose to this." [455] He didn't know whether it was approaching death that dimmed his sight, or whether the frightened crowd that pressed around him was growing shadowy. [456] "I wish I could feel that some good had been done in letting you be wiped out of existence," he went on voicing his thoughts. [457] "But I know that the same thing that happened to your worlds and my world will happen all over again. [458] To other people, in other times, but again. [459] It's bound to happen. [460] There isn't any hope for humanity." [461] One man couldn't really change the course of human history, he told himself. [462] Two men, that was—one real, one a shadow. [463] Conrad came close to the old man's bed. [464] He was almost transparent. [465] "No," he said, "there is hope. [466] They didn't know the time transmitter works two ways. [467] I used it for going into the past only once—just this once. [468] But I've gone into the future with it many times. [469] And—" he pressed Martin's hand—"believe me, what I did—what we did, you and I—serves a purpose. [470] It will change things for the better. [471] Everything is going to be all right." [472] Was Conrad telling him the truth, Martin wondered, or was he just giving the conventional reassurance to the dying? [473] More than that, was he trying to convince himself that what he had done was the right thing? [474] Every cousin had assured Martin that things were going to be all right. [475] Was Conrad actually different from the rest? [476] His plan had worked and the others' hadn't, but then all his plan had consisted of was doing nothing. [477] That was all he and Martin had done ... nothing. [478] Were they absolved of all responsibility merely because they had stood aside and taken advantage of the others' weaknesses? [479] "Why," Martin said to himself, "in a sense, it could be said that I have fulfilled my original destiny—that I am a criminal." [480] Well, it didn't matter; whatever happened, no one could hold him to blame. [481] He held no stake in the future that was to come. [482] It was other men's future—other men's problem. [483] He died very peacefully then, and, since he was the only one left on the ship, there was nobody to bury him. [484] The unmanned yacht drifted about the seas for years and gave rise to many legends, none of them as unbelievable as the truth.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "What is the role of the 'cousins' in the story?": 1. [156] He beamed at Martin. [157] The boy smiled slowly. [158] "Of course. [159] You had to. [160] If Conrad succeeded in eliminating me, then none of you would exist, would you?" 2. [93] "The whole thing's all my brother Conrad's fault. [94] You see, he's an idealist," Raymond explained, pronouncing the last word with distaste. 3. [124] "Anyhow, Conrad took it upon himself to feel particularly guilty, because, he decided, if it hadn't been for the fact that our great-grandfather discovered the super-drive, we might never have reached the stars. 4. [134] "Unfortunately, Professor Farkas has just perfected the time transmitter. [135] Those government scientists are so infernally officious—always inventing such senseless things. 5. [137] Anyhow, Raymond went on to explain, Conrad had bribed one of Farkas' assistants for a set of the plans. [138] Conrad's idea had been to go back in time and "eliminate!" [139] their common great-grandfather. 6. [155] The next sentence tumbled out in a rush. [156] "I wormed the whole thing out of him and all of us—the other cousins and me—held a council of war, as it were, and we decided it was our moral duty to go back in time ourselves and protect you." 7. [170] "If one of us guarded you night and day, he would never be able to carry out his plot. [171] So we made our counter-plan, set the machine as far back as it would go—and here we are!" 8. [201] "Well, each one of us is armed to the teeth, of course," Raymond said with modest pride, displaying something that looked like a child's combination spaceman's gun and death ray, but which, Martin had no doubt, was a perfectly genuine—and lethal—weapon. 9. [202] "And we've got a rather elaborate burglar alarm system." 10. [235] The question inevitably arose of what the youth's vocation in that life was going to be. [236] At least twenty of the cousins came back through time to hold one of their vigorous family councils. 11. [281] Cousin Ives—now that Martin was older, he was told to call the descendants cousin —next assumed guardianship. 12. [302] So they never moved back to land. [303] Martin spent the rest of his life on The Interregnum. 13. [304] He felt curiously safer from Conrad there, although there was no valid reason why an ocean should stop a traveler through time. 14. [305] More cousins were in residence at once than ever before, because they came for the ocean voyage. 15. [306] They spent most of their time aboard ship, giving each other parties and playing an avant-garde form of shuffleboard and gambling on future sporting events. 16. [307] That last usually ended in a brawl, because one cousin was sure to accuse another of having got advance information about the results. 17. [311] He rather liked Ives, though. [312] Sometimes the two of them would be alone together; then Ives would tell Martin of the future world he had come from. 18. [350] They sent for a doctor from the future—one of the descendants who had been eccentric enough to take a medical degree—but he wasn't able to save Ives. 19. [351] The body was buried in the frozen ground at Ushuaia, on the southern tip of the continent, a hundred years or more before the date of his birth. 20. [352] A great many of the cousins turned up at the simple ceremony. [353] All were dressed in overwhelming black and showed a great deal of grief. 21. [354] Raymond read the burial service, because they didn't dare summon a clerical cousin from the future; they were afraid he might prove rather stuffy about the entire undertaking. 22. [355] "He died for all of us," Raymond concluded his funeral eulogy over Ives, "so his death was not in vain." 23. [356] But Martin disagreed. 24. [360] After a while, Martin couldn't tell one from another. [361] Cousin after cousin came to watch over him and eventually they were as hard for him to tell apart as the different oceans. 25. [362] All the cousins were young, for, though they came at different times in his life, they had all started out from the same time in theirs. [363] Only the young ones had been included in the venture; they did not trust their elders. 26. [377] "Where do you suppose Conrad has been all this time?" [378] Martin idly asked the current cousin—who was passing as his nephew by now. [379] The young man jumped, then glanced around him uncomfortably. [380] "Conrad's a very shrewd fellow," he whispered. [381] "He's biding his time—waiting until we're off guard. [382] And then—pow!—he'll attack!" 27. [385] More than one conversation, anyhow. [386] "When he does show up, I'll protect you," the cousin vowed, touching his ray gun. [387] "You haven't a thing to worry about." 28. [400] All the cousins gathered at the yacht to pay their last respects to their progenitor. [401] He saw Ninian again, after all these years, and Raymond—all the others, dozens of them, thronging around his bed, spilling out of the cabin and into the passageways and out onto the deck, making their usual clamor, even though their voices were hushed. 29. [402] Only Ives was missing. [403] He'd been the lucky one, Martin knew. [404] He had been spared the tragedy that was going to befall these blooming young people—all the same age as when Martin had last seen them and doomed never to grow any older. 30. [405] Underneath their masks of woe, he could see relief at the thought that at last they were going to be rid of their responsibility.

What is the significance of time in this story?

[1] THE MAN OUTSIDE By EVELYN E. SMITH Illustrated by DILLON [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction August 1957. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] No one, least of all Martin, could dispute that a man's life should be guarded by his kin—but by those who hadn't been born yet? [4] Nobody in the neighborhood was surprised when Martin's mother disappeared and Ninian came to take care of him. [5] Mothers had a way of disappearing around those parts and the kids were often better off without them. [6] Martin was no exception. [7] He'd never had it this good while he was living with his old lady. [8] As for his father, Martin had never had one. [9] He'd been a war baby, born of one of the tides of soldiers—enemies and allies, both—that had engulfed the country in successive waves and bought or taken the women. [10] So there was no trouble that way. [11] Sometimes he wondered who Ninian really was. [12] Obviously that story about her coming from the future was just a gag. [13] Besides, if she really was his great-great-grand-daughter, as she said, why would she tell him to call her " Aunt Ninian "? [14] Maybe he was only eleven, but he'd been around and he knew just what the score was. [15] At first he'd thought maybe she was some new kind of social worker, but she acted a little too crazy for that. [16] He loved to bait her, as he had loved to bait his mother. [17] It was safer with Ninian, though, because when he pushed her too far, she would cry instead of mopping up the floor with him. [18] "But I can't understand," he would say, keeping his face straight. [19] "Why do you have to come from the future to protect me against your cousin Conrad?" [20] "Because he's coming to kill you." [21] "Why should he kill me? [22] I ain't done him nothing." [23] Ninian sighed. [24] "He's dissatisfied with the current social order and killing you is part of an elaborate plan he's formulated to change it. [25] You wouldn't understand." [26] "You're damn right. [27] I don't understand. [28] What's it all about in straight gas?" [29] "Oh, just don't ask any questions," Ninian said petulantly. [30] "When you get older, someone will explain the whole thing to you." [31] So Martin held his peace, because, on the whole, he liked things the way they were. [32] Ninian really was the limit, though. [33] All the people he knew lived in scabrous tenement apartments like his, but she seemed to think it was disgusting. [34] "So if you don't like it, clean it up," he suggested. [35] She looked at him as if he were out of his mind. [36] "Hire a maid, then!" [37] he jeered. [38] And darned if that dope didn't go out and get a woman to come clean up the place! [39] He was so embarrassed, he didn't even dare show his face in the streets—especially with the women buttonholing him and demanding to know what gave. [40] They tried talking to Ninian, but she certainly knew how to give them the cold shoulder. [41] One day the truant officer came to ask why Martin hadn't been coming to school. [42] Very few of the neighborhood kids attended classes very regularly, so this was just routine. [43] But Ninian didn't know that and she went into a real tizzy, babbling that Martin had been sick and would make up the work. [44] Martin nearly did get sick from laughing so hard inside. [45] But he laughed out of the other side of his mouth when she went out and hired a private tutor for him. [46] A tutor—in that neighborhood! [47] Martin had to beat up every kid on the block before he could walk a step without hearing "Fancy Pants!" [48] yelled after him. [49] Ninian worried all the time. [50] It wasn't that she cared what these people thought of her, for she made no secret of regarding them as little better than animals, but she was shy of attracting attention. [51] There were an awful lot of people in that neighborhood who felt exactly the same way, only she didn't know that, either. [52] She was really pretty dumb, Martin thought, for all her fancy lingo. [53] "It's so hard to think these things out without any prior practical application to go by," she told him. [54] He nodded, knowing what she meant was that everything was coming out wrong. [55] But he didn't try to help her; he just watched to see what she'd do next. [56] Already he had begun to assume the detached role of a spectator. [57] When it became clear that his mother was never going to show up again, Ninian bought one of those smallish, almost identical houses that mushroom on the fringes of a city after every war, particularly where intensive bombing has created a number of desirable building sites. [58] "This is a much better neighborhood for a boy to grow up in," she declared. [59] "Besides, it's easier to keep an eye on you here." [60] And keep an eye on him she did—she or a rather foppish young man who came to stay with them occasionally. [61] Martin was told to call him Uncle Raymond. [62] From time to time, there were other visitors—Uncles Ives and Bartholomew and Olaf, Aunts Ottillie and Grania and Lalage, and many more—all cousins to one another, he was told, all descendants of his. [63] Martin was never left alone for a minute. [64] He wasn't allowed to play with the other kids in the new neighborhood. [65] Not that their parents would have let them, anyway. [66] The adults obviously figured that if a one-car family hired private tutors for their kid, there must be something pretty wrong with him. [67] So Martin and Ninian were just as conspicuous as before. [68] But he didn't tip her off. [69] She was grown up; she was supposed to know better than he did. [70] He lived well. [71] He had food to eat that he'd never dreamed of before, warm clothes that no one had ever worn before him. [72] He was surrounded by more luxury than he knew what to do with. [73] The furniture was the latest New Grand Rapids African modern. [74] There were tidy, colorful Picasso and Braque prints on the walls. [75] And every inch of the floor was modestly covered by carpeting, though the walls were mostly unabashed glass. [76] There were hot water and heat all the time and a freezer well stocked with food—somewhat erratically chosen, for Ninian didn't know much about meals. [77] The non-glass part of the house was of neat, natural-toned wood, with a neat green lawn in front and a neat parti-colored garden in back. [78] Martin missed the old neighborhood, though. [79] He missed having other kids to play with. [80] He even missed his mother. [81] Sure, she hadn't given him enough to eat and she'd beaten him up so hard sometimes that she'd nearly killed him—but then there had also been times when she'd hugged and kissed him and soaked his collar with her tears. [82] She'd done all she could for him, supporting him in the only way she knew how—and if respectable society didn't like it, the hell with respectable society. [83] From Ninian and her cousins, there was only an impersonal kindness. [84] They made no bones about the fact that they were there only to carry out a rather unpleasant duty. [85] Though they were in the house with him, in their minds and in their talk they were living in another world—a world of warmth and peace and plenty where nobody worked, except in the government service or the essential professions. [86] And they seemed to think even that kind of job was pretty low-class, though better than actually doing anything with the hands. [87] In their world, Martin came to understand, nobody worked with hands; everything was done by machinery. [88] All the people ever did was wear pretty clothes and have good times and eat all they wanted. [89] There was no devastation, no war, no unhappiness, none of the concomitants of normal living. [90] It was then that Martin began to realize that either the whole lot of them were insane, or what Ninian had told him at first was the truth. [91] They came from the future. [92] When Martin was sixteen, Raymond took him aside for the talk Ninian had promised five years before. [93] "The whole thing's all my brother Conrad's fault. [94] You see, he's an idealist," Raymond explained, pronouncing the last word with distaste. [95] Martin nodded gravely. [96] He was a quiet boy now, his brief past a dim and rather ridiculous memory. [97] Who could ever imagine him robbing a grocery store or wielding a broken bottle now? [98] He still was rather undersized and he'd read so much that he'd weakened his eyes and had to wear glasses. [99] His face was pallid, because he spent little time in the sun, and his speech rather overbred, his mentors from the future having carefully eradicated all current vulgarities. [100] "And Conrad really got upset over the way Earth has been exploiting the not so intelligent life-forms on the other planets," Raymond continued. [101] "Which is distressing—though, of course, it's not as if they were people. [102] Besides, the government has been talking about passing laws to do away with the—well, abuses and things like that, and I'm sure someday everything will come out all right. [103] However, Conrad is so impatient." [104] "I thought, in your world, machines did all the work," Martin suggested. [105] "I've told you—our world is precisely the same as this one!" [106] Raymond snapped. [107] "We just come a couple of centuries or so later, that's all. [108] But remember, our interests are identical. [109] We're virtually the same people ... although it is amazing what a difference two hundred odd years of progress and polish can make in a species, isn't it?" [110] He continued more mildly: "However, even you ought to be able to understand that we can't make machinery without metal. [111] We need food. [112] All that sort of thing comes from the out-system planets. [113] And, on those worlds, it's far cheaper to use native labor than to ship out all that expensive machinery. [114] After all, if we didn't give the natives jobs, how would they manage to live?" [115] "How did they live before? [116] Come to think of it, if you don't work, how do you live now?... [117] I don't mean in the now for me, but the now for you," Martin explained laboriously. [118] It was so difficult to live in the past and think in the future. [119] "I'm trying to talk to you as if you were an adult," Raymond said, "but if you will persist in these childish interruptions—" "I'm sorry," Martin said. [120] But he wasn't, for by now he had little respect left for any of his descendants. [121] They were all exceedingly handsome and cultivated young people, with superior educations, smooth ways of speaking and considerable self-confidence, but they just weren't very bright. [122] And he had discovered that Raymond was perhaps the most intelligent of the lot. [123] Somewhere in that relatively short span of time, his line or—more frightening—his race had lost something vital. [124] Unaware of the near-contempt in which his young ancestor held him, Raymond went on blandly: "Anyhow, Conrad took it upon himself to feel particularly guilty, because, he decided, if it hadn't been for the fact that our great-grandfather discovered the super-drive, we might never have reached the stars. [125] Which is ridiculous—his feeling guilty, I mean. [126] Perhaps a great-grandfather is responsible for his great-grandchildren, but a great-grandchild can hardly be held accountable for his great-grandfather." [127] "How about a great-great-grandchild?" [128] Martin couldn't help asking. [129] Raymond flushed a delicate pink. [130] "Do you want to hear the rest of this or don't you?" [131] "Oh, I do!" [132] Martin said. [133] He had pieced the whole thing together for himself long since, but he wanted to hear how Raymond would put it. [134] "Unfortunately, Professor Farkas has just perfected the time transmitter. [135] Those government scientists are so infernally officious—always inventing such senseless things. [136] It's supposed to be hush-hush, but you know how news will leak out when one is always desperate for a fresh topic of conversation." [137] Anyhow, Raymond went on to explain, Conrad had bribed one of Farkas' assistants for a set of the plans. [138] Conrad's idea had been to go back in time and "eliminate!" [139] their common great-grandfather. [140] In that way, there would be no space-drive, and, hence, the Terrestrials would never get to the other planets and oppress the local aborigines. [141] "Sounds like a good way of dealing with the problem," Martin observed. [142] Raymond looked annoyed. [143] "It's the adolescent way," he said, "to do away with it, rather than find a solution. [144] Would you destroy a whole society in order to root out a single injustice?" [145] "Not if it were a good one otherwise." [146] "Well, there's your answer. [147] Conrad got the apparatus built, or perhaps he built it himself. [148] One doesn't inquire too closely into such matters. [149] But when it came to the point, Conrad couldn't bear the idea of eliminating our great-grandfather—because our great-grandfather was such a good man, you know." [150] Raymond's expressive upper lip curled. [151] "So Conrad decided to go further back still and get rid of his great-grandfather's father—who'd been, by all accounts, a pretty worthless character." [152] "That would be me, I suppose," Martin said quietly. [153] Raymond turned a deep rose. [154] "Well, doesn't that just go to prove you mustn't believe everything you hear?" [155] The next sentence tumbled out in a rush. [156] "I wormed the whole thing out of him and all of us—the other cousins and me—held a council of war, as it were, and we decided it was our moral duty to go back in time ourselves and protect you." [157] He beamed at Martin. [158] The boy smiled slowly. [159] "Of course. [160] You had to. [161] If Conrad succeeded in eliminating me, then none of you would exist, would you?" [162] Raymond frowned. [163] Then he shrugged cheerfully. [164] "Well, you didn't really suppose we were going to all this trouble and expense out of sheer altruism, did you?" [165] he asked, turning on the charm which all the cousins possessed to a consternating degree. [166] Martin had, of course, no illusions on that score; he had learned long ago that nobody did anything for nothing. [167] But saying so was unwise. [168] "We bribed another set of plans out of another of the professor's assistants," Raymond continued, as if Martin had answered, "and—ah—induced a handicraft enthusiast to build the gadget for us." [169] Induced , Martin knew, could have meant anything from blackmail to the use of the iron maiden. [170] "Then we were all ready to forestall Conrad. [171] If one of us guarded you night and day, he would never be able to carry out his plot. [172] So we made our counter-plan, set the machine as far back as it would go—and here we are!" [173] "I see," Martin said. [174] Raymond didn't seem to think he really did. [175] "After all," he pointed out defensively, "whatever our motives, it has turned into a good thing for you. [176] Nice home, cultured companions, all the contemporary conveniences, plus some handy anachronisms—I don't see what more you could ask for. [177] You're getting the best of all possible worlds. [178] Of course Ninian was a ninny to locate in a mercantile suburb where any little thing out of the way will cause talk. [179] How thankful I am that our era has completely disposed of the mercantiles—" "What did you do with them?" [180] Martin asked. [181] But Raymond rushed on: "Soon as Ninian goes and I'm in full charge, we'll get a more isolated place and run it on a far grander scale. [182] Ostentation—that's the way to live here and now; the richer you are, the more eccentricity you can get away with. [183] And," he added, "I might as well be as comfortable as possible while I suffer through this wretched historical stint." [184] "So Ninian's going," said Martin, wondering why the news made him feel curiously desolate. [185] Because, although he supposed he liked her in a remote kind of way, he had no fondness for her—or she, he knew, for him. [186] "Well, five years is rather a long stretch for any girl to spend in exile," Raymond explained, "even though our life spans are a bit longer than yours. [187] Besides, you're getting too old now to be under petticoat government." [188] He looked inquisitively at Martin. [189] "You're not going to go all weepy and make a scene when she leaves, are you?" [190] "No...." Martin said hesitantly. [191] "Oh, I suppose I will miss her. [192] But we aren't very close, so it won't make a real difference." [193] That was the sad part: he already knew it wouldn't make a difference. [194] Raymond clapped him on the shoulder. [195] "I knew you weren't a sloppy sentimentalist like Conrad. [196] Though you do have rather a look of him, you know." [197] Suddenly that seemed to make Conrad real. [198] Martin felt a vague stirring of alarm. [199] He kept his voice composed, however. [200] "How do you plan to protect me when he comes?" [201] "Well, each one of us is armed to the teeth, of course," Raymond said with modest pride, displaying something that looked like a child's combination spaceman's gun and death ray, but which, Martin had no doubt, was a perfectly genuine—and lethal—weapon. [202] "And we've got a rather elaborate burglar alarm system." [203] Martin inspected the system and made one or two changes in the wiring which, he felt, would increase its efficiency. [204] But still he was dubious. [205] "Maybe it'll work on someone coming from outside this house , but do you think it will work on someone coming from outside this time ?" [206] "Never fear—it has a temporal radius," Raymond replied. [207] "Factory guarantee and all that." [208] "Just to be on the safe side," Martin said, "I think I'd better have one of those guns, too." [209] "A splendid idea!" [210] enthused Raymond. [211] "I was just about to think of that myself!" [212] When it came time for the parting, it was Ninian who cried—tears at her own inadequacy, Martin knew, not of sorrow. [213] He was getting skillful at understanding his descendants, far better than they at understanding him. [214] But then they never really tried. [215] Ninian kissed him wetly on the cheek and said she was sure everything would work out all right and that she'd come see him again. [216] She never did, though, except at the very last. [217] Raymond and Martin moved into a luxurious mansion in a remote area. [218] The site proved a well-chosen one; when the Second Atomic War came, half a dozen years later, they weren't touched. [219] Martin was never sure whether this had been sheer luck or expert planning. [220] Probably luck, because his descendants were exceedingly inept planners. [221] Few people in the world then could afford to live as stylishly as Martin and his guardian. [222] The place not only contained every possible convenience and gadget but was crammed with bibelots and antiques, carefully chosen by Raymond and disputed by Martin, for, to the man from the future, all available artifacts were antiques. [223] Otherwise, Martin accepted his new surroundings. [224] His sense of wonder had become dulled by now and the pink pseudo-Spanish castle—"architecturally dreadful, of course," Raymond had said, "but so hilariously typical"—impressed him far less than had the suburban split-level aquarium. [225] "How about a moat?" [226] Martin suggested when they first came. [227] "It seems to go with a castle." [228] "Do you think a moat could stop Conrad?" [229] Raymond asked, amused. [230] "No," Martin smiled, feeling rather silly, "but it would make the place seem safer somehow." [231] The threat of Conrad was beginning to make him grow more and more nervous. [232] He got Raymond's permission to take two suits of armor that stood in the front hall and present them to a local museum, because several times he fancied he saw them move. [233] He also became an adept with the ray gun and changed the surrounding landscape quite a bit with it, until Raymond warned that this might lead Conrad to them. [234] During those early years, Martin's tutors were exchanged for the higher-degreed ones that were now needful. [235] The question inevitably arose of what the youth's vocation in that life was going to be. [236] At least twenty of the cousins came back through time to hold one of their vigorous family councils. [237] Martin was still young enough to enjoy such occasions, finding them vastly superior to all other forms of entertainment. [238] "This sort of problem wouldn't arise in our day, Martin," Raymond commented as he took his place at the head of the table, "because, unless one specifically feels a call to some profession or other, one just—well, drifts along happily." [239] "Ours is a wonderful world," Grania sighed at Martin. [240] "I only wish we could take you there. [241] I'm sure you would like it." [242] "Don't be a fool, Grania!" [243] Raymond snapped. [244] "Well, Martin, have you made up your mind what you want to be?" [245] Martin affected to think. [246] "A physicist," he said, not without malice. [247] "Or perhaps an engineer." [248] There was a loud, excited chorus of dissent. [249] He chuckled inwardly. [250] "Can't do that," Ives said. [251] "Might pick up some concepts from us. [252] Don't know how; none of us knows a thing about science. [253] But it could happen. [254] Subconscious osmosis, if there is such a thing. [255] That way, you might invent something ahead of time. [256] And the fellow we got the plans from particularly cautioned us against that. [257] Changing history. [258] Dangerous." [259] "Might mess up our time frightfully," Bartholomew contributed, "though, to be perfectly frank, I can't quite understand how." [260] "I am not going to sit down and explain the whole thing to you all over again, Bart!" [261] Raymond said impatiently. [262] "Well, Martin?" [263] "What would you suggest?" [264] Martin asked. [265] "How about becoming a painter? [266] Art is eternal. [267] And quite gentlemanly. [268] Besides, artists are always expected to be either behind or ahead of their times." [269] "Furthermore," Ottillie added, "one more artist couldn't make much difference in history. [270] There were so many of them all through the ages." [271] Martin couldn't hold back his question. [272] "What was I, actually, in that other time?" [273] There was a chilly silence. [274] "Let's not talk about it, dear," Lalage finally said. [275] "Let's just be thankful we've saved you from that !" [276] So drawing teachers were engaged and Martin became a very competent second-rate artist. [277] He knew he would never be able to achieve first rank because, even though he was still so young, his work was almost purely intellectual. [278] The only emotion he seemed able to feel was fear—the ever-present fear that someday he would turn a corridor and walk into a man who looked like him—a man who wanted to kill him for the sake of an ideal. [279] But the fear did not show in Martin's pictures. [280] They were pretty pictures. [281] Cousin Ives—now that Martin was older, he was told to call the descendants cousin —next assumed guardianship. [282] Ives took his responsibilities more seriously than the others did. [283] He even arranged to have Martin's work shown at an art gallery. [284] The paintings received critical approval, but failed to evoke any enthusiasm. [285] The modest sale they enjoyed was mostly to interior decorators. [286] Museums were not interested. [287] "Takes time," Ives tried to reassure him. [288] "One day they'll be buying your pictures, Martin. [289] Wait and see." [290] Ives was the only one of the descendants who seemed to think of Martin as an individual. [291] When his efforts to make contact with the other young man failed, he got worried and decided that what Martin needed was a change of air and scenery. [292] "'Course you can't go on the Grand Tour. [293] Your son hasn't invented space travel yet. [294] But we can go see this world. [295] What's left of it. [296] Tourists always like ruins best, anyway." [297] So he drew on the family's vast future resources and bought a yacht, which Martin christened The Interregnum . [298] They traveled about from sea to ocean and from ocean to sea, touching at various ports and making trips inland. [299] Martin saw the civilized world—mostly in fragments; the nearly intact semi-civilized world and the uncivilized world, much the same as it had been for centuries. [300] It was like visiting an enormous museum; he couldn't seem to identify with his own time any more. [301] The other cousins appeared to find the yacht a congenial head-quarters, largely because they could spend so much time far away from the contemporary inhabitants of the planet and relax and be themselves. [302] So they never moved back to land. [303] Martin spent the rest of his life on The Interregnum . [304] He felt curiously safer from Conrad there, although there was no valid reason why an ocean should stop a traveler through time. [305] More cousins were in residence at once than ever before, because they came for the ocean voyage. [306] They spent most of their time aboard ship, giving each other parties and playing an avant-garde form of shuffleboard and gambling on future sporting events. [307] That last usually ended in a brawl, because one cousin was sure to accuse another of having got advance information about the results. [308] Martin didn't care much for their company and associated with them only when not to have done so would have been palpably rude. [309] And, though they were gregarious young people for the most part, they didn't court his society. [310] He suspected that he made them feel uncomfortable. [311] He rather liked Ives, though. [312] Sometimes the two of them would be alone together; then Ives would tell Martin of the future world he had come from. [313] The picture drawn by Raymond and Ninian had not been entirely accurate, Ives admitted. [314] True, there was no war or poverty on Earth proper, but that was because there were only a couple of million people left on the planet. [315] It was an enclave for the highly privileged, highly interbred aristocracy, to which Martin's descendants belonged by virtue of their distinguished ancestry. [316] "Rather feudal, isn't it?" [317] Martin asked. [318] Ives agreed, adding that the system had, however, been deliberately planned, rather than the result of haphazard natural development. [319] Everything potentially unpleasant, like the mercantiles, had been deported. [320] "Not only natives livin' on the other worlds," Ives said as the two of them stood at the ship's rail, surrounded by the limitless expanse of some ocean or other. [321] "People, too. [322] Mostly lower classes, except for officials and things. [323] With wars and want and suffering," he added regretfully, "same as in your day.... Like now, I mean," he corrected himself. [324] "Maybe it is worse, the way Conrad thinks. [325] More planets for us to make trouble on. [326] Three that were habitable aren't any more. [327] Bombed. [328] Very thorough job." [329] "Oh," Martin murmured, trying to sound shocked, horrified—interested, even. [330] "Sometimes I'm not altogether sure Conrad was wrong," Ives said, after a pause. [331] "Tried to keep us from getting to the stars, hurting the people—I expect you could call them people—there. [332] Still—" he smiled shamefacedly—"couldn't stand by and see my own way of life destroyed, could I?" [333] "I suppose not," Martin said. [334] "Would take moral courage. [335] I don't have it. [336] None of us does, except Conrad, and even he—" Ives looked out over the sea. [337] "Must be a better way out than Conrad's," he said without conviction. [338] "And everything will work out all right in the end. [339] Bound to. [340] No sense to—to anything, if it doesn't." [341] He glanced wistfully at Martin. [342] "I hope so," said Martin. [343] But he couldn't hope; he couldn't feel; he couldn't even seem to care. [344] During all this time, Conrad still did not put in an appearance. [345] Martin had gotten to be such a crack shot with the ray pistol that he almost wished his descendant would show up, so there would be some excitement. [346] But he didn't come. [347] And Martin got to thinking.... [348] He always felt that if any of the cousins could have come to realize the basic flaw in the elaborate plan they had concocted, it would have been Ives. [349] However, when the yacht touched at Tierra del Fuego one bitter winter, Ives took a severe chill. [350] They sent for a doctor from the future—one of the descendants who had been eccentric enough to take a medical degree—but he wasn't able to save Ives. [351] The body was buried in the frozen ground at Ushuaia, on the southern tip of the continent, a hundred years or more before the date of his birth. [352] A great many of the cousins turned up at the simple ceremony. [353] All were dressed in overwhelming black and showed a great deal of grief. [354] Raymond read the burial service, because they didn't dare summon a clerical cousin from the future; they were afraid he might prove rather stuffy about the entire undertaking. [355] "He died for all of us," Raymond concluded his funeral eulogy over Ives, "so his death was not in vain." [356] But Martin disagreed. [357] The ceaseless voyaging began again. [358] The Interregnum voyaged to every ocean and every sea. [359] Some were blue and some green and some dun. [360] After a while, Martin couldn't tell one from another. [361] Cousin after cousin came to watch over him and eventually they were as hard for him to tell apart as the different oceans. [362] All the cousins were young, for, though they came at different times in his life, they had all started out from the same time in theirs. [363] Only the young ones had been included in the venture; they did not trust their elders. [364] As the years went by, Martin began to lose even his detached interest in the land and its doings. [365] Although the yacht frequently touched port for fuel or supplies—it was more economical to purchase them in that era than to have them shipped from the future—he seldom went ashore, and then only at the urging of a newly assigned cousin anxious to see the sights. [366] Most of the time Martin spent in watching the sea—and sometimes he painted it. [367] There seemed to be a depth to his seascapes that his other work lacked. [368] When he was pressed by the current cousin to make a land visit somewhere, he decided to exhibit a few of his sea paintings. [369] That way, he could fool himself into thinking that there was some purpose to this journey. [370] He'd come to believe that perhaps what his life lacked was purpose, and for a while he kept looking for meaning everywhere, to the cousin's utter disgust. [371] "Eat, drink and be merry, or whatever you Romans say when you do as you do," the cousin—who was rather woolly in history; the descendants were scraping bottom now—advised. [372] Martin showed his work in Italy, so that the cousin could be disillusioned by the current crop of Romans. [373] He found that neither purpose nor malice was enough; he was still immeasurably bored. [374] However, a museum bought two of the paintings. [375] Martin thought of Ives and felt an uncomfortable pang of a sensation he could no longer understand. [376] "Where do you suppose Conrad has been all this time?" [377] Martin idly asked the current cousin—who was passing as his nephew by now. [378] The young man jumped, then glanced around him uncomfortably. [379] "Conrad's a very shrewd fellow," he whispered. [380] "He's biding his time—waiting until we're off guard. [381] And then—pow!—he'll attack!" [382] "Oh, I see," Martin said. [383] He had often fancied that Conrad would prove to be the most stimulating member of the whole generation. [384] But it seemed unlikely that he would ever have a chance for a conversation with the young man. [385] More than one conversation, anyhow. [386] "When he does show up, I'll protect you," the cousin vowed, touching his ray gun. [387] "You haven't a thing to worry about." [388] Martin smiled with all the charm he'd had nothing to do but acquire. [389] "I have every confidence in you," he told his descendant. [390] He himself had given up carrying a gun long ago. [391] There was a war in the Northern Hemisphere and so The Interregnum voyaged to southern waters. [392] There was a war in the south and they hid out in the Arctic. [393] All the nations became too drained of power—fuel and man and will—to fight, so there was a sterile peace for a long time. [394] The Interregnum roamed the seas restlessly, with her load of passengers from the future, plus one bored and aging contemporary. [395] She bore big guns now, because of the ever-present danger of pirates. [396] Perhaps it was the traditionally bracing effect of sea air—perhaps it was the sheltered life—but Martin lived to be a very old man. [397] He was a hundred and four when his last illness came. [398] It was a great relief when the family doctor, called in again from the future, said there was no hope. [399] Martin didn't think he could have borne another year of life. [400] All the cousins gathered at the yacht to pay their last respects to their progenitor. [401] He saw Ninian again, after all these years, and Raymond—all the others, dozens of them, thronging around his bed, spilling out of the cabin and into the passageways and out onto the deck, making their usual clamor, even though their voices were hushed. [402] Only Ives was missing. [403] He'd been the lucky one, Martin knew. [404] He had been spared the tragedy that was going to befall these blooming young people—all the same age as when Martin had last seen them and doomed never to grow any older. [405] Underneath their masks of woe, he could see relief at the thought that at last they were going to be rid of their responsibility. [406] And underneath Martin's death mask lay an impersonal pity for those poor, stupid descendants of his who had blundered so irretrievably. [407] There was only one face which Martin had never seen before. [408] It wasn't a strange face, however, because Martin had seen one very like it in the looking glass when he was a young man. [409] "You must be Conrad," Martin called across the cabin in a voice that was still clear. [410] "I've been looking forward to meeting you for some time." [411] The other cousins whirled to face the newcomer. [412] "You're too late, Con," Raymond gloated for the whole generation. [413] "He's lived out his life." [414] "But he hasn't lived out his life," Conrad contradicted. [415] "He's lived out the life you created for him. [416] And for yourselves, too." [417] For the first time, Martin saw compassion in the eyes of one of his lineage and found it vaguely disturbing. [418] It didn't seem to belong there. [419] "Don't you realize even yet," Conrad went on, "that as soon as he goes, you'll go, too—present, past, future, wherever you are, you'll go up in the air like puffs of smoke?" [420] "What do you mean?" [421] Ninian quavered, her soft, pretty face alarmed. [422] Martin answered Conrad's rueful smile, but left the explanations up to him. [423] It was his show, after all. [424] "Because you will never have existed," Conrad said. [425] "You have no right to existence; it was you yourselves who watched him all the time, so he didn't have a chance to lead a normal life, get married, have children ...." Most of the cousins gasped as the truth began to percolate through. [426] "I knew from the very beginning," Conrad finished, "that I didn't have to do anything at all. [427] I just had to wait and you would destroy yourselves." [428] "I don't understand," Bartholomew protested, searching the faces of the cousins closest to him. [429] "What does he mean, we have never existed? [430] We're here, aren't we? [431] What—" "Shut up!" [432] Raymond snapped. [433] He turned on Martin. [434] "You don't seem surprised." [435] The old man grinned. [436] "I'm not. [437] I figured it all out years ago." [438] At first, he had wondered what he should do. [439] Would it be better to throw them into a futile panic by telling them or to do nothing? [440] He had decided on the latter; that was the role they had assigned him—to watch and wait and keep out of things—and that was the role he would play. [441] "You knew all the time and you didn't tell us!" [442] Raymond spluttered. [443] "After we'd been so good to you, making a gentleman out of you instead of a criminal.... That's right," he snarled, "a criminal! [444] An alcoholic, a thief, a derelict! [445] How do you like that?" [446] "Sounds like a rich, full life," Martin said wistfully. [447] What an exciting existence they must have done him out of! [448] But then, he couldn't help thinking, he—he and Conrad together, of course—had done them out of any kind of existence. [449] It wasn't his responsibility, though; he had done nothing but let matters take whatever course was destined for them. [450] If only he could be sure that it was the better course, perhaps he wouldn't feel that nagging sense of guilt inside him. [451] Strange—where, in his hermetic life, could he possibly have developed such a queer thing as a conscience? [452] "Then we've wasted all this time," Ninian sobbed, "all this energy, all this money, for nothing!" [453] "But you were nothing to begin with," Martin told them. [454] And then, after a pause, he added, "I only wish I could be sure there had been some purpose to this." [455] He didn't know whether it was approaching death that dimmed his sight, or whether the frightened crowd that pressed around him was growing shadowy. [456] "I wish I could feel that some good had been done in letting you be wiped out of existence," he went on voicing his thoughts. [457] "But I know that the same thing that happened to your worlds and my world will happen all over again. [458] To other people, in other times, but again. [459] It's bound to happen. [460] There isn't any hope for humanity." [461] One man couldn't really change the course of human history, he told himself. [462] Two men, that was—one real, one a shadow. [463] Conrad came close to the old man's bed. [464] He was almost transparent. [465] "No," he said, "there is hope. [466] They didn't know the time transmitter works two ways. [467] I used it for going into the past only once—just this once. [468] But I've gone into the future with it many times. [469] And—" he pressed Martin's hand—"believe me, what I did—what we did, you and I—serves a purpose. [470] It will change things for the better. [471] Everything is going to be all right." [472] Was Conrad telling him the truth, Martin wondered, or was he just giving the conventional reassurance to the dying? [473] More than that, was he trying to convince himself that what he had done was the right thing? [474] Every cousin had assured Martin that things were going to be all right. [475] Was Conrad actually different from the rest? [476] His plan had worked and the others' hadn't, but then all his plan had consisted of was doing nothing. [477] That was all he and Martin had done ... nothing. [478] Were they absolved of all responsibility merely because they had stood aside and taken advantage of the others' weaknesses? [479] "Why," Martin said to himself, "in a sense, it could be said that I have fulfilled my original destiny—that I am a criminal." [480] Well, it didn't matter; whatever happened, no one could hold him to blame. [481] He held no stake in the future that was to come. [482] It was other men's future—other men's problem. [483] He died very peacefully then, and, since he was the only one left on the ship, there was nobody to bury him. [484] The unmanned yacht drifted about the seas for years and gave rise to many legends, none of them as unbelievable as the truth.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences in order of importance for answering the question "What is the significance of time in this story?": 1. [461] One man couldn't really change the course of human history, he told himself. [462] Two men, that was—one real, one a shadow. 2. [466] "I used it for going into the past only once—just this once. [467] But I've gone into the future with it many times. [468] And—" he pressed Martin's hand—"believe me, what I did—what we did, you and I—serves a purpose. [469] It will change things for the better. [470] Everything is going to be all right." 3. [92] "The whole thing's all my brother Conrad's fault. [93] You see, he's an idealist," Raymond explained, pronouncing the last word with distaste. 4. [124] "Anyhow, Conrad took it upon himself to feel particularly guilty, because, he decided, if it hadn't been for the fact that our great-grandfather discovered the super-drive, we might never have reached the stars. [125] Which is ridiculous—his feeling guilty, I mean." 5. [134] "Unfortunately, Professor Farkas has just perfected the time transmitter. [135] Those government scientists are so infernally officious—always inventing such senseless things." 6. [137] Anyhow, Raymond went on to explain, Conrad had bribed one of Farkas' assistants for a set of the plans. [138] Conrad's idea had been to go back in time and "eliminate!" [139] their common great-grandfather. 7. [156] "I wormed the whole thing out of him and all of us—the other cousins and me—held a council of war, as it were, and we decided it was our moral duty to go back in time ourselves and protect you." 8. [217] Martin and Raymond moved into a luxurious mansion in a remote area. [218] The site proved a well-chosen one; when the Second Atomic War came, half a dozen years later, they weren't touched. 9. [300] It was like visiting an enormous museum; he couldn't seem to identify with his own time any more. 10. [314] True, there was no war or poverty on Earth proper, but that was because there were only a couple of million people left on the planet. [315] It was an enclave for the highly privileged, highly interbred aristocracy, to which Martin's descendants belonged by virtue of their distinguished ancestry.

Does Martin’s attitudes towards the cousins change throughout the story, and why?

[1] THE MAN OUTSIDE By EVELYN E. SMITH Illustrated by DILLON [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction August 1957. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] No one, least of all Martin, could dispute that a man's life should be guarded by his kin—but by those who hadn't been born yet? [4] Nobody in the neighborhood was surprised when Martin's mother disappeared and Ninian came to take care of him. [5] Mothers had a way of disappearing around those parts and the kids were often better off without them. [6] Martin was no exception. [7] He'd never had it this good while he was living with his old lady. [8] As for his father, Martin had never had one. [9] He'd been a war baby, born of one of the tides of soldiers—enemies and allies, both—that had engulfed the country in successive waves and bought or taken the women. [10] So there was no trouble that way. [11] Sometimes he wondered who Ninian really was. [12] Obviously that story about her coming from the future was just a gag. [13] Besides, if she really was his great-great-grand-daughter, as she said, why would she tell him to call her " Aunt Ninian "? [14] Maybe he was only eleven, but he'd been around and he knew just what the score was. [15] At first he'd thought maybe she was some new kind of social worker, but she acted a little too crazy for that. [16] He loved to bait her, as he had loved to bait his mother. [17] It was safer with Ninian, though, because when he pushed her too far, she would cry instead of mopping up the floor with him. [18] "But I can't understand," he would say, keeping his face straight. [19] "Why do you have to come from the future to protect me against your cousin Conrad?" [20] "Because he's coming to kill you." [21] "Why should he kill me? [22] I ain't done him nothing." [23] Ninian sighed. [24] "He's dissatisfied with the current social order and killing you is part of an elaborate plan he's formulated to change it. [25] You wouldn't understand." [26] "You're damn right. [27] I don't understand. [28] What's it all about in straight gas?" [29] "Oh, just don't ask any questions," Ninian said petulantly. [30] "When you get older, someone will explain the whole thing to you." [31] So Martin held his peace, because, on the whole, he liked things the way they were. [32] Ninian really was the limit, though. [33] All the people he knew lived in scabrous tenement apartments like his, but she seemed to think it was disgusting. [34] "So if you don't like it, clean it up," he suggested. [35] She looked at him as if he were out of his mind. [36] "Hire a maid, then!" [37] he jeered. [38] And darned if that dope didn't go out and get a woman to come clean up the place! [39] He was so embarrassed, he didn't even dare show his face in the streets—especially with the women buttonholing him and demanding to know what gave. [40] They tried talking to Ninian, but she certainly knew how to give them the cold shoulder. [41] One day the truant officer came to ask why Martin hadn't been coming to school. [42] Very few of the neighborhood kids attended classes very regularly, so this was just routine. [43] But Ninian didn't know that and she went into a real tizzy, babbling that Martin had been sick and would make up the work. [44] Martin nearly did get sick from laughing so hard inside. [45] But he laughed out of the other side of his mouth when she went out and hired a private tutor for him. [46] A tutor—in that neighborhood! [47] Martin had to beat up every kid on the block before he could walk a step without hearing "Fancy Pants!" [48] yelled after him. [49] Ninian worried all the time. [50] It wasn't that she cared what these people thought of her, for she made no secret of regarding them as little better than animals, but she was shy of attracting attention. [51] There were an awful lot of people in that neighborhood who felt exactly the same way, only she didn't know that, either. [52] She was really pretty dumb, Martin thought, for all her fancy lingo. [53] "It's so hard to think these things out without any prior practical application to go by," she told him. [54] He nodded, knowing what she meant was that everything was coming out wrong. [55] But he didn't try to help her; he just watched to see what she'd do next. [56] Already he had begun to assume the detached role of a spectator. [57] When it became clear that his mother was never going to show up again, Ninian bought one of those smallish, almost identical houses that mushroom on the fringes of a city after every war, particularly where intensive bombing has created a number of desirable building sites. [58] "This is a much better neighborhood for a boy to grow up in," she declared. [59] "Besides, it's easier to keep an eye on you here." [60] And keep an eye on him she did—she or a rather foppish young man who came to stay with them occasionally. [61] Martin was told to call him Uncle Raymond. [62] From time to time, there were other visitors—Uncles Ives and Bartholomew and Olaf, Aunts Ottillie and Grania and Lalage, and many more—all cousins to one another, he was told, all descendants of his. [63] Martin was never left alone for a minute. [64] He wasn't allowed to play with the other kids in the new neighborhood. [65] Not that their parents would have let them, anyway. [66] The adults obviously figured that if a one-car family hired private tutors for their kid, there must be something pretty wrong with him. [67] So Martin and Ninian were just as conspicuous as before. [68] But he didn't tip her off. [69] She was grown up; she was supposed to know better than he did. [70] He lived well. [71] He had food to eat that he'd never dreamed of before, warm clothes that no one had ever worn before him. [72] He was surrounded by more luxury than he knew what to do with. [73] The furniture was the latest New Grand Rapids African modern. [74] There were tidy, colorful Picasso and Braque prints on the walls. [75] And every inch of the floor was modestly covered by carpeting, though the walls were mostly unabashed glass. [76] There were hot water and heat all the time and a freezer well stocked with food—somewhat erratically chosen, for Ninian didn't know much about meals. [77] The non-glass part of the house was of neat, natural-toned wood, with a neat green lawn in front and a neat parti-colored garden in back. [78] Martin missed the old neighborhood, though. [79] He missed having other kids to play with. [80] He even missed his mother. [81] Sure, she hadn't given him enough to eat and she'd beaten him up so hard sometimes that she'd nearly killed him—but then there had also been times when she'd hugged and kissed him and soaked his collar with her tears. [82] She'd done all she could for him, supporting him in the only way she knew how—and if respectable society didn't like it, the hell with respectable society. [83] From Ninian and her cousins, there was only an impersonal kindness. [84] They made no bones about the fact that they were there only to carry out a rather unpleasant duty. [85] Though they were in the house with him, in their minds and in their talk they were living in another world—a world of warmth and peace and plenty where nobody worked, except in the government service or the essential professions. [86] And they seemed to think even that kind of job was pretty low-class, though better than actually doing anything with the hands. [87] In their world, Martin came to understand, nobody worked with hands; everything was done by machinery. [88] All the people ever did was wear pretty clothes and have good times and eat all they wanted. [89] There was no devastation, no war, no unhappiness, none of the concomitants of normal living. [90] It was then that Martin began to realize that either the whole lot of them were insane, or what Ninian had told him at first was the truth. [91] They came from the future. [92] When Martin was sixteen, Raymond took him aside for the talk Ninian had promised five years before. [93] "The whole thing's all my brother Conrad's fault. [94] You see, he's an idealist," Raymond explained, pronouncing the last word with distaste. [95] Martin nodded gravely. [96] He was a quiet boy now, his brief past a dim and rather ridiculous memory. [97] Who could ever imagine him robbing a grocery store or wielding a broken bottle now? [98] He still was rather undersized and he'd read so much that he'd weakened his eyes and had to wear glasses. [99] His face was pallid, because he spent little time in the sun, and his speech rather overbred, his mentors from the future having carefully eradicated all current vulgarities. [100] "And Conrad really got upset over the way Earth has been exploiting the not so intelligent life-forms on the other planets," Raymond continued. [101] "Which is distressing—though, of course, it's not as if they were people. [102] Besides, the government has been talking about passing laws to do away with the—well, abuses and things like that, and I'm sure someday everything will come out all right. [103] However, Conrad is so impatient." [104] "I thought, in your world, machines did all the work," Martin suggested. [105] "I've told you—our world is precisely the same as this one!" [106] Raymond snapped. [107] "We just come a couple of centuries or so later, that's all. [108] But remember, our interests are identical. [109] We're virtually the same people ... although it is amazing what a difference two hundred odd years of progress and polish can make in a species, isn't it?" [110] He continued more mildly: "However, even you ought to be able to understand that we can't make machinery without metal. [111] We need food. [112] All that sort of thing comes from the out-system planets. [113] And, on those worlds, it's far cheaper to use native labor than to ship out all that expensive machinery. [114] After all, if we didn't give the natives jobs, how would they manage to live?" [115] "How did they live before? [116] Come to think of it, if you don't work, how do you live now?... [117] I don't mean in the now for me, but the now for you," Martin explained laboriously. [118] It was so difficult to live in the past and think in the future. [119] "I'm trying to talk to you as if you were an adult," Raymond said, "but if you will persist in these childish interruptions—" "I'm sorry," Martin said. [120] But he wasn't, for by now he had little respect left for any of his descendants. [121] They were all exceedingly handsome and cultivated young people, with superior educations, smooth ways of speaking and considerable self-confidence, but they just weren't very bright. [122] And he had discovered that Raymond was perhaps the most intelligent of the lot. [123] Somewhere in that relatively short span of time, his line or—more frightening—his race had lost something vital. [124] Unaware of the near-contempt in which his young ancestor held him, Raymond went on blandly: "Anyhow, Conrad took it upon himself to feel particularly guilty, because, he decided, if it hadn't been for the fact that our great-grandfather discovered the super-drive, we might never have reached the stars. [125] Which is ridiculous—his feeling guilty, I mean. [126] Perhaps a great-grandfather is responsible for his great-grandchildren, but a great-grandchild can hardly be held accountable for his great-grandfather." [127] "How about a great-great-grandchild?" [128] Martin couldn't help asking. [129] Raymond flushed a delicate pink. [130] "Do you want to hear the rest of this or don't you?" [131] "Oh, I do!" [132] Martin said. [133] He had pieced the whole thing together for himself long since, but he wanted to hear how Raymond would put it. [134] "Unfortunately, Professor Farkas has just perfected the time transmitter. [135] Those government scientists are so infernally officious—always inventing such senseless things. [136] It's supposed to be hush-hush, but you know how news will leak out when one is always desperate for a fresh topic of conversation." [137] Anyhow, Raymond went on to explain, Conrad had bribed one of Farkas' assistants for a set of the plans. [138] Conrad's idea had been to go back in time and "eliminate!" [139] their common great-grandfather. [140] In that way, there would be no space-drive, and, hence, the Terrestrials would never get to the other planets and oppress the local aborigines. [141] "Sounds like a good way of dealing with the problem," Martin observed. [142] Raymond looked annoyed. [143] "It's the adolescent way," he said, "to do away with it, rather than find a solution. [144] Would you destroy a whole society in order to root out a single injustice?" [145] "Not if it were a good one otherwise." [146] "Well, there's your answer. [147] Conrad got the apparatus built, or perhaps he built it himself. [148] One doesn't inquire too closely into such matters. [149] But when it came to the point, Conrad couldn't bear the idea of eliminating our great-grandfather—because our great-grandfather was such a good man, you know." [150] Raymond's expressive upper lip curled. [151] "So Conrad decided to go further back still and get rid of his great-grandfather's father—who'd been, by all accounts, a pretty worthless character." [152] "That would be me, I suppose," Martin said quietly. [153] Raymond turned a deep rose. [154] "Well, doesn't that just go to prove you mustn't believe everything you hear?" [155] The next sentence tumbled out in a rush. [156] "I wormed the whole thing out of him and all of us—the other cousins and me—held a council of war, as it were, and we decided it was our moral duty to go back in time ourselves and protect you." [157] He beamed at Martin. [158] The boy smiled slowly. [159] "Of course. [160] You had to. [161] If Conrad succeeded in eliminating me, then none of you would exist, would you?" [162] Raymond frowned. [163] Then he shrugged cheerfully. [164] "Well, you didn't really suppose we were going to all this trouble and expense out of sheer altruism, did you?" [165] he asked, turning on the charm which all the cousins possessed to a consternating degree. [166] Martin had, of course, no illusions on that score; he had learned long ago that nobody did anything for nothing. [167] But saying so was unwise. [168] "We bribed another set of plans out of another of the professor's assistants," Raymond continued, as if Martin had answered, "and—ah—induced a handicraft enthusiast to build the gadget for us." [169] Induced , Martin knew, could have meant anything from blackmail to the use of the iron maiden. [170] "Then we were all ready to forestall Conrad. [171] If one of us guarded you night and day, he would never be able to carry out his plot. [172] So we made our counter-plan, set the machine as far back as it would go—and here we are!" [173] "I see," Martin said. [174] Raymond didn't seem to think he really did. [175] "After all," he pointed out defensively, "whatever our motives, it has turned into a good thing for you. [176] Nice home, cultured companions, all the contemporary conveniences, plus some handy anachronisms—I don't see what more you could ask for. [177] You're getting the best of all possible worlds. [178] Of course Ninian was a ninny to locate in a mercantile suburb where any little thing out of the way will cause talk. [179] How thankful I am that our era has completely disposed of the mercantiles—" "What did you do with them?" [180] Martin asked. [181] But Raymond rushed on: "Soon as Ninian goes and I'm in full charge, we'll get a more isolated place and run it on a far grander scale. [182] Ostentation—that's the way to live here and now; the richer you are, the more eccentricity you can get away with. [183] And," he added, "I might as well be as comfortable as possible while I suffer through this wretched historical stint." [184] "So Ninian's going," said Martin, wondering why the news made him feel curiously desolate. [185] Because, although he supposed he liked her in a remote kind of way, he had no fondness for her—or she, he knew, for him. [186] "Well, five years is rather a long stretch for any girl to spend in exile," Raymond explained, "even though our life spans are a bit longer than yours. [187] Besides, you're getting too old now to be under petticoat government." [188] He looked inquisitively at Martin. [189] "You're not going to go all weepy and make a scene when she leaves, are you?" [190] "No...." Martin said hesitantly. [191] "Oh, I suppose I will miss her. [192] But we aren't very close, so it won't make a real difference." [193] That was the sad part: he already knew it wouldn't make a difference. [194] Raymond clapped him on the shoulder. [195] "I knew you weren't a sloppy sentimentalist like Conrad. [196] Though you do have rather a look of him, you know." [197] Suddenly that seemed to make Conrad real. [198] Martin felt a vague stirring of alarm. [199] He kept his voice composed, however. [200] "How do you plan to protect me when he comes?" [201] "Well, each one of us is armed to the teeth, of course," Raymond said with modest pride, displaying something that looked like a child's combination spaceman's gun and death ray, but which, Martin had no doubt, was a perfectly genuine—and lethal—weapon. [202] "And we've got a rather elaborate burglar alarm system." [203] Martin inspected the system and made one or two changes in the wiring which, he felt, would increase its efficiency. [204] But still he was dubious. [205] "Maybe it'll work on someone coming from outside this house , but do you think it will work on someone coming from outside this time ?" [206] "Never fear—it has a temporal radius," Raymond replied. [207] "Factory guarantee and all that." [208] "Just to be on the safe side," Martin said, "I think I'd better have one of those guns, too." [209] "A splendid idea!" [210] enthused Raymond. [211] "I was just about to think of that myself!" [212] When it came time for the parting, it was Ninian who cried—tears at her own inadequacy, Martin knew, not of sorrow. [213] He was getting skillful at understanding his descendants, far better than they at understanding him. [214] But then they never really tried. [215] Ninian kissed him wetly on the cheek and said she was sure everything would work out all right and that she'd come see him again. [216] She never did, though, except at the very last. [217] Raymond and Martin moved into a luxurious mansion in a remote area. [218] The site proved a well-chosen one; when the Second Atomic War came, half a dozen years later, they weren't touched. [219] Martin was never sure whether this had been sheer luck or expert planning. [220] Probably luck, because his descendants were exceedingly inept planners. [221] Few people in the world then could afford to live as stylishly as Martin and his guardian. [222] The place not only contained every possible convenience and gadget but was crammed with bibelots and antiques, carefully chosen by Raymond and disputed by Martin, for, to the man from the future, all available artifacts were antiques. [223] Otherwise, Martin accepted his new surroundings. [224] His sense of wonder had become dulled by now and the pink pseudo-Spanish castle—"architecturally dreadful, of course," Raymond had said, "but so hilariously typical"—impressed him far less than had the suburban split-level aquarium. [225] "How about a moat?" [226] Martin suggested when they first came. [227] "It seems to go with a castle." [228] "Do you think a moat could stop Conrad?" [229] Raymond asked, amused. [230] "No," Martin smiled, feeling rather silly, "but it would make the place seem safer somehow." [231] The threat of Conrad was beginning to make him grow more and more nervous. [232] He got Raymond's permission to take two suits of armor that stood in the front hall and present them to a local museum, because several times he fancied he saw them move. [233] He also became an adept with the ray gun and changed the surrounding landscape quite a bit with it, until Raymond warned that this might lead Conrad to them. [234] During those early years, Martin's tutors were exchanged for the higher-degreed ones that were now needful. [235] The question inevitably arose of what the youth's vocation in that life was going to be. [236] At least twenty of the cousins came back through time to hold one of their vigorous family councils. [237] Martin was still young enough to enjoy such occasions, finding them vastly superior to all other forms of entertainment. [238] "This sort of problem wouldn't arise in our day, Martin," Raymond commented as he took his place at the head of the table, "because, unless one specifically feels a call to some profession or other, one just—well, drifts along happily." [239] "Ours is a wonderful world," Grania sighed at Martin. [240] "I only wish we could take you there. [241] I'm sure you would like it." [242] "Don't be a fool, Grania!" [243] Raymond snapped. [244] "Well, Martin, have you made up your mind what you want to be?" [245] Martin affected to think. [246] "A physicist," he said, not without malice. [247] "Or perhaps an engineer." [248] There was a loud, excited chorus of dissent. [249] He chuckled inwardly. [250] "Can't do that," Ives said. [251] "Might pick up some concepts from us. [252] Don't know how; none of us knows a thing about science. [253] But it could happen. [254] Subconscious osmosis, if there is such a thing. [255] That way, you might invent something ahead of time. [256] And the fellow we got the plans from particularly cautioned us against that. [257] Changing history. [258] Dangerous." [259] "Might mess up our time frightfully," Bartholomew contributed, "though, to be perfectly frank, I can't quite understand how." [260] "I am not going to sit down and explain the whole thing to you all over again, Bart!" [261] Raymond said impatiently. [262] "Well, Martin?" [263] "What would you suggest?" [264] Martin asked. [265] "How about becoming a painter? [266] Art is eternal. [267] And quite gentlemanly. [268] Besides, artists are always expected to be either behind or ahead of their times." [269] "Furthermore," Ottillie added, "one more artist couldn't make much difference in history. [270] There were so many of them all through the ages." [271] Martin couldn't hold back his question. [272] "What was I, actually, in that other time?" [273] There was a chilly silence. [274] "Let's not talk about it, dear," Lalage finally said. [275] "Let's just be thankful we've saved you from that !" [276] So drawing teachers were engaged and Martin became a very competent second-rate artist. [277] He knew he would never be able to achieve first rank because, even though he was still so young, his work was almost purely intellectual. [278] The only emotion he seemed able to feel was fear—the ever-present fear that someday he would turn a corridor and walk into a man who looked like him—a man who wanted to kill him for the sake of an ideal. [279] But the fear did not show in Martin's pictures. [280] They were pretty pictures. [281] Cousin Ives—now that Martin was older, he was told to call the descendants cousin —next assumed guardianship. [282] Ives took his responsibilities more seriously than the others did. [283] He even arranged to have Martin's work shown at an art gallery. [284] The paintings received critical approval, but failed to evoke any enthusiasm. [285] The modest sale they enjoyed was mostly to interior decorators. [286] Museums were not interested. [287] "Takes time," Ives tried to reassure him. [288] "One day they'll be buying your pictures, Martin. [289] Wait and see." [290] Ives was the only one of the descendants who seemed to think of Martin as an individual. [291] When his efforts to make contact with the other young man failed, he got worried and decided that what Martin needed was a change of air and scenery. [292] "'Course you can't go on the Grand Tour. [293] Your son hasn't invented space travel yet. [294] But we can go see this world. [295] What's left of it. [296] Tourists always like ruins best, anyway." [297] So he drew on the family's vast future resources and bought a yacht, which Martin christened The Interregnum . [298] They traveled about from sea to ocean and from ocean to sea, touching at various ports and making trips inland. [299] Martin saw the civilized world—mostly in fragments; the nearly intact semi-civilized world and the uncivilized world, much the same as it had been for centuries. [300] It was like visiting an enormous museum; he couldn't seem to identify with his own time any more. [301] The other cousins appeared to find the yacht a congenial head-quarters, largely because they could spend so much time far away from the contemporary inhabitants of the planet and relax and be themselves. [302] So they never moved back to land. [303] Martin spent the rest of his life on The Interregnum . [304] He felt curiously safer from Conrad there, although there was no valid reason why an ocean should stop a traveler through time. [305] More cousins were in residence at once than ever before, because they came for the ocean voyage. [306] They spent most of their time aboard ship, giving each other parties and playing an avant-garde form of shuffleboard and gambling on future sporting events. [307] That last usually ended in a brawl, because one cousin was sure to accuse another of having got advance information about the results. [308] Martin didn't care much for their company and associated with them only when not to have done so would have been palpably rude. [309] And, though they were gregarious young people for the most part, they didn't court his society. [310] He suspected that he made them feel uncomfortable. [311] He rather liked Ives, though. [312] Sometimes the two of them would be alone together; then Ives would tell Martin of the future world he had come from. [313] The picture drawn by Raymond and Ninian had not been entirely accurate, Ives admitted. [314] True, there was no war or poverty on Earth proper, but that was because there were only a couple of million people left on the planet. [315] It was an enclave for the highly privileged, highly interbred aristocracy, to which Martin's descendants belonged by virtue of their distinguished ancestry. [316] "Rather feudal, isn't it?" [317] Martin asked. [318] Ives agreed, adding that the system had, however, been deliberately planned, rather than the result of haphazard natural development. [319] Everything potentially unpleasant, like the mercantiles, had been deported. [320] "Not only natives livin' on the other worlds," Ives said as the two of them stood at the ship's rail, surrounded by the limitless expanse of some ocean or other. [321] "People, too. [322] Mostly lower classes, except for officials and things. [323] With wars and want and suffering," he added regretfully, "same as in your day.... Like now, I mean," he corrected himself. [324] "Maybe it is worse, the way Conrad thinks. [325] More planets for us to make trouble on. [326] Three that were habitable aren't any more. [327] Bombed. [328] Very thorough job." [329] "Oh," Martin murmured, trying to sound shocked, horrified—interested, even. [330] "Sometimes I'm not altogether sure Conrad was wrong," Ives said, after a pause. [331] "Tried to keep us from getting to the stars, hurting the people—I expect you could call them people—there. [332] Still—" he smiled shamefacedly—"couldn't stand by and see my own way of life destroyed, could I?" [333] "I suppose not," Martin said. [334] "Would take moral courage. [335] I don't have it. [336] None of us does, except Conrad, and even he—" Ives looked out over the sea. [337] "Must be a better way out than Conrad's," he said without conviction. [338] "And everything will work out all right in the end. [339] Bound to. [340] No sense to—to anything, if it doesn't." [341] He glanced wistfully at Martin. [342] "I hope so," said Martin. [343] But he couldn't hope; he couldn't feel; he couldn't even seem to care. [344] During all this time, Conrad still did not put in an appearance. [345] Martin had gotten to be such a crack shot with the ray pistol that he almost wished his descendant would show up, so there would be some excitement. [346] But he didn't come. [347] And Martin got to thinking.... [348] He always felt that if any of the cousins could have come to realize the basic flaw in the elaborate plan they had concocted, it would have been Ives. [349] However, when the yacht touched at Tierra del Fuego one bitter winter, Ives took a severe chill. [350] They sent for a doctor from the future—one of the descendants who had been eccentric enough to take a medical degree—but he wasn't able to save Ives. [351] The body was buried in the frozen ground at Ushuaia, on the southern tip of the continent, a hundred years or more before the date of his birth. [352] A great many of the cousins turned up at the simple ceremony. [353] All were dressed in overwhelming black and showed a great deal of grief. [354] Raymond read the burial service, because they didn't dare summon a clerical cousin from the future; they were afraid he might prove rather stuffy about the entire undertaking. [355] "He died for all of us," Raymond concluded his funeral eulogy over Ives, "so his death was not in vain." [356] But Martin disagreed. [357] The ceaseless voyaging began again. [358] The Interregnum voyaged to every ocean and every sea. [359] Some were blue and some green and some dun. [360] After a while, Martin couldn't tell one from another. [361] Cousin after cousin came to watch over him and eventually they were as hard for him to tell apart as the different oceans. [362] All the cousins were young, for, though they came at different times in his life, they had all started out from the same time in theirs. [363] Only the young ones had been included in the venture; they did not trust their elders. [364] As the years went by, Martin began to lose even his detached interest in the land and its doings. [365] Although the yacht frequently touched port for fuel or supplies—it was more economical to purchase them in that era than to have them shipped from the future—he seldom went ashore, and then only at the urging of a newly assigned cousin anxious to see the sights. [366] Most of the time Martin spent in watching the sea—and sometimes he painted it. [367] There seemed to be a depth to his seascapes that his other work lacked. [368] When he was pressed by the current cousin to make a land visit somewhere, he decided to exhibit a few of his sea paintings. [369] That way, he could fool himself into thinking that there was some purpose to this journey. [370] He'd come to believe that perhaps what his life lacked was purpose, and for a while he kept looking for meaning everywhere, to the cousin's utter disgust. [371] "Eat, drink and be merry, or whatever you Romans say when you do as you do," the cousin—who was rather woolly in history; the descendants were scraping bottom now—advised. [372] Martin showed his work in Italy, so that the cousin could be disillusioned by the current crop of Romans. [373] He found that neither purpose nor malice was enough; he was still immeasurably bored. [374] However, a museum bought two of the paintings. [375] Martin thought of Ives and felt an uncomfortable pang of a sensation he could no longer understand. [376] "Where do you suppose Conrad has been all this time?" [377] Martin idly asked the current cousin—who was passing as his nephew by now. [378] The young man jumped, then glanced around him uncomfortably. [379] "Conrad's a very shrewd fellow," he whispered. [380] "He's biding his time—waiting until we're off guard. [381] And then—pow!—he'll attack!" [382] "Oh, I see," Martin said. [383] He had often fancied that Conrad would prove to be the most stimulating member of the whole generation. [384] But it seemed unlikely that he would ever have a chance for a conversation with the young man. [385] More than one conversation, anyhow. [386] "When he does show up, I'll protect you," the cousin vowed, touching his ray gun. [387] "You haven't a thing to worry about." [388] Martin smiled with all the charm he'd had nothing to do but acquire. [389] "I have every confidence in you," he told his descendant. [390] He himself had given up carrying a gun long ago. [391] There was a war in the Northern Hemisphere and so The Interregnum voyaged to southern waters. [392] There was a war in the south and they hid out in the Arctic. [393] All the nations became too drained of power—fuel and man and will—to fight, so there was a sterile peace for a long time. [394] The Interregnum roamed the seas restlessly, with her load of passengers from the future, plus one bored and aging contemporary. [395] She bore big guns now, because of the ever-present danger of pirates. [396] Perhaps it was the traditionally bracing effect of sea air—perhaps it was the sheltered life—but Martin lived to be a very old man. [397] He was a hundred and four when his last illness came. [398] It was a great relief when the family doctor, called in again from the future, said there was no hope. [399] Martin didn't think he could have borne another year of life. [400] All the cousins gathered at the yacht to pay their last respects to their progenitor. [401] He saw Ninian again, after all these years, and Raymond—all the others, dozens of them, thronging around his bed, spilling out of the cabin and into the passageways and out onto the deck, making their usual clamor, even though their voices were hushed. [402] Only Ives was missing. [403] He'd been the lucky one, Martin knew. [404] He had been spared the tragedy that was going to befall these blooming young people—all the same age as when Martin had last seen them and doomed never to grow any older. [405] Underneath their masks of woe, he could see relief at the thought that at last they were going to be rid of their responsibility. [406] And underneath Martin's death mask lay an impersonal pity for those poor, stupid descendants of his who had blundered so irretrievably. [407] There was only one face which Martin had never seen before. [408] It wasn't a strange face, however, because Martin had seen one very like it in the looking glass when he was a young man. [409] "You must be Conrad," Martin called across the cabin in a voice that was still clear. [410] "I've been looking forward to meeting you for some time." [411] The other cousins whirled to face the newcomer. [412] "You're too late, Con," Raymond gloated for the whole generation. [413] "He's lived out his life." [414] "But he hasn't lived out his life," Conrad contradicted. [415] "He's lived out the life you created for him. [416] And for yourselves, too." [417] For the first time, Martin saw compassion in the eyes of one of his lineage and found it vaguely disturbing. [418] It didn't seem to belong there. [419] "Don't you realize even yet," Conrad went on, "that as soon as he goes, you'll go, too—present, past, future, wherever you are, you'll go up in the air like puffs of smoke?" [420] "What do you mean?" [421] Ninian quavered, her soft, pretty face alarmed. [422] Martin answered Conrad's rueful smile, but left the explanations up to him. [423] It was his show, after all. [424] "Because you will never have existed," Conrad said. [425] "You have no right to existence; it was you yourselves who watched him all the time, so he didn't have a chance to lead a normal life, get married, have children ...." Most of the cousins gasped as the truth began to percolate through. [426] "I knew from the very beginning," Conrad finished, "that I didn't have to do anything at all. [427] I just had to wait and you would destroy yourselves." [428] "I don't understand," Bartholomew protested, searching the faces of the cousins closest to him. [429] "What does he mean, we have never existed? [430] We're here, aren't we? [431] What—" "Shut up!" [432] Raymond snapped. [433] He turned on Martin. [434] "You don't seem surprised." [435] The old man grinned. [436] "I'm not. [437] I figured it all out years ago." [438] At first, he had wondered what he should do. [439] Would it be better to throw them into a futile panic by telling them or to do nothing? [440] He had decided on the latter; that was the role they had assigned him—to watch and wait and keep out of things—and that was the role he would play. [441] "You knew all the time and you didn't tell us!" [442] Raymond spluttered. [443] "After we'd been so good to you, making a gentleman out of you instead of a criminal.... That's right," he snarled, "a criminal! [444] An alcoholic, a thief, a derelict! [445] How do you like that?" [446] "Sounds like a rich, full life," Martin said wistfully. [447] What an exciting existence they must have done him out of! [448] But then, he couldn't help thinking, he—he and Conrad together, of course—had done them out of any kind of existence. [449] It wasn't his responsibility, though; he had done nothing but let matters take whatever course was destined for them. [450] If only he could be sure that it was the better course, perhaps he wouldn't feel that nagging sense of guilt inside him. [451] Strange—where, in his hermetic life, could he possibly have developed such a queer thing as a conscience? [452] "Then we've wasted all this time," Ninian sobbed, "all this energy, all this money, for nothing!" [453] "But you were nothing to begin with," Martin told them. [454] And then, after a pause, he added, "I only wish I could be sure there had been some purpose to this." [455] He didn't know whether it was approaching death that dimmed his sight, or whether the frightened crowd that pressed around him was growing shadowy. [456] "I wish I could feel that some good had been done in letting you be wiped out of existence," he went on voicing his thoughts. [457] "But I know that the same thing that happened to your worlds and my world will happen all over again. [458] To other people, in other times, but again. [459] It's bound to happen. [460] There isn't any hope for humanity." [461] One man couldn't really change the course of human history, he told himself. [462] Two men, that was—one real, one a shadow. [463] Conrad came close to the old man's bed. [464] He was almost transparent. [465] "No," he said, "there is hope. [466] They didn't know the time transmitter works two ways. [467] I used it for going into the past only once—just this once. [468] But I've gone into the future with it many times. [469] And—" he pressed Martin's hand—"believe me, what I did—what we did, you and I—serves a purpose. [470] It will change things for the better. [471] Everything is going to be all right." [472] Was Conrad telling him the truth, Martin wondered, or was he just giving the conventional reassurance to the dying? [473] More than that, was he trying to convince himself that what he had done was the right thing? [474] Every cousin had assured Martin that things were going to be all right. [475] Was Conrad actually different from the rest? [476] His plan had worked and the others' hadn't, but then all his plan had consisted of was doing nothing. [477] That was all he and Martin had done ... nothing. [478] Were they absolved of all responsibility merely because they had stood aside and taken advantage of the others' weaknesses? [479] "Why," Martin said to himself, "in a sense, it could be said that I have fulfilled my original destiny—that I am a criminal." [480] Well, it didn't matter; whatever happened, no one could hold him to blame. [481] He held no stake in the future that was to come. [482] It was other men's future—other men's problem. [483] He died very peacefully then, and, since he was the only one left on the ship, there was nobody to bury him. [484] The unmanned yacht drifted about the seas for years and gave rise to many legends, none of them as unbelievable as the truth.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question: 1. [92] When Martin was sixteen, Raymond took him aside for the talk Ninian had promised five years before. 2. [184] "So Ninian's going," said Martin, wondering why the news made him feel curiously desolate. 3. [213] When it came time for the parting, it was Ninian who cried—tears at her own inadequacy, Martin knew, not of sorrow. 4. [214] He was getting skillful at understanding his descendants, far better than they at understanding him. 5. [215] But then they never really tried. 6. [216] Ninian kissed him wetly on the cheek and said she was sure everything would work out all right and that she'd come see him again. 7. [217] She never did, though, except at the very last. 8. [231] The threat of Conrad was beginning to make him grow more and more nervous. 9. [278] The only emotion he seemed able to feel was fear—the ever-present fear that someday he would turn a corridor and walk into a man who looked like him—a man who wanted to kill him for the sake of an ideal. 10. [407] There was only one face which Martin had never seen before. 11. [408] It wasn't a strange face, however, because Martin had seen one very like it in the looking glass when he was a young man. 12. [409] "You must be Conrad," Martin called across the cabin in a voice that was still clear. 13. [410] "I've been looking forward to meeting you for some time."

What is the plot of the story?

[1] Spawning Ground By LESTER DEL REY They weren't human. [2] They were something more—and something less—they were, in short, humanity's hopes for survival! [3] [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, September 1961. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [5] The Starship Pandora creaked and groaned as her landing pads settled unevenly in the mucky surface of the ugly world outside. [6] She seemed to be restless to end her fool's errand here, two hundred light years from the waiting hordes on Earth. [7] Straining metal plates twanged and echoed through her hallways. [8] Captain Gwayne cursed and rolled over, reaching for his boots. [9] He was a big, rawboned man, barely forty; but ten years of responsibility had pressed down his shoulders and put age-feigning hollows under his reddened eyes. [10] The starlanes between Earth and her potential colonies were rough on the men who traveled them now. [11] He shuffled toward the control room, grumbling at the heavy gravity. [12] Lieutenant Jane Corey looked up, nodding a blonde head at him as he moved toward the ever-waiting pot of murky coffee. [13] "Morning, Bob. [14] You need a shave." [15] "Yeah." [16] He swallowed the hot coffee without tasting it, then ran a hand across the dark stubble on his chin. [17] It could wait. [18] "Anything new during the night?" [19] "About a dozen blobs held something like a convention a little ways north of us. [20] They broke up about an hour ago and streaked off into the clouds." [21] The blobs were a peculiarity of this planet about which nobody knew anything. [22] They looked like overgrown fireballs, but seemed to have an almost sentient curiosity about anything moving on the ground. [23] "And our two cadets sneaked out again. [24] Barker followed them, but lost them in the murk. [25] I've kept a signal going to guide them back." [26] Gwayne swore softly to himself. [27] Earth couldn't turn out enough starmen in the schools, so promising kids were being shipped out for training as cadets on their twelfth birthday. [28] The two he'd drawn, Kaufman and Pinelli, seemed to be totally devoid of any sense of caution. [29] Of course there was no obvious need for caution here. [30] The blobs hadn't seemed dangerous, and the local animals were apparently all herbivorous and harmless. [31] They were ugly enough, looking like insects in spite of their internal skeletons, with anywhere from four to twelve legs each on their segmented bodies. [32] None acted like dangerous beasts. [33] But something had happened to the exploration party fifteen years back, and to the more recent ship under Hennessy that was sent to check up. [34] He turned to the port to stare out at the planet. [35] The Sol-type sun must be rising, since there was a dim light. [36] But the thick clouds that wrapped the entire world diffused its rays into a haze. [37] For a change, it wasn't raining, though the ground was covered by thick swirls of fog. [38] In the distance, the tops of shrubs that made a scrub forest glowed yellow-green. [39] Motions around them suggested a herd of feeding animals. [40] Details were impossible to see through the haze. [41] Even the deep gorge where they'd found Hennessy's carefully buried ship was completely hidden by the fog. [42] There were three of the blobs dancing about over the grazing animals now, as they often seemed to do. [43] Gwayne stared at them for a minute, trying to read sense into the things. [44] If he had time to study them.... [45] But there was no time. [46] Earth had ordered him to detour here, after leaving his load of deep-sleep stored colonists on Official World 71, to check on any sign of Hennessy. [47] He'd been here a week longer than he should have stayed already. [48] If there was no sign in another day or so of what had happened to the men who'd deserted their ship and its equipment, he'd have to report back. [49] He would have left before, if a recent landslip hadn't exposed enough of the buried ship for his metal locators to spot from the air by luck. [50] It had obviously been hidden deep enough to foil the detectors originally. [51] "Bob!" [52] Jane Corey's voice cut through his pondering. [53] "Bob, there are the kids!" [54] Before he could swing to follow her pointing finger, movement caught his eye. [55] The blobs had left the herd. [56] Now the three were streaking at fantastic speed to a spot near the ship, to hover excitedly above something that moved there. [57] He saw the two cadets then, heading back to the waiting ship, just beyond the movement he'd seen through the mist. [58] Whatever was making the fog swirl must have reached higher ground. [59] Something began to heave upwards. [60] It was too far to see clearly, but Gwayne grabbed the microphone, yelling into the radio toward the cadets. [61] They must have seen whatever it was just as the call reached them. [62] Young Kaufman grabbed at Pinelli, and they swung around together. [63] Then the mists cleared. [64] Under the dancing blobs, a horde of things was heading for the cadets. [65] Shaggy heads, brute bodies vaguely man-like! [66] One seemed to be almost eight feet tall, leading the others directly toward the spacesuited cadets. [67] Some of the horde were carrying spears or sticks. [68] There was a momentary halt, and then the leader lifted one arm, as if motioning the others forward. [69] "Get the jeeps out!" [70] Gwayne yelled at Jane. [71] He yanked the door of the little officers' lift open and jabbed the down button. [72] It was agonizingly slow, but faster than climbing down. [73] He ripped the door back at the exit deck. [74] Men were dashing in, stumbling around in confusion. [75] But someone was taking over now—one of the crew women. [76] The jeeps were lining up. [77] One, at the front, was stuttering into life, and Gwayne dashed for it as the exit port slid back. [78] There was no time for suits or helmets. [79] The air on the planet was irritating and vile smelling, but it could be breathed. [80] He leaped to the seat, to see that the driver was Doctor Barker. [81] At a gesture, the jeep rolled down the ramp, grinding its gears into second as it picked up speed. [82] The other two followed. [83] There was no sign of the cadets at first. [84] Then Gwayne spotted them; surrounded by the menacing horde. [85] Seen from here, the things looked horrible in a travesty of manhood. [86] The huge leader suddenly waved and pointed toward the jeeps that were racing toward him. [87] He made a fantastic leap backwards. [88] Others swung about, two of them grabbing up the cadets. [89] The jeep was doing twenty miles an hour now, but the horde began to increase the distance, in spite of the load of the two struggling boys! [90] The creatures dived downward into lower ground, beginning to disappear into the mists. [91] "Follow the blobs," Gwayne yelled. [92] He realized now he'd been a fool to leave his suit; the radio would have let him keep in contact with the kids. [93] But it was too late to go back. [94] The blobs danced after the horde. [95] Barker bounced the jeep downward into a gorge. [96] Somewhere the man had learned to drive superlatively; but he had to slow as the fog thickened lower down. [97] Then it cleared to show the mob of creatures doubling back on their own trail to confuse the pursuers. [98] There was no time to stop. [99] The jeep plowed through them. [100] Gwayne had a glimpse of five-foot bodies tumbling out of the way. [101] Monstrously coarse faces were half hidden by thick hair. [102] A spear crunched against the windshield from behind, and Gwayne caught it before it could foul the steering wheel. [103] It had a wickedly beautiful point of stone. [104] The creatures vanished as Barker fought to turn to follow them. [105] The other jeeps were coming up, by the sound of their motors, but too late to help. [106] They'd have to get to the group with the cadets in a hurry or the horde would all vanish in the uneven ground, hidden by the fog. [107] A blob dropped down, almost touching Gwayne. [108] He threw up an instinctive hand. [109] There was a tingling as the creature seemed to pass around it. [110] It lifted a few inches and drifted off. [111] Abruptly, Barker's foot ground at the brake. [112] Gwayne jolted forward against the windshield, just as he made out the form of the eight-foot leader. [113] The thing was standing directly ahead of him, a cadet on each shoulder. [114] The wheels locked and the jeep slid protestingly forward. [115] The creature leaped back. [116] But Gwayne was out of the jeep before it stopped, diving for the figure. [117] It dropped the boys with a surprised grunt. [118] The arms were thin and grotesque below the massively distorted shoulders, but amazingly strong. [119] Gwayne felt them wrench at him as his hands locked on the thick throat. [120] A stench of alien flesh was in his nose as the thing fell backwards. [121] Doc Barker had hit it seconds after the captain's attack. [122] Its head hit rocky ground with a dull, heavy sound, and it collapsed. [123] Gwayne eased back slowly, but it made no further move, though it was still breathing. [124] Another jeep had drawn up, and men were examining the cadets. [125] Pinelli was either laughing or crying, and Kaufman was trying to break free to kick at the monster. [126] But neither had been harmed. [127] The two were loaded onto a jeep while men helped Barker and Gwayne stow the bound monster on another before heading back. [128] "No sign of skull fracture. [129] My God, what a tough brute!" [130] Barker shook his own head, as if feeling the shock of the monster's landing. [131] "I hope so," Gwayne told him. [132] "I want that thing to live—and you're detailed to save it and revive it. [133] Find out if it can make sign language or draw pictures. [134] I want to know what happened to Hennessy and why that ship was buried against detection. [135] This thing may be the answer." [136] Barker nodded grimly. [137] "I'll try, though I can't risk drugs on an alien metabolism." [138] He sucked in on the cigarette he'd dug out, then spat sickly. [139] Smoke and this air made a foul combination. [140] "Bob, it still makes no sense. [141] We've scoured this planet by infra-red, and there was no sign of native villages or culture. [142] We should have found some." [143] "Troglodytes, maybe," Gwayne guessed. [144] "Anyhow, send for me when you get anything. [145] I've got to get this ship back to Earth. [146] We're overstaying our time here already." [147] The reports from the cadets were satisfactory enough. [148] They'd been picked up and carried, but no harm had been done them. [149] Now they were busy being little heroes. [150] Gwayne sentenced them to quarters as soon as he could, knowing their stories would only get wilder and less informative with retelling. [151] If they could get any story from the captured creature, they might save time and be better off than trying to dig through Hennessy's ship. [152] That was almost certainly spoorless by now. [153] The only possible answer seemed to be that the exploring expedition and Hennessy's rescue group had been overcome by the aliens. [154] It was an answer, but it left a lot of questions. [155] How could the primitives have gotten to the men inside Hennessy's ship? [156] Why was its fuel dumped? [157] Only men would have known how to do that. [158] And who told these creatures that a space ship's metal finders could be fooled by a little more than a hundred feet of solid rock? [159] They'd buried the ship cunningly, and only the accidental slippage had undone their work. [160] Maybe there would never be a full answer, but he had to find something—and find it fast. [161] Earth needed every world she could make remotely habitable, or mankind was probably doomed to extinction. [162] The race had blundered safely through its discovery of atomic weapons into a peace that had lasted two hundred years. [163] It had managed to prevent an interplanetary war with the Venus colonists. [164] It had found a drive that led to the stars, and hadn't even found intelligent life there to be dangerous on the few worlds that had cultures of their own. [165] But forty years ago, observations from beyond the Solar System had finally proved that the sun was going to go nova. [166] It wouldn't be much of an explosion, as such things go—but it would render the whole Solar System uninhabitable for millenia. [167] To survive, man had to colonize. [168] And there were no worlds perfect for him, as Earth had been. [169] The explorers went out in desperation to find what they could; the terraforming teams did what they could. [170] And then the big starships began filling worlds with colonists, carried in deep sleep to conserve space. [171] Almost eighty worlds. [172] The nearest a four month journey from Earth and four more months back. [173] In another ten years, the sun would explode, leaving man only on the footholds he was trying to dig among other solar systems. [174] Maybe some of the strange worlds would let men spread his seed again. [175] Maybe none would be spawning grounds for mankind in spite of the efforts. [176] Each was precious as a haven for the race. [177] If this world could be used, it would be nearer than most. [178] If not, as it now seemed, no more time could be wasted here. [179] Primitives could be overcome, maybe. [180] It would be ruthless and unfair to strip them of their world, but the first law was survival. [181] But how could primitives do what these must have done? [182] He studied the spear he had salvaged. [183] It was on a staff made of cemented bits of smaller wood from the scrub growth, skillfully laminated. [184] The point was of delicately chipped flint, done as no human hand had been able to do for centuries. [185] "Beautiful primitive work," he muttered. [186] Jane pulled the coffee cup away from her lips and snorted. [187] "You can see a lot more of it out there," she suggested. [188] He went to the port and glanced out. [189] About sixty of the things were squatting in the clearing fog, holding lances and staring at the ship. [190] They were perhaps a thousand yards away, waiting patiently. [191] For what? [192] For the return of their leader—or for something that would give the ship to them? [193] Gwayne grabbed the phone and called Barker. [194] "How's the captive coming?" [195] Barker's voice sounded odd. [196] "Physically fine. [197] You can see him. [198] But—" Gwayne dropped the phone and headed for the little sick bay. [199] He swore at Doc for not calling him at once, and then at himself for not checking up sooner. [200] Then he stopped at the sound of voices. [201] There was the end of a question from Barker and a thick, harsh growling sound that lifted the hair along the nape of Gwayne's neck. [202] Barker seemed to understand, and was making a comment as the captain dashed in. [203] The captive was sitting on the bunk, unbound and oddly unmenacing. [204] The thick features were relaxed and yet somehow intent. [205] He seemed to make some kind of a salute as he saw Gwayne enter, and his eyes burned up unerringly toward the device on the officer's cap. [206] "Haarroo, Cabbaan!" [207] the thing said. [208] "Captain Gwayne, may I present your former friend, Captain Hennessy?" [209] Barker said. [210] There was a grin on the doctor's lips, but his face was taut with strain. [211] The creature nodded slowly and drew something from the thick hair on its head. [212] It was the golden comet of a captain. [213] "He never meant to hurt the kids—just to talk to them," Barker cut in quickly. [214] "I've got some of the story. [215] He's changed. [216] He can't talk very well. [217] Says they've had to change the language around to make the sounds fit, and he's forgotten how to use what normal English he can. [218] But it gets easier as you listen. [219] It's Hennessy, all right. [220] I'm certain." [221] Gwayne had his own ideas on that. [222] It was easy for an alien to seize on the gold ornament of a captive earthman, even to learn a little English, maybe. [223] But Hennessy had been his friend. [224] "How many barmaids in the Cheshire Cat? [225] How many pups did your oldest kid's dog have? [226] How many were brown?" [227] The lips contorted into something vaguely like a smile, and the curiously shaped fingers that could handle no human-designed equipment spread out. [228] Three. [229] Seven. [230] Zero. [231] The answers were right. [232] By the time the session was over, Gwayne had begun to understand the twisted speech from inhuman vocal cords better. [233] But the story took a long time telling. [234] When it was finished, Gwayne and Barker sat for long minutes in silence. [235] Finally Gwayne drew a shuddering breath and stood up. [236] "Is it possible, Doc?" [237] "No," Barker said flatly. [238] He spread his hands and grimaced. [239] "No. [240] Not by what I know. [241] But it happened. [242] I've looked at a few tissues under the microscope. [243] The changes are there. [244] It's hard to believe about their kids. [245] Adults in eight years, but they stay shorter. [246] It can't be a hereditary change—the things that affect the body don't change the germ plasm. [247] But in this case, what changed Hennessy is real, so maybe the fact that the change is passed on is as real as he claims." [248] Gwayne led the former Hennessy to the exit. [249] The waiting blobs dropped down to touch the monstrous man, then leaped up again. [250] The crowd of monsters began moving forward toward their leader. [251] A few were almost as tall as Hennessy, but most were not more than five feet high. [252] The kids of the exploring party.... Back in the control room, Gwayne found the emergency release levers, set the combinations and pressed the studs. [253] There was a hiss and gurgle as the great tanks of fuel discharged their contents out onto the ground where no ingenuity could ever recover it to bring life to the ship again. [254] He'd have to tell the men and women of the crew later, after he'd had time to organize things and present it all in a way they could accept, however much they might hate it at first. [255] But there was no putting off giving the gist of it to Jane. [256] "It was the blobs," he summarized it. [257] "They seem to be amused by men. [258] They don't require anything from us, but they like us around. [259] Hennessy doesn't know why. [260] They can change our cells, adapt us. [261] Before men came, all life here had twelve legs. [262] Now they're changing that, as we've seen. [263] "And they don't have to be close to do it. [264] We've all been outside the hull. [265] It doesn't show yet—but we're changed. [266] In another month, Earth food would kill us. [267] We've got to stay here. [268] We'll bury the ships deeper this time, and Earth won't find us. [269] They can't risk trying a colony where three ships vanish, so we'll just disappear. [270] And they'll never know." [271] Nobody would know. [272] Their children—odd children who matured in eight years—would be primitive savages in three generations. [273] The Earth tools would be useless, impossible for the hands so radically changed. [274] Nothing from the ship would last. [275] Books could never be read by the new eyes. [276] And in time, Earth wouldn't even be a memory to this world. [277] She was silent a long time, staring out of the port toward what must now be her home. [278] Then she sighed. [279] "You'll need practice, but the others don't know you as well as I do, Bob. [280] I guess we can fix it so they'll believe it all. [281] And it's too late now. [282] But we haven't really been changed yet, have we?" [283] "No," he admitted. [284] Damn his voice! [285] He'd never been good at lying. [286] "No. [287] They have to touch us. [288] I've been touched, but the rest could go back." [289] She nodded. [290] He waited for the condemnation, but there was only puzzlement in her face. [291] "Why?" [292] And then, before he could answer, her own intelligence gave her the same answer he had found for himself. [293] "The spawning ground!" [294] It was the only thing they could do. [295] Earth needed a place to plant her seed, but no world other than Earth could ever be trusted to preserve that seed for generation after generation. [296] Some worlds already were becoming uncertain. [297] Here, though, the blobs had adapted men to the alien world instead of men having to adapt the whole planet to their needs. [298] Here, the strange children of man's race could grow, develop and begin the long trek back to civilization. [299] The gadgets would be lost for a time. [300] But perhaps some of the attitudes of civilized man would remain to make the next rise to culture a better one. [301] "We're needed here," he told her, his voice pleading for the understanding he couldn't yet fully give himself. [302] "These people need as rich a set of bloodlines as possible to give the new race strength. [303] The fifty men and women on this ship will be needed to start them with a decent chance. [304] We can't go to Earth, where nobody would believe or accept the idea—or even let us come back. [305] We have to stay here." [306] She smiled then and moved toward him, groping for his strength. [307] "Be fruitful," she whispered. [308] "Be fruitful and spawn and replenish an earth." [309] "No," he told her. [310] "Replenish the stars." [311] But she was no longer listening, and that part of his idea could wait. [312] Some day, though, their children would find a way to the starlanes again, looking for other worlds. [313] With the blobs to help them, they could adapt to most worlds. [314] The unchanged spirit would lead them through all space, and the changing bodies would claim worlds beyond numbering. [315] Some day, the whole universe would be a spawning ground for the children of men!

Here is the ranking of the context sentences in order of importance for answering the question "What is the plot of the story?": 1. [255] "It was the blobs," he summarized it. 2. [256] "They seem to be amused by men. 3. [257] They don't require anything from us, but they like us around. 4. [258] Hennessy doesn't know why. 5. [259] They can change our cells, adapt us. 6. [260] Before men came, all life here had twelve legs. 7. [261] Now they're changing that, as we've seen. 8. [262] "And they don't have to be close to do it. 9. [263] We've all been outside the hull. 10. [264] It doesn't show yet—but we're changed. 11. [265] In another month, Earth food would kill us. 12. [266] We've got to stay here. 13. [267] We'll bury the ships deeper this time, and Earth won't find us. 14. [268] They can't risk trying a colony where three ships vanish, so we'll just disappear. 15. [269] And they'll never know." 16. [270] Nobody would know. 17. [271] Their children—odd children who matured in eight years—would be primitive savages in three generations. 18. [272] The Earth tools would be useless, impossible for the hands so radically changed. 19. [273] Nothing from the ship would last. 20. [274] Books could never be read by the new eyes. 21. [275] And in time, Earth wouldn't even be a memory to this world. 22. [293] "The spawning ground!" 23. [294] It was the only thing they could do. 24. [295] Earth needed a place to plant her seed, but no world other than Earth could ever be trusted to preserve that seed for generation after generation. 25. [296] Some worlds already were becoming uncertain. 26. [297] Here, though, the blobs had adapted men to the alien world instead of men having to adapt the whole planet to their needs. 27. [298] Here, the strange children of man's race could grow, develop and begin the long trek back to civilization. 28. [299] The gadgets would be lost for a time. 29. [300] But perhaps some of the attitudes of civilized man would remain to make the next rise to culture a better one. 30. [301] "We're needed here," he told her, his voice pleading for the understanding he couldn't yet fully give himself. 31. [302] "These people need as rich a set of bloodlines as possible to give the new race strength. 32. [303] The fifty men and women on this ship will be needed to start them with a decent chance. 33. [304] We can't go to Earth, where nobody would believe or accept the idea—or even let us come back. 34. [305] We have to stay here." 35. [306] She smiled then and moved toward him, groping for his strength. 36. [307] "Be fruitful," she whispered. 37. [308] "Be fruitful and spawn and replenish an earth." 38. [309] "No," he told her. 39. [310] "Replenish the stars." 40. [311] But she was no longer listening, and that part of his idea could wait. 41. [312] Some day, though, their children would find a way to the starlanes again, looking for other worlds. 42. [313] With the blobs to help them, they could adapt to most worlds. 43. [314] The unchanged spirit would lead them through all space, and the changing bodies would claim worlds beyond numbering. 44. [315] Some day, the whole universe would be a spawning ground for the children of men!

Who is Hennessy? What happens to him throughout the story?

[1] Spawning Ground By LESTER DEL REY They weren't human. [2] They were something more—and something less—they were, in short, humanity's hopes for survival! [3] [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, September 1961. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [5] The Starship Pandora creaked and groaned as her landing pads settled unevenly in the mucky surface of the ugly world outside. [6] She seemed to be restless to end her fool's errand here, two hundred light years from the waiting hordes on Earth. [7] Straining metal plates twanged and echoed through her hallways. [8] Captain Gwayne cursed and rolled over, reaching for his boots. [9] He was a big, rawboned man, barely forty; but ten years of responsibility had pressed down his shoulders and put age-feigning hollows under his reddened eyes. [10] The starlanes between Earth and her potential colonies were rough on the men who traveled them now. [11] He shuffled toward the control room, grumbling at the heavy gravity. [12] Lieutenant Jane Corey looked up, nodding a blonde head at him as he moved toward the ever-waiting pot of murky coffee. [13] "Morning, Bob. [14] You need a shave." [15] "Yeah." [16] He swallowed the hot coffee without tasting it, then ran a hand across the dark stubble on his chin. [17] It could wait. [18] "Anything new during the night?" [19] "About a dozen blobs held something like a convention a little ways north of us. [20] They broke up about an hour ago and streaked off into the clouds." [21] The blobs were a peculiarity of this planet about which nobody knew anything. [22] They looked like overgrown fireballs, but seemed to have an almost sentient curiosity about anything moving on the ground. [23] "And our two cadets sneaked out again. [24] Barker followed them, but lost them in the murk. [25] I've kept a signal going to guide them back." [26] Gwayne swore softly to himself. [27] Earth couldn't turn out enough starmen in the schools, so promising kids were being shipped out for training as cadets on their twelfth birthday. [28] The two he'd drawn, Kaufman and Pinelli, seemed to be totally devoid of any sense of caution. [29] Of course there was no obvious need for caution here. [30] The blobs hadn't seemed dangerous, and the local animals were apparently all herbivorous and harmless. [31] They were ugly enough, looking like insects in spite of their internal skeletons, with anywhere from four to twelve legs each on their segmented bodies. [32] None acted like dangerous beasts. [33] But something had happened to the exploration party fifteen years back, and to the more recent ship under Hennessy that was sent to check up. [34] He turned to the port to stare out at the planet. [35] The Sol-type sun must be rising, since there was a dim light. [36] But the thick clouds that wrapped the entire world diffused its rays into a haze. [37] For a change, it wasn't raining, though the ground was covered by thick swirls of fog. [38] In the distance, the tops of shrubs that made a scrub forest glowed yellow-green. [39] Motions around them suggested a herd of feeding animals. [40] Details were impossible to see through the haze. [41] Even the deep gorge where they'd found Hennessy's carefully buried ship was completely hidden by the fog. [42] There were three of the blobs dancing about over the grazing animals now, as they often seemed to do. [43] Gwayne stared at them for a minute, trying to read sense into the things. [44] If he had time to study them.... [45] But there was no time. [46] Earth had ordered him to detour here, after leaving his load of deep-sleep stored colonists on Official World 71, to check on any sign of Hennessy. [47] He'd been here a week longer than he should have stayed already. [48] If there was no sign in another day or so of what had happened to the men who'd deserted their ship and its equipment, he'd have to report back. [49] He would have left before, if a recent landslip hadn't exposed enough of the buried ship for his metal locators to spot from the air by luck. [50] It had obviously been hidden deep enough to foil the detectors originally. [51] "Bob!" [52] Jane Corey's voice cut through his pondering. [53] "Bob, there are the kids!" [54] Before he could swing to follow her pointing finger, movement caught his eye. [55] The blobs had left the herd. [56] Now the three were streaking at fantastic speed to a spot near the ship, to hover excitedly above something that moved there. [57] He saw the two cadets then, heading back to the waiting ship, just beyond the movement he'd seen through the mist. [58] Whatever was making the fog swirl must have reached higher ground. [59] Something began to heave upwards. [60] It was too far to see clearly, but Gwayne grabbed the microphone, yelling into the radio toward the cadets. [61] They must have seen whatever it was just as the call reached them. [62] Young Kaufman grabbed at Pinelli, and they swung around together. [63] Then the mists cleared. [64] Under the dancing blobs, a horde of things was heading for the cadets. [65] Shaggy heads, brute bodies vaguely man-like! [66] One seemed to be almost eight feet tall, leading the others directly toward the spacesuited cadets. [67] Some of the horde were carrying spears or sticks. [68] There was a momentary halt, and then the leader lifted one arm, as if motioning the others forward. [69] "Get the jeeps out!" [70] Gwayne yelled at Jane. [71] He yanked the door of the little officers' lift open and jabbed the down button. [72] It was agonizingly slow, but faster than climbing down. [73] He ripped the door back at the exit deck. [74] Men were dashing in, stumbling around in confusion. [75] But someone was taking over now—one of the crew women. [76] The jeeps were lining up. [77] One, at the front, was stuttering into life, and Gwayne dashed for it as the exit port slid back. [78] There was no time for suits or helmets. [79] The air on the planet was irritating and vile smelling, but it could be breathed. [80] He leaped to the seat, to see that the driver was Doctor Barker. [81] At a gesture, the jeep rolled down the ramp, grinding its gears into second as it picked up speed. [82] The other two followed. [83] There was no sign of the cadets at first. [84] Then Gwayne spotted them; surrounded by the menacing horde. [85] Seen from here, the things looked horrible in a travesty of manhood. [86] The huge leader suddenly waved and pointed toward the jeeps that were racing toward him. [87] He made a fantastic leap backwards. [88] Others swung about, two of them grabbing up the cadets. [89] The jeep was doing twenty miles an hour now, but the horde began to increase the distance, in spite of the load of the two struggling boys! [90] The creatures dived downward into lower ground, beginning to disappear into the mists. [91] "Follow the blobs," Gwayne yelled. [92] He realized now he'd been a fool to leave his suit; the radio would have let him keep in contact with the kids. [93] But it was too late to go back. [94] The blobs danced after the horde. [95] Barker bounced the jeep downward into a gorge. [96] Somewhere the man had learned to drive superlatively; but he had to slow as the fog thickened lower down. [97] Then it cleared to show the mob of creatures doubling back on their own trail to confuse the pursuers. [98] There was no time to stop. [99] The jeep plowed through them. [100] Gwayne had a glimpse of five-foot bodies tumbling out of the way. [101] Monstrously coarse faces were half hidden by thick hair. [102] A spear crunched against the windshield from behind, and Gwayne caught it before it could foul the steering wheel. [103] It had a wickedly beautiful point of stone. [104] The creatures vanished as Barker fought to turn to follow them. [105] The other jeeps were coming up, by the sound of their motors, but too late to help. [106] They'd have to get to the group with the cadets in a hurry or the horde would all vanish in the uneven ground, hidden by the fog. [107] A blob dropped down, almost touching Gwayne. [108] He threw up an instinctive hand. [109] There was a tingling as the creature seemed to pass around it. [110] It lifted a few inches and drifted off. [111] Abruptly, Barker's foot ground at the brake. [112] Gwayne jolted forward against the windshield, just as he made out the form of the eight-foot leader. [113] The thing was standing directly ahead of him, a cadet on each shoulder. [114] The wheels locked and the jeep slid protestingly forward. [115] The creature leaped back. [116] But Gwayne was out of the jeep before it stopped, diving for the figure. [117] It dropped the boys with a surprised grunt. [118] The arms were thin and grotesque below the massively distorted shoulders, but amazingly strong. [119] Gwayne felt them wrench at him as his hands locked on the thick throat. [120] A stench of alien flesh was in his nose as the thing fell backwards. [121] Doc Barker had hit it seconds after the captain's attack. [122] Its head hit rocky ground with a dull, heavy sound, and it collapsed. [123] Gwayne eased back slowly, but it made no further move, though it was still breathing. [124] Another jeep had drawn up, and men were examining the cadets. [125] Pinelli was either laughing or crying, and Kaufman was trying to break free to kick at the monster. [126] But neither had been harmed. [127] The two were loaded onto a jeep while men helped Barker and Gwayne stow the bound monster on another before heading back. [128] "No sign of skull fracture. [129] My God, what a tough brute!" [130] Barker shook his own head, as if feeling the shock of the monster's landing. [131] "I hope so," Gwayne told him. [132] "I want that thing to live—and you're detailed to save it and revive it. [133] Find out if it can make sign language or draw pictures. [134] I want to know what happened to Hennessy and why that ship was buried against detection. [135] This thing may be the answer." [136] Barker nodded grimly. [137] "I'll try, though I can't risk drugs on an alien metabolism." [138] He sucked in on the cigarette he'd dug out, then spat sickly. [139] Smoke and this air made a foul combination. [140] "Bob, it still makes no sense. [141] We've scoured this planet by infra-red, and there was no sign of native villages or culture. [142] We should have found some." [143] "Troglodytes, maybe," Gwayne guessed. [144] "Anyhow, send for me when you get anything. [145] I've got to get this ship back to Earth. [146] We're overstaying our time here already." [147] The reports from the cadets were satisfactory enough. [148] They'd been picked up and carried, but no harm had been done them. [149] Now they were busy being little heroes. [150] Gwayne sentenced them to quarters as soon as he could, knowing their stories would only get wilder and less informative with retelling. [151] If they could get any story from the captured creature, they might save time and be better off than trying to dig through Hennessy's ship. [152] That was almost certainly spoorless by now. [153] The only possible answer seemed to be that the exploring expedition and Hennessy's rescue group had been overcome by the aliens. [154] It was an answer, but it left a lot of questions. [155] How could the primitives have gotten to the men inside Hennessy's ship? [156] Why was its fuel dumped? [157] Only men would have known how to do that. [158] And who told these creatures that a space ship's metal finders could be fooled by a little more than a hundred feet of solid rock? [159] They'd buried the ship cunningly, and only the accidental slippage had undone their work. [160] Maybe there would never be a full answer, but he had to find something—and find it fast. [161] Earth needed every world she could make remotely habitable, or mankind was probably doomed to extinction. [162] The race had blundered safely through its discovery of atomic weapons into a peace that had lasted two hundred years. [163] It had managed to prevent an interplanetary war with the Venus colonists. [164] It had found a drive that led to the stars, and hadn't even found intelligent life there to be dangerous on the few worlds that had cultures of their own. [165] But forty years ago, observations from beyond the Solar System had finally proved that the sun was going to go nova. [166] It wouldn't be much of an explosion, as such things go—but it would render the whole Solar System uninhabitable for millenia. [167] To survive, man had to colonize. [168] And there were no worlds perfect for him, as Earth had been. [169] The explorers went out in desperation to find what they could; the terraforming teams did what they could. [170] And then the big starships began filling worlds with colonists, carried in deep sleep to conserve space. [171] Almost eighty worlds. [172] The nearest a four month journey from Earth and four more months back. [173] In another ten years, the sun would explode, leaving man only on the footholds he was trying to dig among other solar systems. [174] Maybe some of the strange worlds would let men spread his seed again. [175] Maybe none would be spawning grounds for mankind in spite of the efforts. [176] Each was precious as a haven for the race. [177] If this world could be used, it would be nearer than most. [178] If not, as it now seemed, no more time could be wasted here. [179] Primitives could be overcome, maybe. [180] It would be ruthless and unfair to strip them of their world, but the first law was survival. [181] But how could primitives do what these must have done? [182] He studied the spear he had salvaged. [183] It was on a staff made of cemented bits of smaller wood from the scrub growth, skillfully laminated. [184] The point was of delicately chipped flint, done as no human hand had been able to do for centuries. [185] "Beautiful primitive work," he muttered. [186] Jane pulled the coffee cup away from her lips and snorted. [187] "You can see a lot more of it out there," she suggested. [188] He went to the port and glanced out. [189] About sixty of the things were squatting in the clearing fog, holding lances and staring at the ship. [190] They were perhaps a thousand yards away, waiting patiently. [191] For what? [192] For the return of their leader—or for something that would give the ship to them? [193] Gwayne grabbed the phone and called Barker. [194] "How's the captive coming?" [195] Barker's voice sounded odd. [196] "Physically fine. [197] You can see him. [198] But—" Gwayne dropped the phone and headed for the little sick bay. [199] He swore at Doc for not calling him at once, and then at himself for not checking up sooner. [200] Then he stopped at the sound of voices. [201] There was the end of a question from Barker and a thick, harsh growling sound that lifted the hair along the nape of Gwayne's neck. [202] Barker seemed to understand, and was making a comment as the captain dashed in. [203] The captive was sitting on the bunk, unbound and oddly unmenacing. [204] The thick features were relaxed and yet somehow intent. [205] He seemed to make some kind of a salute as he saw Gwayne enter, and his eyes burned up unerringly toward the device on the officer's cap. [206] "Haarroo, Cabbaan!" [207] the thing said. [208] "Captain Gwayne, may I present your former friend, Captain Hennessy?" [209] Barker said. [210] There was a grin on the doctor's lips, but his face was taut with strain. [211] The creature nodded slowly and drew something from the thick hair on its head. [212] It was the golden comet of a captain. [213] "He never meant to hurt the kids—just to talk to them," Barker cut in quickly. [214] "I've got some of the story. [215] He's changed. [216] He can't talk very well. [217] Says they've had to change the language around to make the sounds fit, and he's forgotten how to use what normal English he can. [218] But it gets easier as you listen. [219] It's Hennessy, all right. [220] I'm certain." [221] Gwayne had his own ideas on that. [222] It was easy for an alien to seize on the gold ornament of a captive earthman, even to learn a little English, maybe. [223] But Hennessy had been his friend. [224] "How many barmaids in the Cheshire Cat? [225] How many pups did your oldest kid's dog have? [226] How many were brown?" [227] The lips contorted into something vaguely like a smile, and the curiously shaped fingers that could handle no human-designed equipment spread out. [228] Three. [229] Seven. [230] Zero. [231] The answers were right. [232] By the time the session was over, Gwayne had begun to understand the twisted speech from inhuman vocal cords better. [233] But the story took a long time telling. [234] When it was finished, Gwayne and Barker sat for long minutes in silence. [235] Finally Gwayne drew a shuddering breath and stood up. [236] "Is it possible, Doc?" [237] "No," Barker said flatly. [238] He spread his hands and grimaced. [239] "No. [240] Not by what I know. [241] But it happened. [242] I've looked at a few tissues under the microscope. [243] The changes are there. [244] It's hard to believe about their kids. [245] Adults in eight years, but they stay shorter. [246] It can't be a hereditary change—the things that affect the body don't change the germ plasm. [247] But in this case, what changed Hennessy is real, so maybe the fact that the change is passed on is as real as he claims." [248] Gwayne led the former Hennessy to the exit. [249] The waiting blobs dropped down to touch the monstrous man, then leaped up again. [250] The crowd of monsters began moving forward toward their leader. [251] A few were almost as tall as Hennessy, but most were not more than five feet high. [252] The kids of the exploring party.... Back in the control room, Gwayne found the emergency release levers, set the combinations and pressed the studs. [253] There was a hiss and gurgle as the great tanks of fuel discharged their contents out onto the ground where no ingenuity could ever recover it to bring life to the ship again. [254] He'd have to tell the men and women of the crew later, after he'd had time to organize things and present it all in a way they could accept, however much they might hate it at first. [255] But there was no putting off giving the gist of it to Jane. [256] "It was the blobs," he summarized it. [257] "They seem to be amused by men. [258] They don't require anything from us, but they like us around. [259] Hennessy doesn't know why. [260] They can change our cells, adapt us. [261] Before men came, all life here had twelve legs. [262] Now they're changing that, as we've seen. [263] "And they don't have to be close to do it. [264] We've all been outside the hull. [265] It doesn't show yet—but we're changed. [266] In another month, Earth food would kill us. [267] We've got to stay here. [268] We'll bury the ships deeper this time, and Earth won't find us. [269] They can't risk trying a colony where three ships vanish, so we'll just disappear. [270] And they'll never know." [271] Nobody would know. [272] Their children—odd children who matured in eight years—would be primitive savages in three generations. [273] The Earth tools would be useless, impossible for the hands so radically changed. [274] Nothing from the ship would last. [275] Books could never be read by the new eyes. [276] And in time, Earth wouldn't even be a memory to this world. [277] She was silent a long time, staring out of the port toward what must now be her home. [278] Then she sighed. [279] "You'll need practice, but the others don't know you as well as I do, Bob. [280] I guess we can fix it so they'll believe it all. [281] And it's too late now. [282] But we haven't really been changed yet, have we?" [283] "No," he admitted. [284] Damn his voice! [285] He'd never been good at lying. [286] "No. [287] They have to touch us. [288] I've been touched, but the rest could go back." [289] She nodded. [290] He waited for the condemnation, but there was only puzzlement in her face. [291] "Why?" [292] And then, before he could answer, her own intelligence gave her the same answer he had found for himself. [293] "The spawning ground!" [294] It was the only thing they could do. [295] Earth needed a place to plant her seed, but no world other than Earth could ever be trusted to preserve that seed for generation after generation. [296] Some worlds already were becoming uncertain. [297] Here, though, the blobs had adapted men to the alien world instead of men having to adapt the whole planet to their needs. [298] Here, the strange children of man's race could grow, develop and begin the long trek back to civilization. [299] The gadgets would be lost for a time. [300] But perhaps some of the attitudes of civilized man would remain to make the next rise to culture a better one. [301] "We're needed here," he told her, his voice pleading for the understanding he couldn't yet fully give himself. [302] "These people need as rich a set of bloodlines as possible to give the new race strength. [303] The fifty men and women on this ship will be needed to start them with a decent chance. [304] We can't go to Earth, where nobody would believe or accept the idea—or even let us come back. [305] We have to stay here." [306] She smiled then and moved toward him, groping for his strength. [307] "Be fruitful," she whispered. [308] "Be fruitful and spawn and replenish an earth." [309] "No," he told her. [310] "Replenish the stars." [311] But she was no longer listening, and that part of his idea could wait. [312] Some day, though, their children would find a way to the starlanes again, looking for other worlds. [313] With the blobs to help them, they could adapt to most worlds. [314] The unchanged spirit would lead them through all space, and the changing bodies would claim worlds beyond numbering. [315] Some day, the whole universe would be a spawning ground for the children of men!

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "Who is Hennessy? What happens to him throughout the story?": 1. [207] "Haarroo, Cabbaan!" the thing said. "Captain Gwayne, may I present your former friend, Captain Hennessy?" 2. [215] "He's changed. He can't talk very well. Says they've had to change the language around to make the sounds fit, and he's forgotten how to use what normal English he can." 3. [233] When it was finished, Gwayne and Barker sat for long minutes in silence. 4. [234] Finally Gwayne drew a shuddering breath and stood up. "Is it possible, Doc?" 5. [235] "No," Barker said flatly. 6. [236] "Not by what I know. But it happened. I've looked at a few tissues under the microscope. The changes are there." 7. [237] "It's hard to believe about their kids. Adults in eight years, but they stay shorter." 8. [248] Gwayne led the former Hennessy to the exit. 9. [249] The waiting blobs dropped down to touch the monstrous man, then leaped up again. 10. [250] The crowd of monsters began moving forward toward their leader. 11. [251] A few were almost as tall as Hennessy, but most were not more than five feet high. 12. [252] The kids of the exploring party.... 13. [253] Back in the control room, Gwayne found the emergency release levers, set the combinations and pressed the studs. 14. [254] There was a hiss and gurgle as the great tanks of fuel discharged their contents out onto the ground where no ingenuity could ever recover it to bring life to the ship again. 15. [255] He'd have to tell the men and women of the crew later, after he'd had time to organize things and present it all in a way they could accept, however much they might hate it at first. 16. [256] "It was the blobs," he summarized it. 17. [257] "They seem to be amused by men. They don't require anything from us, but they like us around." 18. [258] "Hennessy doesn't know why." 19. [259] "They can change our cells, adapt us." 20. [260] "Before men came, all life here had twelve legs. Now they're changing that, as we've seen." 21. [261] "And they don't have to be close to do it. We've all been outside the hull." 22. [262] "It doesn't show yet—but we're changed. In another month, Earth food would kill us." 23. [263] "We've got to stay here. We'll bury the ships deeper this time, and Earth won't find us." 24. [264] "They can't risk trying a colony where three ships vanish, so we'll just disappear." 25. [265] "And they'll never know."

Who is Jane Corey? What happens to her throughout the story?

[1] Spawning Ground By LESTER DEL REY They weren't human. [2] They were something more—and something less—they were, in short, humanity's hopes for survival! [3] [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, September 1961. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [5] The Starship Pandora creaked and groaned as her landing pads settled unevenly in the mucky surface of the ugly world outside. [6] She seemed to be restless to end her fool's errand here, two hundred light years from the waiting hordes on Earth. [7] Straining metal plates twanged and echoed through her hallways. [8] Captain Gwayne cursed and rolled over, reaching for his boots. [9] He was a big, rawboned man, barely forty; but ten years of responsibility had pressed down his shoulders and put age-feigning hollows under his reddened eyes. [10] The starlanes between Earth and her potential colonies were rough on the men who traveled them now. [11] He shuffled toward the control room, grumbling at the heavy gravity. [12] Lieutenant Jane Corey looked up, nodding a blonde head at him as he moved toward the ever-waiting pot of murky coffee. [13] "Morning, Bob. [14] You need a shave." [15] "Yeah." [16] He swallowed the hot coffee without tasting it, then ran a hand across the dark stubble on his chin. [17] It could wait. [18] "Anything new during the night?" [19] "About a dozen blobs held something like a convention a little ways north of us. [20] They broke up about an hour ago and streaked off into the clouds." [21] The blobs were a peculiarity of this planet about which nobody knew anything. [22] They looked like overgrown fireballs, but seemed to have an almost sentient curiosity about anything moving on the ground. [23] "And our two cadets sneaked out again. [24] Barker followed them, but lost them in the murk. [25] I've kept a signal going to guide them back." [26] Gwayne swore softly to himself. [27] Earth couldn't turn out enough starmen in the schools, so promising kids were being shipped out for training as cadets on their twelfth birthday. [28] The two he'd drawn, Kaufman and Pinelli, seemed to be totally devoid of any sense of caution. [29] Of course there was no obvious need for caution here. [30] The blobs hadn't seemed dangerous, and the local animals were apparently all herbivorous and harmless. [31] They were ugly enough, looking like insects in spite of their internal skeletons, with anywhere from four to twelve legs each on their segmented bodies. [32] None acted like dangerous beasts. [33] But something had happened to the exploration party fifteen years back, and to the more recent ship under Hennessy that was sent to check up. [34] He turned to the port to stare out at the planet. [35] The Sol-type sun must be rising, since there was a dim light. [36] But the thick clouds that wrapped the entire world diffused its rays into a haze. [37] For a change, it wasn't raining, though the ground was covered by thick swirls of fog. [38] In the distance, the tops of shrubs that made a scrub forest glowed yellow-green. [39] Motions around them suggested a herd of feeding animals. [40] Details were impossible to see through the haze. [41] Even the deep gorge where they'd found Hennessy's carefully buried ship was completely hidden by the fog. [42] There were three of the blobs dancing about over the grazing animals now, as they often seemed to do. [43] Gwayne stared at them for a minute, trying to read sense into the things. [44] If he had time to study them.... [45] But there was no time. [46] Earth had ordered him to detour here, after leaving his load of deep-sleep stored colonists on Official World 71, to check on any sign of Hennessy. [47] He'd been here a week longer than he should have stayed already. [48] If there was no sign in another day or so of what had happened to the men who'd deserted their ship and its equipment, he'd have to report back. [49] He would have left before, if a recent landslip hadn't exposed enough of the buried ship for his metal locators to spot from the air by luck. [50] It had obviously been hidden deep enough to foil the detectors originally. [51] "Bob!" [52] Jane Corey's voice cut through his pondering. [53] "Bob, there are the kids!" [54] Before he could swing to follow her pointing finger, movement caught his eye. [55] The blobs had left the herd. [56] Now the three were streaking at fantastic speed to a spot near the ship, to hover excitedly above something that moved there. [57] He saw the two cadets then, heading back to the waiting ship, just beyond the movement he'd seen through the mist. [58] Whatever was making the fog swirl must have reached higher ground. [59] Something began to heave upwards. [60] It was too far to see clearly, but Gwayne grabbed the microphone, yelling into the radio toward the cadets. [61] They must have seen whatever it was just as the call reached them. [62] Young Kaufman grabbed at Pinelli, and they swung around together. [63] Then the mists cleared. [64] Under the dancing blobs, a horde of things was heading for the cadets. [65] Shaggy heads, brute bodies vaguely man-like! [66] One seemed to be almost eight feet tall, leading the others directly toward the spacesuited cadets. [67] Some of the horde were carrying spears or sticks. [68] There was a momentary halt, and then the leader lifted one arm, as if motioning the others forward. [69] "Get the jeeps out!" [70] Gwayne yelled at Jane. [71] He yanked the door of the little officers' lift open and jabbed the down button. [72] It was agonizingly slow, but faster than climbing down. [73] He ripped the door back at the exit deck. [74] Men were dashing in, stumbling around in confusion. [75] But someone was taking over now—one of the crew women. [76] The jeeps were lining up. [77] One, at the front, was stuttering into life, and Gwayne dashed for it as the exit port slid back. [78] There was no time for suits or helmets. [79] The air on the planet was irritating and vile smelling, but it could be breathed. [80] He leaped to the seat, to see that the driver was Doctor Barker. [81] At a gesture, the jeep rolled down the ramp, grinding its gears into second as it picked up speed. [82] The other two followed. [83] There was no sign of the cadets at first. [84] Then Gwayne spotted them; surrounded by the menacing horde. [85] Seen from here, the things looked horrible in a travesty of manhood. [86] The huge leader suddenly waved and pointed toward the jeeps that were racing toward him. [87] He made a fantastic leap backwards. [88] Others swung about, two of them grabbing up the cadets. [89] The jeep was doing twenty miles an hour now, but the horde began to increase the distance, in spite of the load of the two struggling boys! [90] The creatures dived downward into lower ground, beginning to disappear into the mists. [91] "Follow the blobs," Gwayne yelled. [92] He realized now he'd been a fool to leave his suit; the radio would have let him keep in contact with the kids. [93] But it was too late to go back. [94] The blobs danced after the horde. [95] Barker bounced the jeep downward into a gorge. [96] Somewhere the man had learned to drive superlatively; but he had to slow as the fog thickened lower down. [97] Then it cleared to show the mob of creatures doubling back on their own trail to confuse the pursuers. [98] There was no time to stop. [99] The jeep plowed through them. [100] Gwayne had a glimpse of five-foot bodies tumbling out of the way. [101] Monstrously coarse faces were half hidden by thick hair. [102] A spear crunched against the windshield from behind, and Gwayne caught it before it could foul the steering wheel. [103] It had a wickedly beautiful point of stone. [104] The creatures vanished as Barker fought to turn to follow them. [105] The other jeeps were coming up, by the sound of their motors, but too late to help. [106] They'd have to get to the group with the cadets in a hurry or the horde would all vanish in the uneven ground, hidden by the fog. [107] A blob dropped down, almost touching Gwayne. [108] He threw up an instinctive hand. [109] There was a tingling as the creature seemed to pass around it. [110] It lifted a few inches and drifted off. [111] Abruptly, Barker's foot ground at the brake. [112] Gwayne jolted forward against the windshield, just as he made out the form of the eight-foot leader. [113] The thing was standing directly ahead of him, a cadet on each shoulder. [114] The wheels locked and the jeep slid protestingly forward. [115] The creature leaped back. [116] But Gwayne was out of the jeep before it stopped, diving for the figure. [117] It dropped the boys with a surprised grunt. [118] The arms were thin and grotesque below the massively distorted shoulders, but amazingly strong. [119] Gwayne felt them wrench at him as his hands locked on the thick throat. [120] A stench of alien flesh was in his nose as the thing fell backwards. [121] Doc Barker had hit it seconds after the captain's attack. [122] Its head hit rocky ground with a dull, heavy sound, and it collapsed. [123] Gwayne eased back slowly, but it made no further move, though it was still breathing. [124] Another jeep had drawn up, and men were examining the cadets. [125] Pinelli was either laughing or crying, and Kaufman was trying to break free to kick at the monster. [126] But neither had been harmed. [127] The two were loaded onto a jeep while men helped Barker and Gwayne stow the bound monster on another before heading back. [128] "No sign of skull fracture. [129] My God, what a tough brute!" [130] Barker shook his own head, as if feeling the shock of the monster's landing. [131] "I hope so," Gwayne told him. [132] "I want that thing to live—and you're detailed to save it and revive it. [133] Find out if it can make sign language or draw pictures. [134] I want to know what happened to Hennessy and why that ship was buried against detection. [135] This thing may be the answer." [136] Barker nodded grimly. [137] "I'll try, though I can't risk drugs on an alien metabolism." [138] He sucked in on the cigarette he'd dug out, then spat sickly. [139] Smoke and this air made a foul combination. [140] "Bob, it still makes no sense. [141] We've scoured this planet by infra-red, and there was no sign of native villages or culture. [142] We should have found some." [143] "Troglodytes, maybe," Gwayne guessed. [144] "Anyhow, send for me when you get anything. [145] I've got to get this ship back to Earth. [146] We're overstaying our time here already." [147] The reports from the cadets were satisfactory enough. [148] They'd been picked up and carried, but no harm had been done them. [149] Now they were busy being little heroes. [150] Gwayne sentenced them to quarters as soon as he could, knowing their stories would only get wilder and less informative with retelling. [151] If they could get any story from the captured creature, they might save time and be better off than trying to dig through Hennessy's ship. [152] That was almost certainly spoorless by now. [153] The only possible answer seemed to be that the exploring expedition and Hennessy's rescue group had been overcome by the aliens. [154] It was an answer, but it left a lot of questions. [155] How could the primitives have gotten to the men inside Hennessy's ship? [156] Why was its fuel dumped? [157] Only men would have known how to do that. [158] And who told these creatures that a space ship's metal finders could be fooled by a little more than a hundred feet of solid rock? [159] They'd buried the ship cunningly, and only the accidental slippage had undone their work. [160] Maybe there would never be a full answer, but he had to find something—and find it fast. [161] Earth needed every world she could make remotely habitable, or mankind was probably doomed to extinction. [162] The race had blundered safely through its discovery of atomic weapons into a peace that had lasted two hundred years. [163] It had managed to prevent an interplanetary war with the Venus colonists. [164] It had found a drive that led to the stars, and hadn't even found intelligent life there to be dangerous on the few worlds that had cultures of their own. [165] But forty years ago, observations from beyond the Solar System had finally proved that the sun was going to go nova. [166] It wouldn't be much of an explosion, as such things go—but it would render the whole Solar System uninhabitable for millenia. [167] To survive, man had to colonize. [168] And there were no worlds perfect for him, as Earth had been. [169] The explorers went out in desperation to find what they could; the terraforming teams did what they could. [170] And then the big starships began filling worlds with colonists, carried in deep sleep to conserve space. [171] Almost eighty worlds. [172] The nearest a four month journey from Earth and four more months back. [173] In another ten years, the sun would explode, leaving man only on the footholds he was trying to dig among other solar systems. [174] Maybe some of the strange worlds would let men spread his seed again. [175] Maybe none would be spawning grounds for mankind in spite of the efforts. [176] Each was precious as a haven for the race. [177] If this world could be used, it would be nearer than most. [178] If not, as it now seemed, no more time could be wasted here. [179] Primitives could be overcome, maybe. [180] It would be ruthless and unfair to strip them of their world, but the first law was survival. [181] But how could primitives do what these must have done? [182] He studied the spear he had salvaged. [183] It was on a staff made of cemented bits of smaller wood from the scrub growth, skillfully laminated. [184] The point was of delicately chipped flint, done as no human hand had been able to do for centuries. [185] "Beautiful primitive work," he muttered. [186] Jane pulled the coffee cup away from her lips and snorted. [187] "You can see a lot more of it out there," she suggested. [188] He went to the port and glanced out. [189] About sixty of the things were squatting in the clearing fog, holding lances and staring at the ship. [190] They were perhaps a thousand yards away, waiting patiently. [191] For what? [192] For the return of their leader—or for something that would give the ship to them? [193] Gwayne grabbed the phone and called Barker. [194] "How's the captive coming?" [195] Barker's voice sounded odd. [196] "Physically fine. [197] You can see him. [198] But—" Gwayne dropped the phone and headed for the little sick bay. [199] He swore at Doc for not calling him at once, and then at himself for not checking up sooner. [200] Then he stopped at the sound of voices. [201] There was the end of a question from Barker and a thick, harsh growling sound that lifted the hair along the nape of Gwayne's neck. [202] Barker seemed to understand, and was making a comment as the captain dashed in. [203] The captive was sitting on the bunk, unbound and oddly unmenacing. [204] The thick features were relaxed and yet somehow intent. [205] He seemed to make some kind of a salute as he saw Gwayne enter, and his eyes burned up unerringly toward the device on the officer's cap. [206] "Haarroo, Cabbaan!" [207] the thing said. [208] "Captain Gwayne, may I present your former friend, Captain Hennessy?" [209] Barker said. [210] There was a grin on the doctor's lips, but his face was taut with strain. [211] The creature nodded slowly and drew something from the thick hair on its head. [212] It was the golden comet of a captain. [213] "He never meant to hurt the kids—just to talk to them," Barker cut in quickly. [214] "I've got some of the story. [215] He's changed. [216] He can't talk very well. [217] Says they've had to change the language around to make the sounds fit, and he's forgotten how to use what normal English he can. [218] But it gets easier as you listen. [219] It's Hennessy, all right. [220] I'm certain." [221] Gwayne had his own ideas on that. [222] It was easy for an alien to seize on the gold ornament of a captive earthman, even to learn a little English, maybe. [223] But Hennessy had been his friend. [224] "How many barmaids in the Cheshire Cat? [225] How many pups did your oldest kid's dog have? [226] How many were brown?" [227] The lips contorted into something vaguely like a smile, and the curiously shaped fingers that could handle no human-designed equipment spread out. [228] Three. [229] Seven. [230] Zero. [231] The answers were right. [232] By the time the session was over, Gwayne had begun to understand the twisted speech from inhuman vocal cords better. [233] But the story took a long time telling. [234] When it was finished, Gwayne and Barker sat for long minutes in silence. [235] Finally Gwayne drew a shuddering breath and stood up. [236] "Is it possible, Doc?" [237] "No," Barker said flatly. [238] He spread his hands and grimaced. [239] "No. [240] Not by what I know. [241] But it happened. [242] I've looked at a few tissues under the microscope. [243] The changes are there. [244] It's hard to believe about their kids. [245] Adults in eight years, but they stay shorter. [246] It can't be a hereditary change—the things that affect the body don't change the germ plasm. [247] But in this case, what changed Hennessy is real, so maybe the fact that the change is passed on is as real as he claims." [248] Gwayne led the former Hennessy to the exit. [249] The waiting blobs dropped down to touch the monstrous man, then leaped up again. [250] The crowd of monsters began moving forward toward their leader. [251] A few were almost as tall as Hennessy, but most were not more than five feet high. [252] The kids of the exploring party.... Back in the control room, Gwayne found the emergency release levers, set the combinations and pressed the studs. [253] There was a hiss and gurgle as the great tanks of fuel discharged their contents out onto the ground where no ingenuity could ever recover it to bring life to the ship again. [254] He'd have to tell the men and women of the crew later, after he'd had time to organize things and present it all in a way they could accept, however much they might hate it at first. [255] But there was no putting off giving the gist of it to Jane. [256] "It was the blobs," he summarized it. [257] "They seem to be amused by men. [258] They don't require anything from us, but they like us around. [259] Hennessy doesn't know why. [260] They can change our cells, adapt us. [261] Before men came, all life here had twelve legs. [262] Now they're changing that, as we've seen. [263] "And they don't have to be close to do it. [264] We've all been outside the hull. [265] It doesn't show yet—but we're changed. [266] In another month, Earth food would kill us. [267] We've got to stay here. [268] We'll bury the ships deeper this time, and Earth won't find us. [269] They can't risk trying a colony where three ships vanish, so we'll just disappear. [270] And they'll never know." [271] Nobody would know. [272] Their children—odd children who matured in eight years—would be primitive savages in three generations. [273] The Earth tools would be useless, impossible for the hands so radically changed. [274] Nothing from the ship would last. [275] Books could never be read by the new eyes. [276] And in time, Earth wouldn't even be a memory to this world. [277] She was silent a long time, staring out of the port toward what must now be her home. [278] Then she sighed. [279] "You'll need practice, but the others don't know you as well as I do, Bob. [280] I guess we can fix it so they'll believe it all. [281] And it's too late now. [282] But we haven't really been changed yet, have we?" [283] "No," he admitted. [284] Damn his voice! [285] He'd never been good at lying. [286] "No. [287] They have to touch us. [288] I've been touched, but the rest could go back." [289] She nodded. [290] He waited for the condemnation, but there was only puzzlement in her face. [291] "Why?" [292] And then, before he could answer, her own intelligence gave her the same answer he had found for himself. [293] "The spawning ground!" [294] It was the only thing they could do. [295] Earth needed a place to plant her seed, but no world other than Earth could ever be trusted to preserve that seed for generation after generation. [296] Some worlds already were becoming uncertain. [297] Here, though, the blobs had adapted men to the alien world instead of men having to adapt the whole planet to their needs. [298] Here, the strange children of man's race could grow, develop and begin the long trek back to civilization. [299] The gadgets would be lost for a time. [300] But perhaps some of the attitudes of civilized man would remain to make the next rise to culture a better one. [301] "We're needed here," he told her, his voice pleading for the understanding he couldn't yet fully give himself. [302] "These people need as rich a set of bloodlines as possible to give the new race strength. [303] The fifty men and women on this ship will be needed to start them with a decent chance. [304] We can't go to Earth, where nobody would believe or accept the idea—or even let us come back. [305] We have to stay here." [306] She smiled then and moved toward him, groping for his strength. [307] "Be fruitful," she whispered. [308] "Be fruitful and spawn and replenish an earth." [309] "No," he told her. [310] "Replenish the stars." [311] But she was no longer listening, and that part of his idea could wait. [312] Some day, though, their children would find a way to the starlanes again, looking for other worlds. [313] With the blobs to help them, they could adapt to most worlds. [314] The unchanged spirit would lead them through all space, and the changing bodies would claim worlds beyond numbering. [315] Some day, the whole universe would be a spawning ground for the children of men!

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "Who is Jane Corey? What happens to her throughout the story?": 1. [12] Lieutenant Jane Corey looked up, nodding a blonde head at him as he moved toward the ever-waiting pot of murky coffee. 2. [279] "I guess we can fix it so they'll believe it all. And it's too late now. But we haven't really been changed yet, have we?" 3. [278] Then she sighed. 4. [277] She was silent a long time, staring out of the port toward what must now be her home. 5. [306] She smiled then and moved toward him, groping for his strength. 6. [307] "Be fruitful," she whispered. "Be fruitful and spawn and replenish an earth." 7. [1] They weren't human. 8. [2] They were something more—and something less—they were, in short, humanity's hopes for survival! 9. [3] [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, September 1961. 10. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] 11. [5] The Starship Pandora creaked and groaned as her landing pads settled unevenly in the mucky surface of the ugly world outside. 12. [6] She seemed to be restless to end her fool's errand here, two hundred light years from the waiting hordes on Earth. 13. [7] Straining metal plates twanged and echoed through her hallways. 14. [8] Captain Gwayne cursed and rolled over, reaching for his boots. 15. [9] He was a big, rawboned man, barely forty; but ten years of responsibility had pressed down his shoulders and put age-feigning hollows under his reddened eyes. 16. [10] The starlanes between Earth and her potential colonies were rough on the men who traveled them now. 17. [11] He shuffled toward the control room, grumbling at the heavy gravity. 18. [13] "Morning, Bob. You need a shave." 19. [14] "Yeah." 20. [15] He swallowed the hot coffee without tasting it, then ran a hand across the dark stubble on his chin. 21. [16] It could wait. 22. [17] "Anything new during the night?" 23. [18] "About a dozen blobs held something like a convention a little ways north of us. They broke up about an hour ago and streaked off into the clouds." 24. [19] "And our two cadets sneaked out again. Barker followed them, but lost them in the murk." 25. [20] "I've kept a signal going to guide them back." 26. [23] "Barker followed them, but lost them in the murk." 27. [24] "I've kept a signal going to guide them back." 28. [51] "Bob!" 29. [52] Jane Corey's voice cut through his pondering. 30. [53] "Bob, there are the kids!" 31. [140] "Bob, it still makes no sense. We've scoured this planet by infra-red, and there was no sign of native villages or culture. We should have found some." 32. [186] Jane pulled the coffee cup away from her lips and snorted. 33. [187] "You can see a lot more of it out there," she suggested. 34. [197] "Physically fine. You can see him." 35. [208] "Captain Gwayne, may I present your former friend, Captain Hennessy?" 36. [209] Barker said. 37. [210] There was a grin on the doctor's lips, but his face was taut with strain. 38. [211] The creature nodded slowly and drew something from the thick hair on its head. 39. [212] It was the golden comet of a captain. 40. [213] "He never meant to hurt the kids—just to talk to them," Barker cut in quickly. 41. [214] "I've got some of the story. He's changed. He can't talk very well." 42. [215] "Says they've had to change the language around to make the sounds fit, and he's forgotten how to use what normal English he can." 43. [216] "It gets easier as you listen. It's Hennessy, all right. I'm certain." 44. [221] Gwayne had his own ideas on that. 45. [222] "It was easy for an alien to seize on the gold ornament of a captive earthman, even to learn a little English, maybe." 46. [223] "But Hennessy had been his friend." 47. [224] "How many barmaids in the Cheshire Cat? How many pups did your oldest kid's dog have? How many were brown?" 48. [227] The lips contorted into something vaguely like a smile, and the curiously shaped fingers that could handle no human-designed equipment spread out. 49. [228] Three. 50. [229] Seven. 51. [230] Zero. 52. [231] The answers were right. 53. [232] By the time the session was over, Gwayne had begun to understand the twisted speech from inhuman vocal cords better. 54. [233] But the story took a long time telling. 55. [234] When it was finished, Gwayne and Barker sat for long minutes in silence. 56. [235] Finally Gwayne drew a shuddering breath and stood up. 57. [236] "Is it possible, Doc?" 58. [237] "No," Barker said flatly. 59. [238] He spread his hands and grimaced. 60. [239] "No. Not by what I know." 61. [240] "But it happened." 62. [241] "I've looked at a few tissues under the microscope. The changes are there." 63. [242] "It's hard to believe about their kids. Adults in eight years, but they stay shorter." 64. [243] "It can't be a hereditary change—the things that affect the body don't change the germ plasm." 65. [244] "But in this case, what changed Hennessy is real, so maybe the fact that the change is passed on is as real as he claims." 66. [248] Gwayne led the former Hennessy to the exit. 67. [249] The waiting blobs dropped down to touch the monstrous man, then leaped up again. 68. [250] The crowd of monsters began moving forward toward their leader. 69. [251] A few were almost as tall as Hennessy, but most were not more than five feet high. 70. [252] The kids of the exploring party.... 71. [253] There was a hiss and gurgle as the great tanks of fuel discharged their contents out onto the ground where no ingenuity could ever recover it to bring life to the ship again. 72. [254] He'd have to tell the men and women of the crew later, after he'd had time to organize things and present it all in a way they could accept, however much they might hate it at first. 73. [255] But there was no putting off giving the gist of it to Jane. 74. [256] "It was the blobs," he summarized it. 75. [257] "They seem to be amused by men." 76. [258] "They don't require anything from us, but they like us around." 77. [259] "Hennessy doesn't know why." 78. [260] "They can change our cells, adapt us." 79. [261] "Before men came, all life here had twelve legs. Now they're changing that, as we've seen." 80. [262] "And they don't have to be close to do it." 81. [263] "We've all been outside the hull." 82. [264] "It doesn't show yet—but we're changed." 83. [265] "In another month, Earth food would kill us." 84. [266] "We've got to stay here." 85. [267] "We'll bury the ships deeper this time, and Earth won't find us." 86. [268] "They can't risk trying a colony where three ships vanish, so we'll just disappear." 87. [269] "And they'll never know." 88. [270] "Nobody would know." 89. [271] "Their children—odd children who matured in eight years—would be primitive savages in three generations." 90. [272] "The Earth tools would be useless, impossible for the hands so radically changed." 91. [273] "Nothing from the ship would last." 92. [274] "Books could never be read by the new eyes." 93. [275] "And in time, Earth wouldn't even be a memory to this world." 94. [278] Then she sighed. 95. [279] "I guess we can fix it so they'll believe it all. And it's too late now. But we haven't really been changed yet, have we?" 96. [280] "You'll need practice, but the others don't know you as well as I do, Bob." 97. [281] "And it's too late now." 98. [282] "But we haven't really been changed yet, have we?" 99. [283] "No," he admitted. 100. [284] "Damn his voice! He'd never been good at lying." 101. [285] "No. They have to touch us." 102. [286] "I've been touched, but the rest could go back." 103. [287] She nodded. 104. [288] He waited for the condemnation, but there was only puzzlement in her face. 105. [289] "Why?" 106. [290] And then, before he could answer, her own intelligence gave her the same answer he had found for himself. 107. [291] "The spawning ground!" 108. [292] "It was the only thing they could do." 109. [293] "Earth needed a place to plant her seed, but no world other than Earth could ever be trusted to preserve that seed for generation after generation." 110. [294] "Some worlds already were becoming uncertain." 111. [295] "Here, though, the blobs had adapted men to the alien world instead of men having to adapt the whole planet to their needs." 112. [296] "Here, the strange children of man's race could grow, develop and begin the long trek back to civilization." 113. [297] "The gadgets would be lost for a time. But perhaps some of the attitudes of civilized man would remain to make the next rise to culture a better one." 114. [298] "We're needed here," he told her, his voice pleading for the understanding he couldn't yet fully give himself. 115. [299] "These people need as rich a set of bloodlines as possible to give the new race strength." 116. [300] "The fifty men and women on this ship will be needed to start them with a decent chance." 117. [301] "We can't go to Earth, where nobody would believe or accept the idea—or even let us come back." 118. [302] "We have to stay here." 119. [303] She smiled then and moved toward him, groping for his strength. 120. [304] "Be fruitful," she whispered. "Be fruitful and spawn and replenish an earth." 121. [305] "No," he told her. "Replenish the stars." 122. [306] She smiled then and moved toward him, groping for his strength. 123. [307] "Be fruitful," she whispered. "Be fruitful and spawn and replenish an earth." 124. [308] "No," he told her. "Replenish the stars." 125. [309] But she was no longer listening, and that part of his idea could wait. 126. [310] "Some day, though, their children would find a way to the starlanes again, looking for other worlds." 127. [311] "With the blobs to help them, they could adapt to most worlds." 128. [312] "The unchanged spirit would lead them through all space, and the changing bodies would claim worlds beyond numbering." 129. [313] "Some day, the whole universe would be a spawning ground for the children of men!"

What is the significance of the blobs?

[1] Spawning Ground By LESTER DEL REY They weren't human. [2] They were something more—and something less—they were, in short, humanity's hopes for survival! [3] [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, September 1961. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [5] The Starship Pandora creaked and groaned as her landing pads settled unevenly in the mucky surface of the ugly world outside. [6] She seemed to be restless to end her fool's errand here, two hundred light years from the waiting hordes on Earth. [7] Straining metal plates twanged and echoed through her hallways. [8] Captain Gwayne cursed and rolled over, reaching for his boots. [9] He was a big, rawboned man, barely forty; but ten years of responsibility had pressed down his shoulders and put age-feigning hollows under his reddened eyes. [10] The starlanes between Earth and her potential colonies were rough on the men who traveled them now. [11] He shuffled toward the control room, grumbling at the heavy gravity. [12] Lieutenant Jane Corey looked up, nodding a blonde head at him as he moved toward the ever-waiting pot of murky coffee. [13] "Morning, Bob. [14] You need a shave." [15] "Yeah." [16] He swallowed the hot coffee without tasting it, then ran a hand across the dark stubble on his chin. [17] It could wait. [18] "Anything new during the night?" [19] "About a dozen blobs held something like a convention a little ways north of us. [20] They broke up about an hour ago and streaked off into the clouds." [21] The blobs were a peculiarity of this planet about which nobody knew anything. [22] They looked like overgrown fireballs, but seemed to have an almost sentient curiosity about anything moving on the ground. [23] "And our two cadets sneaked out again. [24] Barker followed them, but lost them in the murk. [25] I've kept a signal going to guide them back." [26] Gwayne swore softly to himself. [27] Earth couldn't turn out enough starmen in the schools, so promising kids were being shipped out for training as cadets on their twelfth birthday. [28] The two he'd drawn, Kaufman and Pinelli, seemed to be totally devoid of any sense of caution. [29] Of course there was no obvious need for caution here. [30] The blobs hadn't seemed dangerous, and the local animals were apparently all herbivorous and harmless. [31] They were ugly enough, looking like insects in spite of their internal skeletons, with anywhere from four to twelve legs each on their segmented bodies. [32] None acted like dangerous beasts. [33] But something had happened to the exploration party fifteen years back, and to the more recent ship under Hennessy that was sent to check up. [34] He turned to the port to stare out at the planet. [35] The Sol-type sun must be rising, since there was a dim light. [36] But the thick clouds that wrapped the entire world diffused its rays into a haze. [37] For a change, it wasn't raining, though the ground was covered by thick swirls of fog. [38] In the distance, the tops of shrubs that made a scrub forest glowed yellow-green. [39] Motions around them suggested a herd of feeding animals. [40] Details were impossible to see through the haze. [41] Even the deep gorge where they'd found Hennessy's carefully buried ship was completely hidden by the fog. [42] There were three of the blobs dancing about over the grazing animals now, as they often seemed to do. [43] Gwayne stared at them for a minute, trying to read sense into the things. [44] If he had time to study them.... [45] But there was no time. [46] Earth had ordered him to detour here, after leaving his load of deep-sleep stored colonists on Official World 71, to check on any sign of Hennessy. [47] He'd been here a week longer than he should have stayed already. [48] If there was no sign in another day or so of what had happened to the men who'd deserted their ship and its equipment, he'd have to report back. [49] He would have left before, if a recent landslip hadn't exposed enough of the buried ship for his metal locators to spot from the air by luck. [50] It had obviously been hidden deep enough to foil the detectors originally. [51] "Bob!" [52] Jane Corey's voice cut through his pondering. [53] "Bob, there are the kids!" [54] Before he could swing to follow her pointing finger, movement caught his eye. [55] The blobs had left the herd. [56] Now the three were streaking at fantastic speed to a spot near the ship, to hover excitedly above something that moved there. [57] He saw the two cadets then, heading back to the waiting ship, just beyond the movement he'd seen through the mist. [58] Whatever was making the fog swirl must have reached higher ground. [59] Something began to heave upwards. [60] It was too far to see clearly, but Gwayne grabbed the microphone, yelling into the radio toward the cadets. [61] They must have seen whatever it was just as the call reached them. [62] Young Kaufman grabbed at Pinelli, and they swung around together. [63] Then the mists cleared. [64] Under the dancing blobs, a horde of things was heading for the cadets. [65] Shaggy heads, brute bodies vaguely man-like! [66] One seemed to be almost eight feet tall, leading the others directly toward the spacesuited cadets. [67] Some of the horde were carrying spears or sticks. [68] There was a momentary halt, and then the leader lifted one arm, as if motioning the others forward. [69] "Get the jeeps out!" [70] Gwayne yelled at Jane. [71] He yanked the door of the little officers' lift open and jabbed the down button. [72] It was agonizingly slow, but faster than climbing down. [73] He ripped the door back at the exit deck. [74] Men were dashing in, stumbling around in confusion. [75] But someone was taking over now—one of the crew women. [76] The jeeps were lining up. [77] One, at the front, was stuttering into life, and Gwayne dashed for it as the exit port slid back. [78] There was no time for suits or helmets. [79] The air on the planet was irritating and vile smelling, but it could be breathed. [80] He leaped to the seat, to see that the driver was Doctor Barker. [81] At a gesture, the jeep rolled down the ramp, grinding its gears into second as it picked up speed. [82] The other two followed. [83] There was no sign of the cadets at first. [84] Then Gwayne spotted them; surrounded by the menacing horde. [85] Seen from here, the things looked horrible in a travesty of manhood. [86] The huge leader suddenly waved and pointed toward the jeeps that were racing toward him. [87] He made a fantastic leap backwards. [88] Others swung about, two of them grabbing up the cadets. [89] The jeep was doing twenty miles an hour now, but the horde began to increase the distance, in spite of the load of the two struggling boys! [90] The creatures dived downward into lower ground, beginning to disappear into the mists. [91] "Follow the blobs," Gwayne yelled. [92] He realized now he'd been a fool to leave his suit; the radio would have let him keep in contact with the kids. [93] But it was too late to go back. [94] The blobs danced after the horde. [95] Barker bounced the jeep downward into a gorge. [96] Somewhere the man had learned to drive superlatively; but he had to slow as the fog thickened lower down. [97] Then it cleared to show the mob of creatures doubling back on their own trail to confuse the pursuers. [98] There was no time to stop. [99] The jeep plowed through them. [100] Gwayne had a glimpse of five-foot bodies tumbling out of the way. [101] Monstrously coarse faces were half hidden by thick hair. [102] A spear crunched against the windshield from behind, and Gwayne caught it before it could foul the steering wheel. [103] It had a wickedly beautiful point of stone. [104] The creatures vanished as Barker fought to turn to follow them. [105] The other jeeps were coming up, by the sound of their motors, but too late to help. [106] They'd have to get to the group with the cadets in a hurry or the horde would all vanish in the uneven ground, hidden by the fog. [107] A blob dropped down, almost touching Gwayne. [108] He threw up an instinctive hand. [109] There was a tingling as the creature seemed to pass around it. [110] It lifted a few inches and drifted off. [111] Abruptly, Barker's foot ground at the brake. [112] Gwayne jolted forward against the windshield, just as he made out the form of the eight-foot leader. [113] The thing was standing directly ahead of him, a cadet on each shoulder. [114] The wheels locked and the jeep slid protestingly forward. [115] The creature leaped back. [116] But Gwayne was out of the jeep before it stopped, diving for the figure. [117] It dropped the boys with a surprised grunt. [118] The arms were thin and grotesque below the massively distorted shoulders, but amazingly strong. [119] Gwayne felt them wrench at him as his hands locked on the thick throat. [120] A stench of alien flesh was in his nose as the thing fell backwards. [121] Doc Barker had hit it seconds after the captain's attack. [122] Its head hit rocky ground with a dull, heavy sound, and it collapsed. [123] Gwayne eased back slowly, but it made no further move, though it was still breathing. [124] Another jeep had drawn up, and men were examining the cadets. [125] Pinelli was either laughing or crying, and Kaufman was trying to break free to kick at the monster. [126] But neither had been harmed. [127] The two were loaded onto a jeep while men helped Barker and Gwayne stow the bound monster on another before heading back. [128] "No sign of skull fracture. [129] My God, what a tough brute!" [130] Barker shook his own head, as if feeling the shock of the monster's landing. [131] "I hope so," Gwayne told him. [132] "I want that thing to live—and you're detailed to save it and revive it. [133] Find out if it can make sign language or draw pictures. [134] I want to know what happened to Hennessy and why that ship was buried against detection. [135] This thing may be the answer." [136] Barker nodded grimly. [137] "I'll try, though I can't risk drugs on an alien metabolism." [138] He sucked in on the cigarette he'd dug out, then spat sickly. [139] Smoke and this air made a foul combination. [140] "Bob, it still makes no sense. [141] We've scoured this planet by infra-red, and there was no sign of native villages or culture. [142] We should have found some." [143] "Troglodytes, maybe," Gwayne guessed. [144] "Anyhow, send for me when you get anything. [145] I've got to get this ship back to Earth. [146] We're overstaying our time here already." [147] The reports from the cadets were satisfactory enough. [148] They'd been picked up and carried, but no harm had been done them. [149] Now they were busy being little heroes. [150] Gwayne sentenced them to quarters as soon as he could, knowing their stories would only get wilder and less informative with retelling. [151] If they could get any story from the captured creature, they might save time and be better off than trying to dig through Hennessy's ship. [152] That was almost certainly spoorless by now. [153] The only possible answer seemed to be that the exploring expedition and Hennessy's rescue group had been overcome by the aliens. [154] It was an answer, but it left a lot of questions. [155] How could the primitives have gotten to the men inside Hennessy's ship? [156] Why was its fuel dumped? [157] Only men would have known how to do that. [158] And who told these creatures that a space ship's metal finders could be fooled by a little more than a hundred feet of solid rock? [159] They'd buried the ship cunningly, and only the accidental slippage had undone their work. [160] Maybe there would never be a full answer, but he had to find something—and find it fast. [161] Earth needed every world she could make remotely habitable, or mankind was probably doomed to extinction. [162] The race had blundered safely through its discovery of atomic weapons into a peace that had lasted two hundred years. [163] It had managed to prevent an interplanetary war with the Venus colonists. [164] It had found a drive that led to the stars, and hadn't even found intelligent life there to be dangerous on the few worlds that had cultures of their own. [165] But forty years ago, observations from beyond the Solar System had finally proved that the sun was going to go nova. [166] It wouldn't be much of an explosion, as such things go—but it would render the whole Solar System uninhabitable for millenia. [167] To survive, man had to colonize. [168] And there were no worlds perfect for him, as Earth had been. [169] The explorers went out in desperation to find what they could; the terraforming teams did what they could. [170] And then the big starships began filling worlds with colonists, carried in deep sleep to conserve space. [171] Almost eighty worlds. [172] The nearest a four month journey from Earth and four more months back. [173] In another ten years, the sun would explode, leaving man only on the footholds he was trying to dig among other solar systems. [174] Maybe some of the strange worlds would let men spread his seed again. [175] Maybe none would be spawning grounds for mankind in spite of the efforts. [176] Each was precious as a haven for the race. [177] If this world could be used, it would be nearer than most. [178] If not, as it now seemed, no more time could be wasted here. [179] Primitives could be overcome, maybe. [180] It would be ruthless and unfair to strip them of their world, but the first law was survival. [181] But how could primitives do what these must have done? [182] He studied the spear he had salvaged. [183] It was on a staff made of cemented bits of smaller wood from the scrub growth, skillfully laminated. [184] The point was of delicately chipped flint, done as no human hand had been able to do for centuries. [185] "Beautiful primitive work," he muttered. [186] Jane pulled the coffee cup away from her lips and snorted. [187] "You can see a lot more of it out there," she suggested. [188] He went to the port and glanced out. [189] About sixty of the things were squatting in the clearing fog, holding lances and staring at the ship. [190] They were perhaps a thousand yards away, waiting patiently. [191] For what? [192] For the return of their leader—or for something that would give the ship to them? [193] Gwayne grabbed the phone and called Barker. [194] "How's the captive coming?" [195] Barker's voice sounded odd. [196] "Physically fine. [197] You can see him. [198] But—" Gwayne dropped the phone and headed for the little sick bay. [199] He swore at Doc for not calling him at once, and then at himself for not checking up sooner. [200] Then he stopped at the sound of voices. [201] There was the end of a question from Barker and a thick, harsh growling sound that lifted the hair along the nape of Gwayne's neck. [202] Barker seemed to understand, and was making a comment as the captain dashed in. [203] The captive was sitting on the bunk, unbound and oddly unmenacing. [204] The thick features were relaxed and yet somehow intent. [205] He seemed to make some kind of a salute as he saw Gwayne enter, and his eyes burned up unerringly toward the device on the officer's cap. [206] "Haarroo, Cabbaan!" [207] the thing said. [208] "Captain Gwayne, may I present your former friend, Captain Hennessy?" [209] Barker said. [210] There was a grin on the doctor's lips, but his face was taut with strain. [211] The creature nodded slowly and drew something from the thick hair on its head. [212] It was the golden comet of a captain. [213] "He never meant to hurt the kids—just to talk to them," Barker cut in quickly. [214] "I've got some of the story. [215] He's changed. [216] He can't talk very well. [217] Says they've had to change the language around to make the sounds fit, and he's forgotten how to use what normal English he can. [218] But it gets easier as you listen. [219] It's Hennessy, all right. [220] I'm certain." [221] Gwayne had his own ideas on that. [222] It was easy for an alien to seize on the gold ornament of a captive earthman, even to learn a little English, maybe. [223] But Hennessy had been his friend. [224] "How many barmaids in the Cheshire Cat? [225] How many pups did your oldest kid's dog have? [226] How many were brown?" [227] The lips contorted into something vaguely like a smile, and the curiously shaped fingers that could handle no human-designed equipment spread out. [228] Three. [229] Seven. [230] Zero. [231] The answers were right. [232] By the time the session was over, Gwayne had begun to understand the twisted speech from inhuman vocal cords better. [233] But the story took a long time telling. [234] When it was finished, Gwayne and Barker sat for long minutes in silence. [235] Finally Gwayne drew a shuddering breath and stood up. [236] "Is it possible, Doc?" [237] "No," Barker said flatly. [238] He spread his hands and grimaced. [239] "No. [240] Not by what I know. [241] But it happened. [242] I've looked at a few tissues under the microscope. [243] The changes are there. [244] It's hard to believe about their kids. [245] Adults in eight years, but they stay shorter. [246] It can't be a hereditary change—the things that affect the body don't change the germ plasm. [247] But in this case, what changed Hennessy is real, so maybe the fact that the change is passed on is as real as he claims." [248] Gwayne led the former Hennessy to the exit. [249] The waiting blobs dropped down to touch the monstrous man, then leaped up again. [250] The crowd of monsters began moving forward toward their leader. [251] A few were almost as tall as Hennessy, but most were not more than five feet high. [252] The kids of the exploring party.... Back in the control room, Gwayne found the emergency release levers, set the combinations and pressed the studs. [253] There was a hiss and gurgle as the great tanks of fuel discharged their contents out onto the ground where no ingenuity could ever recover it to bring life to the ship again. [254] He'd have to tell the men and women of the crew later, after he'd had time to organize things and present it all in a way they could accept, however much they might hate it at first. [255] But there was no putting off giving the gist of it to Jane. [256] "It was the blobs," he summarized it. [257] "They seem to be amused by men. [258] They don't require anything from us, but they like us around. [259] Hennessy doesn't know why. [260] They can change our cells, adapt us. [261] Before men came, all life here had twelve legs. [262] Now they're changing that, as we've seen. [263] "And they don't have to be close to do it. [264] We've all been outside the hull. [265] It doesn't show yet—but we're changed. [266] In another month, Earth food would kill us. [267] We've got to stay here. [268] We'll bury the ships deeper this time, and Earth won't find us. [269] They can't risk trying a colony where three ships vanish, so we'll just disappear. [270] And they'll never know." [271] Nobody would know. [272] Their children—odd children who matured in eight years—would be primitive savages in three generations. [273] The Earth tools would be useless, impossible for the hands so radically changed. [274] Nothing from the ship would last. [275] Books could never be read by the new eyes. [276] And in time, Earth wouldn't even be a memory to this world. [277] She was silent a long time, staring out of the port toward what must now be her home. [278] Then she sighed. [279] "You'll need practice, but the others don't know you as well as I do, Bob. [280] I guess we can fix it so they'll believe it all. [281] And it's too late now. [282] But we haven't really been changed yet, have we?" [283] "No," he admitted. [284] Damn his voice! [285] He'd never been good at lying. [286] "No. [287] They have to touch us. [288] I've been touched, but the rest could go back." [289] She nodded. [290] He waited for the condemnation, but there was only puzzlement in her face. [291] "Why?" [292] And then, before he could answer, her own intelligence gave her the same answer he had found for himself. [293] "The spawning ground!" [294] It was the only thing they could do. [295] Earth needed a place to plant her seed, but no world other than Earth could ever be trusted to preserve that seed for generation after generation. [296] Some worlds already were becoming uncertain. [297] Here, though, the blobs had adapted men to the alien world instead of men having to adapt the whole planet to their needs. [298] Here, the strange children of man's race could grow, develop and begin the long trek back to civilization. [299] The gadgets would be lost for a time. [300] But perhaps some of the attitudes of civilized man would remain to make the next rise to culture a better one. [301] "We're needed here," he told her, his voice pleading for the understanding he couldn't yet fully give himself. [302] "These people need as rich a set of bloodlines as possible to give the new race strength. [303] The fifty men and women on this ship will be needed to start them with a decent chance. [304] We can't go to Earth, where nobody would believe or accept the idea—or even let us come back. [305] We have to stay here." [306] She smiled then and moved toward him, groping for his strength. [307] "Be fruitful," she whispered. [308] "Be fruitful and spawn and replenish an earth." [309] "No," he told her. [310] "Replenish the stars." [311] But she was no longer listening, and that part of his idea could wait. [312] Some day, though, their children would find a way to the starlanes again, looking for other worlds. [313] With the blobs to help them, they could adapt to most worlds. [314] The unchanged spirit would lead them through all space, and the changing bodies would claim worlds beyond numbering. [315] Some day, the whole universe would be a spawning ground for the children of men!

Here is the ranking of the context sentences in order of importance for answering the question "What is the significance of the blobs?": 1. [257] "It was the blobs," he summarized it. "They seem to be amused by men. They don't require anything from us, but they like us around." 2. [258] "Hennessy doesn't know why." 3. [259] "They can change our cells, adapt us." 4. [260] "Before men came, all life here had twelve legs. Now they're changing that, as we've seen." 5. [261] "And they don't have to be close to do it. We've all been outside the hull. It doesn't show yet—but we're changed." 6. [262] "In another month, Earth food would kill us." 7. [263] "We've got to stay here. We'll bury the ships deeper this time, and Earth won't find us." 8. [264] "They can't risk trying a colony where three ships vanish, so we'll just disappear. And they'll never know." 9. [265] "Their children—odd children who matured in eight years—would be primitive savages in three generations." 10. [266] "The Earth tools would be useless, impossible for the hands so radically changed." 11. [267] "Nothing from the ship would last. Books could never be read by the new eyes." 12. [268] "And in time, Earth wouldn't even be a memory to this world." 13. [19] "About a dozen blobs held something like a convention a little ways north of us. They broke up about an hour ago and streaked off into the clouds." 14. [22] "They looked like overgrown fireballs, but seemed to have an almost sentient curiosity about anything moving on the ground." 15. [107] "A blob dropped down, almost touching Gwayne. He threw up an instinctive hand. There was a tingling as the creature seemed to pass around it. It lifted a few inches and drifted off." 16. [248] "The waiting blobs dropped down to touch the monstrous man, then leaped up again." 17. [249] "The crowd of monsters began moving forward toward their leader." 18. [1] "They weren't human." 19. [2] "They were something more—and something less—they were, in short, humanity's hopes for survival!" 20. [3] "[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, September 1961.]" 21. [4] "Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]" 22. [5] "The Starship Pandora creaked and groaned as her landing pads settled unevenly in the mucky surface of the ugly world outside." 23. [6] "She seemed to be restless to end her fool's errand here, two hundred light years from the waiting hordes on Earth." 24. [7] "Straining metal plates twanged and echoed through her hallways." 25. [8] "Captain Gwayne cursed and rolled over, reaching for his boots." 26. [9] "He was a big, rawboned man, barely forty; but ten years of responsibility had pressed down his shoulders and put age-feigning hollows under his reddened eyes." 27. [10] "The starlanes between Earth and her potential colonies were rough on the men who traveled them now." 28. [11] "He shuffled toward the control room, grumbling at the heavy gravity." 29. [12] "Lieutenant Jane Corey looked up, nodding a blonde head at him as he moved toward the ever-waiting pot of murky coffee." 30. [13] '"Morning, Bob. You need a shave."' 31. [15] '"Yeah."' 32. [16] "He swallowed the hot coffee without tasting it, then ran a hand across the dark stubble on his chin." 33. [17] "It could wait." 34. [18] '"Anything new during the night?"' 35. [20] "They broke up about an hour ago and streaked off into the clouds." 36. [21] "The blobs were a peculiarity of this planet about which nobody knew anything." 37. [23] '"And our two cadets sneaked out again. Barker followed them, but lost them in the murk."' 38. [24] '"I've kept a signal going to guide them back."' 39. [25] "Earth couldn't turn out enough starmen in the schools, so promising kids were being shipped out for training as cadets on their twelfth birthday." 40. [26] "The two he'd drawn, Kaufman and Pinelli, seemed to be totally devoid of any sense of caution." 41. [27] "Of course there was no obvious need for caution here." 42. [28] "The blobs hadn't seemed dangerous, and the local animals were apparently all herbivorous and harmless." 43. [29] "They were ugly enough, looking like insects in spite of their internal skeletons, with anywhere from four to twelve legs each on their segmented bodies." 44. [30] "None acted like dangerous beasts." 45. [31] "But something had happened to the exploration party fifteen years back, and to the more recent ship under Hennessy that was sent to check up." 46. [32] "He turned to the port to stare out at the planet." 47. [33] "The Sol-type sun must be rising, since there was a dim light." 48. [34] "But the thick clouds that wrapped the entire world diffused its rays into a haze." 49. [35] "For a change, it wasn't raining, though the ground was covered by thick swirls of fog." 50. [36] "In the distance, the tops of shrubs that made a scrub forest glowed yellow-green." 51. [37] "Motions around them suggested a herd of feeding animals." 52. [38] "Details were impossible to see through the haze." 53. [39] "Even the deep gorge where they'd found Hennessy's carefully buried ship was completely hidden by the fog." 54. [40] "There were three of the blobs dancing about over the grazing animals now, as they often seemed to do." 55. [41] "Gwayne stared at them for a minute, trying to read sense into the things." 56. [42] "If he had time to study them...." 57. [43] "But there was no time." 58. [44] "Earth had ordered him to detour here, after leaving his load of deep-sleep stored colonists on Official World 71, to check on any sign of Hennessy." 59. [45] "He'd been here a week longer than he should have stayed already." 60. [46] "If there was no sign in another day or so of what had happened to the men who'd deserted their ship and its equipment, he'd have to report back." 61. [47] "He would have left before, if a recent landslip hadn't exposed enough of the buried ship for his metal locators to spot from the air by luck." 62. [48] "It had obviously been hidden deep enough to foil the detectors originally." 63. [54] "Before he could swing to follow her pointing finger, movement caught his eye." 64. [55] "The blobs had left the herd." 65. [56] "Now the three were streaking at fantastic speed to a spot near the ship, to hover excitedly above something that moved there." 66. [91] '"Follow the blobs," Gwayne yelled.' 67. [92] "He realized now he'd been a fool to leave his suit; the radio would have let him keep in contact with the kids." 68. [93] "But it was too late to go back." 69. [94] "The blobs danced after the horde." 70. [107] "A blob dropped down, almost touching Gwayne. He threw up an instinctive hand. There was a tingling as the creature seemed to pass around it. It lifted a few inches and drifted off." 71. [248] "The waiting blobs dropped down to touch the monstrous man, then leaped up again." 72. [249] "The crowd of monsters began moving forward toward their leader." 73. [255] '"It was the blobs," he summarized it.' 74. [256] '"They seem to be amused by men. They don't require anything from us, but they like us around."' 75. [257] '"Hennessy doesn't know why."' 76. [258] '"They can change our cells, adapt us."' 77. [259] '"Before men came, all life here had twelve legs. Now they're changing that, as we've seen."' 78. [260] '"And they don't have to be close to do it. We've all been outside the hull. It doesn't show yet—but we're changed."'

What happens to the human race on the Earth?

[1] Spawning Ground By LESTER DEL REY They weren't human. [2] They were something more—and something less—they were, in short, humanity's hopes for survival! [3] [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, September 1961. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [5] The Starship Pandora creaked and groaned as her landing pads settled unevenly in the mucky surface of the ugly world outside. [6] She seemed to be restless to end her fool's errand here, two hundred light years from the waiting hordes on Earth. [7] Straining metal plates twanged and echoed through her hallways. [8] Captain Gwayne cursed and rolled over, reaching for his boots. [9] He was a big, rawboned man, barely forty; but ten years of responsibility had pressed down his shoulders and put age-feigning hollows under his reddened eyes. [10] The starlanes between Earth and her potential colonies were rough on the men who traveled them now. [11] He shuffled toward the control room, grumbling at the heavy gravity. [12] Lieutenant Jane Corey looked up, nodding a blonde head at him as he moved toward the ever-waiting pot of murky coffee. [13] "Morning, Bob. [14] You need a shave." [15] "Yeah." [16] He swallowed the hot coffee without tasting it, then ran a hand across the dark stubble on his chin. [17] It could wait. [18] "Anything new during the night?" [19] "About a dozen blobs held something like a convention a little ways north of us. [20] They broke up about an hour ago and streaked off into the clouds." [21] The blobs were a peculiarity of this planet about which nobody knew anything. [22] They looked like overgrown fireballs, but seemed to have an almost sentient curiosity about anything moving on the ground. [23] "And our two cadets sneaked out again. [24] Barker followed them, but lost them in the murk. [25] I've kept a signal going to guide them back." [26] Gwayne swore softly to himself. [27] Earth couldn't turn out enough starmen in the schools, so promising kids were being shipped out for training as cadets on their twelfth birthday. [28] The two he'd drawn, Kaufman and Pinelli, seemed to be totally devoid of any sense of caution. [29] Of course there was no obvious need for caution here. [30] The blobs hadn't seemed dangerous, and the local animals were apparently all herbivorous and harmless. [31] They were ugly enough, looking like insects in spite of their internal skeletons, with anywhere from four to twelve legs each on their segmented bodies. [32] None acted like dangerous beasts. [33] But something had happened to the exploration party fifteen years back, and to the more recent ship under Hennessy that was sent to check up. [34] He turned to the port to stare out at the planet. [35] The Sol-type sun must be rising, since there was a dim light. [36] But the thick clouds that wrapped the entire world diffused its rays into a haze. [37] For a change, it wasn't raining, though the ground was covered by thick swirls of fog. [38] In the distance, the tops of shrubs that made a scrub forest glowed yellow-green. [39] Motions around them suggested a herd of feeding animals. [40] Details were impossible to see through the haze. [41] Even the deep gorge where they'd found Hennessy's carefully buried ship was completely hidden by the fog. [42] There were three of the blobs dancing about over the grazing animals now, as they often seemed to do. [43] Gwayne stared at them for a minute, trying to read sense into the things. [44] If he had time to study them.... [45] But there was no time. [46] Earth had ordered him to detour here, after leaving his load of deep-sleep stored colonists on Official World 71, to check on any sign of Hennessy. [47] He'd been here a week longer than he should have stayed already. [48] If there was no sign in another day or so of what had happened to the men who'd deserted their ship and its equipment, he'd have to report back. [49] He would have left before, if a recent landslip hadn't exposed enough of the buried ship for his metal locators to spot from the air by luck. [50] It had obviously been hidden deep enough to foil the detectors originally. [51] "Bob!" [52] Jane Corey's voice cut through his pondering. [53] "Bob, there are the kids!" [54] Before he could swing to follow her pointing finger, movement caught his eye. [55] The blobs had left the herd. [56] Now the three were streaking at fantastic speed to a spot near the ship, to hover excitedly above something that moved there. [57] He saw the two cadets then, heading back to the waiting ship, just beyond the movement he'd seen through the mist. [58] Whatever was making the fog swirl must have reached higher ground. [59] Something began to heave upwards. [60] It was too far to see clearly, but Gwayne grabbed the microphone, yelling into the radio toward the cadets. [61] They must have seen whatever it was just as the call reached them. [62] Young Kaufman grabbed at Pinelli, and they swung around together. [63] Then the mists cleared. [64] Under the dancing blobs, a horde of things was heading for the cadets. [65] Shaggy heads, brute bodies vaguely man-like! [66] One seemed to be almost eight feet tall, leading the others directly toward the spacesuited cadets. [67] Some of the horde were carrying spears or sticks. [68] There was a momentary halt, and then the leader lifted one arm, as if motioning the others forward. [69] "Get the jeeps out!" [70] Gwayne yelled at Jane. [71] He yanked the door of the little officers' lift open and jabbed the down button. [72] It was agonizingly slow, but faster than climbing down. [73] He ripped the door back at the exit deck. [74] Men were dashing in, stumbling around in confusion. [75] But someone was taking over now—one of the crew women. [76] The jeeps were lining up. [77] One, at the front, was stuttering into life, and Gwayne dashed for it as the exit port slid back. [78] There was no time for suits or helmets. [79] The air on the planet was irritating and vile smelling, but it could be breathed. [80] He leaped to the seat, to see that the driver was Doctor Barker. [81] At a gesture, the jeep rolled down the ramp, grinding its gears into second as it picked up speed. [82] The other two followed. [83] There was no sign of the cadets at first. [84] Then Gwayne spotted them; surrounded by the menacing horde. [85] Seen from here, the things looked horrible in a travesty of manhood. [86] The huge leader suddenly waved and pointed toward the jeeps that were racing toward him. [87] He made a fantastic leap backwards. [88] Others swung about, two of them grabbing up the cadets. [89] The jeep was doing twenty miles an hour now, but the horde began to increase the distance, in spite of the load of the two struggling boys! [90] The creatures dived downward into lower ground, beginning to disappear into the mists. [91] "Follow the blobs," Gwayne yelled. [92] He realized now he'd been a fool to leave his suit; the radio would have let him keep in contact with the kids. [93] But it was too late to go back. [94] The blobs danced after the horde. [95] Barker bounced the jeep downward into a gorge. [96] Somewhere the man had learned to drive superlatively; but he had to slow as the fog thickened lower down. [97] Then it cleared to show the mob of creatures doubling back on their own trail to confuse the pursuers. [98] There was no time to stop. [99] The jeep plowed through them. [100] Gwayne had a glimpse of five-foot bodies tumbling out of the way. [101] Monstrously coarse faces were half hidden by thick hair. [102] A spear crunched against the windshield from behind, and Gwayne caught it before it could foul the steering wheel. [103] It had a wickedly beautiful point of stone. [104] The creatures vanished as Barker fought to turn to follow them. [105] The other jeeps were coming up, by the sound of their motors, but too late to help. [106] They'd have to get to the group with the cadets in a hurry or the horde would all vanish in the uneven ground, hidden by the fog. [107] A blob dropped down, almost touching Gwayne. [108] He threw up an instinctive hand. [109] There was a tingling as the creature seemed to pass around it. [110] It lifted a few inches and drifted off. [111] Abruptly, Barker's foot ground at the brake. [112] Gwayne jolted forward against the windshield, just as he made out the form of the eight-foot leader. [113] The thing was standing directly ahead of him, a cadet on each shoulder. [114] The wheels locked and the jeep slid protestingly forward. [115] The creature leaped back. [116] But Gwayne was out of the jeep before it stopped, diving for the figure. [117] It dropped the boys with a surprised grunt. [118] The arms were thin and grotesque below the massively distorted shoulders, but amazingly strong. [119] Gwayne felt them wrench at him as his hands locked on the thick throat. [120] A stench of alien flesh was in his nose as the thing fell backwards. [121] Doc Barker had hit it seconds after the captain's attack. [122] Its head hit rocky ground with a dull, heavy sound, and it collapsed. [123] Gwayne eased back slowly, but it made no further move, though it was still breathing. [124] Another jeep had drawn up, and men were examining the cadets. [125] Pinelli was either laughing or crying, and Kaufman was trying to break free to kick at the monster. [126] But neither had been harmed. [127] The two were loaded onto a jeep while men helped Barker and Gwayne stow the bound monster on another before heading back. [128] "No sign of skull fracture. [129] My God, what a tough brute!" [130] Barker shook his own head, as if feeling the shock of the monster's landing. [131] "I hope so," Gwayne told him. [132] "I want that thing to live—and you're detailed to save it and revive it. [133] Find out if it can make sign language or draw pictures. [134] I want to know what happened to Hennessy and why that ship was buried against detection. [135] This thing may be the answer." [136] Barker nodded grimly. [137] "I'll try, though I can't risk drugs on an alien metabolism." [138] He sucked in on the cigarette he'd dug out, then spat sickly. [139] Smoke and this air made a foul combination. [140] "Bob, it still makes no sense. [141] We've scoured this planet by infra-red, and there was no sign of native villages or culture. [142] We should have found some." [143] "Troglodytes, maybe," Gwayne guessed. [144] "Anyhow, send for me when you get anything. [145] I've got to get this ship back to Earth. [146] We're overstaying our time here already." [147] The reports from the cadets were satisfactory enough. [148] They'd been picked up and carried, but no harm had been done them. [149] Now they were busy being little heroes. [150] Gwayne sentenced them to quarters as soon as he could, knowing their stories would only get wilder and less informative with retelling. [151] If they could get any story from the captured creature, they might save time and be better off than trying to dig through Hennessy's ship. [152] That was almost certainly spoorless by now. [153] The only possible answer seemed to be that the exploring expedition and Hennessy's rescue group had been overcome by the aliens. [154] It was an answer, but it left a lot of questions. [155] How could the primitives have gotten to the men inside Hennessy's ship? [156] Why was its fuel dumped? [157] Only men would have known how to do that. [158] And who told these creatures that a space ship's metal finders could be fooled by a little more than a hundred feet of solid rock? [159] They'd buried the ship cunningly, and only the accidental slippage had undone their work. [160] Maybe there would never be a full answer, but he had to find something—and find it fast. [161] Earth needed every world she could make remotely habitable, or mankind was probably doomed to extinction. [162] The race had blundered safely through its discovery of atomic weapons into a peace that had lasted two hundred years. [163] It had managed to prevent an interplanetary war with the Venus colonists. [164] It had found a drive that led to the stars, and hadn't even found intelligent life there to be dangerous on the few worlds that had cultures of their own. [165] But forty years ago, observations from beyond the Solar System had finally proved that the sun was going to go nova. [166] It wouldn't be much of an explosion, as such things go—but it would render the whole Solar System uninhabitable for millenia. [167] To survive, man had to colonize. [168] And there were no worlds perfect for him, as Earth had been. [169] The explorers went out in desperation to find what they could; the terraforming teams did what they could. [170] And then the big starships began filling worlds with colonists, carried in deep sleep to conserve space. [171] Almost eighty worlds. [172] The nearest a four month journey from Earth and four more months back. [173] In another ten years, the sun would explode, leaving man only on the footholds he was trying to dig among other solar systems. [174] Maybe some of the strange worlds would let men spread his seed again. [175] Maybe none would be spawning grounds for mankind in spite of the efforts. [176] Each was precious as a haven for the race. [177] If this world could be used, it would be nearer than most. [178] If not, as it now seemed, no more time could be wasted here. [179] Primitives could be overcome, maybe. [180] It would be ruthless and unfair to strip them of their world, but the first law was survival. [181] But how could primitives do what these must have done? [182] He studied the spear he had salvaged. [183] It was on a staff made of cemented bits of smaller wood from the scrub growth, skillfully laminated. [184] The point was of delicately chipped flint, done as no human hand had been able to do for centuries. [185] "Beautiful primitive work," he muttered. [186] Jane pulled the coffee cup away from her lips and snorted. [187] "You can see a lot more of it out there," she suggested. [188] He went to the port and glanced out. [189] About sixty of the things were squatting in the clearing fog, holding lances and staring at the ship. [190] They were perhaps a thousand yards away, waiting patiently. [191] For what? [192] For the return of their leader—or for something that would give the ship to them? [193] Gwayne grabbed the phone and called Barker. [194] "How's the captive coming?" [195] Barker's voice sounded odd. [196] "Physically fine. [197] You can see him. [198] But—" Gwayne dropped the phone and headed for the little sick bay. [199] He swore at Doc for not calling him at once, and then at himself for not checking up sooner. [200] Then he stopped at the sound of voices. [201] There was the end of a question from Barker and a thick, harsh growling sound that lifted the hair along the nape of Gwayne's neck. [202] Barker seemed to understand, and was making a comment as the captain dashed in. [203] The captive was sitting on the bunk, unbound and oddly unmenacing. [204] The thick features were relaxed and yet somehow intent. [205] He seemed to make some kind of a salute as he saw Gwayne enter, and his eyes burned up unerringly toward the device on the officer's cap. [206] "Haarroo, Cabbaan!" [207] the thing said. [208] "Captain Gwayne, may I present your former friend, Captain Hennessy?" [209] Barker said. [210] There was a grin on the doctor's lips, but his face was taut with strain. [211] The creature nodded slowly and drew something from the thick hair on its head. [212] It was the golden comet of a captain. [213] "He never meant to hurt the kids—just to talk to them," Barker cut in quickly. [214] "I've got some of the story. [215] He's changed. [216] He can't talk very well. [217] Says they've had to change the language around to make the sounds fit, and he's forgotten how to use what normal English he can. [218] But it gets easier as you listen. [219] It's Hennessy, all right. [220] I'm certain." [221] Gwayne had his own ideas on that. [222] It was easy for an alien to seize on the gold ornament of a captive earthman, even to learn a little English, maybe. [223] But Hennessy had been his friend. [224] "How many barmaids in the Cheshire Cat? [225] How many pups did your oldest kid's dog have? [226] How many were brown?" [227] The lips contorted into something vaguely like a smile, and the curiously shaped fingers that could handle no human-designed equipment spread out. [228] Three. [229] Seven. [230] Zero. [231] The answers were right. [232] By the time the session was over, Gwayne had begun to understand the twisted speech from inhuman vocal cords better. [233] But the story took a long time telling. [234] When it was finished, Gwayne and Barker sat for long minutes in silence. [235] Finally Gwayne drew a shuddering breath and stood up. [236] "Is it possible, Doc?" [237] "No," Barker said flatly. [238] He spread his hands and grimaced. [239] "No. [240] Not by what I know. [241] But it happened. [242] I've looked at a few tissues under the microscope. [243] The changes are there. [244] It's hard to believe about their kids. [245] Adults in eight years, but they stay shorter. [246] It can't be a hereditary change—the things that affect the body don't change the germ plasm. [247] But in this case, what changed Hennessy is real, so maybe the fact that the change is passed on is as real as he claims." [248] Gwayne led the former Hennessy to the exit. [249] The waiting blobs dropped down to touch the monstrous man, then leaped up again. [250] The crowd of monsters began moving forward toward their leader. [251] A few were almost as tall as Hennessy, but most were not more than five feet high. [252] The kids of the exploring party.... Back in the control room, Gwayne found the emergency release levers, set the combinations and pressed the studs. [253] There was a hiss and gurgle as the great tanks of fuel discharged their contents out onto the ground where no ingenuity could ever recover it to bring life to the ship again. [254] He'd have to tell the men and women of the crew later, after he'd had time to organize things and present it all in a way they could accept, however much they might hate it at first. [255] But there was no putting off giving the gist of it to Jane. [256] "It was the blobs," he summarized it. [257] "They seem to be amused by men. [258] They don't require anything from us, but they like us around. [259] Hennessy doesn't know why. [260] They can change our cells, adapt us. [261] Before men came, all life here had twelve legs. [262] Now they're changing that, as we've seen. [263] "And they don't have to be close to do it. [264] We've all been outside the hull. [265] It doesn't show yet—but we're changed. [266] In another month, Earth food would kill us. [267] We've got to stay here. [268] We'll bury the ships deeper this time, and Earth won't find us. [269] They can't risk trying a colony where three ships vanish, so we'll just disappear. [270] And they'll never know." [271] Nobody would know. [272] Their children—odd children who matured in eight years—would be primitive savages in three generations. [273] The Earth tools would be useless, impossible for the hands so radically changed. [274] Nothing from the ship would last. [275] Books could never be read by the new eyes. [276] And in time, Earth wouldn't even be a memory to this world. [277] She was silent a long time, staring out of the port toward what must now be her home. [278] Then she sighed. [279] "You'll need practice, but the others don't know you as well as I do, Bob. [280] I guess we can fix it so they'll believe it all. [281] And it's too late now. [282] But we haven't really been changed yet, have we?" [283] "No," he admitted. [284] Damn his voice! [285] He'd never been good at lying. [286] "No. [287] They have to touch us. [288] I've been touched, but the rest could go back." [289] She nodded. [290] He waited for the condemnation, but there was only puzzlement in her face. [291] "Why?" [292] And then, before he could answer, her own intelligence gave her the same answer he had found for himself. [293] "The spawning ground!" [294] It was the only thing they could do. [295] Earth needed a place to plant her seed, but no world other than Earth could ever be trusted to preserve that seed for generation after generation. [296] Some worlds already were becoming uncertain. [297] Here, though, the blobs had adapted men to the alien world instead of men having to adapt the whole planet to their needs. [298] Here, the strange children of man's race could grow, develop and begin the long trek back to civilization. [299] The gadgets would be lost for a time. [300] But perhaps some of the attitudes of civilized man would remain to make the next rise to culture a better one. [301] "We're needed here," he told her, his voice pleading for the understanding he couldn't yet fully give himself. [302] "These people need as rich a set of bloodlines as possible to give the new race strength. [303] The fifty men and women on this ship will be needed to start them with a decent chance. [304] We can't go to Earth, where nobody would believe or accept the idea—or even let us come back. [305] We have to stay here." [306] She smiled then and moved toward him, groping for his strength. [307] "Be fruitful," she whispered. [308] "Be fruitful and spawn and replenish an earth." [309] "No," he told her. [310] "Replenish the stars." [311] But she was no longer listening, and that part of his idea could wait. [312] Some day, though, their children would find a way to the starlanes again, looking for other worlds. [313] With the blobs to help them, they could adapt to most worlds. [314] The unchanged spirit would lead them through all space, and the changing bodies would claim worlds beyond numbering. [315] Some day, the whole universe would be a spawning ground for the children of men!

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "What happens to the human race on the Earth?": 1. [161] Earth needed every world she could make remotely habitable, or mankind was probably doomed to extinction. 2. [162] The race had blundered safely through its discovery of atomic weapons into a peace that had lasted two hundred years. 3. [165] But forty years ago, observations from beyond the Solar System had finally proved that the sun was going to go nova. 4. [166] It wouldn't be much of an explosion, as such things go—but it would render the whole Solar System uninhabitable for millenia. 5. [167] To survive, man had to colonize. 6. [168] And there were no worlds perfect for him, as Earth had been. 7. [169] The explorers went out in desperation to find what they could; the terraforming teams did what they could. 8. [170] And then the big starships began filling worlds with colonists, carried in deep sleep to conserve space. 9. [171] Almost eighty worlds. 10. [172] The nearest a four month journey from Earth and four more months back. 11. [173] In another ten years, the sun would explode, leaving man only on the footholds he was trying to dig among other solar systems. 12. [174] Maybe some of the strange worlds would let men spread his seed again. 13. [175] Maybe none would be spawning grounds for mankind in spite of the efforts. 14. [176] Each was precious as a haven for the race. 15. [177] If this world could be used, it would be nearer than most. 16. [178] If not, as it now seemed, no more time could be wasted here. 17. [179] Primitives could be overcome, maybe. 18. [180] It would be ruthless and unfair to strip them of their world, but the first law was survival. 19. [181] But how could primitives do what these must have done? 20. [255] "It was the blobs," he summarized it. 21. [256] "They seem to be amused by men. 22. [257] They don't require anything from us, but they like us around. 23. [258] Hennessy doesn't know why. 24. [259] They can change our cells, adapt us. 25. [260] Before men came, all life here had twelve legs. 26. [261] Now they're changing that, as we've seen. 27. [262] "And they don't have to be close to do it. 28. [263] We've all been outside the hull. 29. [264] It doesn't show yet—but we're changed. 30. [265] In another month, Earth food would kill us. 31. [266] We've got to stay here. 32. [267] We'll bury the ships deeper this time, and Earth won't find us. 33. [268] They can't risk trying a colony where three ships vanish, so we'll just disappear. 34. [269] And they'll never know." 35. [270] Nobody would know. 36. [271] Their children—odd children who matured in eight years—would be primitive savages in three generations. 37. [272] The Earth tools would be useless, impossible for the hands so radically changed. 38. [273] Nothing from the ship would last. 39. [274] Books could never be read by the new eyes. 40. [275] And in time, Earth wouldn't even be a memory to this world. 41. [292] "The spawning ground!" 42. [293] It was the only thing they could do. 43. [294] Earth needed a place to plant her seed, but no world other than Earth could ever be trusted to preserve that seed for generation after generation. 44. [295] Some worlds already were becoming uncertain. 45. [296] Here, though, the blobs had adapted men to the alien world instead of men having to adapt the whole planet to their needs. 46. [297] Here, the strange children of man's race could grow, develop and begin the long trek back to civilization. 47. [298] The gadgets would be lost for a time. 48. [299] But perhaps some of the attitudes of civilized man would remain to make the next rise to culture a better one. 49. [300] "We're needed here," he told her, his voice pleading for the understanding he couldn't yet fully give himself. 50. [301] "These people need as rich a set of bloodlines as possible to give the new race strength. 51. [302] The fifty men and women on this ship will be needed to start them with a decent chance. 52. [303] We can't go to Earth, where nobody would believe or accept the idea—or even let us come back. 53. [304] We have to stay here." 54. [305] She smiled then and moved toward him, groping for his strength. 55. [306] "Be fruitful," she whispered. 56. [307] "Be fruitful and spawn and replenish an earth." 57. [308] "No," he told her. 58. [309] "Replenish the stars." 59. [310] But she was no longer listening, and that part of his idea could wait. 60. [311] Some day, though, their children would find a way to the starlanes again, looking for other worlds. 61. [312] With the blobs to help them, they could adapt to most worlds. 62. [313] The unchanged spirit would lead them through all space, and the changing bodies would claim worlds beyond numbering. 63. [314] Some day, the whole universe would be a spawning ground for the children of men!

What is the plot of the story?

[1] THE FIRST ONE By HERBERT D. KASTLE Illustrated by von Dongen [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Analog July 1961. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] The first man to return from beyond the Great Frontier may be welcomed ... but will it be as a curiosity, rather than as a hero...? [4] There was the usual welcoming crowd for a celebrity, and the usual speeches by the usual politicians who met him at the airport which had once been twenty miles outside of Croton, but which the growing city had since engulfed and placed well within its boundaries. [5] But everything wasn't usual. [6] The crowd was quiet, and the mayor didn't seem quite as at-ease as he'd been on his last big welcoming—for Corporal Berringer, one of the crew of the spaceship Washington , first to set Americans upon Mars. [7] His Honor's handclasp was somewhat moist and cold. [8] His Honor's eyes held a trace of remoteness. [9] Still, he was the honored home-comer, the successful returnee, the hometown boy who had made good in a big way, and they took the triumphal tour up Main Street to the new square and the grandstand. [10] There he sat between the mayor and a nervous young coed chosen as homecoming queen, and looked out at the police and fire department bands, the National Guard, the boy scouts and girl scouts, the Elks and Masons. [11] Several of the churches in town had shown indecision as to how to instruct their parishioners to treat him. [12] But they had all come around. [13] The tremendous national interest, the fact that he was the First One, had made them come around. [14] It was obvious by now that they would have to adjust as they'd adjusted to all the other firsts taking place in these—as the newspapers had dubbed the start of the Twenty-first Century—the Galloping Twenties. [15] He was glad when the official greeting was over. [16] He was a very tired man and he had come farther, traveled longer and over darker country, than any man who'd ever lived before. [17] He wanted a meal at his own table, a kiss from his wife, a word from his son, and later to see some old friends and a relative or two. [18] He didn't want to talk about the journey. [19] He wanted to forget the immediacy, the urgency, the terror; then perhaps he would talk. [20] Or would he? [21] For he had very little to tell. [22] He had traveled and he had returned and his voyage was very much like the voyages of the great mariners, from Columbus onward—long, dull periods of time passing, passing, and then the arrival. [23] The house had changed. [24] He saw that as soon as the official car let him off at 45 Roosevelt Street. [25] The change was, he knew, for the better. [26] They had put a porch in front. [27] They had rehabilitated, spruced up, almost rebuilt the entire outside and grounds. [28] But he was sorry. [29] He had wanted it to be as before. [30] The head of the American Legion and the chief of police, who had escorted him on this trip from the square, didn't ask to go in with him. [31] He was glad. [32] He'd had enough of strangers. [33] Not that he was through with strangers. [34] There were dozens of them up and down the street, standing beside parked cars, looking at him. [35] But when he looked back at them, their eyes dropped, they turned away, they began moving off. [36] He was still too much the First One to have his gaze met. [37] He walked up what had once been a concrete path and was now an ornate flagstone path. [38] He climbed the new porch and raised the ornamental knocker on the new door and heard the soft music sound within. [39] He was surprised that he'd had to do this. [40] He'd thought Edith would be watching at a window. [41] And perhaps she had been watching ... but she hadn't opened the door. [42] The door opened; he looked at her. [43] It hadn't been too long and she hadn't changed at all. [44] She was still the small, slender girl he'd loved in high school, the small, slender woman he'd married twelve years ago. [45] Ralphie was with her. [46] They held onto each other as if seeking mutual support, the thirty-three-year old woman and ten-year-old boy. [47] They looked at him, and then both moved forward, still together. [48] He said, "It's good to be home!" [49] Edith nodded and, still holding to Ralphie with one hand, put the other arm around him. [50] He kissed her—her neck, her cheek—and all the old jokes came to mind, the jokes of travel-weary, battle-weary men, the and- then -I'll-put-my-pack-aside jokes that spoke of terrible hunger. [51] She was trembling, and even as her lips came up to touch his he felt the difference, and because of this difference he turned with urgency to Ralphie and picked him up and hugged him and said, because he could think of nothing else to say, "What a big fella, what a big fella." [52] Ralphie stood in his arms as if his feet were still planted on the floor, and he didn't look at his father but somewhere beyond him. [53] "I didn't grow much while you were gone, Dad, Mom says I don't eat enough." [54] So he put him down and told himself that it would all change, that everything would loosen up just as his commanding officer, General Carlisle, had said it would early this morning before he left Washington. [55] "Give it some time," Carlisle had said. [56] "You need the time; they need the time. [57] And for the love of heaven, don't be sensitive." [58] Edith was leading him into the living room, her hand lying still in his, a cool, dead bird lying still in his. [59] He sat down on the couch, she sat down beside him—but she had hesitated. [60] He wasn't being sensitive; she had hesitated. [61] His wife had hesitated before sitting down beside him. [62] Carlisle had said his position was analogous to Columbus', to Vasco De Gama's, to Preshoff's when the Russian returned from the Moon—but more so. [63] Carlisle had said lots of things, but even Carlisle who had worked with him all the way, who had engineered the entire fantastic journey—even Carlisle the Nobel prize winner, the multi-degreed genius in uniform, had not actually spoken to him as one man to another. [64] The eyes. [65] It always showed in their eyes. [66] He looked across the room at Ralphie, standing in the doorway, a boy already tall, already widening in the shoulders, already large of feature. [67] It was like looking into the mirror and seeing himself twenty-five years ago. [68] But Ralphie's face was drawn, was worried in a way that few ten-year-old faces are. [69] "How's it going in school?" [70] he asked. [71] "Gee, Dad, it's the second month of summer vacation." [72] "Well, then, before summer vacation?" [73] "Pretty good." [74] Edith said, "He made top forum the six-month period before vacation, and he made top forum the six-month period you went away, Hank." [75] He nodded, remembering that, remembering everything, remembering the warmth of her farewell, the warmth of Ralphie's farewell, their tears as he left for the experimental flight station in the Aleutians. [76] They had feared for him, having read of the many launchings gone wrong even in continent-to-continent experimental flight. [77] They had been right to worry. [78] He had suffered much after that blow-up. [79] But now they should be rejoicing, because he had survived and made the long journey. [80] Ralphie suddenly said, "I got to go, Dad. [81] I promised Walt and the others I'd pitch. [82] It's Inter-Town Little League, you know. [83] It's Harmon, you know. [84] I got to keep my word." [85] Without waiting for an answer, he waved his hand—it shook; a ten-year-old boy's hand that shook—and ran from the room and from the house. [86] He and Edith sat beside each other, and he wanted badly to take her in his arms, and yet he didn't want to oppress her. [87] He stood up. [88] "I'm very tired. [89] I'd like to lie down a while." [90] Which wasn't true, because he'd been lying down all the months of the way back. [91] She said, "Of course. [92] How stupid of me, expecting you to sit around and make small talk and pick up just where you left off." [93] He nodded. [94] But that was exactly what he wanted to do—make small talk and pick up just where he'd left off. [95] But they didn't expect it of him; they wouldn't let him; they felt he had changed too much. [96] She led him upstairs and along the foyer past Ralphie's room and past the small guest room to their bedroom. [97] This, too, had changed. [98] It was newly painted and it had new furniture. [99] He saw twin beds separated by an ornate little table with an ornate little lamp, and this looked more ominous a barrier to him than the twelve-foot concrete-and-barbed-wire fence around the experimental station. [100] "Which one is mine," he asked, and tried to smile. [101] She also tried to smile. [102] "The one near the window. [103] You always liked the fresh air, the sunshine in the morning. [104] You always said it helped you to get up on time when you were stationed at the base outside of town. [105] You always said it reminded you—being able to see the sky—that you were going to go up in it, and that you were going to come down from it to this bed again." [106] "Not this bed," he murmured, and was a little sorry afterward. [107] "No, not this bed," she said quickly. [108] "Your lodge donated the bedroom set and I really didn't know—" She waved her hand, her face white. [109] He was sure then that she had known, and that the beds and the barrier between them were her own choice, if only an unconscious choice. [110] He went to the bed near the window, stripped off his Air Force blue jacket, began to take off his shirt, but then remembered that some arm scars still showed. [111] He waited for her to leave the room. [112] She said, "Well then, rest up, dear," and went out. [113] He took off his shirt and saw himself in the mirror on the opposite wall; and then took off his under-shirt. [114] The body scars were faint, the scars running in long lines, one dissecting his chest, the other slicing diagonally across his upper abdomen to disappear under his trousers. [115] There were several more on his back, and one on his right thigh. [116] They'd been treated properly and would soon disappear. [117] But she had never seen them. [118] Perhaps she never would. [119] Perhaps pajamas and robes and dark rooms would keep them from her until they were gone. [120] Which was not what he'd considered at all important on leaving Walter Reed Hospital early this morning; which was something he found distasteful, something he felt beneath them both. [121] And, at the same time, he began to understand that there would be many things, previously beneath them both, which would have to be considered. [122] She had changed; Ralphie had changed; all the people he knew had probably changed—because they thought he had changed. [123] He was tired of thinking. [124] He lay down and closed his eyes. [125] He let himself taste bitterness, unhappiness, a loneliness he had never known before. [126] But sometime later, as he was dozing off, a sense of reassurance began filtering into his mind. [127] After all, he was still Henry Devers, the same man who had left home eleven months ago, with a love for family and friends which was, if anything, stronger than before. [128] Once he could communicate this, the strangeness would disappear and the First One would again become good old Hank. [129] It was little enough to ask for—a return to old values, old relationships, the normalcies of the backwash instead of the freneticisms of the lime-light. [130] It would certainly be granted to him. [131] He slept. [132] Dinner was at seven p.m. His mother came; his Uncle Joe and Aunt Lucille came. [133] Together with Edith, Ralphie and himself, they made six, and ate in the dining room at the big table. [134] Before he'd become the First One, it would have been a noisy affair. [135] His family had never been noted for a lack of ebullience, a lack of talkativeness, and Ralphie had always chosen mealtimes—especially with company present—to describe everything and anything that had happened to him during the day. [136] And Edith herself had always chatted, especially with his mother, though they didn't agree about much. [137] Still, it had been good-natured; the general tone of their lives had been good-natured. [138] This wasn't good-natured. [139] Exactly what it was he wasn't sure. [140] "Stiff" was perhaps the word. [141] They began with grapefruit, Edith and Mother serving quickly, efficiently from the kitchen, then sitting down at the table. [142] He looked at Mother as he raised his first spoonful of chilled fruit, and said, "Younger than ever." [143] It was nothing new; he'd said it many many times before, but his mother had always reacted with a bright smile and a quip something like, "Young for the Golden Age Center, you mean." [144] This time she burst into tears. [145] It shocked him. [146] But what shocked him even more was the fact that no one looked up, commented, made any attempt to comfort her; no one indicated in any way that a woman was sobbing at the table. [147] He was sitting directly across from Mother, and reached out and touched her left hand which lay limply beside the silverware. [148] She didn't move it—she hadn't touched him once beyond that first, quick, strangely-cool embrace at the door—then a few seconds later she withdrew it and let it drop out of sight. [149] So there he was, Henry Devers, at home with the family. [150] So there he was, the hero returned, waiting to be treated as a human being. [151] The grapefruit shells were cleaned away and the soup served. [152] Uncle Joe began to talk. [153] "The greatest little development of circular uniform houses you ever did see," he boomed in his powerful salesman's voice. [154] "Still going like sixty. [155] We'll sell out before—" At that point he looked at Hank, and Hank nodded encouragement, desperately interested in this normalcy, and Joe's voice died away. [156] He looked down at his plate, mumbled, "Soup's getting cold," and began to eat. [157] His hand shook a little; his ruddy face was not quite as ruddy as Hank remembered it. [158] Aunt Lucille made a few quavering statements about the Ladies' Tuesday Garden Club, and Hank looked across the table to where she sat between Joe and Mother—his wife and son bracketed him, and yet he felt alone—and said, "I've missed fooling around with the lawn and the rose bushes. [159] Here it is August and I haven't had my hand to a mower or trowel." [160] Aunt Lucille smiled, if you could call it that—a pitiful twitching of the lips—and nodded. [161] She threw her eyes in his direction, and past him, and then down to her plate. [162] Mother, who was still sniffling, said, "I have a dismal headache. [163] I'm going to lie down in the guest room a while." [164] She touched his shoulder in passing—his affectionate, effusive mother who would kiss stray dogs and strange children, who had often irritated him with an excess of physical and verbal caresses—she barely touched his shoulder and fled. [165] So now five of them sat at the table. [166] The meat was served—thin, rare slices of beef, the pink blood-juice oozing warmly from the center. [167] He cut into it and raised a forkful to his mouth, then glanced at Ralphie and said, "Looks fresh enough to have been killed in the back yard." [168] Ralphie said, "Yeah, Dad." [169] Aunt Lucille put down her knife and fork and murmured something to her husband. [170] Joe cleared his throat and said Lucille was rapidly becoming a vegetarian and he guessed she was going into the living room for a while. [171] "She'll be back for dessert, of course," he said, his laugh sounding forced. [172] Hank looked at Edith; Edith was busy with her plate. [173] Hank looked at Ralphie; Ralphie was busy with his plate. [174] Hank looked at Joe; Joe was chewing, gazing out over their heads to the kitchen. [175] Hank looked at Lucille; she was disappearing into the living room. [176] He brought his fist down on the table. [177] The settings jumped; a glass overturned, spilling water. [178] He brought it down again and again. [179] They were all standing now. [180] He sat there and pounded the table with his big right fist—Henry Devers, who would never have thought of making such a scene before, but who was now so sick and tired of being treated as the First One, of being stood back from, looked at in awe of, felt in fear of, that he could have smashed more than a table. [181] Edith said, "Hank!" [182] He said, voice hoarse, "Shut up. [183] Go away. [184] Let me eat alone. [185] I'm sick of the lot of you." [186] Mother and Joe returned a few minutes later where he sat forcing food down his throat. [187] Mother said, "Henry dear—" He didn't answer. [188] She began to cry, and he was glad she left the house then. [189] He had never said anything really bad to his mother. [190] He was afraid this would have been the time. [191] Joe merely cleared his throat and mumbled something about getting together again soon and "drop out and see the new development" and he, too, was gone. [192] Lucille never did manage to speak to him. [193] He finished his beef and waited. [194] Soon Edith came in with the special dessert she'd been preparing half the day—a magnificent English trifle. [195] She served him, and spooned out a portion for herself and Ralphie. [196] She hesitated near his chair, and when he made no comment she called the boy. [197] Then the three of them were sitting, facing the empty side of the table. [198] They ate the trifle. [199] Ralphie finished first and got up and said, "Hey, I promised—" "You promised the boys you'd play baseball or football or handball or something; anything to get away from your father." [200] Ralphie's head dropped and he muttered, "Aw, no, Dad." [201] Edith said, "He'll stay home, Hank. [202] We'll spend an evening together—talking, watching TV, playing Monopoly." [203] Ralphie said, "Gee, sure, Dad, if you want to." [204] Hank stood up. [205] "The question is not whether I want to. [206] You both know I want to. [207] The question is whether you want to." [208] They answered together that of course they wanted to. [209] But their eyes—his wife's and son's eyes—could not meet his, and so he said he was going to his room because he was, after all, very tired and would in all probability continue to be very tired for a long, long time and that they shouldn't count on him for normal social life. [210] He fell asleep quickly, lying there in his clothes. [211] But he didn't sleep long. [212] Edith shook him and he opened his eyes to a lighted room. [213] "Phil and Rhona are here." [214] He blinked at her. [215] She smiled, and it seemed her old smile. [216] "They're so anxious to see you, Hank. [217] I could barely keep Phil from coming up and waking you himself. [218] They want to go out and do the town. [219] Please, Hank, say you will." [220] He sat up. [221] "Phil," he muttered. [222] "Phil and Rhona." [223] They'd had wonderful times together, from grammar school on. [224] Phil and Rhona, their oldest and closest friends. [225] Perhaps this would begin his real homecoming. [226] Do the town? [227] They'd paint it and then tear it down! [228] It didn't turn out that way. [229] He was disappointed; but then again, he'd also expected it. [230] This entire first day at home had conditioned him to expect nothing good. [231] They went to the bowling alleys, and Phil sounded very much the way he always had—soft spoken and full of laughter and full of jokes. [232] He patted Edith on the head the way he always had, and clapped Hank on the shoulder (but not the way he always had—so much more gently, almost remotely), and insisted they all drink more than was good for them as he always had. [233] And for once, Hank was ready to go along on the drinking. [234] For once, he matched Phil shot for shot, beer for beer. [235] They didn't bowl very long. [236] At ten o'clock they crossed the road to Manfred's Tavern, where Phil and the girls ordered sandwiches and coffee and Hank went right on drinking. [237] Edith said something to him, but he merely smiled and waved his hand and gulped another ounce of nirvana. [238] There was dancing to a juke box in Manfred's Tavern. [239] He'd been there many times before, and he was sure several of the couples recognized him. [240] But except for a few abortive glances in his direction, it was as if he were a stranger in a city halfway around the world. [241] At midnight, he was still drinking. [242] The others wanted to leave, but he said, "I haven't danced with my girl Rhona." [243] His tongue was thick, his mind was blurred, and yet he could read the strange expression on her face—pretty Rhona, who'd always flirted with him, who'd made a ritual of flirting with him. [244] Pretty Rhona, who now looked as if she were going to be sick. [245] "So let's rock," he said and stood up. [246] They were on the dance floor. [247] He held her close, and hummed and chatted. [248] And through the alcoholic haze saw she was a stiff-smiled, stiff-bodied, mechanical dancing doll. [249] The number finished; they walked back to the booth. [250] Phil said, "Beddy-bye time." [251] Hank said, "First one dance with my loving wife." [252] He and Edith danced. [253] He didn't hold her close as he had Rhona. [254] He waited for her to come close on her own, and she did, and yet she didn't. [255] Because while she put herself against him, there was something in her face—no, in her eyes; it always showed in the eyes—that made him know she was trying to be the old Edith and not succeeding. [256] This time when the music ended, he was ready to go home. [257] They rode back to town along Route Nine, he and Edith in the rear of Phil's car, Rhona driving because Phil had drunk just a little too much, Phil singing and telling an occasional bad joke, and somehow not his old self. [258] No one was his old self. [259] No one would ever be his old self with the First One. [260] They turned left, to take the short cut along Hallowed Hill Road, and Phil finished a story about a Martian and a Hollywood sex queen and looked at his wife and then past her at the long, cast-iron fence paralleling the road. [261] "Hey," he said, pointing, "do you know why that's the most popular place on earth?" [262] Rhona glanced to the left, and so did Hank and Edith. [263] Rhona made a little sound, and Edith seemed to stop breathing, but Phil went on a while longer, not yet aware of his supposed faux pas . [264] "You know why?" [265] he repeated, turning to the back seat, the laughter rumbling up from his chest. [266] "You know why, folks?" [267] Rhona said, "Did you notice Carl Braken and his wife at—" Hank said, "No, Phil, why is it the most popular place on earth?" [268] Phil said, "Because people are—" And then he caught himself and waved his hand and muttered, "I forgot the punch line." [269] "Because people are dying to get in," Hank said, and looked through the window, past the iron fence, into the large cemetery at the fleeting tombstones. [270] The car was filled with horrified silence when there should have been nothing but laughter, or irritation at a too-old joke. [271] "Maybe you should let me out right here," Hank said. [272] "I'm home—or that's what everyone seems to think. [273] Maybe I should lie down in an open grave. [274] Maybe that would satisfy people. [275] Maybe that's the only way to act, like Dracula or another monster from the movies." [276] Edith said, "Oh, Hank, don't, don't!" [277] The car raced along the road, crossed a macadam highway, went four blocks and pulled to a stop. [278] He didn't bother saying good night. [279] He didn't wait for Edith. [280] He just got out and walked up the flagstone path and entered the house. [281] "Hank," Edith whispered from the guest room doorway, "I'm so sorry—" "There's nothing to be sorry about. [282] It's just a matter of time. [283] It'll all work out in time." [284] "Yes," she said quickly, "that's it. [285] I need a little time. [286] We all need a little time. [287] Because it's so strange, Hank. [288] Because it's so frightening. [289] I should have told you that the moment you walked in. [290] I think I've hurt you terribly, we've all hurt you terribly, by trying to hide that we're frightened." [291] "I'm going to stay in the guest room," he said, "for as long as necessary. [292] For good if need be." [293] "How could it be for good? [294] How, Hank?" [295] That question was perhaps the first firm basis for hope he'd had since returning. [296] And there was something else; what Carlisle had told him, even as Carlisle himself had reacted as all men did. [297] "There are others coming, Edith. [298] Eight that I know of in the tanks right now. [299] My superior, Captain Davidson, who died at the same moment I did—seven months ago next Wednesday—he's going to be next. [300] He was smashed up worse than I was, so it took a little longer, but he's almost ready. [301] And there'll be many more, Edith. [302] The government is going to save all they possibly can from now on. [303] Every time a young and healthy man loses his life by accident, by violence, and his body can be recovered, he'll go into the tanks and they'll start the regenerative brain and organ process—the process that made it all possible. [304] So people have to get used to us. [305] And the old stories, the old terrors, the ugly old superstitions have to die, because in time each place will have some of us; because in time it'll be an ordinary thing." [306] Edith said, "Yes, and I'm so grateful that you're here, Hank. [307] Please believe that. [308] Please be patient with me and Ralphie and—" She paused. [309] "There's one question." [310] He knew what the question was. [311] It had been the first asked him by everyone from the president of the United States on down. [312] "I saw nothing," he said. [313] "It was as if I slept those six and a half months—slept without dreaming." [314] She came to him and touched his face with her lips, and he was satisfied. [315] Later, half asleep, he heard a dog howling, and remembered stories of how they announced death and the presence of monsters. [316] He shivered and pulled the covers closer to him and luxuriated in being safe in his own home. [317] THE END

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "What is the plot of the story?": 1. [3] The first man to return from beyond the Great Frontier may be welcomed ... but will it be as a curiosity, rather than as a hero...? 2. [296] And there was something else; what Carlisle had told him, even as Carlisle himself had reacted as all men did. 3. [297] "There are others coming, Edith. Eight that I know of in the tanks right now. 4. [298] My superior, Captain Davidson, who died at the same moment I did—seven months ago next Wednesday—he's going to be next. 5. [299] He was smashed up worse than I was, so it took a little longer, but he's almost ready. 6. [300] And there'll be many more, Edith. The government is going to save all they possibly can from now on. 7. [301] Every time a young and healthy man loses his life by accident, by violence, and his body can be recovered, he'll go into the tanks and they'll start the regenerative brain and organ process—the process that made it all possible. 8. [302] So people have to get used to us. And the old stories, the old terrors, the ugly old superstitions have to die, because in time each place will have some of us; because in time it'll be an ordinary thing. 9. [311] "I saw nothing," he said. "It was as if I slept those six and a half months—slept without dreaming." 10. [1] THE FIRST ONE By HERBERT D. KASTLE Illustrated by von Dongen 11. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. 12. [4] There was the usual welcoming crowd for a celebrity, and the usual speeches by the usual politicians who met him at the airport which had once been twenty miles outside of Croton, but which the growing city had since engulfed and placed well within its boundaries. 13. [5] But everything wasn't usual. 14. [6] The crowd was quiet, and the mayor didn't seem quite as at-ease as he'd been on his last big welcoming—for Corporal Berringer, one of the crew of the spaceship Washington , first to set Americans upon Mars. 15. [7] His Honor's handclasp was somewhat moist and cold. 16. [8] His Honor's eyes held a trace of remoteness. 17. [9] Still, he was the honored home-comer, the successful returnee, the hometown boy who had made good in a big way, and they took the triumphal tour up Main Street to the new square and the grandstand. 18. [10] There he sat between the mayor and a nervous young coed chosen as homecoming queen, and looked out at the police and fire department bands, the National Guard, the boy scouts and girl scouts, the Elks and Masons. 19. [11] Several of the churches in town had shown indecision as to how to instruct their parishioners to treat him. 20. [12] But they had all come around. 21. [13] The tremendous national interest, the fact that he was the First One, had made them come around. 22. [14] It was obvious by now that they would have to adjust as they'd adjusted to all the other firsts taking place in these—as the newspapers had dubbed the start of the Twenty-first Century—the Galloping Twenties. 23. [15] He was glad when the official greeting was over. 24. [16] He was a very tired man and he had come farther, traveled longer and over darker country, than any man who'd ever lived before. 25. [17] He wanted a meal at his own table, a kiss from his wife, a word from his son, and later to see some old friends and a relative or two. 26. [18] He didn't want to talk about the journey. 27. [19] He wanted to forget the immediacy, the urgency, the terror; then perhaps he would talk. 28. [20] Or would he? 29. [21] For he had very little to tell. 30. [22] He had traveled and he had returned and his voyage was very much like the voyages of the great mariners, from Columbus onward—long, dull periods of time passing, passing, and then the arrival. 31. [23] The house had changed. 32. [24] He saw that as soon as the official car let him off at 45 Roosevelt Street. 33. [25] The change was, he knew, for the better. 34. [26] They had put a porch in front. 35. [27] They had rehabilitated, spruced up, almost rebuilt the entire outside and grounds. 36. [28] But he was sorry. 37. [29] He had wanted it to be as before. 38. [30] The head of the American Legion and the chief of police, who had escorted him on this trip from the square, didn't ask to go in with him. 39. [31] He was glad. 40. [32] He'd had enough of strangers. 41. [33] Not that he was through with strangers. 42. [34] There were dozens of them up and down the street, standing beside parked cars, looking at him. 43. [35] But when he looked back at them, their eyes dropped, they turned away, they began moving off. 44. [36] He was still too much the First One to have his gaze met. 45. [37] He walked up what had once been a concrete path and was now an ornate flagstone path. 46. [38] He climbed the new porch and raised the ornamental knocker on the new door and heard the soft music sound within. 47. [39] He was surprised that he'd had to do this. 48. [40] He'd thought Edith would be watching at a window. 49. [41] And perhaps she had been watching ... but she hadn't opened the door. 50. [42] The door opened; he looked at her. 51. [43] It hadn't been too long and she hadn't changed at all. 52. [44] She was still the small, slender girl he'd loved in high school, the small, slender woman he'd married twelve years ago. 53. [45] Ralphie was with her. 54. [46] They held onto each other as if seeking mutual support, the thirty-three-year old woman and ten-year-old boy. 55. [47] They looked at him, and then both moved forward, still together. 56. [48] He said, "It's good to be home!" 57. [49] Edith nodded and, still holding to Ralphie with one hand, put the other arm around him. 58. [50] He kissed her—her neck, her cheek—and all the old jokes came to mind, the jokes of travel-weary, battle-weary men, the and- then -I'll-put-my-pack-aside jokes that spoke of terrible hunger. 59. [51] She was trembling, and even as her lips came up to touch his he felt the difference, and because of this difference he turned with urgency to Ralphie and picked him up and hugged him and said, because he could think of nothing else to say, "What a big fella, what a big fella." 60. [52] Ralphie stood in his arms as if his feet were still planted on the floor, and he didn't look at his father but somewhere beyond him. 61. [53] "I didn't grow much while you were gone, Dad, Mom says I don't eat enough." 62. [54] So he put him down and told himself that it would all change, that everything would loosen up just as his commanding officer, General Carlisle, had said it would early this morning before he left Washington. 63. [55] "Give it some time," Carlisle had said. 64. [56] "You need the time; they need the time. 65. [57] And for the love of heaven, don't be sensitive." 66. [58] Edith was leading him into the living room, her hand lying still in his, a cool, dead bird lying still in his. 67. [59] He sat down on the couch, she sat down beside him—but she had hesitated. 68. [60] He wasn't being sensitive; she had hesitated. 69. [61] His wife had hesitated before sitting down beside him. 70. [62] Carlisle had said his position was analogous to Columbus', to Vasco De Gama's, to Preshoff's when the Russian returned from the Moon—but more so. 71. [63] Carlisle had said lots of things, but even Carlisle who had worked with him all the way, who had engineered the entire fantastic journey—even Carlisle the Nobel prize winner, the multi-degreed genius in uniform, had not actually spoken to him as one man to another. 72. [64] The eyes. 73. [65] It always showed in their eyes. 74. [66] He looked across the room at Ralphie, standing in the doorway, a boy already tall, already widening in the shoulders, already large of feature. 75. [67] It was like looking into the mirror and seeing himself twenty-five years ago. 76. [68] But Ralphie's face was drawn, was worried in a way that few ten-year-old faces are. 77. [69] "How's it going in school?" 78. [70] he asked. 79. [71] "Gee, Dad, it's the second month of summer vacation." 80. [72] "Well, then, before summer vacation?" 81. [73] "Pretty good." 82. [74] Edith said, "He made top forum the six-month period before vacation, and he made top forum the six-month period you went away, Hank." 83. [75] He nodded, remembering that, remembering everything, remembering the warmth of her farewell, the warmth of Ralphie's farewell, their tears as he left for the experimental flight station in the Aleutians. 84. [76] They had feared for him, having read of the many launchings gone wrong even in continent-to-continent experimental flight. 85. [77] They had been right to worry. 86. [78] He had suffered much after that blow-up. 87. [79] But now they should be rejoicing, because he had survived and made the long journey. 88. [80] Ralphie suddenly said, "I got to go, Dad. 89. [81] I promised Walt and the others I'd pitch. 90. [82] It's Inter-Town Little League, you know. 91. [83] It's Harmon, you know. 92. [84] I got to keep my word." 93. [85] Without waiting for an answer, he waved his hand—it shook; a ten-year-old boy's hand that shook—and ran from the room and from the house. 94. [86] He and Edith sat beside each other, and he wanted badly to take her in his arms, and yet he didn't want to oppress her. 95. [87] He stood up. 96. [88] "I'm very tired. 97. [89] I'd like to lie down a while." 98. [90] Which wasn't true, because he'd been lying down all the months of the way back. 99. [91] She said, "Of course. 100. [92] How stupid of me, expecting you to sit around and make small talk and pick up just where you left off." 101. [93] He nodded. 102. [94] But that was exactly what he wanted to do—make small talk and pick up just where he'd left off. 103. [95] But they didn't expect it of him; they wouldn't let him; they felt he had changed too much. 104. [96] She led him upstairs and along the foyer past Ralphie's room and past the small guest room to their bedroom. 105. [97] This, too, had changed. 106. [98] It was newly painted and it had new furniture. 107. [99] He saw twin beds separated by an ornate little table with an ornate little lamp, and this looked more ominous a barrier to him than the twelve-foot concrete-and-barbed-wire fence around the experimental station. 108. [100] "Which one is mine," he asked, and tried to smile. 109. [101] She also tried to smile. 110. [102] "The one near the window. 111. [103] You always liked the fresh air, the sunshine in the morning. 112. [104] You always said it helped you to get up on time when you were stationed at the base outside of town. 113. [105] You always said it reminded you—being able to see the sky—that you were going to go up in it, and that you were going to come down from it to this bed again." 114. [106] "Not this bed," he murmured, and was a little sorry afterward. 115. [107] "No, not this bed," she said quickly. 116. [108] "Your lodge donated the bedroom set and I really didn't know—" She waved her hand, her face white. 117. [109] He was sure then that she had known, and that the beds and the barrier between them were her own choice, if only an unconscious choice. 118. [110] He went to the bed near the window, stripped off his Air Force blue jacket, began to take off his shirt, but then remembered that some arm scars still showed. 119. [111] He waited for her to leave the room. 120. [112] She said, "Well then, rest up, dear," and went out. 121. [113] He took off his shirt and saw himself in the mirror on the opposite wall; and then took off his under-shirt. 122. [114] The body scars were faint, the scars running in long lines, one dissecting his chest, the other slicing diagonally across his upper abdomen to disappear under his trousers. 123. [115] There were several more on his back, and one on his right thigh. 124. [116] They'd been treated properly and would soon disappear. 125. [117] But she had never seen them. 126. [118] Perhaps she never would. 127. [119] Perhaps pajamas and robes and dark rooms would keep them from her until they were gone. 128. [120] Which was not what he'd considered at all important on leaving Walter Reed Hospital early this morning; which was something he found distasteful, something he felt beneath them both. 129. [121] And, at the same time, he began to understand that there would be many things, previously beneath them both, which would have to be considered. 130. [122] She had changed; Ralphie had changed; all the people he knew had probably changed—because they thought he had changed. 131. [123] He was tired of thinking. 132. [124] He lay down and closed his eyes. 133. [125] He let himself taste bitterness, unhappiness, a loneliness he had never known before. 134. [126] But sometime later, as he was dozing off, a sense of reassurance began filtering into his mind. 135. [127] After all, he was still Henry Devers, the same man who had left home eleven months ago, with a love for family and friends which was, if anything, stronger than before. 136. [128] Once he could communicate this, the strangeness would disappear and the First One would again become good old Hank. 137. [129] It was little enough to ask for—a return to old values, old relationships, the normalcies of the backwash instead of the freneticisms of the lime-light. 138. [130] It would certainly be granted to him. 139. [131] He slept. 140. [132] Dinner was at seven p.m. His mother came; his Uncle Joe and Aunt Lucille came. 141. [133] Together with Edith, Ralphie and himself, they made six, and ate in the dining room at the big table. 142. [134] Before he'd become the First One, it would have been a noisy affair. 143. [135] His family had never been noted for a lack of ebullience, a lack of talkativeness, and Ralphie had always chosen mealtimes—especially with company present—to describe everything and anything that had happened to him during the day. 144. [136] And Edith herself had always chatted, especially with his mother, though they didn't agree about much. 145. [137] Still, it had been good-natured; the general tone of their lives had been good-natured. 146. [138] This wasn't good-natured. 147. [139] Exactly what it was he wasn't sure. 148. [140] "Stiff" was perhaps the word. 149. [141] They began with grapefruit, Edith and Mother serving quickly, efficiently from the kitchen, then sitting down at the table. 150. [142] He looked at Mother as he raised his first spoonful of chilled fruit, and said, "Younger than ever." 151. [143] It was nothing new; he'd said it many many

Who’s Henry Devers and what happens to him throughout the story?

[1] THE FIRST ONE By HERBERT D. KASTLE Illustrated by von Dongen [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Analog July 1961. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] The first man to return from beyond the Great Frontier may be welcomed ... but will it be as a curiosity, rather than as a hero...? [4] There was the usual welcoming crowd for a celebrity, and the usual speeches by the usual politicians who met him at the airport which had once been twenty miles outside of Croton, but which the growing city had since engulfed and placed well within its boundaries. [5] But everything wasn't usual. [6] The crowd was quiet, and the mayor didn't seem quite as at-ease as he'd been on his last big welcoming—for Corporal Berringer, one of the crew of the spaceship Washington , first to set Americans upon Mars. [7] His Honor's handclasp was somewhat moist and cold. [8] His Honor's eyes held a trace of remoteness. [9] Still, he was the honored home-comer, the successful returnee, the hometown boy who had made good in a big way, and they took the triumphal tour up Main Street to the new square and the grandstand. [10] There he sat between the mayor and a nervous young coed chosen as homecoming queen, and looked out at the police and fire department bands, the National Guard, the boy scouts and girl scouts, the Elks and Masons. [11] Several of the churches in town had shown indecision as to how to instruct their parishioners to treat him. [12] But they had all come around. [13] The tremendous national interest, the fact that he was the First One, had made them come around. [14] It was obvious by now that they would have to adjust as they'd adjusted to all the other firsts taking place in these—as the newspapers had dubbed the start of the Twenty-first Century—the Galloping Twenties. [15] He was glad when the official greeting was over. [16] He was a very tired man and he had come farther, traveled longer and over darker country, than any man who'd ever lived before. [17] He wanted a meal at his own table, a kiss from his wife, a word from his son, and later to see some old friends and a relative or two. [18] He didn't want to talk about the journey. [19] He wanted to forget the immediacy, the urgency, the terror; then perhaps he would talk. [20] Or would he? [21] For he had very little to tell. [22] He had traveled and he had returned and his voyage was very much like the voyages of the great mariners, from Columbus onward—long, dull periods of time passing, passing, and then the arrival. [23] The house had changed. [24] He saw that as soon as the official car let him off at 45 Roosevelt Street. [25] The change was, he knew, for the better. [26] They had put a porch in front. [27] They had rehabilitated, spruced up, almost rebuilt the entire outside and grounds. [28] But he was sorry. [29] He had wanted it to be as before. [30] The head of the American Legion and the chief of police, who had escorted him on this trip from the square, didn't ask to go in with him. [31] He was glad. [32] He'd had enough of strangers. [33] Not that he was through with strangers. [34] There were dozens of them up and down the street, standing beside parked cars, looking at him. [35] But when he looked back at them, their eyes dropped, they turned away, they began moving off. [36] He was still too much the First One to have his gaze met. [37] He walked up what had once been a concrete path and was now an ornate flagstone path. [38] He climbed the new porch and raised the ornamental knocker on the new door and heard the soft music sound within. [39] He was surprised that he'd had to do this. [40] He'd thought Edith would be watching at a window. [41] And perhaps she had been watching ... but she hadn't opened the door. [42] The door opened; he looked at her. [43] It hadn't been too long and she hadn't changed at all. [44] She was still the small, slender girl he'd loved in high school, the small, slender woman he'd married twelve years ago. [45] Ralphie was with her. [46] They held onto each other as if seeking mutual support, the thirty-three-year old woman and ten-year-old boy. [47] They looked at him, and then both moved forward, still together. [48] He said, "It's good to be home!" [49] Edith nodded and, still holding to Ralphie with one hand, put the other arm around him. [50] He kissed her—her neck, her cheek—and all the old jokes came to mind, the jokes of travel-weary, battle-weary men, the and- then -I'll-put-my-pack-aside jokes that spoke of terrible hunger. [51] She was trembling, and even as her lips came up to touch his he felt the difference, and because of this difference he turned with urgency to Ralphie and picked him up and hugged him and said, because he could think of nothing else to say, "What a big fella, what a big fella." [52] Ralphie stood in his arms as if his feet were still planted on the floor, and he didn't look at his father but somewhere beyond him. [53] "I didn't grow much while you were gone, Dad, Mom says I don't eat enough." [54] So he put him down and told himself that it would all change, that everything would loosen up just as his commanding officer, General Carlisle, had said it would early this morning before he left Washington. [55] "Give it some time," Carlisle had said. [56] "You need the time; they need the time. [57] And for the love of heaven, don't be sensitive." [58] Edith was leading him into the living room, her hand lying still in his, a cool, dead bird lying still in his. [59] He sat down on the couch, she sat down beside him—but she had hesitated. [60] He wasn't being sensitive; she had hesitated. [61] His wife had hesitated before sitting down beside him. [62] Carlisle had said his position was analogous to Columbus', to Vasco De Gama's, to Preshoff's when the Russian returned from the Moon—but more so. [63] Carlisle had said lots of things, but even Carlisle who had worked with him all the way, who had engineered the entire fantastic journey—even Carlisle the Nobel prize winner, the multi-degreed genius in uniform, had not actually spoken to him as one man to another. [64] The eyes. [65] It always showed in their eyes. [66] He looked across the room at Ralphie, standing in the doorway, a boy already tall, already widening in the shoulders, already large of feature. [67] It was like looking into the mirror and seeing himself twenty-five years ago. [68] But Ralphie's face was drawn, was worried in a way that few ten-year-old faces are. [69] "How's it going in school?" [70] he asked. [71] "Gee, Dad, it's the second month of summer vacation." [72] "Well, then, before summer vacation?" [73] "Pretty good." [74] Edith said, "He made top forum the six-month period before vacation, and he made top forum the six-month period you went away, Hank." [75] He nodded, remembering that, remembering everything, remembering the warmth of her farewell, the warmth of Ralphie's farewell, their tears as he left for the experimental flight station in the Aleutians. [76] They had feared for him, having read of the many launchings gone wrong even in continent-to-continent experimental flight. [77] They had been right to worry. [78] He had suffered much after that blow-up. [79] But now they should be rejoicing, because he had survived and made the long journey. [80] Ralphie suddenly said, "I got to go, Dad. [81] I promised Walt and the others I'd pitch. [82] It's Inter-Town Little League, you know. [83] It's Harmon, you know. [84] I got to keep my word." [85] Without waiting for an answer, he waved his hand—it shook; a ten-year-old boy's hand that shook—and ran from the room and from the house. [86] He and Edith sat beside each other, and he wanted badly to take her in his arms, and yet he didn't want to oppress her. [87] He stood up. [88] "I'm very tired. [89] I'd like to lie down a while." [90] Which wasn't true, because he'd been lying down all the months of the way back. [91] She said, "Of course. [92] How stupid of me, expecting you to sit around and make small talk and pick up just where you left off." [93] He nodded. [94] But that was exactly what he wanted to do—make small talk and pick up just where he'd left off. [95] But they didn't expect it of him; they wouldn't let him; they felt he had changed too much. [96] She led him upstairs and along the foyer past Ralphie's room and past the small guest room to their bedroom. [97] This, too, had changed. [98] It was newly painted and it had new furniture. [99] He saw twin beds separated by an ornate little table with an ornate little lamp, and this looked more ominous a barrier to him than the twelve-foot concrete-and-barbed-wire fence around the experimental station. [100] "Which one is mine," he asked, and tried to smile. [101] She also tried to smile. [102] "The one near the window. [103] You always liked the fresh air, the sunshine in the morning. [104] You always said it helped you to get up on time when you were stationed at the base outside of town. [105] You always said it reminded you—being able to see the sky—that you were going to go up in it, and that you were going to come down from it to this bed again." [106] "Not this bed," he murmured, and was a little sorry afterward. [107] "No, not this bed," she said quickly. [108] "Your lodge donated the bedroom set and I really didn't know—" She waved her hand, her face white. [109] He was sure then that she had known, and that the beds and the barrier between them were her own choice, if only an unconscious choice. [110] He went to the bed near the window, stripped off his Air Force blue jacket, began to take off his shirt, but then remembered that some arm scars still showed. [111] He waited for her to leave the room. [112] She said, "Well then, rest up, dear," and went out. [113] He took off his shirt and saw himself in the mirror on the opposite wall; and then took off his under-shirt. [114] The body scars were faint, the scars running in long lines, one dissecting his chest, the other slicing diagonally across his upper abdomen to disappear under his trousers. [115] There were several more on his back, and one on his right thigh. [116] They'd been treated properly and would soon disappear. [117] But she had never seen them. [118] Perhaps she never would. [119] Perhaps pajamas and robes and dark rooms would keep them from her until they were gone. [120] Which was not what he'd considered at all important on leaving Walter Reed Hospital early this morning; which was something he found distasteful, something he felt beneath them both. [121] And, at the same time, he began to understand that there would be many things, previously beneath them both, which would have to be considered. [122] She had changed; Ralphie had changed; all the people he knew had probably changed—because they thought he had changed. [123] He was tired of thinking. [124] He lay down and closed his eyes. [125] He let himself taste bitterness, unhappiness, a loneliness he had never known before. [126] But sometime later, as he was dozing off, a sense of reassurance began filtering into his mind. [127] After all, he was still Henry Devers, the same man who had left home eleven months ago, with a love for family and friends which was, if anything, stronger than before. [128] Once he could communicate this, the strangeness would disappear and the First One would again become good old Hank. [129] It was little enough to ask for—a return to old values, old relationships, the normalcies of the backwash instead of the freneticisms of the lime-light. [130] It would certainly be granted to him. [131] He slept. [132] Dinner was at seven p.m. His mother came; his Uncle Joe and Aunt Lucille came. [133] Together with Edith, Ralphie and himself, they made six, and ate in the dining room at the big table. [134] Before he'd become the First One, it would have been a noisy affair. [135] His family had never been noted for a lack of ebullience, a lack of talkativeness, and Ralphie had always chosen mealtimes—especially with company present—to describe everything and anything that had happened to him during the day. [136] And Edith herself had always chatted, especially with his mother, though they didn't agree about much. [137] Still, it had been good-natured; the general tone of their lives had been good-natured. [138] This wasn't good-natured. [139] Exactly what it was he wasn't sure. [140] "Stiff" was perhaps the word. [141] They began with grapefruit, Edith and Mother serving quickly, efficiently from the kitchen, then sitting down at the table. [142] He looked at Mother as he raised his first spoonful of chilled fruit, and said, "Younger than ever." [143] It was nothing new; he'd said it many many times before, but his mother had always reacted with a bright smile and a quip something like, "Young for the Golden Age Center, you mean." [144] This time she burst into tears. [145] It shocked him. [146] But what shocked him even more was the fact that no one looked up, commented, made any attempt to comfort her; no one indicated in any way that a woman was sobbing at the table. [147] He was sitting directly across from Mother, and reached out and touched her left hand which lay limply beside the silverware. [148] She didn't move it—she hadn't touched him once beyond that first, quick, strangely-cool embrace at the door—then a few seconds later she withdrew it and let it drop out of sight. [149] So there he was, Henry Devers, at home with the family. [150] So there he was, the hero returned, waiting to be treated as a human being. [151] The grapefruit shells were cleaned away and the soup served. [152] Uncle Joe began to talk. [153] "The greatest little development of circular uniform houses you ever did see," he boomed in his powerful salesman's voice. [154] "Still going like sixty. [155] We'll sell out before—" At that point he looked at Hank, and Hank nodded encouragement, desperately interested in this normalcy, and Joe's voice died away. [156] He looked down at his plate, mumbled, "Soup's getting cold," and began to eat. [157] His hand shook a little; his ruddy face was not quite as ruddy as Hank remembered it. [158] Aunt Lucille made a few quavering statements about the Ladies' Tuesday Garden Club, and Hank looked across the table to where she sat between Joe and Mother—his wife and son bracketed him, and yet he felt alone—and said, "I've missed fooling around with the lawn and the rose bushes. [159] Here it is August and I haven't had my hand to a mower or trowel." [160] Aunt Lucille smiled, if you could call it that—a pitiful twitching of the lips—and nodded. [161] She threw her eyes in his direction, and past him, and then down to her plate. [162] Mother, who was still sniffling, said, "I have a dismal headache. [163] I'm going to lie down in the guest room a while." [164] She touched his shoulder in passing—his affectionate, effusive mother who would kiss stray dogs and strange children, who had often irritated him with an excess of physical and verbal caresses—she barely touched his shoulder and fled. [165] So now five of them sat at the table. [166] The meat was served—thin, rare slices of beef, the pink blood-juice oozing warmly from the center. [167] He cut into it and raised a forkful to his mouth, then glanced at Ralphie and said, "Looks fresh enough to have been killed in the back yard." [168] Ralphie said, "Yeah, Dad." [169] Aunt Lucille put down her knife and fork and murmured something to her husband. [170] Joe cleared his throat and said Lucille was rapidly becoming a vegetarian and he guessed she was going into the living room for a while. [171] "She'll be back for dessert, of course," he said, his laugh sounding forced. [172] Hank looked at Edith; Edith was busy with her plate. [173] Hank looked at Ralphie; Ralphie was busy with his plate. [174] Hank looked at Joe; Joe was chewing, gazing out over their heads to the kitchen. [175] Hank looked at Lucille; she was disappearing into the living room. [176] He brought his fist down on the table. [177] The settings jumped; a glass overturned, spilling water. [178] He brought it down again and again. [179] They were all standing now. [180] He sat there and pounded the table with his big right fist—Henry Devers, who would never have thought of making such a scene before, but who was now so sick and tired of being treated as the First One, of being stood back from, looked at in awe of, felt in fear of, that he could have smashed more than a table. [181] Edith said, "Hank!" [182] He said, voice hoarse, "Shut up. [183] Go away. [184] Let me eat alone. [185] I'm sick of the lot of you." [186] Mother and Joe returned a few minutes later where he sat forcing food down his throat. [187] Mother said, "Henry dear—" He didn't answer. [188] She began to cry, and he was glad she left the house then. [189] He had never said anything really bad to his mother. [190] He was afraid this would have been the time. [191] Joe merely cleared his throat and mumbled something about getting together again soon and "drop out and see the new development" and he, too, was gone. [192] Lucille never did manage to speak to him. [193] He finished his beef and waited. [194] Soon Edith came in with the special dessert she'd been preparing half the day—a magnificent English trifle. [195] She served him, and spooned out a portion for herself and Ralphie. [196] She hesitated near his chair, and when he made no comment she called the boy. [197] Then the three of them were sitting, facing the empty side of the table. [198] They ate the trifle. [199] Ralphie finished first and got up and said, "Hey, I promised—" "You promised the boys you'd play baseball or football or handball or something; anything to get away from your father." [200] Ralphie's head dropped and he muttered, "Aw, no, Dad." [201] Edith said, "He'll stay home, Hank. [202] We'll spend an evening together—talking, watching TV, playing Monopoly." [203] Ralphie said, "Gee, sure, Dad, if you want to." [204] Hank stood up. [205] "The question is not whether I want to. [206] You both know I want to. [207] The question is whether you want to." [208] They answered together that of course they wanted to. [209] But their eyes—his wife's and son's eyes—could not meet his, and so he said he was going to his room because he was, after all, very tired and would in all probability continue to be very tired for a long, long time and that they shouldn't count on him for normal social life. [210] He fell asleep quickly, lying there in his clothes. [211] But he didn't sleep long. [212] Edith shook him and he opened his eyes to a lighted room. [213] "Phil and Rhona are here." [214] He blinked at her. [215] She smiled, and it seemed her old smile. [216] "They're so anxious to see you, Hank. [217] I could barely keep Phil from coming up and waking you himself. [218] They want to go out and do the town. [219] Please, Hank, say you will." [220] He sat up. [221] "Phil," he muttered. [222] "Phil and Rhona." [223] They'd had wonderful times together, from grammar school on. [224] Phil and Rhona, their oldest and closest friends. [225] Perhaps this would begin his real homecoming. [226] Do the town? [227] They'd paint it and then tear it down! [228] It didn't turn out that way. [229] He was disappointed; but then again, he'd also expected it. [230] This entire first day at home had conditioned him to expect nothing good. [231] They went to the bowling alleys, and Phil sounded very much the way he always had—soft spoken and full of laughter and full of jokes. [232] He patted Edith on the head the way he always had, and clapped Hank on the shoulder (but not the way he always had—so much more gently, almost remotely), and insisted they all drink more than was good for them as he always had. [233] And for once, Hank was ready to go along on the drinking. [234] For once, he matched Phil shot for shot, beer for beer. [235] They didn't bowl very long. [236] At ten o'clock they crossed the road to Manfred's Tavern, where Phil and the girls ordered sandwiches and coffee and Hank went right on drinking. [237] Edith said something to him, but he merely smiled and waved his hand and gulped another ounce of nirvana. [238] There was dancing to a juke box in Manfred's Tavern. [239] He'd been there many times before, and he was sure several of the couples recognized him. [240] But except for a few abortive glances in his direction, it was as if he were a stranger in a city halfway around the world. [241] At midnight, he was still drinking. [242] The others wanted to leave, but he said, "I haven't danced with my girl Rhona." [243] His tongue was thick, his mind was blurred, and yet he could read the strange expression on her face—pretty Rhona, who'd always flirted with him, who'd made a ritual of flirting with him. [244] Pretty Rhona, who now looked as if she were going to be sick. [245] "So let's rock," he said and stood up. [246] They were on the dance floor. [247] He held her close, and hummed and chatted. [248] And through the alcoholic haze saw she was a stiff-smiled, stiff-bodied, mechanical dancing doll. [249] The number finished; they walked back to the booth. [250] Phil said, "Beddy-bye time." [251] Hank said, "First one dance with my loving wife." [252] He and Edith danced. [253] He didn't hold her close as he had Rhona. [254] He waited for her to come close on her own, and she did, and yet she didn't. [255] Because while she put herself against him, there was something in her face—no, in her eyes; it always showed in the eyes—that made him know she was trying to be the old Edith and not succeeding. [256] This time when the music ended, he was ready to go home. [257] They rode back to town along Route Nine, he and Edith in the rear of Phil's car, Rhona driving because Phil had drunk just a little too much, Phil singing and telling an occasional bad joke, and somehow not his old self. [258] No one was his old self. [259] No one would ever be his old self with the First One. [260] They turned left, to take the short cut along Hallowed Hill Road, and Phil finished a story about a Martian and a Hollywood sex queen and looked at his wife and then past her at the long, cast-iron fence paralleling the road. [261] "Hey," he said, pointing, "do you know why that's the most popular place on earth?" [262] Rhona glanced to the left, and so did Hank and Edith. [263] Rhona made a little sound, and Edith seemed to stop breathing, but Phil went on a while longer, not yet aware of his supposed faux pas . [264] "You know why?" [265] he repeated, turning to the back seat, the laughter rumbling up from his chest. [266] "You know why, folks?" [267] Rhona said, "Did you notice Carl Braken and his wife at—" Hank said, "No, Phil, why is it the most popular place on earth?" [268] Phil said, "Because people are—" And then he caught himself and waved his hand and muttered, "I forgot the punch line." [269] "Because people are dying to get in," Hank said, and looked through the window, past the iron fence, into the large cemetery at the fleeting tombstones. [270] The car was filled with horrified silence when there should have been nothing but laughter, or irritation at a too-old joke. [271] "Maybe you should let me out right here," Hank said. [272] "I'm home—or that's what everyone seems to think. [273] Maybe I should lie down in an open grave. [274] Maybe that would satisfy people. [275] Maybe that's the only way to act, like Dracula or another monster from the movies." [276] Edith said, "Oh, Hank, don't, don't!" [277] The car raced along the road, crossed a macadam highway, went four blocks and pulled to a stop. [278] He didn't bother saying good night. [279] He didn't wait for Edith. [280] He just got out and walked up the flagstone path and entered the house. [281] "Hank," Edith whispered from the guest room doorway, "I'm so sorry—" "There's nothing to be sorry about. [282] It's just a matter of time. [283] It'll all work out in time." [284] "Yes," she said quickly, "that's it. [285] I need a little time. [286] We all need a little time. [287] Because it's so strange, Hank. [288] Because it's so frightening. [289] I should have told you that the moment you walked in. [290] I think I've hurt you terribly, we've all hurt you terribly, by trying to hide that we're frightened." [291] "I'm going to stay in the guest room," he said, "for as long as necessary. [292] For good if need be." [293] "How could it be for good? [294] How, Hank?" [295] That question was perhaps the first firm basis for hope he'd had since returning. [296] And there was something else; what Carlisle had told him, even as Carlisle himself had reacted as all men did. [297] "There are others coming, Edith. [298] Eight that I know of in the tanks right now. [299] My superior, Captain Davidson, who died at the same moment I did—seven months ago next Wednesday—he's going to be next. [300] He was smashed up worse than I was, so it took a little longer, but he's almost ready. [301] And there'll be many more, Edith. [302] The government is going to save all they possibly can from now on. [303] Every time a young and healthy man loses his life by accident, by violence, and his body can be recovered, he'll go into the tanks and they'll start the regenerative brain and organ process—the process that made it all possible. [304] So people have to get used to us. [305] And the old stories, the old terrors, the ugly old superstitions have to die, because in time each place will have some of us; because in time it'll be an ordinary thing." [306] Edith said, "Yes, and I'm so grateful that you're here, Hank. [307] Please believe that. [308] Please be patient with me and Ralphie and—" She paused. [309] "There's one question." [310] He knew what the question was. [311] It had been the first asked him by everyone from the president of the United States on down. [312] "I saw nothing," he said. [313] "It was as if I slept those six and a half months—slept without dreaming." [314] She came to him and touched his face with her lips, and he was satisfied. [315] Later, half asleep, he heard a dog howling, and remembered stories of how they announced death and the presence of monsters. [316] He shivered and pulled the covers closer to him and luxuriated in being safe in his own home. [317] THE END

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "Who's Henry Devers and what happens to him throughout the story?": 1. [127] After all, he was still Henry Devers, the same man who had left home eleven months ago, with a love for family and friends which was, if anything, stronger than before. 2. [296] And there was something else; what Carlisle had told him, even as Carlisle himself had reacted as all men did. 3. [297] "There are others coming, Edith. Eight that I know of in the tanks right now. My superior, Captain Davidson, who died at the same moment I did—seven months ago next Wednesday—he's going to be next." 4. [302] Every time a young and healthy man loses his life by accident, by violence, and his body can be recovered, he'll go into the tanks and they'll start the regenerative brain and organ process—the process that made it all possible. 5. [306] "Yes, and I'm so grateful that you're here, Hank. Please believe that. Please be patient with me and Ralphie and—" 6. [311] "I saw nothing," he said. "It was as if I slept those six and a half months—slept without dreaming." 7. [3] The first man to return from beyond the Great Frontier may be welcomed ... but will it be as a curiosity, rather than as a hero...? 8. [9] Still, he was the honored home-comer, the successful returnee, the hometown boy who had made good in a big way, and they took the triumphal tour up Main Street to the new square and the grandstand. 9. [16] He was a very tired man and he had come farther, traveled longer and over darker country, than any man who'd ever lived before. 10. [62] Carlisle had said his position was analogous to Columbus', to Vasco De Gama's, to Preshoff's when the Russian returned from the Moon—but more so. 11. [63] Carlisle had said lots of things, but even Carlisle who had worked with him all the way, who had engineered the entire fantastic journey—even Carlisle the Nobel prize winner, the multi-degreed genius in uniform, had not actually spoken to him as one man to another. 12. [64] The eyes. It always showed in their eyes. 13. [66] He looked across the room at Ralphie, standing in the doorway, a boy already tall, already widening in the shoulders, already large of feature. 14. [67] It was like looking into the mirror and seeing himself twenty-five years ago. 15. [68] But Ralphie's face was drawn, was worried in a way that few ten-year-old faces are. 16. [76] They had feared for him, having read of the many launchings gone wrong even in continent-to-continent experimental flight. 17. [77] They had been right to worry. He had suffered much after that blow-up. 18. [95] But they didn't expect it of him; they wouldn't let him; they felt he had changed too much. 19. [110] He waited for her to leave the room. 20. [117] Perhaps she never would. Perhaps pajamas and robes and dark rooms would keep them from her until they were gone. 21. [121] And, at the same time, he began to understand that there would be many things, previously beneath them both, which would have to be considered. 22. [122] She had changed; Ralphie had changed; all the people he knew had probably changed—because they thought he had changed. 23. [125] He let himself taste bitterness, unhappiness, a loneliness he had never known before. 24. [126] But sometime later, as he was dozing off, a sense of reassurance began filtering into his mind. 25. [128] Once he could communicate this, the strangeness would disappear and the First One would again become good old Hank. 26. [129] It was little enough to ask for—a return to old values, old relationships, the normalcies of the backwash instead of the freneticisms of the lime-light. 27. [130] It would certainly be granted to him. 28. [134] Before he'd become the First One, it would have been a noisy affair. 29. [135] His family had never been noted for a lack of ebullience, a lack of talkativeness, and Ralphie had always chosen mealtimes—especially with company present—to describe everything and anything that had happened to him during the day. 30. [136] And Edith herself had always chatted, especially with his mother, though they didn't agree about much. 31. [137] Still, it had been good-natured; the general tone of their lives had been good-natured. 32. [138] This wasn't good-natured. 33. [139] Exactly what it was he wasn't sure. 34. [140] "Stiff" was perhaps the word. 35. [145] It shocked him. 36. [146] But what shocked him even more was the fact that no one looked up, commented, made any attempt to comfort her; no one indicated in any way that a woman was sobbing at the table. 37. [147] He was sitting directly across from Mother, and reached out and touched her left hand which lay limply beside the silverware. 38. [148] She didn't move it—she hadn't touched him once beyond that first, quick, strangely-cool embrace at the door—then a few seconds later she withdrew it and let it drop out of sight. 39. [149] So there he was, Henry Devers, at home with the family. 40. [150] So there he was, the hero returned, waiting to be treated as a human being. 41. [155] We'll sell out before—" At that point he looked at Hank, and Hank nodded encouragement, desperately interested in this normalcy, and Joe's voice died away. 42. [156] He looked down at his plate, mumbled, "Soup's getting cold," and began to eat. 43. [157] His hand shook a little; his ruddy face was not quite as ruddy as Hank remembered it. 44. [158] Aunt Lucille made a few quavering statements about the Ladies' Tuesday Garden Club, and Hank looked across the table to where she sat between Joe and Mother—his wife and son bracketed him, and yet he felt alone—and said, "I've missed fooling around with the lawn and the rose bushes. Here it is August and I haven't had my hand to a mower or trowel." 45. [159] Aunt Lucille smiled, if you could call it that—a pitiful twitching of the lips—and nodded. 46. [160] She threw her eyes in his direction, and past him, and then down to her plate. 47. [161] Mother, who was still sniffling, said, "I have a dismal headache. I'm going to lie down in the guest room a while." 48. [162] She touched his shoulder in passing—his affectionate, effusive mother who would kiss stray dogs and strange children, who had often irritated him with an excess of physical and verbal caresses—she barely touched his shoulder and fled. 49. [163] So now five of them sat at the table. 50. [167] He cut into it and raised a forkful to his mouth, then glanced at Ralphie and said, "Looks fresh enough to have been killed in the back yard." 51. [168] Ralphie said, "Yeah, Dad." 52. [169] Aunt Lucille put down her knife and fork and murmured something to her husband. 53. [170] Joe cleared his throat and said Lucille was rapidly becoming a vegetarian and he guessed she was going into the living room for a while. 54. [171] "She'll be back for dessert, of course," he said, his laugh sounding forced. 55. [172] Hank looked at Edith; Edith was busy with her plate. 56. [173] Hank looked at Ralphie; Ralphie was busy with his plate. 57. [174] Hank looked at Joe; Joe was chewing, gazing out over their heads to the kitchen. 58. [175] Hank looked at Lucille; she was disappearing into the living room. 59. [180] He sat there and pounded the table with his big right fist—Henry Devers, who would never have thought of making such a scene before, but who was now so sick and tired of being treated as the First One, of being stood back from, looked at in awe of, felt in fear of, that he could have smashed more than a table. 60. [181] Edith said, "Hank!" 61. [182] He said, voice hoarse, "Shut up. Go away. Let me eat alone. I'm sick of the lot of you." 62. [187] Mother said, "Henry dear—" He didn't answer. 63. [188] She began to cry, and he was glad she left the house then. 64. [189] He had never said anything really bad to his mother. 65. [190] He was afraid this would have been the time. 66. [191] Joe merely cleared his throat and mumbled something about getting together again soon and "drop out and see the new development" and he, too, was gone. 67. [192] Lucille never did manage to speak to him. 68. [200] Ralphie's head dropped and he muttered, "Aw, no, Dad." 69. [201] Edith said, "He'll stay home, Hank. We'll spend an evening together—talking, watching TV, playing Monopoly." 70. [202] Ralphie said, "Gee, sure, Dad, if you want to." 71. [203] Hank stood up. "The question is not whether I want to. You both know I want to. The question is whether you want to." 72. [204] They answered together that of course they wanted to. 73. [205] But their eyes—his wife's and son's eyes—could not meet his, and so he said he was going to his room because he was, after all, very tired and would in all probability continue to be very tired for a long, long time and that they shouldn't count on him for normal social life. 74. [215] She smiled, and it seemed her old smile. 75. [216] "They're so anxious to see you, Hank. I could barely keep Phil from coming up and waking you himself. They want to go out and do the town." 76. [220] He sat up. "Phil," he muttered. "Phil and Rhona." 77. [221] "They'd had wonderful times together, from grammar school on. Phil and Rhona, their oldest and closest friends." 78. [222] "Perhaps this would begin his real homecoming." 79. [223] "Do the town? They'd paint it and then tear it down!" 80. [224] "It didn't turn out that way." 81. [225] "He was disappointed; but then again, he'd also expected it." 82. [226] "This entire first day at home had conditioned him to expect nothing good." 83. [232] "He patted Edith on the head the way he always had, and clapped Hank on the shoulder (but not the way he always had—so much more gently, almost remotely), and insisted they all drink more than was good for them as he always had." 84. [233] "And for once, Hank was ready to go along on the drinking. For once, he matched Phil shot for shot, beer for beer." 85. [242] "Pretty Rhona, who'd always flirted with him, who'd made a ritual of flirting with him. Pretty Rhona, who now looked as if she were going to be sick." 86. [243] ""So let's rock," he said and stood up." 87. [244] "They were on the dance floor. He held her close, and hummed and chatted. And through the alcoholic haze saw she was a stiff-smiled, stiff-bodied, mechanical dancing doll." 88. [251] "He and Edith danced. He didn't hold her close as he had Rhona. He waited for her to come close on her own, and she did, and yet she didn't. Because while she put herself against him, there was something in her face—no, in her eyes; it always showed in the eyes—that made him know she was trying to be the old Edith and not succeeding." 89. [257] "They rode back to town along Route Nine, he and Edith in the rear of Phil's car, Rhona driving because Phil had drunk just a little too much, Phil singing and telling an occasional bad joke, and somehow not his old self." 90. [258] "No one was his old self. No one would ever be his old self with the First One." 91. [269] ""Because people are dying to get in," Hank said, and looked through the window, past the iron fence, into the large cemetery at the fleeting tombstones." 92. [270] "The car was filled with horrified silence when there should have been nothing but laughter, or irritation at a too-old joke." 93. [271] ""Maybe you should let me out right here," Hank said. "I'm home—or that's what everyone seems to think. Maybe I should lie down in an open grave. Maybe that would satisfy people. Maybe that's the only way to act, like Dracula or another monster from the movies."" 94. [280] "He didn't bother saying good night. He didn't wait for Edith. He just got out and walked up the flagstone path and entered the house." 95. [281] ""Hank," Edith whispered from the guest room doorway, "I'm so sorry—"" 96. [282] ""There's nothing to be sorry about. It's just a matter of time. It'll all work out in time."" 97. [283] ""Yes," she said quickly, "that's it. I need a little time. We all need a little time. Because it's so strange, Hank. Because it's so frightening. I should have told you that the moment you walked in. I think I've hurt you terribly, we've all hurt you terribly, by trying to hide that we're frightened."" 98. [291] ""I'm going to stay in the guest room," he said, "for as long as necessary. For good if need be."" 99. [292] ""How could it be for good? How, Hank?"" 100. [293] "That question was perhaps the first firm basis for hope he'd had since returning."

What’s the significance of the regenerative technology in the story?

[1] THE FIRST ONE By HERBERT D. KASTLE Illustrated by von Dongen [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Analog July 1961. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] The first man to return from beyond the Great Frontier may be welcomed ... but will it be as a curiosity, rather than as a hero...? [4] There was the usual welcoming crowd for a celebrity, and the usual speeches by the usual politicians who met him at the airport which had once been twenty miles outside of Croton, but which the growing city had since engulfed and placed well within its boundaries. [5] But everything wasn't usual. [6] The crowd was quiet, and the mayor didn't seem quite as at-ease as he'd been on his last big welcoming—for Corporal Berringer, one of the crew of the spaceship Washington , first to set Americans upon Mars. [7] His Honor's handclasp was somewhat moist and cold. [8] His Honor's eyes held a trace of remoteness. [9] Still, he was the honored home-comer, the successful returnee, the hometown boy who had made good in a big way, and they took the triumphal tour up Main Street to the new square and the grandstand. [10] There he sat between the mayor and a nervous young coed chosen as homecoming queen, and looked out at the police and fire department bands, the National Guard, the boy scouts and girl scouts, the Elks and Masons. [11] Several of the churches in town had shown indecision as to how to instruct their parishioners to treat him. [12] But they had all come around. [13] The tremendous national interest, the fact that he was the First One, had made them come around. [14] It was obvious by now that they would have to adjust as they'd adjusted to all the other firsts taking place in these—as the newspapers had dubbed the start of the Twenty-first Century—the Galloping Twenties. [15] He was glad when the official greeting was over. [16] He was a very tired man and he had come farther, traveled longer and over darker country, than any man who'd ever lived before. [17] He wanted a meal at his own table, a kiss from his wife, a word from his son, and later to see some old friends and a relative or two. [18] He didn't want to talk about the journey. [19] He wanted to forget the immediacy, the urgency, the terror; then perhaps he would talk. [20] Or would he? [21] For he had very little to tell. [22] He had traveled and he had returned and his voyage was very much like the voyages of the great mariners, from Columbus onward—long, dull periods of time passing, passing, and then the arrival. [23] The house had changed. [24] He saw that as soon as the official car let him off at 45 Roosevelt Street. [25] The change was, he knew, for the better. [26] They had put a porch in front. [27] They had rehabilitated, spruced up, almost rebuilt the entire outside and grounds. [28] But he was sorry. [29] He had wanted it to be as before. [30] The head of the American Legion and the chief of police, who had escorted him on this trip from the square, didn't ask to go in with him. [31] He was glad. [32] He'd had enough of strangers. [33] Not that he was through with strangers. [34] There were dozens of them up and down the street, standing beside parked cars, looking at him. [35] But when he looked back at them, their eyes dropped, they turned away, they began moving off. [36] He was still too much the First One to have his gaze met. [37] He walked up what had once been a concrete path and was now an ornate flagstone path. [38] He climbed the new porch and raised the ornamental knocker on the new door and heard the soft music sound within. [39] He was surprised that he'd had to do this. [40] He'd thought Edith would be watching at a window. [41] And perhaps she had been watching ... but she hadn't opened the door. [42] The door opened; he looked at her. [43] It hadn't been too long and she hadn't changed at all. [44] She was still the small, slender girl he'd loved in high school, the small, slender woman he'd married twelve years ago. [45] Ralphie was with her. [46] They held onto each other as if seeking mutual support, the thirty-three-year old woman and ten-year-old boy. [47] They looked at him, and then both moved forward, still together. [48] He said, "It's good to be home!" [49] Edith nodded and, still holding to Ralphie with one hand, put the other arm around him. [50] He kissed her—her neck, her cheek—and all the old jokes came to mind, the jokes of travel-weary, battle-weary men, the and- then -I'll-put-my-pack-aside jokes that spoke of terrible hunger. [51] She was trembling, and even as her lips came up to touch his he felt the difference, and because of this difference he turned with urgency to Ralphie and picked him up and hugged him and said, because he could think of nothing else to say, "What a big fella, what a big fella." [52] Ralphie stood in his arms as if his feet were still planted on the floor, and he didn't look at his father but somewhere beyond him. [53] "I didn't grow much while you were gone, Dad, Mom says I don't eat enough." [54] So he put him down and told himself that it would all change, that everything would loosen up just as his commanding officer, General Carlisle, had said it would early this morning before he left Washington. [55] "Give it some time," Carlisle had said. [56] "You need the time; they need the time. [57] And for the love of heaven, don't be sensitive." [58] Edith was leading him into the living room, her hand lying still in his, a cool, dead bird lying still in his. [59] He sat down on the couch, she sat down beside him—but she had hesitated. [60] He wasn't being sensitive; she had hesitated. [61] His wife had hesitated before sitting down beside him. [62] Carlisle had said his position was analogous to Columbus', to Vasco De Gama's, to Preshoff's when the Russian returned from the Moon—but more so. [63] Carlisle had said lots of things, but even Carlisle who had worked with him all the way, who had engineered the entire fantastic journey—even Carlisle the Nobel prize winner, the multi-degreed genius in uniform, had not actually spoken to him as one man to another. [64] The eyes. [65] It always showed in their eyes. [66] He looked across the room at Ralphie, standing in the doorway, a boy already tall, already widening in the shoulders, already large of feature. [67] It was like looking into the mirror and seeing himself twenty-five years ago. [68] But Ralphie's face was drawn, was worried in a way that few ten-year-old faces are. [69] "How's it going in school?" [70] he asked. [71] "Gee, Dad, it's the second month of summer vacation." [72] "Well, then, before summer vacation?" [73] "Pretty good." [74] Edith said, "He made top forum the six-month period before vacation, and he made top forum the six-month period you went away, Hank." [75] He nodded, remembering that, remembering everything, remembering the warmth of her farewell, the warmth of Ralphie's farewell, their tears as he left for the experimental flight station in the Aleutians. [76] They had feared for him, having read of the many launchings gone wrong even in continent-to-continent experimental flight. [77] They had been right to worry. [78] He had suffered much after that blow-up. [79] But now they should be rejoicing, because he had survived and made the long journey. [80] Ralphie suddenly said, "I got to go, Dad. [81] I promised Walt and the others I'd pitch. [82] It's Inter-Town Little League, you know. [83] It's Harmon, you know. [84] I got to keep my word." [85] Without waiting for an answer, he waved his hand—it shook; a ten-year-old boy's hand that shook—and ran from the room and from the house. [86] He and Edith sat beside each other, and he wanted badly to take her in his arms, and yet he didn't want to oppress her. [87] He stood up. [88] "I'm very tired. [89] I'd like to lie down a while." [90] Which wasn't true, because he'd been lying down all the months of the way back. [91] She said, "Of course. [92] How stupid of me, expecting you to sit around and make small talk and pick up just where you left off." [93] He nodded. [94] But that was exactly what he wanted to do—make small talk and pick up just where he'd left off. [95] But they didn't expect it of him; they wouldn't let him; they felt he had changed too much. [96] She led him upstairs and along the foyer past Ralphie's room and past the small guest room to their bedroom. [97] This, too, had changed. [98] It was newly painted and it had new furniture. [99] He saw twin beds separated by an ornate little table with an ornate little lamp, and this looked more ominous a barrier to him than the twelve-foot concrete-and-barbed-wire fence around the experimental station. [100] "Which one is mine," he asked, and tried to smile. [101] She also tried to smile. [102] "The one near the window. [103] You always liked the fresh air, the sunshine in the morning. [104] You always said it helped you to get up on time when you were stationed at the base outside of town. [105] You always said it reminded you—being able to see the sky—that you were going to go up in it, and that you were going to come down from it to this bed again." [106] "Not this bed," he murmured, and was a little sorry afterward. [107] "No, not this bed," she said quickly. [108] "Your lodge donated the bedroom set and I really didn't know—" She waved her hand, her face white. [109] He was sure then that she had known, and that the beds and the barrier between them were her own choice, if only an unconscious choice. [110] He went to the bed near the window, stripped off his Air Force blue jacket, began to take off his shirt, but then remembered that some arm scars still showed. [111] He waited for her to leave the room. [112] She said, "Well then, rest up, dear," and went out. [113] He took off his shirt and saw himself in the mirror on the opposite wall; and then took off his under-shirt. [114] The body scars were faint, the scars running in long lines, one dissecting his chest, the other slicing diagonally across his upper abdomen to disappear under his trousers. [115] There were several more on his back, and one on his right thigh. [116] They'd been treated properly and would soon disappear. [117] But she had never seen them. [118] Perhaps she never would. [119] Perhaps pajamas and robes and dark rooms would keep them from her until they were gone. [120] Which was not what he'd considered at all important on leaving Walter Reed Hospital early this morning; which was something he found distasteful, something he felt beneath them both. [121] And, at the same time, he began to understand that there would be many things, previously beneath them both, which would have to be considered. [122] She had changed; Ralphie had changed; all the people he knew had probably changed—because they thought he had changed. [123] He was tired of thinking. [124] He lay down and closed his eyes. [125] He let himself taste bitterness, unhappiness, a loneliness he had never known before. [126] But sometime later, as he was dozing off, a sense of reassurance began filtering into his mind. [127] After all, he was still Henry Devers, the same man who had left home eleven months ago, with a love for family and friends which was, if anything, stronger than before. [128] Once he could communicate this, the strangeness would disappear and the First One would again become good old Hank. [129] It was little enough to ask for—a return to old values, old relationships, the normalcies of the backwash instead of the freneticisms of the lime-light. [130] It would certainly be granted to him. [131] He slept. [132] Dinner was at seven p.m. His mother came; his Uncle Joe and Aunt Lucille came. [133] Together with Edith, Ralphie and himself, they made six, and ate in the dining room at the big table. [134] Before he'd become the First One, it would have been a noisy affair. [135] His family had never been noted for a lack of ebullience, a lack of talkativeness, and Ralphie had always chosen mealtimes—especially with company present—to describe everything and anything that had happened to him during the day. [136] And Edith herself had always chatted, especially with his mother, though they didn't agree about much. [137] Still, it had been good-natured; the general tone of their lives had been good-natured. [138] This wasn't good-natured. [139] Exactly what it was he wasn't sure. [140] "Stiff" was perhaps the word. [141] They began with grapefruit, Edith and Mother serving quickly, efficiently from the kitchen, then sitting down at the table. [142] He looked at Mother as he raised his first spoonful of chilled fruit, and said, "Younger than ever." [143] It was nothing new; he'd said it many many times before, but his mother had always reacted with a bright smile and a quip something like, "Young for the Golden Age Center, you mean." [144] This time she burst into tears. [145] It shocked him. [146] But what shocked him even more was the fact that no one looked up, commented, made any attempt to comfort her; no one indicated in any way that a woman was sobbing at the table. [147] He was sitting directly across from Mother, and reached out and touched her left hand which lay limply beside the silverware. [148] She didn't move it—she hadn't touched him once beyond that first, quick, strangely-cool embrace at the door—then a few seconds later she withdrew it and let it drop out of sight. [149] So there he was, Henry Devers, at home with the family. [150] So there he was, the hero returned, waiting to be treated as a human being. [151] The grapefruit shells were cleaned away and the soup served. [152] Uncle Joe began to talk. [153] "The greatest little development of circular uniform houses you ever did see," he boomed in his powerful salesman's voice. [154] "Still going like sixty. [155] We'll sell out before—" At that point he looked at Hank, and Hank nodded encouragement, desperately interested in this normalcy, and Joe's voice died away. [156] He looked down at his plate, mumbled, "Soup's getting cold," and began to eat. [157] His hand shook a little; his ruddy face was not quite as ruddy as Hank remembered it. [158] Aunt Lucille made a few quavering statements about the Ladies' Tuesday Garden Club, and Hank looked across the table to where she sat between Joe and Mother—his wife and son bracketed him, and yet he felt alone—and said, "I've missed fooling around with the lawn and the rose bushes. [159] Here it is August and I haven't had my hand to a mower or trowel." [160] Aunt Lucille smiled, if you could call it that—a pitiful twitching of the lips—and nodded. [161] She threw her eyes in his direction, and past him, and then down to her plate. [162] Mother, who was still sniffling, said, "I have a dismal headache. [163] I'm going to lie down in the guest room a while." [164] She touched his shoulder in passing—his affectionate, effusive mother who would kiss stray dogs and strange children, who had often irritated him with an excess of physical and verbal caresses—she barely touched his shoulder and fled. [165] So now five of them sat at the table. [166] The meat was served—thin, rare slices of beef, the pink blood-juice oozing warmly from the center. [167] He cut into it and raised a forkful to his mouth, then glanced at Ralphie and said, "Looks fresh enough to have been killed in the back yard." [168] Ralphie said, "Yeah, Dad." [169] Aunt Lucille put down her knife and fork and murmured something to her husband. [170] Joe cleared his throat and said Lucille was rapidly becoming a vegetarian and he guessed she was going into the living room for a while. [171] "She'll be back for dessert, of course," he said, his laugh sounding forced. [172] Hank looked at Edith; Edith was busy with her plate. [173] Hank looked at Ralphie; Ralphie was busy with his plate. [174] Hank looked at Joe; Joe was chewing, gazing out over their heads to the kitchen. [175] Hank looked at Lucille; she was disappearing into the living room. [176] He brought his fist down on the table. [177] The settings jumped; a glass overturned, spilling water. [178] He brought it down again and again. [179] They were all standing now. [180] He sat there and pounded the table with his big right fist—Henry Devers, who would never have thought of making such a scene before, but who was now so sick and tired of being treated as the First One, of being stood back from, looked at in awe of, felt in fear of, that he could have smashed more than a table. [181] Edith said, "Hank!" [182] He said, voice hoarse, "Shut up. [183] Go away. [184] Let me eat alone. [185] I'm sick of the lot of you." [186] Mother and Joe returned a few minutes later where he sat forcing food down his throat. [187] Mother said, "Henry dear—" He didn't answer. [188] She began to cry, and he was glad she left the house then. [189] He had never said anything really bad to his mother. [190] He was afraid this would have been the time. [191] Joe merely cleared his throat and mumbled something about getting together again soon and "drop out and see the new development" and he, too, was gone. [192] Lucille never did manage to speak to him. [193] He finished his beef and waited. [194] Soon Edith came in with the special dessert she'd been preparing half the day—a magnificent English trifle. [195] She served him, and spooned out a portion for herself and Ralphie. [196] She hesitated near his chair, and when he made no comment she called the boy. [197] Then the three of them were sitting, facing the empty side of the table. [198] They ate the trifle. [199] Ralphie finished first and got up and said, "Hey, I promised—" "You promised the boys you'd play baseball or football or handball or something; anything to get away from your father." [200] Ralphie's head dropped and he muttered, "Aw, no, Dad." [201] Edith said, "He'll stay home, Hank. [202] We'll spend an evening together—talking, watching TV, playing Monopoly." [203] Ralphie said, "Gee, sure, Dad, if you want to." [204] Hank stood up. [205] "The question is not whether I want to. [206] You both know I want to. [207] The question is whether you want to." [208] They answered together that of course they wanted to. [209] But their eyes—his wife's and son's eyes—could not meet his, and so he said he was going to his room because he was, after all, very tired and would in all probability continue to be very tired for a long, long time and that they shouldn't count on him for normal social life. [210] He fell asleep quickly, lying there in his clothes. [211] But he didn't sleep long. [212] Edith shook him and he opened his eyes to a lighted room. [213] "Phil and Rhona are here." [214] He blinked at her. [215] She smiled, and it seemed her old smile. [216] "They're so anxious to see you, Hank. [217] I could barely keep Phil from coming up and waking you himself. [218] They want to go out and do the town. [219] Please, Hank, say you will." [220] He sat up. [221] "Phil," he muttered. [222] "Phil and Rhona." [223] They'd had wonderful times together, from grammar school on. [224] Phil and Rhona, their oldest and closest friends. [225] Perhaps this would begin his real homecoming. [226] Do the town? [227] They'd paint it and then tear it down! [228] It didn't turn out that way. [229] He was disappointed; but then again, he'd also expected it. [230] This entire first day at home had conditioned him to expect nothing good. [231] They went to the bowling alleys, and Phil sounded very much the way he always had—soft spoken and full of laughter and full of jokes. [232] He patted Edith on the head the way he always had, and clapped Hank on the shoulder (but not the way he always had—so much more gently, almost remotely), and insisted they all drink more than was good for them as he always had. [233] And for once, Hank was ready to go along on the drinking. [234] For once, he matched Phil shot for shot, beer for beer. [235] They didn't bowl very long. [236] At ten o'clock they crossed the road to Manfred's Tavern, where Phil and the girls ordered sandwiches and coffee and Hank went right on drinking. [237] Edith said something to him, but he merely smiled and waved his hand and gulped another ounce of nirvana. [238] There was dancing to a juke box in Manfred's Tavern. [239] He'd been there many times before, and he was sure several of the couples recognized him. [240] But except for a few abortive glances in his direction, it was as if he were a stranger in a city halfway around the world. [241] At midnight, he was still drinking. [242] The others wanted to leave, but he said, "I haven't danced with my girl Rhona." [243] His tongue was thick, his mind was blurred, and yet he could read the strange expression on her face—pretty Rhona, who'd always flirted with him, who'd made a ritual of flirting with him. [244] Pretty Rhona, who now looked as if she were going to be sick. [245] "So let's rock," he said and stood up. [246] They were on the dance floor. [247] He held her close, and hummed and chatted. [248] And through the alcoholic haze saw she was a stiff-smiled, stiff-bodied, mechanical dancing doll. [249] The number finished; they walked back to the booth. [250] Phil said, "Beddy-bye time." [251] Hank said, "First one dance with my loving wife." [252] He and Edith danced. [253] He didn't hold her close as he had Rhona. [254] He waited for her to come close on her own, and she did, and yet she didn't. [255] Because while she put herself against him, there was something in her face—no, in her eyes; it always showed in the eyes—that made him know she was trying to be the old Edith and not succeeding. [256] This time when the music ended, he was ready to go home. [257] They rode back to town along Route Nine, he and Edith in the rear of Phil's car, Rhona driving because Phil had drunk just a little too much, Phil singing and telling an occasional bad joke, and somehow not his old self. [258] No one was his old self. [259] No one would ever be his old self with the First One. [260] They turned left, to take the short cut along Hallowed Hill Road, and Phil finished a story about a Martian and a Hollywood sex queen and looked at his wife and then past her at the long, cast-iron fence paralleling the road. [261] "Hey," he said, pointing, "do you know why that's the most popular place on earth?" [262] Rhona glanced to the left, and so did Hank and Edith. [263] Rhona made a little sound, and Edith seemed to stop breathing, but Phil went on a while longer, not yet aware of his supposed faux pas . [264] "You know why?" [265] he repeated, turning to the back seat, the laughter rumbling up from his chest. [266] "You know why, folks?" [267] Rhona said, "Did you notice Carl Braken and his wife at—" Hank said, "No, Phil, why is it the most popular place on earth?" [268] Phil said, "Because people are—" And then he caught himself and waved his hand and muttered, "I forgot the punch line." [269] "Because people are dying to get in," Hank said, and looked through the window, past the iron fence, into the large cemetery at the fleeting tombstones. [270] The car was filled with horrified silence when there should have been nothing but laughter, or irritation at a too-old joke. [271] "Maybe you should let me out right here," Hank said. [272] "I'm home—or that's what everyone seems to think. [273] Maybe I should lie down in an open grave. [274] Maybe that would satisfy people. [275] Maybe that's the only way to act, like Dracula or another monster from the movies." [276] Edith said, "Oh, Hank, don't, don't!" [277] The car raced along the road, crossed a macadam highway, went four blocks and pulled to a stop. [278] He didn't bother saying good night. [279] He didn't wait for Edith. [280] He just got out and walked up the flagstone path and entered the house. [281] "Hank," Edith whispered from the guest room doorway, "I'm so sorry—" "There's nothing to be sorry about. [282] It's just a matter of time. [283] It'll all work out in time." [284] "Yes," she said quickly, "that's it. [285] I need a little time. [286] We all need a little time. [287] Because it's so strange, Hank. [288] Because it's so frightening. [289] I should have told you that the moment you walked in. [290] I think I've hurt you terribly, we've all hurt you terribly, by trying to hide that we're frightened." [291] "I'm going to stay in the guest room," he said, "for as long as necessary. [292] For good if need be." [293] "How could it be for good? [294] How, Hank?" [295] That question was perhaps the first firm basis for hope he'd had since returning. [296] And there was something else; what Carlisle had told him, even as Carlisle himself had reacted as all men did. [297] "There are others coming, Edith. [298] Eight that I know of in the tanks right now. [299] My superior, Captain Davidson, who died at the same moment I did—seven months ago next Wednesday—he's going to be next. [300] He was smashed up worse than I was, so it took a little longer, but he's almost ready. [301] And there'll be many more, Edith. [302] The government is going to save all they possibly can from now on. [303] Every time a young and healthy man loses his life by accident, by violence, and his body can be recovered, he'll go into the tanks and they'll start the regenerative brain and organ process—the process that made it all possible. [304] So people have to get used to us. [305] And the old stories, the old terrors, the ugly old superstitions have to die, because in time each place will have some of us; because in time it'll be an ordinary thing." [306] Edith said, "Yes, and I'm so grateful that you're here, Hank. [307] Please believe that. [308] Please be patient with me and Ralphie and—" She paused. [309] "There's one question." [310] He knew what the question was. [311] It had been the first asked him by everyone from the president of the United States on down. [312] "I saw nothing," he said. [313] "It was as if I slept those six and a half months—slept without dreaming." [314] She came to him and touched his face with her lips, and he was satisfied. [315] Later, half asleep, he heard a dog howling, and remembered stories of how they announced death and the presence of monsters. [316] He shivered and pulled the covers closer to him and luxuriated in being safe in his own home. [317] THE END

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "What's the significance of the regenerative technology in the story?": 1. [298] He was smashed up worse than I was, so it took a little longer, but he's almost ready. 2. [299] And there'll be many more, Edith. The government is going to save all they possibly can from now on. Every time a young and healthy man loses his life by accident, by violence, and his body can be recovered, he'll go into the tanks and they'll start the regenerative brain and organ process—the process that made it all possible. 3. [300] So people have to get used to us. And the old stories, the old terrors, the ugly old superstitions have to die, because in time each place will have some of us; because in time it'll be an ordinary thing. 4. [301] Yes, and I'm so grateful that you're here, Hank. Please believe that. Please be patient with me and Ralphie and— 5. [302] There's one question. 6. [303] I saw nothing, he said. It was as if I slept those six and a half months—slept without dreaming. 7. [1] THE FIRST ONE By HERBERT D. KASTLE Illustrated by von Dongen [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Analog July 1961. 8. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] 9. [3] The first man to return from beyond the Great Frontier may be welcomed ... but will it be as a curiosity, rather than as a hero...? 10. [4] There was the usual welcoming crowd for a celebrity, and the usual speeches by the usual politicians who met him at the airport which had once been twenty miles outside of Croton, but which the growing city had since engulfed and placed well within its boundaries. 11. [5] But everything wasn't usual. 12. [6] The crowd was quiet, and the mayor didn't seem quite as at-ease as he'd been on his last big welcoming—for Corporal Berringer, one of the crew of the spaceship Washington , first to set Americans upon Mars. 13. [7] His Honor's handclasp was somewhat moist and cold. 14. [8] His Honor's eyes held a trace of remoteness. 15. [9] Still, he was the honored home-comer, the successful returnee, the hometown boy who had made good in a big way, and they took the triumphal tour up Main Street to the new square and the grandstand. 16. [10] There he sat between the mayor and a nervous young coed chosen as homecoming queen, and looked out at the police and fire department bands, the National Guard, the boy scouts and girl scouts, the Elks and Masons. 17. [11] Several of the churches in town had shown indecision as to how to instruct their parishioners to treat him. 18. [12] But they had all come around. 19. [13] The tremendous national interest, the fact that he was the First One, had made them come around. 20. [14] It was obvious by now that they would have to adjust as they'd adjusted to all the other firsts taking place in these—as the newspapers had dubbed the start of the Twenty-first Century—the Galloping Twenties. 21. [15] He was glad when the official greeting was over. 22. [16] He was a very tired man and he had come farther, traveled longer and over darker country, than any man who'd ever lived before. 23. [17] He wanted a meal at his own table, a kiss from his wife, a word from his son, and later to see some old friends and a relative or two. 24. [18] He didn't want to talk about the journey. 25. [19] He wanted to forget the immediacy, the urgency, the terror; then perhaps he would talk. 26. [20] Or would he? 27. [21] For he had very little to tell. 28. [22] He had traveled and he had returned and his voyage was very much like the voyages of the great mariners, from Columbus onward—long, dull periods of time passing, passing, and then the arrival. 29. [23] The house had changed. 30. [24] He saw that as soon as the official car let him off at 45 Roosevelt Street. 31. [25] The change was, he knew, for the better. 32. [26] They had put a porch in front. 33. [27] They had rehabilitated, spruced up, almost rebuilt the entire outside and grounds. 34. [28] But he was sorry. 35. [29] He had wanted it to be as before. 36. [30] The head of the American Legion and the chief of police, who had escorted him on this trip from the square, didn't ask to go in with him. 37. [31] He was glad. 38. [32] He'd had enough of strangers. 39. [33] Not that he was through with strangers. 40. [34] There were dozens of them up and down the street, standing beside parked cars, looking at him. 41. [35] But when he looked back at them, their eyes dropped, they turned away, they began moving off. 42. [36] He was still too much the First One to have his gaze met. 43. [37] He walked up what had once been a concrete path and was now an ornate flagstone path. 44. [38] He climbed the new porch and raised the ornamental knocker on the new door and heard the soft music sound within. 45. [39] He was surprised that he'd had to do this. 46. [40] He'd thought Edith would be watching at a window. 47. [41] And perhaps she had been watching ... but she hadn't opened the door. 48. [42] The door opened; he looked at her. 49. [43] It hadn't been too long and she hadn't changed at all. 50. [44] She was still the small, slender girl he'd loved in high school, the small, slender woman he'd married twelve years ago. 51. [45] Ralphie was with her. 52. [46] They held onto each other as if seeking mutual support, the thirty-three-year old woman and ten-year-old boy. 53. [47] They looked at him, and then both moved forward, still together. 54. [48] He said, "It's good to be home!" 55. [49] Edith nodded and, still holding to Ralphie with one hand, put the other arm around him. 56. [50] He kissed her—her neck, her cheek—and all the old jokes came to mind, the jokes of travel-weary, battle-weary men, the and- then -I'll-put-my-pack-aside jokes that spoke of terrible hunger. 57. [51] She was trembling, and even as her lips came up to touch his he felt the difference, and because of this difference he turned with urgency to Ralphie and picked him up and hugged him and said, because he could think of nothing else to say, "What a big fella, what a big fella." 58. [52] Ralphie stood in his arms as if his feet were still planted on the floor, and he didn't look at his father but somewhere beyond him. 59. [53] "I didn't grow much while you were gone, Dad, Mom says I don't eat enough." 60. [54] So he put him down and told himself that it would all change, that everything would loosen up just as his commanding officer, General Carlisle, had said it would early this morning before he left Washington. 61. [55] "Give it some time," Carlisle had said. 62. [56] "You need the time; they need the time. 63. [57] And for the love of heaven, don't be sensitive." 64. [58] Edith was leading him into the living room, her hand lying still in his, a cool, dead bird lying still in his. 65. [59] He sat down on the couch, she sat down beside him—but she had hesitated. 66. [60] He wasn't being sensitive; she had hesitated. 67. [61] His wife had hesitated before sitting down beside him. 68. [62] Carlisle had said his position was analogous to Columbus', to Vasco De Gama's, to Preshoff's when the Russian returned from the Moon—but more so. 69. [63] Carlisle had said lots of things, but even Carlisle who had worked with him all the way, who had engineered the entire fantastic journey—even Carlisle the Nobel prize winner, the multi-degreed genius in uniform, had not actually spoken to him as one man to another. 70. [64] The eyes. 71. [65] It always showed in their eyes. 72. [66] He looked across the room at Ralphie, standing in the doorway, a boy already tall, already widening in the shoulders, already large of feature. 73. [67] It was like looking into the mirror and seeing himself twenty-five years ago. 74. [68] But Ralphie's face was drawn, was worried in a way that few ten-year-old faces are. 75. [69] "How's it going in school?" 76. [70] he asked. 77. [71] "Gee, Dad, it's the second month of summer vacation." 78. [72] "Well, then, before summer vacation?" 79. [73] "Pretty good." 80. [74] Edith said, "He made top forum the six-month period before vacation, and he made top forum the six-month period you went away, Hank." 81. [75] He nodded, remembering that, remembering everything, remembering the warmth of her farewell, the warmth of Ralphie's farewell, their tears as he left for the experimental flight station in the Aleutians. 82. [76] They had feared for him, having read of the many launchings gone wrong even in continent-to-continent experimental flight. 83. [77] They had been right to worry. 84. [78] He had suffered much after that blow-up. 85. [79] But now they should be rejoicing, because he had survived and made the long journey. 86. [80] Ralphie suddenly said, "I got to go, Dad. 87. [81] I promised Walt and the others I'd pitch. 88. [82] It's Inter-Town Little League, you know. 89. [83] It's Harmon, you know. 90. [84] I got to keep my word." 91. [85] Without waiting for an answer, he waved his hand—it shook; a ten-year-old boy's hand that shook—and ran from the room and from the house. 92. [86] He and Edith sat beside each other, and he wanted badly to take her in his arms, and yet he didn't want to oppress her. 93. [87] He stood up. 94. [88] "I'm very tired. 95. [89] I'd like to lie down a while." 96. [90] Which wasn't true, because he'd been lying down all the months of the way back. 97. [91] She said, "Of course. 98. [92] How stupid of me, expecting you to sit around and make small talk and pick up just where you left off." 99. [93] He nodded. 100. [94] But that was exactly what he wanted to do—make small talk and pick up just where he'd left off. 101. [95] But they didn't expect it of him; they wouldn't let him; they felt he had changed too much. 102. [96] She led him upstairs and along the foyer past Ralphie's room and past the small guest room to their bedroom. 103. [97] This, too, had changed. 104. [98] It was newly painted and it had new furniture. 105. [99] He saw twin beds separated by an ornate little table with an ornate little lamp, and this looked more ominous a barrier to him than the twelve-foot concrete-and-barbed-wire fence around the experimental station. 106. [100] "Which one is mine," he asked, and tried to smile. 107. [101] She also tried to smile. 108. [102] "The one near the window. 109. [103] You always liked the fresh air, the sunshine in the morning. 110. [104] You always said it helped you to get up on time when you were stationed at the base outside of town. 111. [105] You always said it reminded you—being able to see the sky—that you were going to go up in it, and that you were going to come down from it to this bed again." 112. [106] "Not this bed," he murmured, and was a little sorry afterward. 113. [107] "No, not this bed," she said quickly. 114. [108] "Your lodge donated the bedroom set and I really didn't know—" She waved her hand, her face white. 115. [109] He was sure then that she had known, and that the beds and the barrier between them were her own choice, if only an unconscious choice. 116. [110] He went to the bed near the window, stripped off his Air Force blue jacket, began to take off his shirt, but then remembered that some arm scars still showed. 117. [111] He waited for her to leave the room. 118. [112] She said, "Well then, rest up, dear," and went out. 119. [113] He took off his shirt and saw himself in the mirror on the opposite wall; and then took off his under-shirt. 120. [114] The body scars were faint, the scars running in long lines, one dissecting his chest, the other slicing diagonally across his upper abdomen to disappear under his trousers. 121. [115] There were several more on his back, and one on his right thigh. 122. [116] They'd been treated properly and would soon disappear. 123. [117] But she had never seen them. 124. [118] Perhaps she never would. 125. [119] Perhaps pajamas and robes and dark rooms would keep them from her until they were gone. 126. [120] Which was not what he'd considered at all important on leaving Walter Reed Hospital early this morning; which was something he found distasteful, something he felt beneath them both. 127. [121] And, at the same time, he began to understand that there would be many things, previously beneath them both, which would have to be considered. 128. [122] She had changed; Ralphie had changed; all the people he knew had probably changed—because they thought he had changed. 129. [123] He was tired of thinking. 130. [124] He lay down and closed his eyes. 131. [125] He let himself taste bitterness, unhappiness, a loneliness he had never known before. 132. [126] But sometime later, as he was dozing off, a sense of reassurance began filtering into his mind. 133. [127] After all, he was still Henry Devers, the same man who had left home eleven months ago, with a love for family and friends which was, if anything, stronger than before. 134. [128] Once he could communicate this, the strangeness would disappear and the First One would again become good old Hank. 135. [129] It was little enough to ask for—a return to old values, old relationships, the normalcies of the backwash instead of the freneticisms of the lime-light. 136. [130] It would certainly be granted to him. 137. [131] He slept. 138. [132] Dinner was at seven p.m. His mother came; his Uncle Joe and Aunt Lucille came. 139. [133] Together with Edith, Ralphie and himself, they made six, and ate in the dining room at the big table. 140. [134] Before he'd become the First One, it would have been a noisy affair. 141. [135] His family had never been noted for a lack of ebullience, a lack of talkativeness, and Ralphie had always chosen mealtimes—especially with company present—to describe everything and anything that had happened to him during the day. 142. [136] And Edith herself had always chatted, especially with his mother, though they didn't agree about much. 143. [137] Still, it had been good-natured; the general tone of their lives had been good-natured. 144. [138] This wasn't good-natured. 145. [139] Exactly what it was he wasn't sure. 146. [140] "Stiff" was perhaps the word. 147. [141] They began with grapefruit, Edith and Mother serving quickly, efficiently from the kitchen, then sitting down at the table. 148. [142] He looked at Mother as he raised his first spoonful of chilled fruit, and said, "Younger than ever." 149. [143] It was nothing new; he'd said it many many times before, but his mother had always reacted with a bright smile and a quip something like, "Young for the Golden Age Center, you

Describe the setting of the story.

[1] THE FIRST ONE By HERBERT D. KASTLE Illustrated by von Dongen [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Analog July 1961. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] The first man to return from beyond the Great Frontier may be welcomed ... but will it be as a curiosity, rather than as a hero...? [4] There was the usual welcoming crowd for a celebrity, and the usual speeches by the usual politicians who met him at the airport which had once been twenty miles outside of Croton, but which the growing city had since engulfed and placed well within its boundaries. [5] But everything wasn't usual. [6] The crowd was quiet, and the mayor didn't seem quite as at-ease as he'd been on his last big welcoming—for Corporal Berringer, one of the crew of the spaceship Washington , first to set Americans upon Mars. [7] His Honor's handclasp was somewhat moist and cold. [8] His Honor's eyes held a trace of remoteness. [9] Still, he was the honored home-comer, the successful returnee, the hometown boy who had made good in a big way, and they took the triumphal tour up Main Street to the new square and the grandstand. [10] There he sat between the mayor and a nervous young coed chosen as homecoming queen, and looked out at the police and fire department bands, the National Guard, the boy scouts and girl scouts, the Elks and Masons. [11] Several of the churches in town had shown indecision as to how to instruct their parishioners to treat him. [12] But they had all come around. [13] The tremendous national interest, the fact that he was the First One, had made them come around. [14] It was obvious by now that they would have to adjust as they'd adjusted to all the other firsts taking place in these—as the newspapers had dubbed the start of the Twenty-first Century—the Galloping Twenties. [15] He was glad when the official greeting was over. [16] He was a very tired man and he had come farther, traveled longer and over darker country, than any man who'd ever lived before. [17] He wanted a meal at his own table, a kiss from his wife, a word from his son, and later to see some old friends and a relative or two. [18] He didn't want to talk about the journey. [19] He wanted to forget the immediacy, the urgency, the terror; then perhaps he would talk. [20] Or would he? [21] For he had very little to tell. [22] He had traveled and he had returned and his voyage was very much like the voyages of the great mariners, from Columbus onward—long, dull periods of time passing, passing, and then the arrival. [23] The house had changed. [24] He saw that as soon as the official car let him off at 45 Roosevelt Street. [25] The change was, he knew, for the better. [26] They had put a porch in front. [27] They had rehabilitated, spruced up, almost rebuilt the entire outside and grounds. [28] But he was sorry. [29] He had wanted it to be as before. [30] The head of the American Legion and the chief of police, who had escorted him on this trip from the square, didn't ask to go in with him. [31] He was glad. [32] He'd had enough of strangers. [33] Not that he was through with strangers. [34] There were dozens of them up and down the street, standing beside parked cars, looking at him. [35] But when he looked back at them, their eyes dropped, they turned away, they began moving off. [36] He was still too much the First One to have his gaze met. [37] He walked up what had once been a concrete path and was now an ornate flagstone path. [38] He climbed the new porch and raised the ornamental knocker on the new door and heard the soft music sound within. [39] He was surprised that he'd had to do this. [40] He'd thought Edith would be watching at a window. [41] And perhaps she had been watching ... but she hadn't opened the door. [42] The door opened; he looked at her. [43] It hadn't been too long and she hadn't changed at all. [44] She was still the small, slender girl he'd loved in high school, the small, slender woman he'd married twelve years ago. [45] Ralphie was with her. [46] They held onto each other as if seeking mutual support, the thirty-three-year old woman and ten-year-old boy. [47] They looked at him, and then both moved forward, still together. [48] He said, "It's good to be home!" [49] Edith nodded and, still holding to Ralphie with one hand, put the other arm around him. [50] He kissed her—her neck, her cheek—and all the old jokes came to mind, the jokes of travel-weary, battle-weary men, the and- then -I'll-put-my-pack-aside jokes that spoke of terrible hunger. [51] She was trembling, and even as her lips came up to touch his he felt the difference, and because of this difference he turned with urgency to Ralphie and picked him up and hugged him and said, because he could think of nothing else to say, "What a big fella, what a big fella." [52] Ralphie stood in his arms as if his feet were still planted on the floor, and he didn't look at his father but somewhere beyond him. [53] "I didn't grow much while you were gone, Dad, Mom says I don't eat enough." [54] So he put him down and told himself that it would all change, that everything would loosen up just as his commanding officer, General Carlisle, had said it would early this morning before he left Washington. [55] "Give it some time," Carlisle had said. [56] "You need the time; they need the time. [57] And for the love of heaven, don't be sensitive." [58] Edith was leading him into the living room, her hand lying still in his, a cool, dead bird lying still in his. [59] He sat down on the couch, she sat down beside him—but she had hesitated. [60] He wasn't being sensitive; she had hesitated. [61] His wife had hesitated before sitting down beside him. [62] Carlisle had said his position was analogous to Columbus', to Vasco De Gama's, to Preshoff's when the Russian returned from the Moon—but more so. [63] Carlisle had said lots of things, but even Carlisle who had worked with him all the way, who had engineered the entire fantastic journey—even Carlisle the Nobel prize winner, the multi-degreed genius in uniform, had not actually spoken to him as one man to another. [64] The eyes. [65] It always showed in their eyes. [66] He looked across the room at Ralphie, standing in the doorway, a boy already tall, already widening in the shoulders, already large of feature. [67] It was like looking into the mirror and seeing himself twenty-five years ago. [68] But Ralphie's face was drawn, was worried in a way that few ten-year-old faces are. [69] "How's it going in school?" [70] he asked. [71] "Gee, Dad, it's the second month of summer vacation." [72] "Well, then, before summer vacation?" [73] "Pretty good." [74] Edith said, "He made top forum the six-month period before vacation, and he made top forum the six-month period you went away, Hank." [75] He nodded, remembering that, remembering everything, remembering the warmth of her farewell, the warmth of Ralphie's farewell, their tears as he left for the experimental flight station in the Aleutians. [76] They had feared for him, having read of the many launchings gone wrong even in continent-to-continent experimental flight. [77] They had been right to worry. [78] He had suffered much after that blow-up. [79] But now they should be rejoicing, because he had survived and made the long journey. [80] Ralphie suddenly said, "I got to go, Dad. [81] I promised Walt and the others I'd pitch. [82] It's Inter-Town Little League, you know. [83] It's Harmon, you know. [84] I got to keep my word." [85] Without waiting for an answer, he waved his hand—it shook; a ten-year-old boy's hand that shook—and ran from the room and from the house. [86] He and Edith sat beside each other, and he wanted badly to take her in his arms, and yet he didn't want to oppress her. [87] He stood up. [88] "I'm very tired. [89] I'd like to lie down a while." [90] Which wasn't true, because he'd been lying down all the months of the way back. [91] She said, "Of course. [92] How stupid of me, expecting you to sit around and make small talk and pick up just where you left off." [93] He nodded. [94] But that was exactly what he wanted to do—make small talk and pick up just where he'd left off. [95] But they didn't expect it of him; they wouldn't let him; they felt he had changed too much. [96] She led him upstairs and along the foyer past Ralphie's room and past the small guest room to their bedroom. [97] This, too, had changed. [98] It was newly painted and it had new furniture. [99] He saw twin beds separated by an ornate little table with an ornate little lamp, and this looked more ominous a barrier to him than the twelve-foot concrete-and-barbed-wire fence around the experimental station. [100] "Which one is mine," he asked, and tried to smile. [101] She also tried to smile. [102] "The one near the window. [103] You always liked the fresh air, the sunshine in the morning. [104] You always said it helped you to get up on time when you were stationed at the base outside of town. [105] You always said it reminded you—being able to see the sky—that you were going to go up in it, and that you were going to come down from it to this bed again." [106] "Not this bed," he murmured, and was a little sorry afterward. [107] "No, not this bed," she said quickly. [108] "Your lodge donated the bedroom set and I really didn't know—" She waved her hand, her face white. [109] He was sure then that she had known, and that the beds and the barrier between them were her own choice, if only an unconscious choice. [110] He went to the bed near the window, stripped off his Air Force blue jacket, began to take off his shirt, but then remembered that some arm scars still showed. [111] He waited for her to leave the room. [112] She said, "Well then, rest up, dear," and went out. [113] He took off his shirt and saw himself in the mirror on the opposite wall; and then took off his under-shirt. [114] The body scars were faint, the scars running in long lines, one dissecting his chest, the other slicing diagonally across his upper abdomen to disappear under his trousers. [115] There were several more on his back, and one on his right thigh. [116] They'd been treated properly and would soon disappear. [117] But she had never seen them. [118] Perhaps she never would. [119] Perhaps pajamas and robes and dark rooms would keep them from her until they were gone. [120] Which was not what he'd considered at all important on leaving Walter Reed Hospital early this morning; which was something he found distasteful, something he felt beneath them both. [121] And, at the same time, he began to understand that there would be many things, previously beneath them both, which would have to be considered. [122] She had changed; Ralphie had changed; all the people he knew had probably changed—because they thought he had changed. [123] He was tired of thinking. [124] He lay down and closed his eyes. [125] He let himself taste bitterness, unhappiness, a loneliness he had never known before. [126] But sometime later, as he was dozing off, a sense of reassurance began filtering into his mind. [127] After all, he was still Henry Devers, the same man who had left home eleven months ago, with a love for family and friends which was, if anything, stronger than before. [128] Once he could communicate this, the strangeness would disappear and the First One would again become good old Hank. [129] It was little enough to ask for—a return to old values, old relationships, the normalcies of the backwash instead of the freneticisms of the lime-light. [130] It would certainly be granted to him. [131] He slept. [132] Dinner was at seven p.m. His mother came; his Uncle Joe and Aunt Lucille came. [133] Together with Edith, Ralphie and himself, they made six, and ate in the dining room at the big table. [134] Before he'd become the First One, it would have been a noisy affair. [135] His family had never been noted for a lack of ebullience, a lack of talkativeness, and Ralphie had always chosen mealtimes—especially with company present—to describe everything and anything that had happened to him during the day. [136] And Edith herself had always chatted, especially with his mother, though they didn't agree about much. [137] Still, it had been good-natured; the general tone of their lives had been good-natured. [138] This wasn't good-natured. [139] Exactly what it was he wasn't sure. [140] "Stiff" was perhaps the word. [141] They began with grapefruit, Edith and Mother serving quickly, efficiently from the kitchen, then sitting down at the table. [142] He looked at Mother as he raised his first spoonful of chilled fruit, and said, "Younger than ever." [143] It was nothing new; he'd said it many many times before, but his mother had always reacted with a bright smile and a quip something like, "Young for the Golden Age Center, you mean." [144] This time she burst into tears. [145] It shocked him. [146] But what shocked him even more was the fact that no one looked up, commented, made any attempt to comfort her; no one indicated in any way that a woman was sobbing at the table. [147] He was sitting directly across from Mother, and reached out and touched her left hand which lay limply beside the silverware. [148] She didn't move it—she hadn't touched him once beyond that first, quick, strangely-cool embrace at the door—then a few seconds later she withdrew it and let it drop out of sight. [149] So there he was, Henry Devers, at home with the family. [150] So there he was, the hero returned, waiting to be treated as a human being. [151] The grapefruit shells were cleaned away and the soup served. [152] Uncle Joe began to talk. [153] "The greatest little development of circular uniform houses you ever did see," he boomed in his powerful salesman's voice. [154] "Still going like sixty. [155] We'll sell out before—" At that point he looked at Hank, and Hank nodded encouragement, desperately interested in this normalcy, and Joe's voice died away. [156] He looked down at his plate, mumbled, "Soup's getting cold," and began to eat. [157] His hand shook a little; his ruddy face was not quite as ruddy as Hank remembered it. [158] Aunt Lucille made a few quavering statements about the Ladies' Tuesday Garden Club, and Hank looked across the table to where she sat between Joe and Mother—his wife and son bracketed him, and yet he felt alone—and said, "I've missed fooling around with the lawn and the rose bushes. [159] Here it is August and I haven't had my hand to a mower or trowel." [160] Aunt Lucille smiled, if you could call it that—a pitiful twitching of the lips—and nodded. [161] She threw her eyes in his direction, and past him, and then down to her plate. [162] Mother, who was still sniffling, said, "I have a dismal headache. [163] I'm going to lie down in the guest room a while." [164] She touched his shoulder in passing—his affectionate, effusive mother who would kiss stray dogs and strange children, who had often irritated him with an excess of physical and verbal caresses—she barely touched his shoulder and fled. [165] So now five of them sat at the table. [166] The meat was served—thin, rare slices of beef, the pink blood-juice oozing warmly from the center. [167] He cut into it and raised a forkful to his mouth, then glanced at Ralphie and said, "Looks fresh enough to have been killed in the back yard." [168] Ralphie said, "Yeah, Dad." [169] Aunt Lucille put down her knife and fork and murmured something to her husband. [170] Joe cleared his throat and said Lucille was rapidly becoming a vegetarian and he guessed she was going into the living room for a while. [171] "She'll be back for dessert, of course," he said, his laugh sounding forced. [172] Hank looked at Edith; Edith was busy with her plate. [173] Hank looked at Ralphie; Ralphie was busy with his plate. [174] Hank looked at Joe; Joe was chewing, gazing out over their heads to the kitchen. [175] Hank looked at Lucille; she was disappearing into the living room. [176] He brought his fist down on the table. [177] The settings jumped; a glass overturned, spilling water. [178] He brought it down again and again. [179] They were all standing now. [180] He sat there and pounded the table with his big right fist—Henry Devers, who would never have thought of making such a scene before, but who was now so sick and tired of being treated as the First One, of being stood back from, looked at in awe of, felt in fear of, that he could have smashed more than a table. [181] Edith said, "Hank!" [182] He said, voice hoarse, "Shut up. [183] Go away. [184] Let me eat alone. [185] I'm sick of the lot of you." [186] Mother and Joe returned a few minutes later where he sat forcing food down his throat. [187] Mother said, "Henry dear—" He didn't answer. [188] She began to cry, and he was glad she left the house then. [189] He had never said anything really bad to his mother. [190] He was afraid this would have been the time. [191] Joe merely cleared his throat and mumbled something about getting together again soon and "drop out and see the new development" and he, too, was gone. [192] Lucille never did manage to speak to him. [193] He finished his beef and waited. [194] Soon Edith came in with the special dessert she'd been preparing half the day—a magnificent English trifle. [195] She served him, and spooned out a portion for herself and Ralphie. [196] She hesitated near his chair, and when he made no comment she called the boy. [197] Then the three of them were sitting, facing the empty side of the table. [198] They ate the trifle. [199] Ralphie finished first and got up and said, "Hey, I promised—" "You promised the boys you'd play baseball or football or handball or something; anything to get away from your father." [200] Ralphie's head dropped and he muttered, "Aw, no, Dad." [201] Edith said, "He'll stay home, Hank. [202] We'll spend an evening together—talking, watching TV, playing Monopoly." [203] Ralphie said, "Gee, sure, Dad, if you want to." [204] Hank stood up. [205] "The question is not whether I want to. [206] You both know I want to. [207] The question is whether you want to." [208] They answered together that of course they wanted to. [209] But their eyes—his wife's and son's eyes—could not meet his, and so he said he was going to his room because he was, after all, very tired and would in all probability continue to be very tired for a long, long time and that they shouldn't count on him for normal social life. [210] He fell asleep quickly, lying there in his clothes. [211] But he didn't sleep long. [212] Edith shook him and he opened his eyes to a lighted room. [213] "Phil and Rhona are here." [214] He blinked at her. [215] She smiled, and it seemed her old smile. [216] "They're so anxious to see you, Hank. [217] I could barely keep Phil from coming up and waking you himself. [218] They want to go out and do the town. [219] Please, Hank, say you will." [220] He sat up. [221] "Phil," he muttered. [222] "Phil and Rhona." [223] They'd had wonderful times together, from grammar school on. [224] Phil and Rhona, their oldest and closest friends. [225] Perhaps this would begin his real homecoming. [226] Do the town? [227] They'd paint it and then tear it down! [228] It didn't turn out that way. [229] He was disappointed; but then again, he'd also expected it. [230] This entire first day at home had conditioned him to expect nothing good. [231] They went to the bowling alleys, and Phil sounded very much the way he always had—soft spoken and full of laughter and full of jokes. [232] He patted Edith on the head the way he always had, and clapped Hank on the shoulder (but not the way he always had—so much more gently, almost remotely), and insisted they all drink more than was good for them as he always had. [233] And for once, Hank was ready to go along on the drinking. [234] For once, he matched Phil shot for shot, beer for beer. [235] They didn't bowl very long. [236] At ten o'clock they crossed the road to Manfred's Tavern, where Phil and the girls ordered sandwiches and coffee and Hank went right on drinking. [237] Edith said something to him, but he merely smiled and waved his hand and gulped another ounce of nirvana. [238] There was dancing to a juke box in Manfred's Tavern. [239] He'd been there many times before, and he was sure several of the couples recognized him. [240] But except for a few abortive glances in his direction, it was as if he were a stranger in a city halfway around the world. [241] At midnight, he was still drinking. [242] The others wanted to leave, but he said, "I haven't danced with my girl Rhona." [243] His tongue was thick, his mind was blurred, and yet he could read the strange expression on her face—pretty Rhona, who'd always flirted with him, who'd made a ritual of flirting with him. [244] Pretty Rhona, who now looked as if she were going to be sick. [245] "So let's rock," he said and stood up. [246] They were on the dance floor. [247] He held her close, and hummed and chatted. [248] And through the alcoholic haze saw she was a stiff-smiled, stiff-bodied, mechanical dancing doll. [249] The number finished; they walked back to the booth. [250] Phil said, "Beddy-bye time." [251] Hank said, "First one dance with my loving wife." [252] He and Edith danced. [253] He didn't hold her close as he had Rhona. [254] He waited for her to come close on her own, and she did, and yet she didn't. [255] Because while she put herself against him, there was something in her face—no, in her eyes; it always showed in the eyes—that made him know she was trying to be the old Edith and not succeeding. [256] This time when the music ended, he was ready to go home. [257] They rode back to town along Route Nine, he and Edith in the rear of Phil's car, Rhona driving because Phil had drunk just a little too much, Phil singing and telling an occasional bad joke, and somehow not his old self. [258] No one was his old self. [259] No one would ever be his old self with the First One. [260] They turned left, to take the short cut along Hallowed Hill Road, and Phil finished a story about a Martian and a Hollywood sex queen and looked at his wife and then past her at the long, cast-iron fence paralleling the road. [261] "Hey," he said, pointing, "do you know why that's the most popular place on earth?" [262] Rhona glanced to the left, and so did Hank and Edith. [263] Rhona made a little sound, and Edith seemed to stop breathing, but Phil went on a while longer, not yet aware of his supposed faux pas . [264] "You know why?" [265] he repeated, turning to the back seat, the laughter rumbling up from his chest. [266] "You know why, folks?" [267] Rhona said, "Did you notice Carl Braken and his wife at—" Hank said, "No, Phil, why is it the most popular place on earth?" [268] Phil said, "Because people are—" And then he caught himself and waved his hand and muttered, "I forgot the punch line." [269] "Because people are dying to get in," Hank said, and looked through the window, past the iron fence, into the large cemetery at the fleeting tombstones. [270] The car was filled with horrified silence when there should have been nothing but laughter, or irritation at a too-old joke. [271] "Maybe you should let me out right here," Hank said. [272] "I'm home—or that's what everyone seems to think. [273] Maybe I should lie down in an open grave. [274] Maybe that would satisfy people. [275] Maybe that's the only way to act, like Dracula or another monster from the movies." [276] Edith said, "Oh, Hank, don't, don't!" [277] The car raced along the road, crossed a macadam highway, went four blocks and pulled to a stop. [278] He didn't bother saying good night. [279] He didn't wait for Edith. [280] He just got out and walked up the flagstone path and entered the house. [281] "Hank," Edith whispered from the guest room doorway, "I'm so sorry—" "There's nothing to be sorry about. [282] It's just a matter of time. [283] It'll all work out in time." [284] "Yes," she said quickly, "that's it. [285] I need a little time. [286] We all need a little time. [287] Because it's so strange, Hank. [288] Because it's so frightening. [289] I should have told you that the moment you walked in. [290] I think I've hurt you terribly, we've all hurt you terribly, by trying to hide that we're frightened." [291] "I'm going to stay in the guest room," he said, "for as long as necessary. [292] For good if need be." [293] "How could it be for good? [294] How, Hank?" [295] That question was perhaps the first firm basis for hope he'd had since returning. [296] And there was something else; what Carlisle had told him, even as Carlisle himself had reacted as all men did. [297] "There are others coming, Edith. [298] Eight that I know of in the tanks right now. [299] My superior, Captain Davidson, who died at the same moment I did—seven months ago next Wednesday—he's going to be next. [300] He was smashed up worse than I was, so it took a little longer, but he's almost ready. [301] And there'll be many more, Edith. [302] The government is going to save all they possibly can from now on. [303] Every time a young and healthy man loses his life by accident, by violence, and his body can be recovered, he'll go into the tanks and they'll start the regenerative brain and organ process—the process that made it all possible. [304] So people have to get used to us. [305] And the old stories, the old terrors, the ugly old superstitions have to die, because in time each place will have some of us; because in time it'll be an ordinary thing." [306] Edith said, "Yes, and I'm so grateful that you're here, Hank. [307] Please believe that. [308] Please be patient with me and Ralphie and—" She paused. [309] "There's one question." [310] He knew what the question was. [311] It had been the first asked him by everyone from the president of the United States on down. [312] "I saw nothing," he said. [313] "It was as if I slept those six and a half months—slept without dreaming." [314] She came to him and touched his face with her lips, and he was satisfied. [315] Later, half asleep, he heard a dog howling, and remembered stories of how they announced death and the presence of monsters. [316] He shivered and pulled the covers closer to him and luxuriated in being safe in his own home. [317] THE END

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "Describe the setting of the story": 1. [25] The change was, he knew, for the better. 2. [26] They had put a porch in front. 3. [27] They had rehabilitated, spruced up, almost rebuilt the entire outside and grounds. 4. [97] This, too, had changed. 5. [98] It was newly painted and it had new furniture. 6. [99] He saw twin beds separated by an ornate little table with an ornate little lamp, and this looked more ominous a barrier to him than the twelve-foot concrete-and-barbed-wire fence around the experimental station. 7. [102] "The one near the window. 8. [103] You always liked the fresh air, the sunshine in the morning. 9. [104] You always said it helped you to get up on time when you were stationed at the base outside of town. 10. [105] You always said it reminded you—being able to see the sky—that you were going to go up in it, and that you were going to come down from it to this bed again." 11. [23] The house had changed. 12. [24] He saw that as soon as the official car let him off at 45 Roosevelt Street. 13. [4] There was the usual welcoming crowd for a celebrity, and the usual speeches by the usual politicians who met him at the airport which had once been twenty miles outside of Croton, but which the growing city had since engulfed and placed well within its boundaries. 14. [1] THE FIRST ONE By HERBERT D. KASTLE Illustrated by von Dongen [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Analog July 1961. 15. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] 16. [3] The first man to return from beyond the Great Frontier may be welcomed ... but will it be as a curiosity, rather than as a hero...? 17. [5] But everything wasn't usual. 18. [6] The crowd was quiet, and the mayor didn't seem quite as at-ease as he'd been on his last big welcoming—for Corporal Berringer, one of the crew of the spaceship Washington , first to set Americans upon Mars. 19. [7] His Honor's handclasp was somewhat moist and cold. 20. [8] His Honor's eyes held a trace of remoteness. 21. [9] Still, he was the honored home-comer, the successful returnee, the hometown boy who had made good in a big way, and they took the triumphal tour up Main Street to the new square and the grandstand. 22. [10] There he sat between the mayor and a nervous young coed chosen as homecoming queen, and looked out at the police and fire department bands, the National Guard, the boy scouts and girl scouts, the Elks and Masons. 23. [11] Several of the churches in town had shown indecision as to how to instruct their parishioners to treat him. 24. [12] But they had all come around. 25. [13] The tremendous national interest, the fact that he was the First One, had made them come around. 26. [14] It was obvious by now that they would have to adjust as they'd adjusted to all the other firsts taking place in these—as the newspapers had dubbed the start of the Twenty-first Century—the Galloping Twenties.

Who’s Edith and what happens to her throughout the story?

[1] THE FIRST ONE By HERBERT D. KASTLE Illustrated by von Dongen [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Analog July 1961. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] The first man to return from beyond the Great Frontier may be welcomed ... but will it be as a curiosity, rather than as a hero...? [4] There was the usual welcoming crowd for a celebrity, and the usual speeches by the usual politicians who met him at the airport which had once been twenty miles outside of Croton, but which the growing city had since engulfed and placed well within its boundaries. [5] But everything wasn't usual. [6] The crowd was quiet, and the mayor didn't seem quite as at-ease as he'd been on his last big welcoming—for Corporal Berringer, one of the crew of the spaceship Washington , first to set Americans upon Mars. [7] His Honor's handclasp was somewhat moist and cold. [8] His Honor's eyes held a trace of remoteness. [9] Still, he was the honored home-comer, the successful returnee, the hometown boy who had made good in a big way, and they took the triumphal tour up Main Street to the new square and the grandstand. [10] There he sat between the mayor and a nervous young coed chosen as homecoming queen, and looked out at the police and fire department bands, the National Guard, the boy scouts and girl scouts, the Elks and Masons. [11] Several of the churches in town had shown indecision as to how to instruct their parishioners to treat him. [12] But they had all come around. [13] The tremendous national interest, the fact that he was the First One, had made them come around. [14] It was obvious by now that they would have to adjust as they'd adjusted to all the other firsts taking place in these—as the newspapers had dubbed the start of the Twenty-first Century—the Galloping Twenties. [15] He was glad when the official greeting was over. [16] He was a very tired man and he had come farther, traveled longer and over darker country, than any man who'd ever lived before. [17] He wanted a meal at his own table, a kiss from his wife, a word from his son, and later to see some old friends and a relative or two. [18] He didn't want to talk about the journey. [19] He wanted to forget the immediacy, the urgency, the terror; then perhaps he would talk. [20] Or would he? [21] For he had very little to tell. [22] He had traveled and he had returned and his voyage was very much like the voyages of the great mariners, from Columbus onward—long, dull periods of time passing, passing, and then the arrival. [23] The house had changed. [24] He saw that as soon as the official car let him off at 45 Roosevelt Street. [25] The change was, he knew, for the better. [26] They had put a porch in front. [27] They had rehabilitated, spruced up, almost rebuilt the entire outside and grounds. [28] But he was sorry. [29] He had wanted it to be as before. [30] The head of the American Legion and the chief of police, who had escorted him on this trip from the square, didn't ask to go in with him. [31] He was glad. [32] He'd had enough of strangers. [33] Not that he was through with strangers. [34] There were dozens of them up and down the street, standing beside parked cars, looking at him. [35] But when he looked back at them, their eyes dropped, they turned away, they began moving off. [36] He was still too much the First One to have his gaze met. [37] He walked up what had once been a concrete path and was now an ornate flagstone path. [38] He climbed the new porch and raised the ornamental knocker on the new door and heard the soft music sound within. [39] He was surprised that he'd had to do this. [40] He'd thought Edith would be watching at a window. [41] And perhaps she had been watching ... but she hadn't opened the door. [42] The door opened; he looked at her. [43] It hadn't been too long and she hadn't changed at all. [44] She was still the small, slender girl he'd loved in high school, the small, slender woman he'd married twelve years ago. [45] Ralphie was with her. [46] They held onto each other as if seeking mutual support, the thirty-three-year old woman and ten-year-old boy. [47] They looked at him, and then both moved forward, still together. [48] He said, "It's good to be home!" [49] Edith nodded and, still holding to Ralphie with one hand, put the other arm around him. [50] He kissed her—her neck, her cheek—and all the old jokes came to mind, the jokes of travel-weary, battle-weary men, the and- then -I'll-put-my-pack-aside jokes that spoke of terrible hunger. [51] She was trembling, and even as her lips came up to touch his he felt the difference, and because of this difference he turned with urgency to Ralphie and picked him up and hugged him and said, because he could think of nothing else to say, "What a big fella, what a big fella." [52] Ralphie stood in his arms as if his feet were still planted on the floor, and he didn't look at his father but somewhere beyond him. [53] "I didn't grow much while you were gone, Dad, Mom says I don't eat enough." [54] So he put him down and told himself that it would all change, that everything would loosen up just as his commanding officer, General Carlisle, had said it would early this morning before he left Washington. [55] "Give it some time," Carlisle had said. [56] "You need the time; they need the time. [57] And for the love of heaven, don't be sensitive." [58] Edith was leading him into the living room, her hand lying still in his, a cool, dead bird lying still in his. [59] He sat down on the couch, she sat down beside him—but she had hesitated. [60] He wasn't being sensitive; she had hesitated. [61] His wife had hesitated before sitting down beside him. [62] Carlisle had said his position was analogous to Columbus', to Vasco De Gama's, to Preshoff's when the Russian returned from the Moon—but more so. [63] Carlisle had said lots of things, but even Carlisle who had worked with him all the way, who had engineered the entire fantastic journey—even Carlisle the Nobel prize winner, the multi-degreed genius in uniform, had not actually spoken to him as one man to another. [64] The eyes. [65] It always showed in their eyes. [66] He looked across the room at Ralphie, standing in the doorway, a boy already tall, already widening in the shoulders, already large of feature. [67] It was like looking into the mirror and seeing himself twenty-five years ago. [68] But Ralphie's face was drawn, was worried in a way that few ten-year-old faces are. [69] "How's it going in school?" [70] he asked. [71] "Gee, Dad, it's the second month of summer vacation." [72] "Well, then, before summer vacation?" [73] "Pretty good." [74] Edith said, "He made top forum the six-month period before vacation, and he made top forum the six-month period you went away, Hank." [75] He nodded, remembering that, remembering everything, remembering the warmth of her farewell, the warmth of Ralphie's farewell, their tears as he left for the experimental flight station in the Aleutians. [76] They had feared for him, having read of the many launchings gone wrong even in continent-to-continent experimental flight. [77] They had been right to worry. [78] He had suffered much after that blow-up. [79] But now they should be rejoicing, because he had survived and made the long journey. [80] Ralphie suddenly said, "I got to go, Dad. [81] I promised Walt and the others I'd pitch. [82] It's Inter-Town Little League, you know. [83] It's Harmon, you know. [84] I got to keep my word." [85] Without waiting for an answer, he waved his hand—it shook; a ten-year-old boy's hand that shook—and ran from the room and from the house. [86] He and Edith sat beside each other, and he wanted badly to take her in his arms, and yet he didn't want to oppress her. [87] He stood up. [88] "I'm very tired. [89] I'd like to lie down a while." [90] Which wasn't true, because he'd been lying down all the months of the way back. [91] She said, "Of course. [92] How stupid of me, expecting you to sit around and make small talk and pick up just where you left off." [93] He nodded. [94] But that was exactly what he wanted to do—make small talk and pick up just where he'd left off. [95] But they didn't expect it of him; they wouldn't let him; they felt he had changed too much. [96] She led him upstairs and along the foyer past Ralphie's room and past the small guest room to their bedroom. [97] This, too, had changed. [98] It was newly painted and it had new furniture. [99] He saw twin beds separated by an ornate little table with an ornate little lamp, and this looked more ominous a barrier to him than the twelve-foot concrete-and-barbed-wire fence around the experimental station. [100] "Which one is mine," he asked, and tried to smile. [101] She also tried to smile. [102] "The one near the window. [103] You always liked the fresh air, the sunshine in the morning. [104] You always said it helped you to get up on time when you were stationed at the base outside of town. [105] You always said it reminded you—being able to see the sky—that you were going to go up in it, and that you were going to come down from it to this bed again." [106] "Not this bed," he murmured, and was a little sorry afterward. [107] "No, not this bed," she said quickly. [108] "Your lodge donated the bedroom set and I really didn't know—" She waved her hand, her face white. [109] He was sure then that she had known, and that the beds and the barrier between them were her own choice, if only an unconscious choice. [110] He went to the bed near the window, stripped off his Air Force blue jacket, began to take off his shirt, but then remembered that some arm scars still showed. [111] He waited for her to leave the room. [112] She said, "Well then, rest up, dear," and went out. [113] He took off his shirt and saw himself in the mirror on the opposite wall; and then took off his under-shirt. [114] The body scars were faint, the scars running in long lines, one dissecting his chest, the other slicing diagonally across his upper abdomen to disappear under his trousers. [115] There were several more on his back, and one on his right thigh. [116] They'd been treated properly and would soon disappear. [117] But she had never seen them. [118] Perhaps she never would. [119] Perhaps pajamas and robes and dark rooms would keep them from her until they were gone. [120] Which was not what he'd considered at all important on leaving Walter Reed Hospital early this morning; which was something he found distasteful, something he felt beneath them both. [121] And, at the same time, he began to understand that there would be many things, previously beneath them both, which would have to be considered. [122] She had changed; Ralphie had changed; all the people he knew had probably changed—because they thought he had changed. [123] He was tired of thinking. [124] He lay down and closed his eyes. [125] He let himself taste bitterness, unhappiness, a loneliness he had never known before. [126] But sometime later, as he was dozing off, a sense of reassurance began filtering into his mind. [127] After all, he was still Henry Devers, the same man who had left home eleven months ago, with a love for family and friends which was, if anything, stronger than before. [128] Once he could communicate this, the strangeness would disappear and the First One would again become good old Hank. [129] It was little enough to ask for—a return to old values, old relationships, the normalcies of the backwash instead of the freneticisms of the lime-light. [130] It would certainly be granted to him. [131] He slept. [132] Dinner was at seven p.m. His mother came; his Uncle Joe and Aunt Lucille came. [133] Together with Edith, Ralphie and himself, they made six, and ate in the dining room at the big table. [134] Before he'd become the First One, it would have been a noisy affair. [135] His family had never been noted for a lack of ebullience, a lack of talkativeness, and Ralphie had always chosen mealtimes—especially with company present—to describe everything and anything that had happened to him during the day. [136] And Edith herself had always chatted, especially with his mother, though they didn't agree about much. [137] Still, it had been good-natured; the general tone of their lives had been good-natured. [138] This wasn't good-natured. [139] Exactly what it was he wasn't sure. [140] "Stiff" was perhaps the word. [141] They began with grapefruit, Edith and Mother serving quickly, efficiently from the kitchen, then sitting down at the table. [142] He looked at Mother as he raised his first spoonful of chilled fruit, and said, "Younger than ever." [143] It was nothing new; he'd said it many many times before, but his mother had always reacted with a bright smile and a quip something like, "Young for the Golden Age Center, you mean." [144] This time she burst into tears. [145] It shocked him. [146] But what shocked him even more was the fact that no one looked up, commented, made any attempt to comfort her; no one indicated in any way that a woman was sobbing at the table. [147] He was sitting directly across from Mother, and reached out and touched her left hand which lay limply beside the silverware. [148] She didn't move it—she hadn't touched him once beyond that first, quick, strangely-cool embrace at the door—then a few seconds later she withdrew it and let it drop out of sight. [149] So there he was, Henry Devers, at home with the family. [150] So there he was, the hero returned, waiting to be treated as a human being. [151] The grapefruit shells were cleaned away and the soup served. [152] Uncle Joe began to talk. [153] "The greatest little development of circular uniform houses you ever did see," he boomed in his powerful salesman's voice. [154] "Still going like sixty. [155] We'll sell out before—" At that point he looked at Hank, and Hank nodded encouragement, desperately interested in this normalcy, and Joe's voice died away. [156] He looked down at his plate, mumbled, "Soup's getting cold," and began to eat. [157] His hand shook a little; his ruddy face was not quite as ruddy as Hank remembered it. [158] Aunt Lucille made a few quavering statements about the Ladies' Tuesday Garden Club, and Hank looked across the table to where she sat between Joe and Mother—his wife and son bracketed him, and yet he felt alone—and said, "I've missed fooling around with the lawn and the rose bushes. [159] Here it is August and I haven't had my hand to a mower or trowel." [160] Aunt Lucille smiled, if you could call it that—a pitiful twitching of the lips—and nodded. [161] She threw her eyes in his direction, and past him, and then down to her plate. [162] Mother, who was still sniffling, said, "I have a dismal headache. [163] I'm going to lie down in the guest room a while." [164] She touched his shoulder in passing—his affectionate, effusive mother who would kiss stray dogs and strange children, who had often irritated him with an excess of physical and verbal caresses—she barely touched his shoulder and fled. [165] So now five of them sat at the table. [166] The meat was served—thin, rare slices of beef, the pink blood-juice oozing warmly from the center. [167] He cut into it and raised a forkful to his mouth, then glanced at Ralphie and said, "Looks fresh enough to have been killed in the back yard." [168] Ralphie said, "Yeah, Dad." [169] Aunt Lucille put down her knife and fork and murmured something to her husband. [170] Joe cleared his throat and said Lucille was rapidly becoming a vegetarian and he guessed she was going into the living room for a while. [171] "She'll be back for dessert, of course," he said, his laugh sounding forced. [172] Hank looked at Edith; Edith was busy with her plate. [173] Hank looked at Ralphie; Ralphie was busy with his plate. [174] Hank looked at Joe; Joe was chewing, gazing out over their heads to the kitchen. [175] Hank looked at Lucille; she was disappearing into the living room. [176] He brought his fist down on the table. [177] The settings jumped; a glass overturned, spilling water. [178] He brought it down again and again. [179] They were all standing now. [180] He sat there and pounded the table with his big right fist—Henry Devers, who would never have thought of making such a scene before, but who was now so sick and tired of being treated as the First One, of being stood back from, looked at in awe of, felt in fear of, that he could have smashed more than a table. [181] Edith said, "Hank!" [182] He said, voice hoarse, "Shut up. [183] Go away. [184] Let me eat alone. [185] I'm sick of the lot of you." [186] Mother and Joe returned a few minutes later where he sat forcing food down his throat. [187] Mother said, "Henry dear—" He didn't answer. [188] She began to cry, and he was glad she left the house then. [189] He had never said anything really bad to his mother. [190] He was afraid this would have been the time. [191] Joe merely cleared his throat and mumbled something about getting together again soon and "drop out and see the new development" and he, too, was gone. [192] Lucille never did manage to speak to him. [193] He finished his beef and waited. [194] Soon Edith came in with the special dessert she'd been preparing half the day—a magnificent English trifle. [195] She served him, and spooned out a portion for herself and Ralphie. [196] She hesitated near his chair, and when he made no comment she called the boy. [197] Then the three of them were sitting, facing the empty side of the table. [198] They ate the trifle. [199] Ralphie finished first and got up and said, "Hey, I promised—" "You promised the boys you'd play baseball or football or handball or something; anything to get away from your father." [200] Ralphie's head dropped and he muttered, "Aw, no, Dad." [201] Edith said, "He'll stay home, Hank. [202] We'll spend an evening together—talking, watching TV, playing Monopoly." [203] Ralphie said, "Gee, sure, Dad, if you want to." [204] Hank stood up. [205] "The question is not whether I want to. [206] You both know I want to. [207] The question is whether you want to." [208] They answered together that of course they wanted to. [209] But their eyes—his wife's and son's eyes—could not meet his, and so he said he was going to his room because he was, after all, very tired and would in all probability continue to be very tired for a long, long time and that they shouldn't count on him for normal social life. [210] He fell asleep quickly, lying there in his clothes. [211] But he didn't sleep long. [212] Edith shook him and he opened his eyes to a lighted room. [213] "Phil and Rhona are here." [214] He blinked at her. [215] She smiled, and it seemed her old smile. [216] "They're so anxious to see you, Hank. [217] I could barely keep Phil from coming up and waking you himself. [218] They want to go out and do the town. [219] Please, Hank, say you will." [220] He sat up. [221] "Phil," he muttered. [222] "Phil and Rhona." [223] They'd had wonderful times together, from grammar school on. [224] Phil and Rhona, their oldest and closest friends. [225] Perhaps this would begin his real homecoming. [226] Do the town? [227] They'd paint it and then tear it down! [228] It didn't turn out that way. [229] He was disappointed; but then again, he'd also expected it. [230] This entire first day at home had conditioned him to expect nothing good. [231] They went to the bowling alleys, and Phil sounded very much the way he always had—soft spoken and full of laughter and full of jokes. [232] He patted Edith on the head the way he always had, and clapped Hank on the shoulder (but not the way he always had—so much more gently, almost remotely), and insisted they all drink more than was good for them as he always had. [233] And for once, Hank was ready to go along on the drinking. [234] For once, he matched Phil shot for shot, beer for beer. [235] They didn't bowl very long. [236] At ten o'clock they crossed the road to Manfred's Tavern, where Phil and the girls ordered sandwiches and coffee and Hank went right on drinking. [237] Edith said something to him, but he merely smiled and waved his hand and gulped another ounce of nirvana. [238] There was dancing to a juke box in Manfred's Tavern. [239] He'd been there many times before, and he was sure several of the couples recognized him. [240] But except for a few abortive glances in his direction, it was as if he were a stranger in a city halfway around the world. [241] At midnight, he was still drinking. [242] The others wanted to leave, but he said, "I haven't danced with my girl Rhona." [243] His tongue was thick, his mind was blurred, and yet he could read the strange expression on her face—pretty Rhona, who'd always flirted with him, who'd made a ritual of flirting with him. [244] Pretty Rhona, who now looked as if she were going to be sick. [245] "So let's rock," he said and stood up. [246] They were on the dance floor. [247] He held her close, and hummed and chatted. [248] And through the alcoholic haze saw she was a stiff-smiled, stiff-bodied, mechanical dancing doll. [249] The number finished; they walked back to the booth. [250] Phil said, "Beddy-bye time." [251] Hank said, "First one dance with my loving wife." [252] He and Edith danced. [253] He didn't hold her close as he had Rhona. [254] He waited for her to come close on her own, and she did, and yet she didn't. [255] Because while she put herself against him, there was something in her face—no, in her eyes; it always showed in the eyes—that made him know she was trying to be the old Edith and not succeeding. [256] This time when the music ended, he was ready to go home. [257] They rode back to town along Route Nine, he and Edith in the rear of Phil's car, Rhona driving because Phil had drunk just a little too much, Phil singing and telling an occasional bad joke, and somehow not his old self. [258] No one was his old self. [259] No one would ever be his old self with the First One. [260] They turned left, to take the short cut along Hallowed Hill Road, and Phil finished a story about a Martian and a Hollywood sex queen and looked at his wife and then past her at the long, cast-iron fence paralleling the road. [261] "Hey," he said, pointing, "do you know why that's the most popular place on earth?" [262] Rhona glanced to the left, and so did Hank and Edith. [263] Rhona made a little sound, and Edith seemed to stop breathing, but Phil went on a while longer, not yet aware of his supposed faux pas . [264] "You know why?" [265] he repeated, turning to the back seat, the laughter rumbling up from his chest. [266] "You know why, folks?" [267] Rhona said, "Did you notice Carl Braken and his wife at—" Hank said, "No, Phil, why is it the most popular place on earth?" [268] Phil said, "Because people are—" And then he caught himself and waved his hand and muttered, "I forgot the punch line." [269] "Because people are dying to get in," Hank said, and looked through the window, past the iron fence, into the large cemetery at the fleeting tombstones. [270] The car was filled with horrified silence when there should have been nothing but laughter, or irritation at a too-old joke. [271] "Maybe you should let me out right here," Hank said. [272] "I'm home—or that's what everyone seems to think. [273] Maybe I should lie down in an open grave. [274] Maybe that would satisfy people. [275] Maybe that's the only way to act, like Dracula or another monster from the movies." [276] Edith said, "Oh, Hank, don't, don't!" [277] The car raced along the road, crossed a macadam highway, went four blocks and pulled to a stop. [278] He didn't bother saying good night. [279] He didn't wait for Edith. [280] He just got out and walked up the flagstone path and entered the house. [281] "Hank," Edith whispered from the guest room doorway, "I'm so sorry—" "There's nothing to be sorry about. [282] It's just a matter of time. [283] It'll all work out in time." [284] "Yes," she said quickly, "that's it. [285] I need a little time. [286] We all need a little time. [287] Because it's so strange, Hank. [288] Because it's so frightening. [289] I should have told you that the moment you walked in. [290] I think I've hurt you terribly, we've all hurt you terribly, by trying to hide that we're frightened." [291] "I'm going to stay in the guest room," he said, "for as long as necessary. [292] For good if need be." [293] "How could it be for good? [294] How, Hank?" [295] That question was perhaps the first firm basis for hope he'd had since returning. [296] And there was something else; what Carlisle had told him, even as Carlisle himself had reacted as all men did. [297] "There are others coming, Edith. [298] Eight that I know of in the tanks right now. [299] My superior, Captain Davidson, who died at the same moment I did—seven months ago next Wednesday—he's going to be next. [300] He was smashed up worse than I was, so it took a little longer, but he's almost ready. [301] And there'll be many more, Edith. [302] The government is going to save all they possibly can from now on. [303] Every time a young and healthy man loses his life by accident, by violence, and his body can be recovered, he'll go into the tanks and they'll start the regenerative brain and organ process—the process that made it all possible. [304] So people have to get used to us. [305] And the old stories, the old terrors, the ugly old superstitions have to die, because in time each place will have some of us; because in time it'll be an ordinary thing." [306] Edith said, "Yes, and I'm so grateful that you're here, Hank. [307] Please believe that. [308] Please be patient with me and Ralphie and—" She paused. [309] "There's one question." [310] He knew what the question was. [311] It had been the first asked him by everyone from the president of the United States on down. [312] "I saw nothing," he said. [313] "It was as if I slept those six and a half months—slept without dreaming." [314] She came to him and touched his face with her lips, and he was satisfied. [315] Later, half asleep, he heard a dog howling, and remembered stories of how they announced death and the presence of monsters. [316] He shivered and pulled the covers closer to him and luxuriated in being safe in his own home. [317] THE END

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "Who's Edith and what happens to her throughout the story?": 1. [42] The door opened; he looked at her. 2. [43] It hadn't been too long and she hadn't changed at all. 3. [44] She was still the small, slender girl he'd loved in high school, the small, slender woman he'd married twelve years ago. 4. [45] Ralphie was with her. 5. [46] They held onto each other as if seeking mutual support, the thirty-three-year old woman and ten-year-old boy. 6. [47] They looked at him, and then both moved forward, still together. 7. [49] Edith nodded and, still holding to Ralphie with one hand, put the other arm around him. 8. [51] She was trembling, and even as her lips came up to touch his he felt the difference, and because of this difference he turned with urgency to Ralphie and picked him up and hugged him and said, because he could think of nothing else to say, "What a big fella, what a big fella." 9. [58] Edith was leading him into the living room, her hand lying still in his, a cool, dead bird lying still in his. 10. [59] He sat down on the couch, she sat down beside him—but she had hesitated. 11. [60] He wasn't being sensitive; she had hesitated. 12. [61] His wife had hesitated before sitting down beside him. 13. [92] "Of course. How stupid of me, expecting you to sit around and make small talk and pick up just where you left off." 14. [96] She led him upstairs and along the foyer past Ralphie's room and past the small guest room to their bedroom. 15. [97] This, too, had changed. 16. [98] It was newly painted and it had new furniture. 17. [99] He saw twin beds separated by an ornate little table with an ornate little lamp, and this looked more ominous a barrier to him than the twelve-foot concrete-and-barbed-wire fence around the experimental station. 18. [102] "The one near the window. You always liked the fresh air, the sunshine in the morning." 19. [103] "You always said it helped you to get up on time when you were stationed at the base outside of town." 20. [104] "You always said it reminded you—being able to see the sky—that you were going to go up in it, and that you were going to come down from it to this bed again." 21. [106] "Not this bed," he murmured, and was a little sorry afterward. 22. [107] "No, not this bed," she said quickly. 23. [108] "Your lodge donated the bedroom set and I really didn't know—" She waved her hand, her face white. 24. [109] He was sure then that she had known, and that the beds and the barrier between them were her own choice, if only an unconscious choice. 25. [112] She said, "Well then, rest up, dear," and went out. 26. [117] Perhaps she never would. 27. [118] Perhaps pajamas and robes and dark rooms would keep them from her until they were gone. 28. [120] Which was not what he'd considered at all important on leaving Walter Reed Hospital early this morning; which was something he found distasteful, something he felt beneath them both. 29. [121] And, at the same time, he began to understand that there would be many things, previously beneath them both, which would have to be considered. 30. [122] She had changed; Ralphie had changed; all the people he knew had probably changed—because they thought he had changed. 31. [191] He was afraid this would have been the time. 32. [194] Soon Edith came in with the special dessert she'd been preparing half the day—a magnificent English trifle. 33. [195] She served him, and spooned out a portion for herself and Ralphie. 34. [196] She hesitated near his chair, and when he made no comment she called the boy. 35. [201] Edith said, "He'll stay home, Hank. We'll spend an evening together—talking, watching TV, playing Monopoly." 36. [212] "Edith shook him and he opened his eyes to a lighted room." 37. [213] "Phil and Rhona are here." 38. [214] He blinked at her. 39. [215] She smiled, and it seemed her old smile. 40. [216] "They're so anxious to see you, Hank. I could barely keep Phil from coming up and waking you himself." 41. [251] "First one dance with my loving wife." 42. [252] He and Edith danced. 43. [253] He didn't hold her close as he had Rhona. 44. [254] He waited for her to come close on her own, and she did, and yet she didn't. 45. [255] Because while she put herself against him, there was something in her face—no, in her eyes; it always showed in the eyes—that made him know she was trying to be the old Edith and not succeeding. 46. [281] "Hank," Edith whispered from the guest room doorway, "I'm so sorry—" 47. [284] "Yes," she said quickly, "that's it. I need a little time. We all need a little time." 48. [285] "Because it's so strange, Hank. Because it's so frightening." 49. [286] "I should have told you that the moment you walked in. I think I've hurt you terribly, we've all hurt you terribly, by trying to hide that we're frightened." 50. [291] "I'm going to stay in the guest room," he said, "for as long as necessary. For good if need be." 51. [292] "How could it be for good? How, Hank?" 52. [306] "Yes, and I'm so grateful that you're here, Hank. Please believe that. Please be patient with me and Ralphie and—"

What is the plot of the story?

[1] DOUBLECROSS by JAMES Mac CREIGH Revolt was brewing on Venus, led by the descendant of the first Earthmen to land. [2] Svan was the leader making the final plans—plotting them a bit too well. [3] [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories Winter 1944. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [5] The Officer of the Deck was pleased as he returned to the main lock. [6] There was no reason why everything shouldn't have been functioning perfectly, of course, but he was pleased to have it confirmed, all the same. [7] The Executive Officer was moodily smoking a cigarette in the open lock, staring out over the dank Venusian terrain at the native town. [8] He turned. [9] "Everything shipshape, I take it!" [10] he commented. [11] The OD nodded. [12] "I'll have a blank log if this keeps up," he said. [13] "Every man accounted for except the delegation, cargo stowed, drivers ready to lift as soon as they come back." [14] The Exec tossed away his cigarette. " [15] If they come back." [16] "Is there any question?" [17] The Exec shrugged. [18] "I don't know, Lowry," he said. [19] "This is a funny place. [20] I don't trust the natives." [21] Lowry lifted his eyebrows. [22] "Oh? [23] But after all, they're human beings, just like us—" "Not any more. [24] Four or five generations ago they were. [25] Lord, they don't even look human any more. [26] Those white, flabby skins—I don't like them." [27] "Acclimation," Lowry said scientifically. [28] "They had to acclimate themselves to Venus's climate. [29] They're friendly enough." [30] The Exec shrugged again. [31] He stared at the wooden shacks that were the outskirts of the native city, dimly visible through the ever-present Venusian mist. [32] The native guard of honor, posted a hundred yards from the Earth-ship, stood stolidly at attention with their old-fashioned proton-rifles slung over their backs. [33] A few natives were gazing wonderingly at the great ship, but made no move to pass the line of guards. [34] "Of course," Lowry said suddenly, "there's a minority who are afraid of us. [35] I was in town yesterday, and I talked with some of the natives. [36] They think there will be hordes of immigrants from Earth, now that we know Venus is habitable. [37] And there's some sort of a paltry underground group that is spreading the word that the immigrants will drive the native Venusians—the descendants of the first expedition, that is—right down into the mud. [38] Well—" he laughed—"maybe they will. [39] After all, the fittest survive. [40] That's a basic law of—" The annunciator over the open lock clanged vigorously, and a metallic voice rasped: "Officer of the Deck! [41] Post Number One! [42] Instruments reports a spy ray focused on the main lock!" [43] Lowry, interrupted in the middle of a word, jerked his head back and stared unbelievingly at the tell-tale next to the annunciator. [44] Sure enough, it was glowing red—might have been glowing for minutes. [45] He snatched at the hand-phone dangling from the wall, shouted into it. [46] "Set up a screen! [47] Notify the delegation! [48] Alert a landing party!" [49] But even while he was giving orders, the warning light flickered suddenly and went out. [50] Stricken, Lowry turned to the Exec. [51] The Executive Officer nodded gloomily. [52] He said, "You see!" [53] "You see?" [54] Svan clicked off the listening-machine and turned around. [55] The five others in the room looked apprehensive. [56] "You see?" [57] Svan repeated. [58] "From their own mouths you have heard it. [59] The Council was right." [60] The younger of the two women sighed. [61] She might have been beautiful, in spite of her dead-white skin, if there had been a scrap of hair on her head. [62] "Svan, I'm afraid," she said. [63] "Who are we to decide if this is a good thing? [64] Our parents came from Earth. [65] Perhaps there will be trouble at first, if colonists come, but we are of the same blood." [66] Svan laughed harshly. " [67] They don't think so. [68] You heard them. [69] We are not human any more. [70] The officer said it." [71] The other woman spoke unexpectedly. [72] "The Council was right," she agreed. [73] "Svan, what must we do?" [74] Svan raised his hand, thoughtfully. [75] "One moment. [76] Ingra, do you still object?" [77] The younger woman shrank back before the glare in his eyes. [78] She looked around at the others, found them reluctant and uneasy, but visibly convinced by Svan. [79] "No," she said slowly. [80] "I do not object." [81] "And the rest of us? [82] Does any of us object?" [83] Svan eyed them, each in turn. [84] There was a slow but unanimous gesture of assent. [85] "Good," said Svan. [86] "Then we must act. [87] The Council has told us that we alone will decide our course of action. [88] We have agreed that, if the Earth-ship returns, it means disaster for Venus. [89] Therefore, it must not return." [90] An old man shifted restlessly. [91] "But they are strong, Svan," he complained. [92] "They have weapons. [93] We cannot force them to stay." [94] Svan nodded. [95] "No. [96] They will leave. [97] But they will never get back to Earth." [98] "Never get back to Earth?" [99] the old man gasped. [100] "Has the Council authorized—murder?" [101] Svan shrugged. [102] "The Council did not know what we would face. [103] The Councilmen could not come to the city and see what strength the Earth-ship has." [104] He paused dangerously. [105] "Toller," he said, "do you object?" [106] Like the girl, the old man retreated before his eyes. [107] His voice was dull. [108] "What is your plan?" [109] he asked. [110] Svan smiled, and it was like a dark flame. [111] He reached to a box at his feet, held up a shiny metal globe. [112] "One of us will plant this in the ship. [113] It will be set by means of this dial—" he touched a spot on the surface of the globe with a pallid finger—"to do nothing for forty hours. [114] Then—it will explode. [115] Atomite." [116] He grinned triumphantly, looking from face to face. [117] The grin faded uncertainly as he saw what was in their eyes—uncertainty, irresolution. [118] Abruptly he set the bomb down, savagely ripped six leaves off a writing tablet on the table next him. [119] He took a pencil and made a mark on one of them, held it up. [120] "We will let chance decide who is to do the work," he said angrily. [121] "Is there anyone here who is afraid? [122] There will be danger, I think...." No answer. [123] Svan jerked his head. [124] "Good," he said. [125] "Ingra, bring me that bowl." [126] Silently the girl picked up an opaque glass bowl from the broad arm of her chair. [127] It had held Venus-tobacco cigarettes; there were a few left. [128] She shook them out and handed the bowl to Svan, who was rapidly creasing the six fatal slips. [129] He dropped them in the bowl, stirred it with his hand, offered it to the girl. [130] "You first, Ingra," he said. [131] She reached in mechanically, her eyes intent on his, took out a slip and held it without opening it. [132] The bowl went the rounds, till Svan himself took the last. [133] All eyes were on him. [134] No one had looked at their slips. [135] Svan, too, had left his unopened. [136] He sat at the table, facing them. [137] "This is the plan," he said. [138] "We will go, all six of us, in my ground car, to look at the Earth-ship. [139] No one will suspect—the whole city has been to see it already. [140] One will get out, at the best point we can find. [141] It is almost dusk now. [142] He can hide, surely, in the vegetation. [143] The other five will start back. [144] Something will go wrong with the car—perhaps it will run off the road, start to sink in the swamp. [145] The guards will be called. [146] There will be commotion—that is easy enough, after all; a hysterical woman, a few screams, that's all there is to it. [147] And the sixth person will have his chance to steal to the side of the ship. [148] The bomb is magnetic. [149] It will not be noticed in the dark—they will take off before sunrise, because they must travel away from the sun to return—in forty hours the danger is removed." [150] There was comprehension in their eyes, Svan saw ... but still that uncertainty. [151] Impatiently, he crackled: "Look at the slips!" [152] Though he had willed his eyes away from it, his fingers had rebelled. [153] Instinctively they had opened the slip, turned it over and over, striving to detect if it was the fatal one. [154] They had felt nothing.... And his eyes saw nothing. [155] The slip was blank. [156] He gave it but a second's glance, then looked up to see who had won the lethal game of chance. [157] Almost he was disappointed. [158] Each of the others had looked in that same second. [159] And each was looking up now, around at his neighbors. [160] Svan waited impatiently for the chosen one to announce it—a second, ten seconds.... Then gray understanding came to him. [161] A traitor! [162] his subconscious whispered. [163] A coward! [164] He stared at them in a new light, saw their indecision magnified, became opposition. [165] Svan thought faster than ever before in his life. [166] If there was a coward, it would do no good to unmask him. [167] All were wavering, any might be the one who had drawn the fatal slip. [168] He could insist on inspecting every one, but—suppose the coward, cornered, fought back? [169] In fractions of a second, Svan had considered the evidence and reached his decision. [170] Masked by the table, his hand, still holding the pencil, moved swiftly beneath the table, marked his own slip. [171] In the palm of his hand, Svan held up the slip he had just marked in secret. [172] His voice was very tired as he said, "I will plant the bomb." [173] The six conspirators in Svan's old ground car moved slowly along the main street of the native town. [174] Two Earth-ship sailors, unarmed except for deceptively flimsy-looking pistols at their hips, stood before the entrance to the town's Hall of Justice. [175] "Good," said Svan, observing them. [176] "The delegation is still here. [177] We have ample time." [178] He half turned in the broad front seat next to the driver, searching the faces of the others in the car. [179] Which was the coward? [180] he wondered. [181] Ingra? [182] Her aunt? [183] One of the men? [184] The right answer leaped up at him. [185] They all are , he thought. [186] Not one of them understands what this means. [187] They're afraid. [188] He clamped his lips. [189] "Go faster, Ingra," he ordered the girl who was driving. [190] "Let's get this done with." [191] She looked at him, and he was surprised to find compassion in her eyes. [192] Silently she nodded, advanced the fuel-handle so that the clumsy car jolted a trace more rapidly over the corduroy road. [193] It was quite dark now. [194] The car's driving light flared yellowishly in front of them, illuminating the narrow road and the pale, distorted vegetation of the jungle that surrounded them. [195] Svan noticed it was raining a little. [196] The present shower would deepen and intensify until midnight, then fall off again, to halt before morning. [197] But before then they would be done. [198] A proton-bolt lanced across the road in front of them. [199] In the silence that followed its thunderous crash, a man's voice bellowed: "Halt!" [200] The girl, Ingra, gasped something indistinguishable, slammed on the brakes. [201] A Venusian in the trappings of the State Guard advanced on them from the side of the road, proton-rifle held ready to fire again. [202] "Where are you going?" [203] he growled. [204] Svan spoke up. [205] "We want to look at the Earth-ship," he said. [206] He opened the door beside him and stepped out, careless of the drizzle. [207] "We heard it was leaving tonight," he continued, "and we have not seen it. [208] Is that not permitted?" [209] The guard shook his head sourly. [210] "No one is allowed near the ship. [211] The order was just issued. [212] It is thought there is danger." [213] Svan stepped closer, his teeth bared in what passed for a smile. [214] "It is urgent," he purred. [215] His right hand flashed across his chest in a complicated gesture. [216] "Do you understand?" [217] Confusion furrowed the guard's hairless brows, then was replaced by a sudden flare of understanding—and fear. [218] "The Council!" [219] he roared. [220] "By heaven, yes, I understand! [221] You are the swine that caused this—" He strove instinctively to bring the clumsy rifle up, but Svan was faster. [222] His gamble had failed; there was only one course remaining. [223] He hurled his gross white bulk at the guard, bowled him over against the splintery logs of the road. [224] The proton-rifle went flying, and Svan savagely tore at the throat of the guard. [225] Knees, elbows and claw-like nails—Svan battered at the astonished man with every ounce of strength in his body. [226] The guard was as big as Svan, but Svan had the initial advantage ... and it was only a matter of seconds before the guard lay unconscious, his skull a mass of gore at the back where Svan had ruthlessly pounded it against the road. [227] Svan grunted as his fingers constricted brutally. [228] Svan rose, panting, stared around. [229] No one else was in sight, save the petrified five and the ground car. [230] Svan glared at them contemptuously, then reached down and heaved on the senseless body of the guard. [231] Over the shoulder of the road the body went, onto the damp swampland of the jungle. [232] Even while Svan watched the body began to sink. [233] There would be no trace. [234] Svan strode back to the car. [235] "Hurry up," he gasped to the girl. [236] "Now there is danger for all of us, if they discover he is missing. [237] And keep a watch for other guards." [238] Venus has no moon, and no star can shine through its vast cloud layer. [239] Ensign Lowry, staring anxiously out through the astro-dome in the bow of the Earth-ship, cursed the blackness. [240] "Can't see a thing," he complained to the Exec, steadily writing away at the computer's table. [241] "Look—are those lights over there?" [242] The Exec looked up wearily. [243] He shrugged. [244] "Probably the guards. [245] Of course, you can't tell. [246] Might be a raiding party." [247] Lowry, stung, looked to see if the Exec was smiling, but found no answer in his stolid face. [248] "Don't joke about it," he said. [249] "Suppose something happens to the delegation?" [250] "Then we're in the soup," the Exec said philosophically. [251] "I told you the natives were dangerous. [252] Spy-rays! [253] They've been prohibited for the last three hundred years." [254] "It isn't all the natives," Lowry said. [255] "Look how they've doubled the guard around us. [256] The administration is co-operating every way they know how. [257] You heard the delegation's report on the intercom. [258] It's this secret group they call the Council." [259] "And how do you know the guards themselves don't belong to it?" [260] the Exec retorted. [261] "They're all the same to me.... Look, your light's gone out now. [262] Must have been the guard. [263] They're on the wrong side to be coming from the town, anyhow...." Svan hesitated only a fraction of a second after the girl turned the lights out and stopped the car. [264] Then he reached in the compartment under the seat. [265] If he took a little longer than seemed necessary to get the atomite bomb out of the compartment, none of the others noticed. [266] Certainly it did not occur to them that there had been two bombs in the compartment, though Svan's hand emerged with only one. [267] He got out of the car, holding the sphere. [268] "This will do for me," he said. [269] "They won't be expecting anyone to come from behind the ship—we were wise to circle around. [270] Now, you know what you must do?" [271] Ingra nodded, while the others remained mute. [272] "We must circle back again," she parroted. [273] "We are to wait five minutes, then drive the car into the swamp. [274] We will create a commotion, attract the guards." [275] Svan, listening, thought: It's not much of a plan. [276] The guards would not be drawn away. [277] I am glad I can't trust these five any more. [278] If they must be destroyed, it is good that their destruction will serve a purpose. [279] Aloud, he said, "You understand. [280] If I get through, I will return to the city on foot. [281] No one will suspect anything if I am not caught, because the bomb will not explode until the ship is far out in space. [282] Remember, you are in no danger from the guards." [283] From the guards , his mind echoed. [284] He smiled. [285] At least, they would feel no pain, never know what happened. [286] With the amount of atomite in that bomb in the compartment, they would merely be obliterated in a ground-shaking crash. [287] Abruptly he swallowed, reminded of the bomb that was silently counting off the seconds. [288] "Go ahead," he ordered. [289] "I will wait here." [290] "Svan." [291] The girl, Ingra, leaned over to him. [292] Impulsively she reached for him, kissed him. [293] "Good luck to you, Svan," she said. [294] "Good luck," repeated the others. [295] Then silently the electric motor of the car took hold. [296] Skilfully the girl backed it up, turned it around, sent it lumbering back down the road. [297] Only after she had traveled a few hundred feet by the feel of the road did she turn the lights on again. [298] Svan looked after them. [299] The kiss had surprised him. [300] What did it mean? [301] Was it an error that the girl should die with the others? [302] There was an instant of doubt in his steel-shackled mind, then it was driven away. [303] Perhaps she was loyal, yet certainly she was weak. [304] And since he could not know which was the one who had received the marked slip, and feared to admit it, it was better they all should die. [305] He advanced along the midnight road to where the ground rose and the jungle plants thinned out. [306] Ahead, on an elevation, were the rain-dimmed lights of the Earth-ship, set down in the center of a clearing made by its own fierce rockets. [307] Svan's mist-trained eyes spotted the circling figures of sentries, and knew that these would be the ship's own. [308] They would not be as easily overcome as the natives, not with those slim-shafted blasters they carried. [309] Only deceit could get him to the side of the ship. [310] Svan settled himself at the side of the road, waiting for his chance. [311] He had perhaps three minutes to wait; he reckoned. [312] His fingers went absently to the pouch in his wide belt, closed on the slip of paper. [313] He turned it over without looking at it, wondering who had drawn the first cross, and been a coward. [314] Ingra? [315] One of the men? [316] He became abruptly conscious of a commotion behind him. [317] A ground car was racing along the road. [318] He spun around and was caught in the glare of its blinding driving-light, as it bumped to a slithering stop. [319] Paralyzed, he heard the girl's voice. [320] "Svan! [321] They're coming! [322] They found the guard's rifle, and they're looking for us! [323] Thirty Earthmen, Svan, with those frightful guns. [324] They fired at us, but we got away and came for you. [325] We must flee!" [326] He stared unseeingly at the light. [327] "Go away!" [328] he croaked unbelievingly. [329] Then his muscles jerked into action. [330] The time was almost up—the bomb in the car— "Go away!" [331] he shrieked, and turned to run. [332] His fists clenched and swinging at his side, he made a dozen floundering steps before something immense pounded at him from behind. [333] He felt himself lifted from the road, sailing, swooping, dropping with annihilating force onto the hard, charred earth of the clearing. [334] Only then did he hear the sound of the explosion, and as the immense echoes died away he began to feel the pain seeping into him from his hideously racked body.... [335] The Flight Surgeon rose from beside him. [336] "He's still alive," he said callously to Lowry, who had just come up. [337] "It won't last long, though. [338] What've you got there?" [339] Lowry, a bewildered expression on his beardless face, held out the two halves of a metallic sphere. [340] Dangling ends of wires showed where a connection had been broken. [341] "He had a bomb," he said. [342] "A magnetic-type, delayed-action atomite bomb. [343] There must have been another in the car, and it went off. [344] They—they were planning to bomb us." [345] "Amazing," the surgeon said dryly. [346] "Well, they won't do any bombing now." [347] Lowry was staring at the huddled, mutilated form of Svan. [348] He shuddered. [349] The surgeon, seeing the shudder, grasped his shoulder. [350] "Better them than us," he said. [351] "It's poetic justice if I ever saw it. [352] They had it coming...." He paused thoughtfully, staring at a piece of paper between his fingers. [353] "This is the only part I don't get," he said. [354] "What's that?" [355] Lowry craned his neck. [356] "A piece of paper with a cross on it? [357] What about it?" [358] The surgeon shrugged. [359] "He had it clenched in his hand," he said. [360] "Had the devil of a time getting it loose from him." [361] He turned it over slowly, displayed the other side. [362] "Now what in the world would he be doing carrying a scrap of paper with a cross marked on both sides?"

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "What is the plot of the story?": 1. [2] Svan was the leader making the final plans—plotting them a bit too well. 2. [86] "Then we must act. The Council has told us that we alone will decide our course of action. We have agreed that, if the Earth-ship returns, it means disaster for Venus. Therefore, it must not return." 3. [111] He reached to a box at his feet, held up a shiny metal globe. "One of us will plant this in the ship. It will be set by means of this dial—" he touched a spot on the surface of the globe with a pallid finger—"to do nothing for forty hours. Then—it will explode. Atomite." 4. [138] "We will go, all six of us, in my ground car, to look at the Earth-ship. No one will suspect—the whole city has been to see it already. One will get out, at the best point we can find. It is almost dusk now. He can hide, surely, in the vegetation. The other five will start back. Something will go wrong with the car—perhaps it will run off the road, start to sink in the swamp. The guards will be called. There will be commotion—that is easy enough, after all; a hysterical woman, a few screams, that's all there is to it. And the sixth person will have his chance to steal to the side of the ship. The bomb is magnetic. It will not be noticed in the dark—they will take off before sunrise, because they must travel away from the sun to return—in forty hours the danger is removed." 5. [1] DOUBLECROSS by JAMES Mac CREIGH Revolt was brewing on Venus, led by the descendant of the first Earthmen to land. 6. [3] [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories Winter 1944.] 7. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] 8. [5] The Officer of the Deck was pleased as he returned to the main lock. 9. [6] There was no reason why everything shouldn't have been functioning perfectly, of course, but he was pleased to have it confirmed, all the same. 10. [7] The Executive Officer was moodily smoking a cigarette in the open lock, staring out over the dank Venusian terrain at the native town. 11. [9] "Everything shipshape, I take it!" 12. [12] "I'll have a blank log if this keeps up," he said. "Every man accounted for except the delegation, cargo stowed, drivers ready to lift as soon as they come back." 13. [14] "If they come back." 14. [16] "Is there any question?" 15. [19] "This is a funny place. I don't trust the natives." 16. [34] "Of course, there's a minority who are afraid of us. I was in town yesterday, and I talked with some of the natives. They think there will be hordes of immigrants from Earth, now that we know Venus is habitable. And there's some sort of a paltry underground group that is spreading the word that the immigrants will drive the native Venusians—the descendants of the first expedition, that is—right down into the mud." 17. [40] The annunciator over the open lock clanged vigorously, and a metallic voice rasped: "Officer of the Deck! Post Number One! Instruments reports a spy ray focused on the main lock!" 18. [54] Svan clicked off the listening-machine and turned around. 19. [56] "You see?" 20. [58] "From their own mouths you have heard it. The Council was right." 21. [62] "Svan, I'm afraid," she said. "Who are we to decide if this is a good thing? Our parents came from Earth. Perhaps there will be trouble at first, if colonists come, but we are of the same blood." 22. [66] Svan laughed harshly. "They don't think so. You heard them. We are not human any more. The officer said it." 23. [71] The other woman spoke unexpectedly. "The Council was right," she agreed. "Svan, what must we do?" 24. [87] "The Council has told us that we alone will decide our course of action." 25. [88] "We have agreed that, if the Earth-ship returns, it means disaster for Venus. Therefore, it must not return." 26. [90] An old man shifted restlessly. "But they are strong, Svan," he complained. "They have weapons. We cannot force them to stay." 27. [95] "No. They will leave. But they will never get back to Earth." 28. [98] "Never get back to Earth?" the old man gasped. "Has the Council authorized—murder?" 29. [102] "The Council did not know what we would face. The Councilmen could not come to the city and see what strength the Earth-ship has." 30. [110] Svan smiled, and it was like a dark flame. 31. [173] The six conspirators in Svan's old ground car moved slowly along the main street of the native town. 32. [197] But before then they would be done. 33. [198] A proton-bolt lanced across the road in front of them. 34. [199] In the silence that followed its thunderous crash, a man's voice bellowed: "Halt!" 35. [209] The guard shook his head sourly. "No one is allowed near the ship. The order was just issued. It is thought there is danger." 36. [217] His right hand flashed across his chest in a complicated gesture. "Do you understand?" 37. [218] "The Council!" he roared. "By heaven, yes, I understand! You are the swine that caused this—" 38. [220] "The Council!" he roared. "By heaven, yes, I understand! You are the swine that caused this—" 39. [221] He strove instinctively to bring the clumsy rifle up, but Svan was faster. 40. [222] His gamble had failed; there was only one course remaining. 41. [223] He hurled his gross white bulk at the guard, bowled him over against the splintery logs of the road. 42. [224] The proton-rifle went flying, and Svan savagely tore at the throat of the guard. 43. [225] Knees, elbows and claw-like nails—Svan battered at the astonished man with every ounce of strength in his body. 44. [226] The guard was as big as Svan, but Svan had the initial advantage ... and it was only a matter of seconds before the guard lay unconscious, his skull a mass of gore at the back where Svan had ruthlessly pounded it against the road. 45. [227] Svan grunted as his fingers constricted brutally. 46. [228] Svan rose, panting, stared around. 47. [229] No one else was in sight, save the petrified five and the ground car. 48. [230] Svan glared at them contemptuously, then reached down and heaved on the senseless body of the guard. 49. [231] Over the shoulder of the road the body went, onto the damp swampland of the jungle. 50. [232] Even while Svan watched the body began to sink. 51. [233] There would be no trace. 52. [235] "Hurry up," he gasped to the girl. "Now there is danger for all of us, if they discover he is missing. And keep a watch for other guards." 53. [263] Then he reached in the compartment under the seat. If he took a little longer than seemed necessary to get the atomite bomb out of the compartment, none of the others noticed. 54. [264] Certainly it did not occur to them that there had been two bombs in the compartment, though Svan's hand emerged with only one. 55. [265] He got out of the car, holding the sphere. "This will do for me," he said. "They won't be expecting anyone to come from behind the ship—we were wise to circle around. Now, you know what you must do?" 56. [271] Ingra nodded, while the others remained mute. "We must circle back again," she parroted. "We are to wait five minutes, then drive the car into the swamp. We will create a commotion, attract the guards." 57. [275] Svan, listening, thought: It's not much of a plan. The guards would not be drawn away. I am glad I can't trust these five any more. If they must be destroyed, it is good that their destruction will serve a purpose. 58. [283] From the guards, his mind echoed. He smiled. At least, they would feel no pain, never know what happened. With the amount of atomite in that bomb in the compartment, they would merely be obliterated in a ground-shaking crash. 59. [287] Abruptly he swallowed, reminded of the bomb that was silently counting off the seconds. 60. [289] "Go ahead," he ordered. 61. [290] "Svan." The girl, Ingra, leaned over to him. Impulsively she reached for him, kissed him. "Good luck to you, Svan," she said. 62. [293] Then silently the electric motor of the car took hold. Skilfully the girl backed it up, turned it around, sent it lumbering back down the road. 63. [297] Only after she had traveled a few hundred feet by the feel of the road did she turn the lights on again. 64. [302] Perhaps she was loyal, yet certainly she was weak. And since he could not know which was the one who had received the marked slip, and feared to admit it, it was better they all should die. 65. [305] He advanced along the midnight road to where the ground rose and the jungle plants thinned out. 66. [306] Ahead, on an elevation, were the rain-dimmed lights of the Earth-ship, set down in the center of a clearing made by its own fierce rockets. 67. [307] Svan's mist-trained eyes spotted the circling figures of sentries, and knew that these would be the ship's own. 68. [308] They would not be as easily overcome as the natives, not with those slim-shafted blasters they carried. 69. [309] Only deceit could get him to the side of the ship. 70. [310] Svan settled himself at the side of the road, waiting for his chance. 71. [311] He had perhaps three minutes to wait; he reckoned. 72. [312] His fingers went absently to the pouch in his wide belt, closed on the slip of paper. 73. [313] He turned it over without looking at it, wondering who had drawn the first cross, and been a coward. 74. [316] He spun around and was caught in the glare of its blinding driving-light, as it bumped to a slithering stop. 75. [319] "Svan! They're coming! They found the guard's rifle, and they're looking for us! Thirty Earthmen, Svan, with those frightful guns. They fired at us, but we got away and came for you. We must flee!" 76. [327] "Go away!" he croaked unbelievingly. 77. [328] Then his muscles jerked into action. The time was almost up—the bomb in the car— 78. [329] "Go away!" he shrieked, and turned to run. 79. [330] His fists clenched and swinging at his side, he made a dozen floundering steps before something immense pounded at him from behind. 80. [331] He felt himself lifted from the road, sailing, swooping, dropping with annihilating force onto the hard, charred earth of the clearing. 81. [332] Only then did he hear the sound of the explosion, and as the immense echoes died away he began to feel the pain seeping into him from his hideously racked body.... 82. [335] The Flight Surgeon rose from beside him. "He's still alive," he said callously to Lowry, who had just come up. 83. [338] Lowry, a bewildered expression on his beardless face, held out the two halves of a metallic sphere. Dangling ends of wires showed where a connection had been broken. 84. [339] "He had a bomb," he said. "A magnetic-type, delayed-action atomite bomb. There must have been another in the car, and it went off. They—they were planning to bomb us." 85. [340] "Amazing," the surgeon said dryly. "Well, they won't do any bombing now." 86. [351] "It's poetic justice if I ever saw it. They had it coming...." He paused thoughtfully, staring at a piece of paper between his fingers. 87. [352] "This is the only part I don't get," he said. 88. [353] "What's that?" 89. [356] "A piece of paper with a cross on it? What about it?" 90. [357] The surgeon shrugged. "He had it clenched in his hand," he said. "Had the devil of a time getting it loose from him." 91. [358] He turned it over slowly, displayed the other side. "Now what in the world would he be doing carrying a scrap of paper with a cross marked on both sides?"

Who is Ingra? What happens to her throughout the story?

[1] DOUBLECROSS by JAMES Mac CREIGH Revolt was brewing on Venus, led by the descendant of the first Earthmen to land. [2] Svan was the leader making the final plans—plotting them a bit too well. [3] [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories Winter 1944. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [5] The Officer of the Deck was pleased as he returned to the main lock. [6] There was no reason why everything shouldn't have been functioning perfectly, of course, but he was pleased to have it confirmed, all the same. [7] The Executive Officer was moodily smoking a cigarette in the open lock, staring out over the dank Venusian terrain at the native town. [8] He turned. [9] "Everything shipshape, I take it!" [10] he commented. [11] The OD nodded. [12] "I'll have a blank log if this keeps up," he said. [13] "Every man accounted for except the delegation, cargo stowed, drivers ready to lift as soon as they come back." [14] The Exec tossed away his cigarette. " [15] If they come back." [16] "Is there any question?" [17] The Exec shrugged. [18] "I don't know, Lowry," he said. [19] "This is a funny place. [20] I don't trust the natives." [21] Lowry lifted his eyebrows. [22] "Oh? [23] But after all, they're human beings, just like us—" "Not any more. [24] Four or five generations ago they were. [25] Lord, they don't even look human any more. [26] Those white, flabby skins—I don't like them." [27] "Acclimation," Lowry said scientifically. [28] "They had to acclimate themselves to Venus's climate. [29] They're friendly enough." [30] The Exec shrugged again. [31] He stared at the wooden shacks that were the outskirts of the native city, dimly visible through the ever-present Venusian mist. [32] The native guard of honor, posted a hundred yards from the Earth-ship, stood stolidly at attention with their old-fashioned proton-rifles slung over their backs. [33] A few natives were gazing wonderingly at the great ship, but made no move to pass the line of guards. [34] "Of course," Lowry said suddenly, "there's a minority who are afraid of us. [35] I was in town yesterday, and I talked with some of the natives. [36] They think there will be hordes of immigrants from Earth, now that we know Venus is habitable. [37] And there's some sort of a paltry underground group that is spreading the word that the immigrants will drive the native Venusians—the descendants of the first expedition, that is—right down into the mud. [38] Well—" he laughed—"maybe they will. [39] After all, the fittest survive. [40] That's a basic law of—" The annunciator over the open lock clanged vigorously, and a metallic voice rasped: "Officer of the Deck! [41] Post Number One! [42] Instruments reports a spy ray focused on the main lock!" [43] Lowry, interrupted in the middle of a word, jerked his head back and stared unbelievingly at the tell-tale next to the annunciator. [44] Sure enough, it was glowing red—might have been glowing for minutes. [45] He snatched at the hand-phone dangling from the wall, shouted into it. [46] "Set up a screen! [47] Notify the delegation! [48] Alert a landing party!" [49] But even while he was giving orders, the warning light flickered suddenly and went out. [50] Stricken, Lowry turned to the Exec. [51] The Executive Officer nodded gloomily. [52] He said, "You see!" [53] "You see?" [54] Svan clicked off the listening-machine and turned around. [55] The five others in the room looked apprehensive. [56] "You see?" [57] Svan repeated. [58] "From their own mouths you have heard it. [59] The Council was right." [60] The younger of the two women sighed. [61] She might have been beautiful, in spite of her dead-white skin, if there had been a scrap of hair on her head. [62] "Svan, I'm afraid," she said. [63] "Who are we to decide if this is a good thing? [64] Our parents came from Earth. [65] Perhaps there will be trouble at first, if colonists come, but we are of the same blood." [66] Svan laughed harshly. " [67] They don't think so. [68] You heard them. [69] We are not human any more. [70] The officer said it." [71] The other woman spoke unexpectedly. [72] "The Council was right," she agreed. [73] "Svan, what must we do?" [74] Svan raised his hand, thoughtfully. [75] "One moment. [76] Ingra, do you still object?" [77] The younger woman shrank back before the glare in his eyes. [78] She looked around at the others, found them reluctant and uneasy, but visibly convinced by Svan. [79] "No," she said slowly. [80] "I do not object." [81] "And the rest of us? [82] Does any of us object?" [83] Svan eyed them, each in turn. [84] There was a slow but unanimous gesture of assent. [85] "Good," said Svan. [86] "Then we must act. [87] The Council has told us that we alone will decide our course of action. [88] We have agreed that, if the Earth-ship returns, it means disaster for Venus. [89] Therefore, it must not return." [90] An old man shifted restlessly. [91] "But they are strong, Svan," he complained. [92] "They have weapons. [93] We cannot force them to stay." [94] Svan nodded. [95] "No. [96] They will leave. [97] But they will never get back to Earth." [98] "Never get back to Earth?" [99] the old man gasped. [100] "Has the Council authorized—murder?" [101] Svan shrugged. [102] "The Council did not know what we would face. [103] The Councilmen could not come to the city and see what strength the Earth-ship has." [104] He paused dangerously. [105] "Toller," he said, "do you object?" [106] Like the girl, the old man retreated before his eyes. [107] His voice was dull. [108] "What is your plan?" [109] he asked. [110] Svan smiled, and it was like a dark flame. [111] He reached to a box at his feet, held up a shiny metal globe. [112] "One of us will plant this in the ship. [113] It will be set by means of this dial—" he touched a spot on the surface of the globe with a pallid finger—"to do nothing for forty hours. [114] Then—it will explode. [115] Atomite." [116] He grinned triumphantly, looking from face to face. [117] The grin faded uncertainly as he saw what was in their eyes—uncertainty, irresolution. [118] Abruptly he set the bomb down, savagely ripped six leaves off a writing tablet on the table next him. [119] He took a pencil and made a mark on one of them, held it up. [120] "We will let chance decide who is to do the work," he said angrily. [121] "Is there anyone here who is afraid? [122] There will be danger, I think...." No answer. [123] Svan jerked his head. [124] "Good," he said. [125] "Ingra, bring me that bowl." [126] Silently the girl picked up an opaque glass bowl from the broad arm of her chair. [127] It had held Venus-tobacco cigarettes; there were a few left. [128] She shook them out and handed the bowl to Svan, who was rapidly creasing the six fatal slips. [129] He dropped them in the bowl, stirred it with his hand, offered it to the girl. [130] "You first, Ingra," he said. [131] She reached in mechanically, her eyes intent on his, took out a slip and held it without opening it. [132] The bowl went the rounds, till Svan himself took the last. [133] All eyes were on him. [134] No one had looked at their slips. [135] Svan, too, had left his unopened. [136] He sat at the table, facing them. [137] "This is the plan," he said. [138] "We will go, all six of us, in my ground car, to look at the Earth-ship. [139] No one will suspect—the whole city has been to see it already. [140] One will get out, at the best point we can find. [141] It is almost dusk now. [142] He can hide, surely, in the vegetation. [143] The other five will start back. [144] Something will go wrong with the car—perhaps it will run off the road, start to sink in the swamp. [145] The guards will be called. [146] There will be commotion—that is easy enough, after all; a hysterical woman, a few screams, that's all there is to it. [147] And the sixth person will have his chance to steal to the side of the ship. [148] The bomb is magnetic. [149] It will not be noticed in the dark—they will take off before sunrise, because they must travel away from the sun to return—in forty hours the danger is removed." [150] There was comprehension in their eyes, Svan saw ... but still that uncertainty. [151] Impatiently, he crackled: "Look at the slips!" [152] Though he had willed his eyes away from it, his fingers had rebelled. [153] Instinctively they had opened the slip, turned it over and over, striving to detect if it was the fatal one. [154] They had felt nothing.... And his eyes saw nothing. [155] The slip was blank. [156] He gave it but a second's glance, then looked up to see who had won the lethal game of chance. [157] Almost he was disappointed. [158] Each of the others had looked in that same second. [159] And each was looking up now, around at his neighbors. [160] Svan waited impatiently for the chosen one to announce it—a second, ten seconds.... Then gray understanding came to him. [161] A traitor! [162] his subconscious whispered. [163] A coward! [164] He stared at them in a new light, saw their indecision magnified, became opposition. [165] Svan thought faster than ever before in his life. [166] If there was a coward, it would do no good to unmask him. [167] All were wavering, any might be the one who had drawn the fatal slip. [168] He could insist on inspecting every one, but—suppose the coward, cornered, fought back? [169] In fractions of a second, Svan had considered the evidence and reached his decision. [170] Masked by the table, his hand, still holding the pencil, moved swiftly beneath the table, marked his own slip. [171] In the palm of his hand, Svan held up the slip he had just marked in secret. [172] His voice was very tired as he said, "I will plant the bomb." [173] The six conspirators in Svan's old ground car moved slowly along the main street of the native town. [174] Two Earth-ship sailors, unarmed except for deceptively flimsy-looking pistols at their hips, stood before the entrance to the town's Hall of Justice. [175] "Good," said Svan, observing them. [176] "The delegation is still here. [177] We have ample time." [178] He half turned in the broad front seat next to the driver, searching the faces of the others in the car. [179] Which was the coward? [180] he wondered. [181] Ingra? [182] Her aunt? [183] One of the men? [184] The right answer leaped up at him. [185] They all are , he thought. [186] Not one of them understands what this means. [187] They're afraid. [188] He clamped his lips. [189] "Go faster, Ingra," he ordered the girl who was driving. [190] "Let's get this done with." [191] She looked at him, and he was surprised to find compassion in her eyes. [192] Silently she nodded, advanced the fuel-handle so that the clumsy car jolted a trace more rapidly over the corduroy road. [193] It was quite dark now. [194] The car's driving light flared yellowishly in front of them, illuminating the narrow road and the pale, distorted vegetation of the jungle that surrounded them. [195] Svan noticed it was raining a little. [196] The present shower would deepen and intensify until midnight, then fall off again, to halt before morning. [197] But before then they would be done. [198] A proton-bolt lanced across the road in front of them. [199] In the silence that followed its thunderous crash, a man's voice bellowed: "Halt!" [200] The girl, Ingra, gasped something indistinguishable, slammed on the brakes. [201] A Venusian in the trappings of the State Guard advanced on them from the side of the road, proton-rifle held ready to fire again. [202] "Where are you going?" [203] he growled. [204] Svan spoke up. [205] "We want to look at the Earth-ship," he said. [206] He opened the door beside him and stepped out, careless of the drizzle. [207] "We heard it was leaving tonight," he continued, "and we have not seen it. [208] Is that not permitted?" [209] The guard shook his head sourly. [210] "No one is allowed near the ship. [211] The order was just issued. [212] It is thought there is danger." [213] Svan stepped closer, his teeth bared in what passed for a smile. [214] "It is urgent," he purred. [215] His right hand flashed across his chest in a complicated gesture. [216] "Do you understand?" [217] Confusion furrowed the guard's hairless brows, then was replaced by a sudden flare of understanding—and fear. [218] "The Council!" [219] he roared. [220] "By heaven, yes, I understand! [221] You are the swine that caused this—" He strove instinctively to bring the clumsy rifle up, but Svan was faster. [222] His gamble had failed; there was only one course remaining. [223] He hurled his gross white bulk at the guard, bowled him over against the splintery logs of the road. [224] The proton-rifle went flying, and Svan savagely tore at the throat of the guard. [225] Knees, elbows and claw-like nails—Svan battered at the astonished man with every ounce of strength in his body. [226] The guard was as big as Svan, but Svan had the initial advantage ... and it was only a matter of seconds before the guard lay unconscious, his skull a mass of gore at the back where Svan had ruthlessly pounded it against the road. [227] Svan grunted as his fingers constricted brutally. [228] Svan rose, panting, stared around. [229] No one else was in sight, save the petrified five and the ground car. [230] Svan glared at them contemptuously, then reached down and heaved on the senseless body of the guard. [231] Over the shoulder of the road the body went, onto the damp swampland of the jungle. [232] Even while Svan watched the body began to sink. [233] There would be no trace. [234] Svan strode back to the car. [235] "Hurry up," he gasped to the girl. [236] "Now there is danger for all of us, if they discover he is missing. [237] And keep a watch for other guards." [238] Venus has no moon, and no star can shine through its vast cloud layer. [239] Ensign Lowry, staring anxiously out through the astro-dome in the bow of the Earth-ship, cursed the blackness. [240] "Can't see a thing," he complained to the Exec, steadily writing away at the computer's table. [241] "Look—are those lights over there?" [242] The Exec looked up wearily. [243] He shrugged. [244] "Probably the guards. [245] Of course, you can't tell. [246] Might be a raiding party." [247] Lowry, stung, looked to see if the Exec was smiling, but found no answer in his stolid face. [248] "Don't joke about it," he said. [249] "Suppose something happens to the delegation?" [250] "Then we're in the soup," the Exec said philosophically. [251] "I told you the natives were dangerous. [252] Spy-rays! [253] They've been prohibited for the last three hundred years." [254] "It isn't all the natives," Lowry said. [255] "Look how they've doubled the guard around us. [256] The administration is co-operating every way they know how. [257] You heard the delegation's report on the intercom. [258] It's this secret group they call the Council." [259] "And how do you know the guards themselves don't belong to it?" [260] the Exec retorted. [261] "They're all the same to me.... Look, your light's gone out now. [262] Must have been the guard. [263] They're on the wrong side to be coming from the town, anyhow...." Svan hesitated only a fraction of a second after the girl turned the lights out and stopped the car. [264] Then he reached in the compartment under the seat. [265] If he took a little longer than seemed necessary to get the atomite bomb out of the compartment, none of the others noticed. [266] Certainly it did not occur to them that there had been two bombs in the compartment, though Svan's hand emerged with only one. [267] He got out of the car, holding the sphere. [268] "This will do for me," he said. [269] "They won't be expecting anyone to come from behind the ship—we were wise to circle around. [270] Now, you know what you must do?" [271] Ingra nodded, while the others remained mute. [272] "We must circle back again," she parroted. [273] "We are to wait five minutes, then drive the car into the swamp. [274] We will create a commotion, attract the guards." [275] Svan, listening, thought: It's not much of a plan. [276] The guards would not be drawn away. [277] I am glad I can't trust these five any more. [278] If they must be destroyed, it is good that their destruction will serve a purpose. [279] Aloud, he said, "You understand. [280] If I get through, I will return to the city on foot. [281] No one will suspect anything if I am not caught, because the bomb will not explode until the ship is far out in space. [282] Remember, you are in no danger from the guards." [283] From the guards , his mind echoed. [284] He smiled. [285] At least, they would feel no pain, never know what happened. [286] With the amount of atomite in that bomb in the compartment, they would merely be obliterated in a ground-shaking crash. [287] Abruptly he swallowed, reminded of the bomb that was silently counting off the seconds. [288] "Go ahead," he ordered. [289] "I will wait here." [290] "Svan." [291] The girl, Ingra, leaned over to him. [292] Impulsively she reached for him, kissed him. [293] "Good luck to you, Svan," she said. [294] "Good luck," repeated the others. [295] Then silently the electric motor of the car took hold. [296] Skilfully the girl backed it up, turned it around, sent it lumbering back down the road. [297] Only after she had traveled a few hundred feet by the feel of the road did she turn the lights on again. [298] Svan looked after them. [299] The kiss had surprised him. [300] What did it mean? [301] Was it an error that the girl should die with the others? [302] There was an instant of doubt in his steel-shackled mind, then it was driven away. [303] Perhaps she was loyal, yet certainly she was weak. [304] And since he could not know which was the one who had received the marked slip, and feared to admit it, it was better they all should die. [305] He advanced along the midnight road to where the ground rose and the jungle plants thinned out. [306] Ahead, on an elevation, were the rain-dimmed lights of the Earth-ship, set down in the center of a clearing made by its own fierce rockets. [307] Svan's mist-trained eyes spotted the circling figures of sentries, and knew that these would be the ship's own. [308] They would not be as easily overcome as the natives, not with those slim-shafted blasters they carried. [309] Only deceit could get him to the side of the ship. [310] Svan settled himself at the side of the road, waiting for his chance. [311] He had perhaps three minutes to wait; he reckoned. [312] His fingers went absently to the pouch in his wide belt, closed on the slip of paper. [313] He turned it over without looking at it, wondering who had drawn the first cross, and been a coward. [314] Ingra? [315] One of the men? [316] He became abruptly conscious of a commotion behind him. [317] A ground car was racing along the road. [318] He spun around and was caught in the glare of its blinding driving-light, as it bumped to a slithering stop. [319] Paralyzed, he heard the girl's voice. [320] "Svan! [321] They're coming! [322] They found the guard's rifle, and they're looking for us! [323] Thirty Earthmen, Svan, with those frightful guns. [324] They fired at us, but we got away and came for you. [325] We must flee!" [326] He stared unseeingly at the light. [327] "Go away!" [328] he croaked unbelievingly. [329] Then his muscles jerked into action. [330] The time was almost up—the bomb in the car— "Go away!" [331] he shrieked, and turned to run. [332] His fists clenched and swinging at his side, he made a dozen floundering steps before something immense pounded at him from behind. [333] He felt himself lifted from the road, sailing, swooping, dropping with annihilating force onto the hard, charred earth of the clearing. [334] Only then did he hear the sound of the explosion, and as the immense echoes died away he began to feel the pain seeping into him from his hideously racked body.... [335] The Flight Surgeon rose from beside him. [336] "He's still alive," he said callously to Lowry, who had just come up. [337] "It won't last long, though. [338] What've you got there?" [339] Lowry, a bewildered expression on his beardless face, held out the two halves of a metallic sphere. [340] Dangling ends of wires showed where a connection had been broken. [341] "He had a bomb," he said. [342] "A magnetic-type, delayed-action atomite bomb. [343] There must have been another in the car, and it went off. [344] They—they were planning to bomb us." [345] "Amazing," the surgeon said dryly. [346] "Well, they won't do any bombing now." [347] Lowry was staring at the huddled, mutilated form of Svan. [348] He shuddered. [349] The surgeon, seeing the shudder, grasped his shoulder. [350] "Better them than us," he said. [351] "It's poetic justice if I ever saw it. [352] They had it coming...." He paused thoughtfully, staring at a piece of paper between his fingers. [353] "This is the only part I don't get," he said. [354] "What's that?" [355] Lowry craned his neck. [356] "A piece of paper with a cross on it? [357] What about it?" [358] The surgeon shrugged. [359] "He had it clenched in his hand," he said. [360] "Had the devil of a time getting it loose from him." [361] He turned it over slowly, displayed the other side. [362] "Now what in the world would he be doing carrying a scrap of paper with a cross marked on both sides?"

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "Who is Ingra? What happens to her throughout the story?": 1. [76] Svan raised his hand, thoughtfully. "Ingra, do you still object?" 2. [77] The younger woman shrank back before the glare in his eyes. 3. [78] She looked around at the others, found them reluctant and uneasy, but visibly convinced by Svan. 4. [79] "No," she said slowly. "I do not object." 5. [125] Silently the girl picked up an opaque glass bowl from the broad arm of her chair. 6. [126] It had held Venus-tobacco cigarettes; there were a few left. 7. [127] She shook them out and handed the bowl to Svan, who was rapidly creasing the six fatal slips. 8. [128] He dropped them in the bowl, stirred it with his hand, offered it to the girl. 9. [129] "You first, Ingra," he said. 10. [130] She reached in mechanically, her eyes intent on his, took out a slip and held it without opening it. 11. [191] She looked at him, and he was surprised to find compassion in her eyes. 12. [192] Silently she nodded, advanced the fuel-handle so that the clumsy car jolted a trace more rapidly over the corduroy road. 13. [290] "Svan." 14. [291] The girl, Ingra, leaned over to him. 15. [292] Impulsively she reached for him, kissed him. 16. [293] "Good luck to you, Svan," she said. 17. [319] "Svan! They're coming! They found the guard's rifle, and they're looking for us! Thirty Earthmen, Svan, with those frightful guns. They fired at us, but we got away and came for you. We must flee!" 18. [320] Svan spun around and was caught in the glare of its blinding driving-light, as it bumped to a slithering stop.

Who is Lowry? What happens to him throughout the story?

[1] DOUBLECROSS by JAMES Mac CREIGH Revolt was brewing on Venus, led by the descendant of the first Earthmen to land. [2] Svan was the leader making the final plans—plotting them a bit too well. [3] [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories Winter 1944. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [5] The Officer of the Deck was pleased as he returned to the main lock. [6] There was no reason why everything shouldn't have been functioning perfectly, of course, but he was pleased to have it confirmed, all the same. [7] The Executive Officer was moodily smoking a cigarette in the open lock, staring out over the dank Venusian terrain at the native town. [8] He turned. [9] "Everything shipshape, I take it!" [10] he commented. [11] The OD nodded. [12] "I'll have a blank log if this keeps up," he said. [13] "Every man accounted for except the delegation, cargo stowed, drivers ready to lift as soon as they come back." [14] The Exec tossed away his cigarette. " [15] If they come back." [16] "Is there any question?" [17] The Exec shrugged. [18] "I don't know, Lowry," he said. [19] "This is a funny place. [20] I don't trust the natives." [21] Lowry lifted his eyebrows. [22] "Oh? [23] But after all, they're human beings, just like us—" "Not any more. [24] Four or five generations ago they were. [25] Lord, they don't even look human any more. [26] Those white, flabby skins—I don't like them." [27] "Acclimation," Lowry said scientifically. [28] "They had to acclimate themselves to Venus's climate. [29] They're friendly enough." [30] The Exec shrugged again. [31] He stared at the wooden shacks that were the outskirts of the native city, dimly visible through the ever-present Venusian mist. [32] The native guard of honor, posted a hundred yards from the Earth-ship, stood stolidly at attention with their old-fashioned proton-rifles slung over their backs. [33] A few natives were gazing wonderingly at the great ship, but made no move to pass the line of guards. [34] "Of course," Lowry said suddenly, "there's a minority who are afraid of us. [35] I was in town yesterday, and I talked with some of the natives. [36] They think there will be hordes of immigrants from Earth, now that we know Venus is habitable. [37] And there's some sort of a paltry underground group that is spreading the word that the immigrants will drive the native Venusians—the descendants of the first expedition, that is—right down into the mud. [38] Well—" he laughed—"maybe they will. [39] After all, the fittest survive. [40] That's a basic law of—" The annunciator over the open lock clanged vigorously, and a metallic voice rasped: "Officer of the Deck! [41] Post Number One! [42] Instruments reports a spy ray focused on the main lock!" [43] Lowry, interrupted in the middle of a word, jerked his head back and stared unbelievingly at the tell-tale next to the annunciator. [44] Sure enough, it was glowing red—might have been glowing for minutes. [45] He snatched at the hand-phone dangling from the wall, shouted into it. [46] "Set up a screen! [47] Notify the delegation! [48] Alert a landing party!" [49] But even while he was giving orders, the warning light flickered suddenly and went out. [50] Stricken, Lowry turned to the Exec. [51] The Executive Officer nodded gloomily. [52] He said, "You see!" [53] "You see?" [54] Svan clicked off the listening-machine and turned around. [55] The five others in the room looked apprehensive. [56] "You see?" [57] Svan repeated. [58] "From their own mouths you have heard it. [59] The Council was right." [60] The younger of the two women sighed. [61] She might have been beautiful, in spite of her dead-white skin, if there had been a scrap of hair on her head. [62] "Svan, I'm afraid," she said. [63] "Who are we to decide if this is a good thing? [64] Our parents came from Earth. [65] Perhaps there will be trouble at first, if colonists come, but we are of the same blood." [66] Svan laughed harshly. " [67] They don't think so. [68] You heard them. [69] We are not human any more. [70] The officer said it." [71] The other woman spoke unexpectedly. [72] "The Council was right," she agreed. [73] "Svan, what must we do?" [74] Svan raised his hand, thoughtfully. [75] "One moment. [76] Ingra, do you still object?" [77] The younger woman shrank back before the glare in his eyes. [78] She looked around at the others, found them reluctant and uneasy, but visibly convinced by Svan. [79] "No," she said slowly. [80] "I do not object." [81] "And the rest of us? [82] Does any of us object?" [83] Svan eyed them, each in turn. [84] There was a slow but unanimous gesture of assent. [85] "Good," said Svan. [86] "Then we must act. [87] The Council has told us that we alone will decide our course of action. [88] We have agreed that, if the Earth-ship returns, it means disaster for Venus. [89] Therefore, it must not return." [90] An old man shifted restlessly. [91] "But they are strong, Svan," he complained. [92] "They have weapons. [93] We cannot force them to stay." [94] Svan nodded. [95] "No. [96] They will leave. [97] But they will never get back to Earth." [98] "Never get back to Earth?" [99] the old man gasped. [100] "Has the Council authorized—murder?" [101] Svan shrugged. [102] "The Council did not know what we would face. [103] The Councilmen could not come to the city and see what strength the Earth-ship has." [104] He paused dangerously. [105] "Toller," he said, "do you object?" [106] Like the girl, the old man retreated before his eyes. [107] His voice was dull. [108] "What is your plan?" [109] he asked. [110] Svan smiled, and it was like a dark flame. [111] He reached to a box at his feet, held up a shiny metal globe. [112] "One of us will plant this in the ship. [113] It will be set by means of this dial—" he touched a spot on the surface of the globe with a pallid finger—"to do nothing for forty hours. [114] Then—it will explode. [115] Atomite." [116] He grinned triumphantly, looking from face to face. [117] The grin faded uncertainly as he saw what was in their eyes—uncertainty, irresolution. [118] Abruptly he set the bomb down, savagely ripped six leaves off a writing tablet on the table next him. [119] He took a pencil and made a mark on one of them, held it up. [120] "We will let chance decide who is to do the work," he said angrily. [121] "Is there anyone here who is afraid? [122] There will be danger, I think...." No answer. [123] Svan jerked his head. [124] "Good," he said. [125] "Ingra, bring me that bowl." [126] Silently the girl picked up an opaque glass bowl from the broad arm of her chair. [127] It had held Venus-tobacco cigarettes; there were a few left. [128] She shook them out and handed the bowl to Svan, who was rapidly creasing the six fatal slips. [129] He dropped them in the bowl, stirred it with his hand, offered it to the girl. [130] "You first, Ingra," he said. [131] She reached in mechanically, her eyes intent on his, took out a slip and held it without opening it. [132] The bowl went the rounds, till Svan himself took the last. [133] All eyes were on him. [134] No one had looked at their slips. [135] Svan, too, had left his unopened. [136] He sat at the table, facing them. [137] "This is the plan," he said. [138] "We will go, all six of us, in my ground car, to look at the Earth-ship. [139] No one will suspect—the whole city has been to see it already. [140] One will get out, at the best point we can find. [141] It is almost dusk now. [142] He can hide, surely, in the vegetation. [143] The other five will start back. [144] Something will go wrong with the car—perhaps it will run off the road, start to sink in the swamp. [145] The guards will be called. [146] There will be commotion—that is easy enough, after all; a hysterical woman, a few screams, that's all there is to it. [147] And the sixth person will have his chance to steal to the side of the ship. [148] The bomb is magnetic. [149] It will not be noticed in the dark—they will take off before sunrise, because they must travel away from the sun to return—in forty hours the danger is removed." [150] There was comprehension in their eyes, Svan saw ... but still that uncertainty. [151] Impatiently, he crackled: "Look at the slips!" [152] Though he had willed his eyes away from it, his fingers had rebelled. [153] Instinctively they had opened the slip, turned it over and over, striving to detect if it was the fatal one. [154] They had felt nothing.... And his eyes saw nothing. [155] The slip was blank. [156] He gave it but a second's glance, then looked up to see who had won the lethal game of chance. [157] Almost he was disappointed. [158] Each of the others had looked in that same second. [159] And each was looking up now, around at his neighbors. [160] Svan waited impatiently for the chosen one to announce it—a second, ten seconds.... Then gray understanding came to him. [161] A traitor! [162] his subconscious whispered. [163] A coward! [164] He stared at them in a new light, saw their indecision magnified, became opposition. [165] Svan thought faster than ever before in his life. [166] If there was a coward, it would do no good to unmask him. [167] All were wavering, any might be the one who had drawn the fatal slip. [168] He could insist on inspecting every one, but—suppose the coward, cornered, fought back? [169] In fractions of a second, Svan had considered the evidence and reached his decision. [170] Masked by the table, his hand, still holding the pencil, moved swiftly beneath the table, marked his own slip. [171] In the palm of his hand, Svan held up the slip he had just marked in secret. [172] His voice was very tired as he said, "I will plant the bomb." [173] The six conspirators in Svan's old ground car moved slowly along the main street of the native town. [174] Two Earth-ship sailors, unarmed except for deceptively flimsy-looking pistols at their hips, stood before the entrance to the town's Hall of Justice. [175] "Good," said Svan, observing them. [176] "The delegation is still here. [177] We have ample time." [178] He half turned in the broad front seat next to the driver, searching the faces of the others in the car. [179] Which was the coward? [180] he wondered. [181] Ingra? [182] Her aunt? [183] One of the men? [184] The right answer leaped up at him. [185] They all are , he thought. [186] Not one of them understands what this means. [187] They're afraid. [188] He clamped his lips. [189] "Go faster, Ingra," he ordered the girl who was driving. [190] "Let's get this done with." [191] She looked at him, and he was surprised to find compassion in her eyes. [192] Silently she nodded, advanced the fuel-handle so that the clumsy car jolted a trace more rapidly over the corduroy road. [193] It was quite dark now. [194] The car's driving light flared yellowishly in front of them, illuminating the narrow road and the pale, distorted vegetation of the jungle that surrounded them. [195] Svan noticed it was raining a little. [196] The present shower would deepen and intensify until midnight, then fall off again, to halt before morning. [197] But before then they would be done. [198] A proton-bolt lanced across the road in front of them. [199] In the silence that followed its thunderous crash, a man's voice bellowed: "Halt!" [200] The girl, Ingra, gasped something indistinguishable, slammed on the brakes. [201] A Venusian in the trappings of the State Guard advanced on them from the side of the road, proton-rifle held ready to fire again. [202] "Where are you going?" [203] he growled. [204] Svan spoke up. [205] "We want to look at the Earth-ship," he said. [206] He opened the door beside him and stepped out, careless of the drizzle. [207] "We heard it was leaving tonight," he continued, "and we have not seen it. [208] Is that not permitted?" [209] The guard shook his head sourly. [210] "No one is allowed near the ship. [211] The order was just issued. [212] It is thought there is danger." [213] Svan stepped closer, his teeth bared in what passed for a smile. [214] "It is urgent," he purred. [215] His right hand flashed across his chest in a complicated gesture. [216] "Do you understand?" [217] Confusion furrowed the guard's hairless brows, then was replaced by a sudden flare of understanding—and fear. [218] "The Council!" [219] he roared. [220] "By heaven, yes, I understand! [221] You are the swine that caused this—" He strove instinctively to bring the clumsy rifle up, but Svan was faster. [222] His gamble had failed; there was only one course remaining. [223] He hurled his gross white bulk at the guard, bowled him over against the splintery logs of the road. [224] The proton-rifle went flying, and Svan savagely tore at the throat of the guard. [225] Knees, elbows and claw-like nails—Svan battered at the astonished man with every ounce of strength in his body. [226] The guard was as big as Svan, but Svan had the initial advantage ... and it was only a matter of seconds before the guard lay unconscious, his skull a mass of gore at the back where Svan had ruthlessly pounded it against the road. [227] Svan grunted as his fingers constricted brutally. [228] Svan rose, panting, stared around. [229] No one else was in sight, save the petrified five and the ground car. [230] Svan glared at them contemptuously, then reached down and heaved on the senseless body of the guard. [231] Over the shoulder of the road the body went, onto the damp swampland of the jungle. [232] Even while Svan watched the body began to sink. [233] There would be no trace. [234] Svan strode back to the car. [235] "Hurry up," he gasped to the girl. [236] "Now there is danger for all of us, if they discover he is missing. [237] And keep a watch for other guards." [238] Venus has no moon, and no star can shine through its vast cloud layer. [239] Ensign Lowry, staring anxiously out through the astro-dome in the bow of the Earth-ship, cursed the blackness. [240] "Can't see a thing," he complained to the Exec, steadily writing away at the computer's table. [241] "Look—are those lights over there?" [242] The Exec looked up wearily. [243] He shrugged. [244] "Probably the guards. [245] Of course, you can't tell. [246] Might be a raiding party." [247] Lowry, stung, looked to see if the Exec was smiling, but found no answer in his stolid face. [248] "Don't joke about it," he said. [249] "Suppose something happens to the delegation?" [250] "Then we're in the soup," the Exec said philosophically. [251] "I told you the natives were dangerous. [252] Spy-rays! [253] They've been prohibited for the last three hundred years." [254] "It isn't all the natives," Lowry said. [255] "Look how they've doubled the guard around us. [256] The administration is co-operating every way they know how. [257] You heard the delegation's report on the intercom. [258] It's this secret group they call the Council." [259] "And how do you know the guards themselves don't belong to it?" [260] the Exec retorted. [261] "They're all the same to me.... Look, your light's gone out now. [262] Must have been the guard. [263] They're on the wrong side to be coming from the town, anyhow...." Svan hesitated only a fraction of a second after the girl turned the lights out and stopped the car. [264] Then he reached in the compartment under the seat. [265] If he took a little longer than seemed necessary to get the atomite bomb out of the compartment, none of the others noticed. [266] Certainly it did not occur to them that there had been two bombs in the compartment, though Svan's hand emerged with only one. [267] He got out of the car, holding the sphere. [268] "This will do for me," he said. [269] "They won't be expecting anyone to come from behind the ship—we were wise to circle around. [270] Now, you know what you must do?" [271] Ingra nodded, while the others remained mute. [272] "We must circle back again," she parroted. [273] "We are to wait five minutes, then drive the car into the swamp. [274] We will create a commotion, attract the guards." [275] Svan, listening, thought: It's not much of a plan. [276] The guards would not be drawn away. [277] I am glad I can't trust these five any more. [278] If they must be destroyed, it is good that their destruction will serve a purpose. [279] Aloud, he said, "You understand. [280] If I get through, I will return to the city on foot. [281] No one will suspect anything if I am not caught, because the bomb will not explode until the ship is far out in space. [282] Remember, you are in no danger from the guards." [283] From the guards , his mind echoed. [284] He smiled. [285] At least, they would feel no pain, never know what happened. [286] With the amount of atomite in that bomb in the compartment, they would merely be obliterated in a ground-shaking crash. [287] Abruptly he swallowed, reminded of the bomb that was silently counting off the seconds. [288] "Go ahead," he ordered. [289] "I will wait here." [290] "Svan." [291] The girl, Ingra, leaned over to him. [292] Impulsively she reached for him, kissed him. [293] "Good luck to you, Svan," she said. [294] "Good luck," repeated the others. [295] Then silently the electric motor of the car took hold. [296] Skilfully the girl backed it up, turned it around, sent it lumbering back down the road. [297] Only after she had traveled a few hundred feet by the feel of the road did she turn the lights on again. [298] Svan looked after them. [299] The kiss had surprised him. [300] What did it mean? [301] Was it an error that the girl should die with the others? [302] There was an instant of doubt in his steel-shackled mind, then it was driven away. [303] Perhaps she was loyal, yet certainly she was weak. [304] And since he could not know which was the one who had received the marked slip, and feared to admit it, it was better they all should die. [305] He advanced along the midnight road to where the ground rose and the jungle plants thinned out. [306] Ahead, on an elevation, were the rain-dimmed lights of the Earth-ship, set down in the center of a clearing made by its own fierce rockets. [307] Svan's mist-trained eyes spotted the circling figures of sentries, and knew that these would be the ship's own. [308] They would not be as easily overcome as the natives, not with those slim-shafted blasters they carried. [309] Only deceit could get him to the side of the ship. [310] Svan settled himself at the side of the road, waiting for his chance. [311] He had perhaps three minutes to wait; he reckoned. [312] His fingers went absently to the pouch in his wide belt, closed on the slip of paper. [313] He turned it over without looking at it, wondering who had drawn the first cross, and been a coward. [314] Ingra? [315] One of the men? [316] He became abruptly conscious of a commotion behind him. [317] A ground car was racing along the road. [318] He spun around and was caught in the glare of its blinding driving-light, as it bumped to a slithering stop. [319] Paralyzed, he heard the girl's voice. [320] "Svan! [321] They're coming! [322] They found the guard's rifle, and they're looking for us! [323] Thirty Earthmen, Svan, with those frightful guns. [324] They fired at us, but we got away and came for you. [325] We must flee!" [326] He stared unseeingly at the light. [327] "Go away!" [328] he croaked unbelievingly. [329] Then his muscles jerked into action. [330] The time was almost up—the bomb in the car— "Go away!" [331] he shrieked, and turned to run. [332] His fists clenched and swinging at his side, he made a dozen floundering steps before something immense pounded at him from behind. [333] He felt himself lifted from the road, sailing, swooping, dropping with annihilating force onto the hard, charred earth of the clearing. [334] Only then did he hear the sound of the explosion, and as the immense echoes died away he began to feel the pain seeping into him from his hideously racked body.... [335] The Flight Surgeon rose from beside him. [336] "He's still alive," he said callously to Lowry, who had just come up. [337] "It won't last long, though. [338] What've you got there?" [339] Lowry, a bewildered expression on his beardless face, held out the two halves of a metallic sphere. [340] Dangling ends of wires showed where a connection had been broken. [341] "He had a bomb," he said. [342] "A magnetic-type, delayed-action atomite bomb. [343] There must have been another in the car, and it went off. [344] They—they were planning to bomb us." [345] "Amazing," the surgeon said dryly. [346] "Well, they won't do any bombing now." [347] Lowry was staring at the huddled, mutilated form of Svan. [348] He shuddered. [349] The surgeon, seeing the shudder, grasped his shoulder. [350] "Better them than us," he said. [351] "It's poetic justice if I ever saw it. [352] They had it coming...." He paused thoughtfully, staring at a piece of paper between his fingers. [353] "This is the only part I don't get," he said. [354] "What's that?" [355] Lowry craned his neck. [356] "A piece of paper with a cross on it? [357] What about it?" [358] The surgeon shrugged. [359] "He had it clenched in his hand," he said. [360] "Had the devil of a time getting it loose from him." [361] He turned it over slowly, displayed the other side. [362] "Now what in the world would he be doing carrying a scrap of paper with a cross marked on both sides?"

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "Who is Lowry? What happens to him throughout the story?": 1. [18] "I don't know, Lowry," he said. 2. [19] "This is a funny place. 3. [20] I don't trust the natives." 4. [21] Lowry lifted his eyebrows. 5. [22] "Oh? 6. [23] But after all, they're human beings, just like us—" 7. [27] "Acclimation," Lowry said scientifically. 8. [28] "They had to acclimate themselves to Venus's climate. 9. [29] They're friendly enough." 10. [43] Lowry, interrupted in the middle of a word, jerked his head back and stared unbelievingly at the tell-tale next to the annunciator. 11. [44] Sure enough, it was glowing red—might have been glowing for minutes. 12. [45] He snatched at the hand-phone dangling from the wall, shouted into it. 13. [46] "Set up a screen! 14. [47] Notify the delegation! 15. [48] Alert a landing party!" 16. [49] But even while he was giving orders, the warning light flickered suddenly and went out. 17. [50] Stricken, Lowry turned to the Exec. 18. [239] Ensign Lowry, staring anxiously out through the astro-dome in the bow of the Earth-ship, cursed the blackness. 19. [240] "Can't see a thing," he complained to the Exec, steadily writing away at the computer's table. 20. [247] Lowry, stung, looked to see if the Exec was smiling, but found no answer in his stolid face. 21. [248] "Don't joke about it," he said. 22. [249] "Suppose something happens to the delegation?" 23. [254] "Look how they've doubled the guard around us. 24. [255] The administration is co-operating every way they know how. 25. [256] You heard the delegation's report on the intercom. 26. [257] It's this secret group they call the Council." 27. [1] DOUBLECROSS by JAMES Mac CREIGH Revolt was brewing on Venus, led by the descendant of the first Earthmen to land. 28. [2] Svan was the leader making the final plans—plotting them a bit too well. 29. [3] [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories Winter 1944. 30. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] 31. [5] The Officer of the Deck was pleased as he returned to the main lock. 32. [6] There was no reason why everything shouldn't have been functioning perfectly, of course, but he was pleased to have it confirmed, all the same. 33. [7] The Executive Officer was moodily smoking a cigarette in the open lock, staring out over the dank Venusian terrain at the native town. 34. [8] He turned. 35. [9] "Everything shipshape, I take it!" 36. [10] he commented. 37. [11] The OD nodded. 38. [12] "I'll have a blank log if this keeps up," he said. 39. [13] "Every man accounted for except the delegation, cargo stowed, drivers ready to lift as soon as they come back." 40. [14] The Exec tossed away his cigarette. 41. [15] "If they come back." 42. [16] "Is there any question?" 43. [17] The Exec shrugged. 44. [24] "Four or five generations ago they were. 45. [25] Lord, they don't even look human any more. 46. [26] Those white, flabby skins—I don't like them." 47. [30] The Exec shrugged again. 48. [31] He stared at the wooden shacks that were the outskirts of the native city, dimly visible through the ever-present Venusian mist. 49. [32] The native guard of honor, posted a hundred yards from the Earth-ship, stood stolidly at attention with their old-fashioned proton-rifles slung over their backs. 50. [33] A few natives were gazing wonderingly at the great ship, but made no move to pass the line of guards. 51. [34] "Of course," Lowry said suddenly, "there's a minority who are afraid of us. 52. [35] I was in town yesterday, and I talked with some of the natives. 53. [36] They think there will be hordes of immigrants from Earth, now that we know Venus is habitable. 54. [37] And there's some sort of a paltry underground group that is spreading the word that the immigrants will drive the native Venusians—the descendants of the first expedition, that is—right down into the mud. 55. [38] Well—" he laughed—"maybe they will. 56. [39] After all, the fittest survive. 57. [40] That's a basic law of—"

What is the setting of the story?

[1] DOUBLECROSS by JAMES Mac CREIGH Revolt was brewing on Venus, led by the descendant of the first Earthmen to land. [2] Svan was the leader making the final plans—plotting them a bit too well. [3] [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories Winter 1944. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [5] The Officer of the Deck was pleased as he returned to the main lock. [6] There was no reason why everything shouldn't have been functioning perfectly, of course, but he was pleased to have it confirmed, all the same. [7] The Executive Officer was moodily smoking a cigarette in the open lock, staring out over the dank Venusian terrain at the native town. [8] He turned. [9] "Everything shipshape, I take it!" [10] he commented. [11] The OD nodded. [12] "I'll have a blank log if this keeps up," he said. [13] "Every man accounted for except the delegation, cargo stowed, drivers ready to lift as soon as they come back." [14] The Exec tossed away his cigarette. " [15] If they come back." [16] "Is there any question?" [17] The Exec shrugged. [18] "I don't know, Lowry," he said. [19] "This is a funny place. [20] I don't trust the natives." [21] Lowry lifted his eyebrows. [22] "Oh? [23] But after all, they're human beings, just like us—" "Not any more. [24] Four or five generations ago they were. [25] Lord, they don't even look human any more. [26] Those white, flabby skins—I don't like them." [27] "Acclimation," Lowry said scientifically. [28] "They had to acclimate themselves to Venus's climate. [29] They're friendly enough." [30] The Exec shrugged again. [31] He stared at the wooden shacks that were the outskirts of the native city, dimly visible through the ever-present Venusian mist. [32] The native guard of honor, posted a hundred yards from the Earth-ship, stood stolidly at attention with their old-fashioned proton-rifles slung over their backs. [33] A few natives were gazing wonderingly at the great ship, but made no move to pass the line of guards. [34] "Of course," Lowry said suddenly, "there's a minority who are afraid of us. [35] I was in town yesterday, and I talked with some of the natives. [36] They think there will be hordes of immigrants from Earth, now that we know Venus is habitable. [37] And there's some sort of a paltry underground group that is spreading the word that the immigrants will drive the native Venusians—the descendants of the first expedition, that is—right down into the mud. [38] Well—" he laughed—"maybe they will. [39] After all, the fittest survive. [40] That's a basic law of—" The annunciator over the open lock clanged vigorously, and a metallic voice rasped: "Officer of the Deck! [41] Post Number One! [42] Instruments reports a spy ray focused on the main lock!" [43] Lowry, interrupted in the middle of a word, jerked his head back and stared unbelievingly at the tell-tale next to the annunciator. [44] Sure enough, it was glowing red—might have been glowing for minutes. [45] He snatched at the hand-phone dangling from the wall, shouted into it. [46] "Set up a screen! [47] Notify the delegation! [48] Alert a landing party!" [49] But even while he was giving orders, the warning light flickered suddenly and went out. [50] Stricken, Lowry turned to the Exec. [51] The Executive Officer nodded gloomily. [52] He said, "You see!" [53] "You see?" [54] Svan clicked off the listening-machine and turned around. [55] The five others in the room looked apprehensive. [56] "You see?" [57] Svan repeated. [58] "From their own mouths you have heard it. [59] The Council was right." [60] The younger of the two women sighed. [61] She might have been beautiful, in spite of her dead-white skin, if there had been a scrap of hair on her head. [62] "Svan, I'm afraid," she said. [63] "Who are we to decide if this is a good thing? [64] Our parents came from Earth. [65] Perhaps there will be trouble at first, if colonists come, but we are of the same blood." [66] Svan laughed harshly. " [67] They don't think so. [68] You heard them. [69] We are not human any more. [70] The officer said it." [71] The other woman spoke unexpectedly. [72] "The Council was right," she agreed. [73] "Svan, what must we do?" [74] Svan raised his hand, thoughtfully. [75] "One moment. [76] Ingra, do you still object?" [77] The younger woman shrank back before the glare in his eyes. [78] She looked around at the others, found them reluctant and uneasy, but visibly convinced by Svan. [79] "No," she said slowly. [80] "I do not object." [81] "And the rest of us? [82] Does any of us object?" [83] Svan eyed them, each in turn. [84] There was a slow but unanimous gesture of assent. [85] "Good," said Svan. [86] "Then we must act. [87] The Council has told us that we alone will decide our course of action. [88] We have agreed that, if the Earth-ship returns, it means disaster for Venus. [89] Therefore, it must not return." [90] An old man shifted restlessly. [91] "But they are strong, Svan," he complained. [92] "They have weapons. [93] We cannot force them to stay." [94] Svan nodded. [95] "No. [96] They will leave. [97] But they will never get back to Earth." [98] "Never get back to Earth?" [99] the old man gasped. [100] "Has the Council authorized—murder?" [101] Svan shrugged. [102] "The Council did not know what we would face. [103] The Councilmen could not come to the city and see what strength the Earth-ship has." [104] He paused dangerously. [105] "Toller," he said, "do you object?" [106] Like the girl, the old man retreated before his eyes. [107] His voice was dull. [108] "What is your plan?" [109] he asked. [110] Svan smiled, and it was like a dark flame. [111] He reached to a box at his feet, held up a shiny metal globe. [112] "One of us will plant this in the ship. [113] It will be set by means of this dial—" he touched a spot on the surface of the globe with a pallid finger—"to do nothing for forty hours. [114] Then—it will explode. [115] Atomite." [116] He grinned triumphantly, looking from face to face. [117] The grin faded uncertainly as he saw what was in their eyes—uncertainty, irresolution. [118] Abruptly he set the bomb down, savagely ripped six leaves off a writing tablet on the table next him. [119] He took a pencil and made a mark on one of them, held it up. [120] "We will let chance decide who is to do the work," he said angrily. [121] "Is there anyone here who is afraid? [122] There will be danger, I think...." No answer. [123] Svan jerked his head. [124] "Good," he said. [125] "Ingra, bring me that bowl." [126] Silently the girl picked up an opaque glass bowl from the broad arm of her chair. [127] It had held Venus-tobacco cigarettes; there were a few left. [128] She shook them out and handed the bowl to Svan, who was rapidly creasing the six fatal slips. [129] He dropped them in the bowl, stirred it with his hand, offered it to the girl. [130] "You first, Ingra," he said. [131] She reached in mechanically, her eyes intent on his, took out a slip and held it without opening it. [132] The bowl went the rounds, till Svan himself took the last. [133] All eyes were on him. [134] No one had looked at their slips. [135] Svan, too, had left his unopened. [136] He sat at the table, facing them. [137] "This is the plan," he said. [138] "We will go, all six of us, in my ground car, to look at the Earth-ship. [139] No one will suspect—the whole city has been to see it already. [140] One will get out, at the best point we can find. [141] It is almost dusk now. [142] He can hide, surely, in the vegetation. [143] The other five will start back. [144] Something will go wrong with the car—perhaps it will run off the road, start to sink in the swamp. [145] The guards will be called. [146] There will be commotion—that is easy enough, after all; a hysterical woman, a few screams, that's all there is to it. [147] And the sixth person will have his chance to steal to the side of the ship. [148] The bomb is magnetic. [149] It will not be noticed in the dark—they will take off before sunrise, because they must travel away from the sun to return—in forty hours the danger is removed." [150] There was comprehension in their eyes, Svan saw ... but still that uncertainty. [151] Impatiently, he crackled: "Look at the slips!" [152] Though he had willed his eyes away from it, his fingers had rebelled. [153] Instinctively they had opened the slip, turned it over and over, striving to detect if it was the fatal one. [154] They had felt nothing.... And his eyes saw nothing. [155] The slip was blank. [156] He gave it but a second's glance, then looked up to see who had won the lethal game of chance. [157] Almost he was disappointed. [158] Each of the others had looked in that same second. [159] And each was looking up now, around at his neighbors. [160] Svan waited impatiently for the chosen one to announce it—a second, ten seconds.... Then gray understanding came to him. [161] A traitor! [162] his subconscious whispered. [163] A coward! [164] He stared at them in a new light, saw their indecision magnified, became opposition. [165] Svan thought faster than ever before in his life. [166] If there was a coward, it would do no good to unmask him. [167] All were wavering, any might be the one who had drawn the fatal slip. [168] He could insist on inspecting every one, but—suppose the coward, cornered, fought back? [169] In fractions of a second, Svan had considered the evidence and reached his decision. [170] Masked by the table, his hand, still holding the pencil, moved swiftly beneath the table, marked his own slip. [171] In the palm of his hand, Svan held up the slip he had just marked in secret. [172] His voice was very tired as he said, "I will plant the bomb." [173] The six conspirators in Svan's old ground car moved slowly along the main street of the native town. [174] Two Earth-ship sailors, unarmed except for deceptively flimsy-looking pistols at their hips, stood before the entrance to the town's Hall of Justice. [175] "Good," said Svan, observing them. [176] "The delegation is still here. [177] We have ample time." [178] He half turned in the broad front seat next to the driver, searching the faces of the others in the car. [179] Which was the coward? [180] he wondered. [181] Ingra? [182] Her aunt? [183] One of the men? [184] The right answer leaped up at him. [185] They all are , he thought. [186] Not one of them understands what this means. [187] They're afraid. [188] He clamped his lips. [189] "Go faster, Ingra," he ordered the girl who was driving. [190] "Let's get this done with." [191] She looked at him, and he was surprised to find compassion in her eyes. [192] Silently she nodded, advanced the fuel-handle so that the clumsy car jolted a trace more rapidly over the corduroy road. [193] It was quite dark now. [194] The car's driving light flared yellowishly in front of them, illuminating the narrow road and the pale, distorted vegetation of the jungle that surrounded them. [195] Svan noticed it was raining a little. [196] The present shower would deepen and intensify until midnight, then fall off again, to halt before morning. [197] But before then they would be done. [198] A proton-bolt lanced across the road in front of them. [199] In the silence that followed its thunderous crash, a man's voice bellowed: "Halt!" [200] The girl, Ingra, gasped something indistinguishable, slammed on the brakes. [201] A Venusian in the trappings of the State Guard advanced on them from the side of the road, proton-rifle held ready to fire again. [202] "Where are you going?" [203] he growled. [204] Svan spoke up. [205] "We want to look at the Earth-ship," he said. [206] He opened the door beside him and stepped out, careless of the drizzle. [207] "We heard it was leaving tonight," he continued, "and we have not seen it. [208] Is that not permitted?" [209] The guard shook his head sourly. [210] "No one is allowed near the ship. [211] The order was just issued. [212] It is thought there is danger." [213] Svan stepped closer, his teeth bared in what passed for a smile. [214] "It is urgent," he purred. [215] His right hand flashed across his chest in a complicated gesture. [216] "Do you understand?" [217] Confusion furrowed the guard's hairless brows, then was replaced by a sudden flare of understanding—and fear. [218] "The Council!" [219] he roared. [220] "By heaven, yes, I understand! [221] You are the swine that caused this—" He strove instinctively to bring the clumsy rifle up, but Svan was faster. [222] His gamble had failed; there was only one course remaining. [223] He hurled his gross white bulk at the guard, bowled him over against the splintery logs of the road. [224] The proton-rifle went flying, and Svan savagely tore at the throat of the guard. [225] Knees, elbows and claw-like nails—Svan battered at the astonished man with every ounce of strength in his body. [226] The guard was as big as Svan, but Svan had the initial advantage ... and it was only a matter of seconds before the guard lay unconscious, his skull a mass of gore at the back where Svan had ruthlessly pounded it against the road. [227] Svan grunted as his fingers constricted brutally. [228] Svan rose, panting, stared around. [229] No one else was in sight, save the petrified five and the ground car. [230] Svan glared at them contemptuously, then reached down and heaved on the senseless body of the guard. [231] Over the shoulder of the road the body went, onto the damp swampland of the jungle. [232] Even while Svan watched the body began to sink. [233] There would be no trace. [234] Svan strode back to the car. [235] "Hurry up," he gasped to the girl. [236] "Now there is danger for all of us, if they discover he is missing. [237] And keep a watch for other guards." [238] Venus has no moon, and no star can shine through its vast cloud layer. [239] Ensign Lowry, staring anxiously out through the astro-dome in the bow of the Earth-ship, cursed the blackness. [240] "Can't see a thing," he complained to the Exec, steadily writing away at the computer's table. [241] "Look—are those lights over there?" [242] The Exec looked up wearily. [243] He shrugged. [244] "Probably the guards. [245] Of course, you can't tell. [246] Might be a raiding party." [247] Lowry, stung, looked to see if the Exec was smiling, but found no answer in his stolid face. [248] "Don't joke about it," he said. [249] "Suppose something happens to the delegation?" [250] "Then we're in the soup," the Exec said philosophically. [251] "I told you the natives were dangerous. [252] Spy-rays! [253] They've been prohibited for the last three hundred years." [254] "It isn't all the natives," Lowry said. [255] "Look how they've doubled the guard around us. [256] The administration is co-operating every way they know how. [257] You heard the delegation's report on the intercom. [258] It's this secret group they call the Council." [259] "And how do you know the guards themselves don't belong to it?" [260] the Exec retorted. [261] "They're all the same to me.... Look, your light's gone out now. [262] Must have been the guard. [263] They're on the wrong side to be coming from the town, anyhow...." Svan hesitated only a fraction of a second after the girl turned the lights out and stopped the car. [264] Then he reached in the compartment under the seat. [265] If he took a little longer than seemed necessary to get the atomite bomb out of the compartment, none of the others noticed. [266] Certainly it did not occur to them that there had been two bombs in the compartment, though Svan's hand emerged with only one. [267] He got out of the car, holding the sphere. [268] "This will do for me," he said. [269] "They won't be expecting anyone to come from behind the ship—we were wise to circle around. [270] Now, you know what you must do?" [271] Ingra nodded, while the others remained mute. [272] "We must circle back again," she parroted. [273] "We are to wait five minutes, then drive the car into the swamp. [274] We will create a commotion, attract the guards." [275] Svan, listening, thought: It's not much of a plan. [276] The guards would not be drawn away. [277] I am glad I can't trust these five any more. [278] If they must be destroyed, it is good that their destruction will serve a purpose. [279] Aloud, he said, "You understand. [280] If I get through, I will return to the city on foot. [281] No one will suspect anything if I am not caught, because the bomb will not explode until the ship is far out in space. [282] Remember, you are in no danger from the guards." [283] From the guards , his mind echoed. [284] He smiled. [285] At least, they would feel no pain, never know what happened. [286] With the amount of atomite in that bomb in the compartment, they would merely be obliterated in a ground-shaking crash. [287] Abruptly he swallowed, reminded of the bomb that was silently counting off the seconds. [288] "Go ahead," he ordered. [289] "I will wait here." [290] "Svan." [291] The girl, Ingra, leaned over to him. [292] Impulsively she reached for him, kissed him. [293] "Good luck to you, Svan," she said. [294] "Good luck," repeated the others. [295] Then silently the electric motor of the car took hold. [296] Skilfully the girl backed it up, turned it around, sent it lumbering back down the road. [297] Only after she had traveled a few hundred feet by the feel of the road did she turn the lights on again. [298] Svan looked after them. [299] The kiss had surprised him. [300] What did it mean? [301] Was it an error that the girl should die with the others? [302] There was an instant of doubt in his steel-shackled mind, then it was driven away. [303] Perhaps she was loyal, yet certainly she was weak. [304] And since he could not know which was the one who had received the marked slip, and feared to admit it, it was better they all should die. [305] He advanced along the midnight road to where the ground rose and the jungle plants thinned out. [306] Ahead, on an elevation, were the rain-dimmed lights of the Earth-ship, set down in the center of a clearing made by its own fierce rockets. [307] Svan's mist-trained eyes spotted the circling figures of sentries, and knew that these would be the ship's own. [308] They would not be as easily overcome as the natives, not with those slim-shafted blasters they carried. [309] Only deceit could get him to the side of the ship. [310] Svan settled himself at the side of the road, waiting for his chance. [311] He had perhaps three minutes to wait; he reckoned. [312] His fingers went absently to the pouch in his wide belt, closed on the slip of paper. [313] He turned it over without looking at it, wondering who had drawn the first cross, and been a coward. [314] Ingra? [315] One of the men? [316] He became abruptly conscious of a commotion behind him. [317] A ground car was racing along the road. [318] He spun around and was caught in the glare of its blinding driving-light, as it bumped to a slithering stop. [319] Paralyzed, he heard the girl's voice. [320] "Svan! [321] They're coming! [322] They found the guard's rifle, and they're looking for us! [323] Thirty Earthmen, Svan, with those frightful guns. [324] They fired at us, but we got away and came for you. [325] We must flee!" [326] He stared unseeingly at the light. [327] "Go away!" [328] he croaked unbelievingly. [329] Then his muscles jerked into action. [330] The time was almost up—the bomb in the car— "Go away!" [331] he shrieked, and turned to run. [332] His fists clenched and swinging at his side, he made a dozen floundering steps before something immense pounded at him from behind. [333] He felt himself lifted from the road, sailing, swooping, dropping with annihilating force onto the hard, charred earth of the clearing. [334] Only then did he hear the sound of the explosion, and as the immense echoes died away he began to feel the pain seeping into him from his hideously racked body.... [335] The Flight Surgeon rose from beside him. [336] "He's still alive," he said callously to Lowry, who had just come up. [337] "It won't last long, though. [338] What've you got there?" [339] Lowry, a bewildered expression on his beardless face, held out the two halves of a metallic sphere. [340] Dangling ends of wires showed where a connection had been broken. [341] "He had a bomb," he said. [342] "A magnetic-type, delayed-action atomite bomb. [343] There must have been another in the car, and it went off. [344] They—they were planning to bomb us." [345] "Amazing," the surgeon said dryly. [346] "Well, they won't do any bombing now." [347] Lowry was staring at the huddled, mutilated form of Svan. [348] He shuddered. [349] The surgeon, seeing the shudder, grasped his shoulder. [350] "Better them than us," he said. [351] "It's poetic justice if I ever saw it. [352] They had it coming...." He paused thoughtfully, staring at a piece of paper between his fingers. [353] "This is the only part I don't get," he said. [354] "What's that?" [355] Lowry craned his neck. [356] "A piece of paper with a cross on it? [357] What about it?" [358] The surgeon shrugged. [359] "He had it clenched in his hand," he said. [360] "Had the devil of a time getting it loose from him." [361] He turned it over slowly, displayed the other side. [362] "Now what in the world would he be doing carrying a scrap of paper with a cross marked on both sides?"

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "What is the setting of the story?": 1. [238] Venus has no moon, and no star can shine through its vast cloud layer. 2. [193] It was quite dark now. The car's driving light flared yellowishly in front of them, illuminating the narrow road and the pale, distorted vegetation of the jungle that surrounded them. 3. [194] Svan noticed it was raining a little. The present shower would deepen and intensify until midnight, then fall off again, to halt before morning. 4. [306] Ahead, on an elevation, were the rain-dimmed lights of the Earth-ship, set down in the center of a clearing made by its own fierce rockets. 5. [307] Svan's mist-trained eyes spotted the circling figures of sentries, and knew that these would be the ship's own. 6. [1] DOUBLECROSS by JAMES Mac CREIGH Revolt was brewing on Venus, led by the descendant of the first Earthmen to land. 7. [3] [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories Winter 1944.] 8. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] 9. [5] The Officer of the Deck was pleased as he returned to the main lock. 10. [6] There was no reason why everything shouldn't have been functioning perfectly, of course, but he was pleased to have it confirmed, all the same. 11. [7] The Executive Officer was moodily smoking a cigarette in the open lock, staring out over the dank Venusian terrain at the native town. 12. [31] He stared at the wooden shacks that were the outskirts of the native city, dimly visible through the ever-present Venusian mist. 13. [32] The native guard of honor, posted a hundred yards from the Earth-ship, stood stolidly at attention with their old-fashioned proton-rifles slung over their backs. 14. [33] A few natives were gazing wonderingly at the great ship, but made no move to pass the line of guards. 15. [2] Svan was the leader making the final plans—plotting them a bit too well.

What is the importance of the slip with a cross?

[1] DOUBLECROSS by JAMES Mac CREIGH Revolt was brewing on Venus, led by the descendant of the first Earthmen to land. [2] Svan was the leader making the final plans—plotting them a bit too well. [3] [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories Winter 1944. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [5] The Officer of the Deck was pleased as he returned to the main lock. [6] There was no reason why everything shouldn't have been functioning perfectly, of course, but he was pleased to have it confirmed, all the same. [7] The Executive Officer was moodily smoking a cigarette in the open lock, staring out over the dank Venusian terrain at the native town. [8] He turned. [9] "Everything shipshape, I take it!" [10] he commented. [11] The OD nodded. [12] "I'll have a blank log if this keeps up," he said. [13] "Every man accounted for except the delegation, cargo stowed, drivers ready to lift as soon as they come back." [14] The Exec tossed away his cigarette. " [15] If they come back." [16] "Is there any question?" [17] The Exec shrugged. [18] "I don't know, Lowry," he said. [19] "This is a funny place. [20] I don't trust the natives." [21] Lowry lifted his eyebrows. [22] "Oh? [23] But after all, they're human beings, just like us—" "Not any more. [24] Four or five generations ago they were. [25] Lord, they don't even look human any more. [26] Those white, flabby skins—I don't like them." [27] "Acclimation," Lowry said scientifically. [28] "They had to acclimate themselves to Venus's climate. [29] They're friendly enough." [30] The Exec shrugged again. [31] He stared at the wooden shacks that were the outskirts of the native city, dimly visible through the ever-present Venusian mist. [32] The native guard of honor, posted a hundred yards from the Earth-ship, stood stolidly at attention with their old-fashioned proton-rifles slung over their backs. [33] A few natives were gazing wonderingly at the great ship, but made no move to pass the line of guards. [34] "Of course," Lowry said suddenly, "there's a minority who are afraid of us. [35] I was in town yesterday, and I talked with some of the natives. [36] They think there will be hordes of immigrants from Earth, now that we know Venus is habitable. [37] And there's some sort of a paltry underground group that is spreading the word that the immigrants will drive the native Venusians—the descendants of the first expedition, that is—right down into the mud. [38] Well—" he laughed—"maybe they will. [39] After all, the fittest survive. [40] That's a basic law of—" The annunciator over the open lock clanged vigorously, and a metallic voice rasped: "Officer of the Deck! [41] Post Number One! [42] Instruments reports a spy ray focused on the main lock!" [43] Lowry, interrupted in the middle of a word, jerked his head back and stared unbelievingly at the tell-tale next to the annunciator. [44] Sure enough, it was glowing red—might have been glowing for minutes. [45] He snatched at the hand-phone dangling from the wall, shouted into it. [46] "Set up a screen! [47] Notify the delegation! [48] Alert a landing party!" [49] But even while he was giving orders, the warning light flickered suddenly and went out. [50] Stricken, Lowry turned to the Exec. [51] The Executive Officer nodded gloomily. [52] He said, "You see!" [53] "You see?" [54] Svan clicked off the listening-machine and turned around. [55] The five others in the room looked apprehensive. [56] "You see?" [57] Svan repeated. [58] "From their own mouths you have heard it. [59] The Council was right." [60] The younger of the two women sighed. [61] She might have been beautiful, in spite of her dead-white skin, if there had been a scrap of hair on her head. [62] "Svan, I'm afraid," she said. [63] "Who are we to decide if this is a good thing? [64] Our parents came from Earth. [65] Perhaps there will be trouble at first, if colonists come, but we are of the same blood." [66] Svan laughed harshly. " [67] They don't think so. [68] You heard them. [69] We are not human any more. [70] The officer said it." [71] The other woman spoke unexpectedly. [72] "The Council was right," she agreed. [73] "Svan, what must we do?" [74] Svan raised his hand, thoughtfully. [75] "One moment. [76] Ingra, do you still object?" [77] The younger woman shrank back before the glare in his eyes. [78] She looked around at the others, found them reluctant and uneasy, but visibly convinced by Svan. [79] "No," she said slowly. [80] "I do not object." [81] "And the rest of us? [82] Does any of us object?" [83] Svan eyed them, each in turn. [84] There was a slow but unanimous gesture of assent. [85] "Good," said Svan. [86] "Then we must act. [87] The Council has told us that we alone will decide our course of action. [88] We have agreed that, if the Earth-ship returns, it means disaster for Venus. [89] Therefore, it must not return." [90] An old man shifted restlessly. [91] "But they are strong, Svan," he complained. [92] "They have weapons. [93] We cannot force them to stay." [94] Svan nodded. [95] "No. [96] They will leave. [97] But they will never get back to Earth." [98] "Never get back to Earth?" [99] the old man gasped. [100] "Has the Council authorized—murder?" [101] Svan shrugged. [102] "The Council did not know what we would face. [103] The Councilmen could not come to the city and see what strength the Earth-ship has." [104] He paused dangerously. [105] "Toller," he said, "do you object?" [106] Like the girl, the old man retreated before his eyes. [107] His voice was dull. [108] "What is your plan?" [109] he asked. [110] Svan smiled, and it was like a dark flame. [111] He reached to a box at his feet, held up a shiny metal globe. [112] "One of us will plant this in the ship. [113] It will be set by means of this dial—" he touched a spot on the surface of the globe with a pallid finger—"to do nothing for forty hours. [114] Then—it will explode. [115] Atomite." [116] He grinned triumphantly, looking from face to face. [117] The grin faded uncertainly as he saw what was in their eyes—uncertainty, irresolution. [118] Abruptly he set the bomb down, savagely ripped six leaves off a writing tablet on the table next him. [119] He took a pencil and made a mark on one of them, held it up. [120] "We will let chance decide who is to do the work," he said angrily. [121] "Is there anyone here who is afraid? [122] There will be danger, I think...." No answer. [123] Svan jerked his head. [124] "Good," he said. [125] "Ingra, bring me that bowl." [126] Silently the girl picked up an opaque glass bowl from the broad arm of her chair. [127] It had held Venus-tobacco cigarettes; there were a few left. [128] She shook them out and handed the bowl to Svan, who was rapidly creasing the six fatal slips. [129] He dropped them in the bowl, stirred it with his hand, offered it to the girl. [130] "You first, Ingra," he said. [131] She reached in mechanically, her eyes intent on his, took out a slip and held it without opening it. [132] The bowl went the rounds, till Svan himself took the last. [133] All eyes were on him. [134] No one had looked at their slips. [135] Svan, too, had left his unopened. [136] He sat at the table, facing them. [137] "This is the plan," he said. [138] "We will go, all six of us, in my ground car, to look at the Earth-ship. [139] No one will suspect—the whole city has been to see it already. [140] One will get out, at the best point we can find. [141] It is almost dusk now. [142] He can hide, surely, in the vegetation. [143] The other five will start back. [144] Something will go wrong with the car—perhaps it will run off the road, start to sink in the swamp. [145] The guards will be called. [146] There will be commotion—that is easy enough, after all; a hysterical woman, a few screams, that's all there is to it. [147] And the sixth person will have his chance to steal to the side of the ship. [148] The bomb is magnetic. [149] It will not be noticed in the dark—they will take off before sunrise, because they must travel away from the sun to return—in forty hours the danger is removed." [150] There was comprehension in their eyes, Svan saw ... but still that uncertainty. [151] Impatiently, he crackled: "Look at the slips!" [152] Though he had willed his eyes away from it, his fingers had rebelled. [153] Instinctively they had opened the slip, turned it over and over, striving to detect if it was the fatal one. [154] They had felt nothing.... And his eyes saw nothing. [155] The slip was blank. [156] He gave it but a second's glance, then looked up to see who had won the lethal game of chance. [157] Almost he was disappointed. [158] Each of the others had looked in that same second. [159] And each was looking up now, around at his neighbors. [160] Svan waited impatiently for the chosen one to announce it—a second, ten seconds.... Then gray understanding came to him. [161] A traitor! [162] his subconscious whispered. [163] A coward! [164] He stared at them in a new light, saw their indecision magnified, became opposition. [165] Svan thought faster than ever before in his life. [166] If there was a coward, it would do no good to unmask him. [167] All were wavering, any might be the one who had drawn the fatal slip. [168] He could insist on inspecting every one, but—suppose the coward, cornered, fought back? [169] In fractions of a second, Svan had considered the evidence and reached his decision. [170] Masked by the table, his hand, still holding the pencil, moved swiftly beneath the table, marked his own slip. [171] In the palm of his hand, Svan held up the slip he had just marked in secret. [172] His voice was very tired as he said, "I will plant the bomb." [173] The six conspirators in Svan's old ground car moved slowly along the main street of the native town. [174] Two Earth-ship sailors, unarmed except for deceptively flimsy-looking pistols at their hips, stood before the entrance to the town's Hall of Justice. [175] "Good," said Svan, observing them. [176] "The delegation is still here. [177] We have ample time." [178] He half turned in the broad front seat next to the driver, searching the faces of the others in the car. [179] Which was the coward? [180] he wondered. [181] Ingra? [182] Her aunt? [183] One of the men? [184] The right answer leaped up at him. [185] They all are , he thought. [186] Not one of them understands what this means. [187] They're afraid. [188] He clamped his lips. [189] "Go faster, Ingra," he ordered the girl who was driving. [190] "Let's get this done with." [191] She looked at him, and he was surprised to find compassion in her eyes. [192] Silently she nodded, advanced the fuel-handle so that the clumsy car jolted a trace more rapidly over the corduroy road. [193] It was quite dark now. [194] The car's driving light flared yellowishly in front of them, illuminating the narrow road and the pale, distorted vegetation of the jungle that surrounded them. [195] Svan noticed it was raining a little. [196] The present shower would deepen and intensify until midnight, then fall off again, to halt before morning. [197] But before then they would be done. [198] A proton-bolt lanced across the road in front of them. [199] In the silence that followed its thunderous crash, a man's voice bellowed: "Halt!" [200] The girl, Ingra, gasped something indistinguishable, slammed on the brakes. [201] A Venusian in the trappings of the State Guard advanced on them from the side of the road, proton-rifle held ready to fire again. [202] "Where are you going?" [203] he growled. [204] Svan spoke up. [205] "We want to look at the Earth-ship," he said. [206] He opened the door beside him and stepped out, careless of the drizzle. [207] "We heard it was leaving tonight," he continued, "and we have not seen it. [208] Is that not permitted?" [209] The guard shook his head sourly. [210] "No one is allowed near the ship. [211] The order was just issued. [212] It is thought there is danger." [213] Svan stepped closer, his teeth bared in what passed for a smile. [214] "It is urgent," he purred. [215] His right hand flashed across his chest in a complicated gesture. [216] "Do you understand?" [217] Confusion furrowed the guard's hairless brows, then was replaced by a sudden flare of understanding—and fear. [218] "The Council!" [219] he roared. [220] "By heaven, yes, I understand! [221] You are the swine that caused this—" He strove instinctively to bring the clumsy rifle up, but Svan was faster. [222] His gamble had failed; there was only one course remaining. [223] He hurled his gross white bulk at the guard, bowled him over against the splintery logs of the road. [224] The proton-rifle went flying, and Svan savagely tore at the throat of the guard. [225] Knees, elbows and claw-like nails—Svan battered at the astonished man with every ounce of strength in his body. [226] The guard was as big as Svan, but Svan had the initial advantage ... and it was only a matter of seconds before the guard lay unconscious, his skull a mass of gore at the back where Svan had ruthlessly pounded it against the road. [227] Svan grunted as his fingers constricted brutally. [228] Svan rose, panting, stared around. [229] No one else was in sight, save the petrified five and the ground car. [230] Svan glared at them contemptuously, then reached down and heaved on the senseless body of the guard. [231] Over the shoulder of the road the body went, onto the damp swampland of the jungle. [232] Even while Svan watched the body began to sink. [233] There would be no trace. [234] Svan strode back to the car. [235] "Hurry up," he gasped to the girl. [236] "Now there is danger for all of us, if they discover he is missing. [237] And keep a watch for other guards." [238] Venus has no moon, and no star can shine through its vast cloud layer. [239] Ensign Lowry, staring anxiously out through the astro-dome in the bow of the Earth-ship, cursed the blackness. [240] "Can't see a thing," he complained to the Exec, steadily writing away at the computer's table. [241] "Look—are those lights over there?" [242] The Exec looked up wearily. [243] He shrugged. [244] "Probably the guards. [245] Of course, you can't tell. [246] Might be a raiding party." [247] Lowry, stung, looked to see if the Exec was smiling, but found no answer in his stolid face. [248] "Don't joke about it," he said. [249] "Suppose something happens to the delegation?" [250] "Then we're in the soup," the Exec said philosophically. [251] "I told you the natives were dangerous. [252] Spy-rays! [253] They've been prohibited for the last three hundred years." [254] "It isn't all the natives," Lowry said. [255] "Look how they've doubled the guard around us. [256] The administration is co-operating every way they know how. [257] You heard the delegation's report on the intercom. [258] It's this secret group they call the Council." [259] "And how do you know the guards themselves don't belong to it?" [260] the Exec retorted. [261] "They're all the same to me.... Look, your light's gone out now. [262] Must have been the guard. [263] They're on the wrong side to be coming from the town, anyhow...." Svan hesitated only a fraction of a second after the girl turned the lights out and stopped the car. [264] Then he reached in the compartment under the seat. [265] If he took a little longer than seemed necessary to get the atomite bomb out of the compartment, none of the others noticed. [266] Certainly it did not occur to them that there had been two bombs in the compartment, though Svan's hand emerged with only one. [267] He got out of the car, holding the sphere. [268] "This will do for me," he said. [269] "They won't be expecting anyone to come from behind the ship—we were wise to circle around. [270] Now, you know what you must do?" [271] Ingra nodded, while the others remained mute. [272] "We must circle back again," she parroted. [273] "We are to wait five minutes, then drive the car into the swamp. [274] We will create a commotion, attract the guards." [275] Svan, listening, thought: It's not much of a plan. [276] The guards would not be drawn away. [277] I am glad I can't trust these five any more. [278] If they must be destroyed, it is good that their destruction will serve a purpose. [279] Aloud, he said, "You understand. [280] If I get through, I will return to the city on foot. [281] No one will suspect anything if I am not caught, because the bomb will not explode until the ship is far out in space. [282] Remember, you are in no danger from the guards." [283] From the guards , his mind echoed. [284] He smiled. [285] At least, they would feel no pain, never know what happened. [286] With the amount of atomite in that bomb in the compartment, they would merely be obliterated in a ground-shaking crash. [287] Abruptly he swallowed, reminded of the bomb that was silently counting off the seconds. [288] "Go ahead," he ordered. [289] "I will wait here." [290] "Svan." [291] The girl, Ingra, leaned over to him. [292] Impulsively she reached for him, kissed him. [293] "Good luck to you, Svan," she said. [294] "Good luck," repeated the others. [295] Then silently the electric motor of the car took hold. [296] Skilfully the girl backed it up, turned it around, sent it lumbering back down the road. [297] Only after she had traveled a few hundred feet by the feel of the road did she turn the lights on again. [298] Svan looked after them. [299] The kiss had surprised him. [300] What did it mean? [301] Was it an error that the girl should die with the others? [302] There was an instant of doubt in his steel-shackled mind, then it was driven away. [303] Perhaps she was loyal, yet certainly she was weak. [304] And since he could not know which was the one who had received the marked slip, and feared to admit it, it was better they all should die. [305] He advanced along the midnight road to where the ground rose and the jungle plants thinned out. [306] Ahead, on an elevation, were the rain-dimmed lights of the Earth-ship, set down in the center of a clearing made by its own fierce rockets. [307] Svan's mist-trained eyes spotted the circling figures of sentries, and knew that these would be the ship's own. [308] They would not be as easily overcome as the natives, not with those slim-shafted blasters they carried. [309] Only deceit could get him to the side of the ship. [310] Svan settled himself at the side of the road, waiting for his chance. [311] He had perhaps three minutes to wait; he reckoned. [312] His fingers went absently to the pouch in his wide belt, closed on the slip of paper. [313] He turned it over without looking at it, wondering who had drawn the first cross, and been a coward. [314] Ingra? [315] One of the men? [316] He became abruptly conscious of a commotion behind him. [317] A ground car was racing along the road. [318] He spun around and was caught in the glare of its blinding driving-light, as it bumped to a slithering stop. [319] Paralyzed, he heard the girl's voice. [320] "Svan! [321] They're coming! [322] They found the guard's rifle, and they're looking for us! [323] Thirty Earthmen, Svan, with those frightful guns. [324] They fired at us, but we got away and came for you. [325] We must flee!" [326] He stared unseeingly at the light. [327] "Go away!" [328] he croaked unbelievingly. [329] Then his muscles jerked into action. [330] The time was almost up—the bomb in the car— "Go away!" [331] he shrieked, and turned to run. [332] His fists clenched and swinging at his side, he made a dozen floundering steps before something immense pounded at him from behind. [333] He felt himself lifted from the road, sailing, swooping, dropping with annihilating force onto the hard, charred earth of the clearing. [334] Only then did he hear the sound of the explosion, and as the immense echoes died away he began to feel the pain seeping into him from his hideously racked body.... [335] The Flight Surgeon rose from beside him. [336] "He's still alive," he said callously to Lowry, who had just come up. [337] "It won't last long, though. [338] What've you got there?" [339] Lowry, a bewildered expression on his beardless face, held out the two halves of a metallic sphere. [340] Dangling ends of wires showed where a connection had been broken. [341] "He had a bomb," he said. [342] "A magnetic-type, delayed-action atomite bomb. [343] There must have been another in the car, and it went off. [344] They—they were planning to bomb us." [345] "Amazing," the surgeon said dryly. [346] "Well, they won't do any bombing now." [347] Lowry was staring at the huddled, mutilated form of Svan. [348] He shuddered. [349] The surgeon, seeing the shudder, grasped his shoulder. [350] "Better them than us," he said. [351] "It's poetic justice if I ever saw it. [352] They had it coming...." He paused thoughtfully, staring at a piece of paper between his fingers. [353] "This is the only part I don't get," he said. [354] "What's that?" [355] Lowry craned his neck. [356] "A piece of paper with a cross on it? [357] What about it?" [358] The surgeon shrugged. [359] "He had it clenched in his hand," he said. [360] "Had the devil of a time getting it loose from him." [361] He turned it over slowly, displayed the other side. [362] "Now what in the world would he be doing carrying a scrap of paper with a cross marked on both sides?"

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "What is the importance of the slip with a cross?": 1. [351] "It's poetic justice if I ever saw it. They had it coming...." He paused thoughtfully, staring at a piece of paper between his fingers. 2. [352] "This is the only part I don't get," he said. 3. [353] "What's that?" 4. [354] Lowry craned his neck. 5. [355] "A piece of paper with a cross on it? What about it?" 6. [356] The surgeon shrugged. 7. [357] "He had it clenched in his hand," he said. 8. [358] "Had the devil of a time getting it loose from him." 9. [359] He turned it over slowly, displayed the other side. 10. [360] "Now what in the world would he be doing carrying a scrap of paper with a cross marked on both sides?" 11. [311] Svan settled himself at the side of the road, waiting for his chance. He had perhaps three minutes to wait; he reckoned. His fingers went absently to the pouch in his wide belt, closed on the slip of paper. 12. [312] He turned it over without looking at it, wondering who had drawn the first cross, and been a coward. 13. [313] Ingra? One of the men? 14. [1] DOUBLECROSS by JAMES Mac CREIGH Revolt was brewing on Venus, led by the descendant of the first Earthmen to land. 15. [2] Svan was the leader making the final plans—plotting them a bit too well. 16. [3] [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories Winter 1944. 17. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] 18. [5] The Officer of the Deck was pleased as he returned to the main lock. 19. [6] There was no reason why everything shouldn't have been functioning perfectly, of course, but he was pleased to have it confirmed, all the same. 20. [7] The Executive Officer was moodily smoking a cigarette in the open lock, staring out over the dank Venusian terrain at the native town. 21. [8] He turned. 22. [9] "Everything shipshape, I take it!" 23. [10] he commented. 24. [11] The OD nodded. 25. [12] "I'll have a blank log if this keeps up," he said. 26. [13] "Every man accounted for except the delegation, cargo stowed, drivers ready to lift as soon as they come back." 27. [14] The Exec tossed away his cigarette. 28. [15] "If they come back." 29. [16] "Is there any question?" 30. [17] The Exec shrugged. 31. [18] "I don't know, Lowry," he said. 32. [19] "This is a funny place. 33. [20] I don't trust the natives." 34. [21] Lowry lifted his eyebrows. 35. [22] "Oh? 36. [23] But after all, they're human beings, just like us—" 37. [24] "Not any more. 38. [25] Four or five generations ago they were. 39. [26] Lord, they don't even look human any more. 40. [27] Those white, flabby skins—I don't like them." 41. [28] "Acclimation," Lowry said scientifically. 42. [29] "They had to acclimate themselves to Venus's climate. 43. [30] They're friendly enough." 44. [31] The Exec shrugged again. 45. [32] He stared at the wooden shacks that were the outskirts of the native city, dimly visible through the ever-present Venusian mist. 46. [33] A few natives were gazing wonderingly at the great ship, but made no move to pass the line of guards. 47. [34] "Of course," Lowry said suddenly, "there's a minority who are afraid of us. 48. [35] I was in town yesterday, and I talked with some of the natives. 49. [36] They think there will be hordes of immigrants from Earth, now that we know Venus is habitable. 50. [37] And there's some sort of a paltry underground group that is spreading the word that the immigrants will drive the native Venusians—the descendants of the first expedition, that is—right down into the mud. 51. [38] Well—" he laughed—"maybe they will. 52. [39] After all, the fittest survive. 53. [40] That's a basic law of—" 54. [54] Svan clicked off the listening-machine and turned around. 55. [55] The five others in the room looked apprehensive. 56. [56] "You see?" 57. [57] Svan repeated. 58. [58] "From their own mouths you have heard it. 59. [59] The Council was right." 60. [60] The younger of the two women sighed. 61. [61] She might have been beautiful, in spite of her dead-white skin, if there had been a scrap of hair on her head. 62. [62] "Svan, I'm afraid," she said. 63. [63] "Who are we to decide if this is a good thing? 64. [64] Our parents came from Earth. 65. [65] Perhaps there will be trouble at first, if colonists come, but we are of the same blood." 66. [66] Svan laughed harshly. 67. [67] "They don't think so. 68. [68] You heard them. 69. [69] We are not human any more. 70. [70] The officer said it." 71. [71] The other woman spoke unexpectedly. 72. [72] "The Council was right," she agreed. 73. [73] "Svan, what must we do?" 74. [74] Svan raised his hand, thoughtfully. 75. [75] "One moment. 76. [76] Ingra, do you still object?" 77. [77] The younger woman shrank back before the glare in his eyes. 78. [78] She looked around at the others, found them reluctant and uneasy, but visibly convinced by Svan. 79. [79] "No," she said slowly. 80. [80] "I do not object." 81. [81] "And the rest of us? 82. [82] Does any of us object?" 83. [83] Svan eyed them, each in turn. 84. [84] There was a slow but unanimous gesture of assent. 85. [85] "Good," said Svan. 86. [86] "Then we must act. 87. [87] The Council has told us that we alone will decide our course of action. 88. [88] We have agreed that, if the Earth-ship returns, it means disaster for Venus. 89. [89] Therefore, it must not return." 90. [90] An old man shifted restlessly. 91. [91] "But they are strong, Svan," he complained. 92. [92] "They have weapons. 93. [93] We cannot force them to stay." 94. [94] Svan nodded. 95. [95] "No. 96. [96] They will leave. 97. [97] But they will never get back to Earth." 98. [98] "Never get back to Earth?" 99. [99] the old man gasped. 100. [100] "Has the Council authorized—murder?" 101. [101] Svan shrugged. 102. [102] "The Council did not know what we would face. 103. [103] The Councilmen could not come to the city and see what strength the Earth-ship has." 104. [104] He paused dangerously. 105. [105] "Toller," he said, "do you object?" 106. [106] Like the girl, the old man retreated before his eyes. 107. [107] His voice was dull. 108. [108] "What is your plan?" 109. [109] he asked. 110. [110] Svan smiled, and it was like a dark flame. 111. [111] He reached to a box at his feet, held up a shiny metal globe. 112. [112] "One of us will plant this in the ship. 113. [113] It will be set by means of this dial—" he touched a spot on the surface of the globe with a pallid finger—"to do nothing for forty hours. 114. [114] Then—it will explode. 115. [115] Atomite." 116. [116] He grinned triumphantly, looking from face to face. 117. [117] The grin faded uncertainly as he saw what was in their eyes—uncertainty, irresolution. 118. [118] Abruptly he set the bomb down, savagely ripped six leaves off a writing tablet on the table next him. 119. [119] He took a pencil and made a mark on one of them, held it up. 120. [120] "We will let chance decide who is to do the work," he said angrily. 121. [121] "Is there anyone here who is afraid? 122. [122] There will be danger, I think...." No answer. 123. [123] Svan jerked his head. 124. [124] "Good," he said. 125. [125] "Ingra, bring me that bowl." 126. [126] Silently the girl picked up an opaque glass bowl from the broad arm of her chair. 127. [127] It had held Venus-tobacco cigarettes; there were a few left. 128. [128] She shook them out and handed the bowl to Svan, who was rapidly creasing the six fatal slips. 129. [129] He dropped them in the bowl, stirred it with his hand, offered it to the girl. 130. [130] "You first, Ingra," he said. 131. [131] She reached in mechanically, her eyes intent on his, took out a slip and held it without opening it. 132. [132] The bowl went the rounds, till Svan himself took the last. 133. [133] All eyes were on him. 134. [134] No one had looked at their slips. 135. [135] Svan, too, had left his unopened. 136. [136] He sat at the table, facing them. 137. [137] "This is the plan," he said. 138. [138] "We will go, all six of us, in my ground car, to look at the Earth-ship. 139. [139] No one will suspect—the whole city has been to see it already. 140. [140] One will get out, at the best point we can find. 141. [141] It is almost dusk now. 142. [142] He can hide, surely, in the vegetation. 143. [143] The other five will start back. 144. [144] Something will go wrong with the car—perhaps it will run off the road, start to sink in the swamp. 145. [145] The guards will be called. 146. [146] There will be commotion—that is easy enough, after all; a hysterical woman, a few screams, that's all there is to it. 147. [147] And the sixth person will have his chance to steal to the side of the ship. 148. [148] The bomb is magnetic. 149. [149] It will not be noticed in the dark—they will take off before sunrise, because they must travel away from the sun to return—in forty hours the danger is removed." 150. [150] There was comprehension in their eyes, Svan saw ... but still that uncertainty. 151. [151] Impatiently, he crackled: "Look at the slips!" 152. [152] Though he had willed his eyes away from it, his fingers had rebelled. 153. [153] Instinctively they had opened the slip, turned it over and over, striving to detect if it was the fatal one. 154. [154] They had felt nothing.... And his eyes saw nothing. 155. [155] The slip was blank. 156. [156] He gave it but a second's glance, then looked up to see who had won the lethal game of chance. 157. [157] Almost he was disappointed. 158. [158] Each of the others had looked in that same second. 159. [159] And each was looking up now, around at his neighbors. 160. [160] Svan waited impatiently for the chosen one to announce it—a second, ten seconds.... Then gray understanding came to him. 161. [161] A traitor! 162. [162] his subconscious whispered. 163. [163] A coward! 164. [164] He stared at them in a new light, saw their indecision magnified, became opposition. 165. [165] Svan thought faster than ever before in his life. 166. [166] If there was a coward, it would do no good to unmask him. 167. [167] All were wavering, any might be the one who had drawn the fatal slip. 168. [168] He could insist on inspecting every one, but—suppose the coward, cornered, fought back? 169. [169] In fractions of a second, Svan had considered the evidence and reached his decision. 170. [170] Masked by the table, his hand, still holding the pencil, moved swiftly beneath the table, marked his own slip. 171. [171] In the palm of his hand, Svan held up the slip he had just marked in secret. 172. [172] His voice was very tired as he said, "I will plant the bomb." 173. [173] The six conspirators in Svan's old ground car moved slowly along the main street of the native town. 174. [174] Two Earth-ship sailors, unarmed except for deceptively flimsy-looking pistols at their hips, stood before the entrance to the town's Hall of Justice. 175. [175] "Good," said Svan, observing them. 176. [176] "The delegation is still here. 177. [177] We have ample time." 178. [178] He half turned in the broad front seat next to the driver, searching the faces of the others in the car. 179. [179] Which was the coward? 180. [180] he wondered. 181. [181] Ingra? 182. [182] Her aunt? 183. [183] One of the men? 184. [184] The right answer leaped up at him. 185. [185] They all are , he thought. 186. [186] Not one of them understands what this means. 187. [187] They're afraid. 188. [188] He clamped his lips. 189. [189] "Go faster, Ingra," he ordered the girl who was driving. 190. [190] "Let's get this done with." 191. [191] She looked at him, and he was surprised to find compassion in her eyes. 192. [192] Silently she nodded, advanced the fuel-handle so that the clumsy car jolted a trace more rapidly over the corduroy road. 193. [193] It was quite dark now. 194. [194] The car's driving light flared yellowishly in front of them, illuminating the narrow road and the pale, distorted vegetation of the jungle that surrounded them. 195. [195] Svan noticed it was raining a little. 196. [196] The present shower would deepen and intensify until midnight, then fall off again, to halt before morning. 197. [197] But before then they would be done. 198. [198] A proton-bolt lanced across the road in front of them. 199. [199] In the silence that followed its thunderous crash, a man's voice bellowed: "Halt!" 200. [200] The girl, Ingra, gasped something indistinguishable, slammed on the brakes. 201. [201] A Venusian in the trappings of the State Guard advanced on them from the side of the road, proton-rifle held ready to fire again. 202. [202] "Where are you going?" 203. [203] he growled. 204. [204] Svan spoke up. 205. [205] "We want to look at the Earth-ship," he said. 206. [206] He opened the door beside him and stepped out, careless of the drizzle. 207. [207] "We heard it was leaving tonight," he continued, "and we have not seen it. 208. [208] Is that not permitted?" 209. [209] The guard shook his head sourly. 210. [210] "No one is allowed

What is the plot of the story?

[1] GOURMET By ALLEN KIM LANG [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Magazine April 1962. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] This was the endless problem of all spaceship cooks: He had to feed the men tomorrow on what they had eaten today! [4] Unable to get out to the ballgame and a long way off from the girls, men on ships think about, talk about, bitch about their food. [5] It's true that Woman remains a topic of thoughtful study, but discussion can never replace practice in an art. [6] Food, on the other hand, is a challenge shipmen face three times a day, so central to their thoughts that a history of sea-faring can be read from a commissary list. [7] In the days when salt-sea sailors were charting islands and spearing seals, for example, the fo'c's'le hands called themselves Lobscousers, celebrating the liquid hash then prominent in the marine menu. [8] The Limey sailor got the name of the anti-scorbutic citrus squeezed into his diet, a fruit known to us mariners of a more sophisticated age only as garnish for our groundside gin-and-tonic. [9] And today we Marsmen are called Slimeheads, honoring in our title the Chlorella and Scenedesmus algae that, by filling up the spaces within, open the road to the larger Space without. [10] Should any groundsman dispute the importance of belly-furniture in history—whether it be exterminating whales, or introducing syphilis to the Fiji Islanders, or settling the Australian littoral with cross-coves from Middlesex and Hampshire—he is referred to the hundred-and-first chapter of Moby Dick , a book spooled in the amusement tanks of all but the smallest spacers. [11] I trust, however, that no Marsman will undertake to review this inventory of refreshment more than a week from groundfall. [12] A catalogue of sides of beef and heads of Leyden cheese and ankers of good Geneva would prove heavy reading for a man condemned to snack on the Chlorella-spawn of cis-Martian space. [13] The Pequod's crew ate wormy biscuit and salt beef. [14] Nimitz's men won their war on canned pork and beans. [15] The Triton made her underwater periplus of Earth with a galley stocked with frozen pizza and concentrated apple-juice. [16] But then, when sailors left the seas for the skies, a decline set in. [17] The first amenity of groundside existence to be abandoned was decent food. [18] The earliest men into the vacuum swallowed protein squeezings from aluminum tubes, and were glad enough to drop back to the groundsman's diet of steak and fried potatoes. [19] Long before I was a boy in Med School, itching to look at black sky through a view-port, galley science had fulfilled the disgusting exordium of Isaiah 36:12, to feed the Slimeheads for breakfast today what was day-before-yesterday's table-scraps and jakes-water. [20] The Ship's Cook, the man who accomplishes the daily miracle of turning offal into eatables, is in many ways the most vital man aboard a spacer. [21] He can make morale or foment a mutiny. [22] His power is paramount. [23] Slimeheads remember the H. M. S. Ajax fiasco, for example, in which a galleyman leveled his Chlorella tanks with heavy water from the ship's shielding. [24] Four officers and twenty-one Other Ranks were rescued from the Ajax in deep space, half dead from deuterium poisoning. [25] We think of the Benjo Maru incident, too, caused by a Ship's Cook who allowed his algaeal staff-of-life to become contaminated with a fast-growing Saccharomycodes yeast. [26] The Japanese vessel staggered to her pad at Piano West after a twenty-week drunk: the alien yeast had got into the stomach of every man aboard, where it fermented each subsequent bite he ate to a superior grade of sake . [27] And for a third footnote to the ancient observation, "God sends food, and the Devil sends cooks," Marsmen will recall what happened aboard my ship the Charles Partlow Sale . [28] The Sale blasted off from Brady Station in the middle of August, due in at Piano West in early May. [29] In no special hurry, we were taking the low-energy route to Mars, a pathway about as long in time as the human period of gestation. [30] Our cargo consisted mostly of Tien-Shen fir seedlings and some tons of an arctic grass-seed—these to be planted in the maria to squeeze out the native blue bugberry vines. [31] We had aboard the Registry minimum of six men and three officers. [32] Ship's Surgeon was myself, Paul Vilanova. [33] Our Captain was Willy Winkelmann, the hardest man in space and very likely the fattest. [34] Ship's Cook was Robert Bailey. [35] Cooking aboard a spacer is a job combining the more frustrating tensions of biochemistry, applied mycology, high-speed farming, dietetics and sewage engineering. [36] It's the Cook's responsibility to see that each man aboard gets each day no less than five pounds of water, two pounds of oxygen, and one-and-a-half pounds of dry food. [37] This isn't just a paragraph from the Spacer Union Contract. [38] It's a statement of the least fuel a man can run on. [39] Twelve tons of water, oxygen, and food would have filled the cargo compartments to bursting, and left a small ship like the C. P. Sale no reason to reach for Mars. [40] By allowing a colony of Chlorella algae to work over our used air, water and other effluvia, though, three tons of metabolites would see us through from Brady Station to Piano West and back. [41] Recycling was the answer. [42] The molecule of carbohydrate, fat, protein or mineral that didn't feed the crew fed the algae. [43] And the algae fed us. [44] All waste was used to fertilize our liquid fields. [45] Even the stubble from our 2,680 shaves and the clippings from our 666 haircuts en route and back would be fed into the Chlorella tanks. [46] Human hair is rich in essential amino acids. [47] The algae—dried by the Cook, bleached with methyl alcohol to kill the smell and make the residue more digestible, disguised and seasoned in a hundred ways—served as a sort of meat-and-potatoes that never quite wore out. [48] Our air and water were equally immortal. [49] Each molecule of oxygen would be conversant with the alveoli of every man aboard by the end of our trip. [50] Every drop of water would have been intimate with the glomeruli of each kidney on the ship before we grounded in. [51] Groundling politicians are right enough when they say that we spacers are a breed apart. [52] We're the one race of men who can't afford the luxury of squeamishness. [53] Though I'm signed aboard as Ship's Surgeon, I seldom lift a knife in space. [54] My employment is more in the nature of TS-card-puncher extraordinary. [55] My duties are to serve as wailing-wall, morale officer, guardian of the medicinal whiskey and frustrator of mutual murder. [56] Generally the man aboard who'd serve as the most popular murder-victim is the Cook. [57] This trip, the-man-you-love-to-hate was our Captain. [58] If the Cook hadn't problems enough with the chemical and psychic duties of his office, Winkelmann supplied the want. [59] Captain Willy Winkelmann was the sort of man who, if he had to go into space at all, had best do so alone. [60] If the Prussians had a Marine Corps, Winkelmann would have done splendidly as Drill Instructor for their boot camp. [61] His heart was a chip of helium ice, his voice dripped sarcastic acid. [62] The planet Earth was hardly large enough to accommodate a wart as annoying as Willy Winkelmann. [63] Cheek-by-jowl every day in a nacelle the size of a Pullman car, our Captain quickly established himself as a major social hemorrhoid. [64] The Captain's particular patsy was, of course, young Bailey the Cook. [65] It was Winkelmann who saw humorous possibilities in the entry, "Bailey, Robert," on Ship's Articles. [66] He at once renamed our unfortunate shipmate "Belly-Robber." [67] It was Winkelmann who discussed haut cuisine and the properties of the nobler wines while we munched our algaeburgers and sipped coffee that tasted of utility water. [68] And it was Captain Willy Winkelmann who never referred to the ship's head by any other name than The Kitchen Cabinet. [69] Bailey tried to feed us by groundside standards. [70] He hid the taste of synthetic methionine—an essential amino acid not synthesized by Chlorella—by seasoning our algaeal repasts with pinches of oregano and thyme. [71] He tinted the pale-green dollops of pressed Chlorella pink, textured the mass to the consistency of hamburger and toasted the slabs to a delicate brown in a forlorn attempt to make mock-meat. [72] For dessert, he served a fudge compounded from the dextrose-paste of the carbohydrate recycler. [73] The crew thanked him. [74] The Captain did not. [75] "Belly-Robber," he said, his tone icy as winter wind off the North Sea, "you had best cycle this mess through the tanks again. [76] There is a pun in my home country: Mensch ist was er isst. [77] It means, you are what you eat. [78] I think you are impertinent to suggest I should become this Schweinerei you are feeding me." [79] Captain Winkelmann blotted his chin with his napkin, heaved his bulk up from the table, and climbed up the ladder from the dining-cubby. [80] "Doc, do you like Winkelmann?" [81] the Cook asked me. [82] "Not much," I said. [83] "I suspect that the finest gift our Captain can give his mother is to be absent from her on Mother's Day. [84] But we've got to live with him. [85] He's a good man at driving a ship." [86] "I wish he'd leave off driving this Cook," Bailey said. [87] "The fat swine!" [88] "His plumpness is an unwitting tribute to your cooking, Bailey," I said. [89] "He eats well. [90] We all do. [91] I've dined aboard a lot of spacers in my time, and I'll testify that you set a table second to none." [92] Bailey took a handful of dried Chlorella from a bin and fingered it. [93] It was green, smelled of swamp, and looked appetizing as a bedsore. [94] "This is what I have to work with," he said. [95] He tossed the stuff back into its bin. [96] "In Ohio, which is my home country, in the presence of ladies, we'd call such garbage Horse-Leavings." [97] "You'll never make Winkelmann happy," I said. [98] "Even the simultaneous death of all other human beings could hardly make him smile. [99] Keep up the good work, though, and you'll keep our Captain fat." [100] Bailey nodded from his one-man cloud of gloom. [101] I got a bottle of rye from Medical Stores and offered him a therapeutic draught. [102] The Cook waved my gift aside. [103] "Not now, Doc," he said. [104] "I'm thinking about tomorrow's menu." [105] The product of Bailey's cerebrations was on the mess table at noon the next day. [106] We were each served an individual head of lettuce, dressed with something very like vinegar and oil, spiced with tiny leaves of burnet. [107] How Bailey had constructed those synthetic lettuces I can only guess: the hours spent preparing a green Chlorella paste, rolling and drying and shaping each artificial leaf, the fitting together of nine heads like crisp, three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles. [108] The pièce de résistance was again a "hamburger steak;" but this time the algaeal mass that made it up was buried in a rich, meaty gravy that was only faintly green. [109] The essence-of-steak used in these Chlorella cutlets had been sprinkled with a lavish hand. [110] Garlic was richly in evidence. [111] "It's so tender," the radioman joked, "that I can hardly believe it's really steak." [112] Bailey stared across the dining-cubby toward Winkelmann, silently imploring the Captain's ratification of his masterpiece. [113] The big man's pink cheeks bulged and jumped with his chewing. [114] He swallowed. [115] "Belly-Robber," Winkelmann said, "I had almost rather you served me this pond-scum raw than have it all mucked-up with synthetic onions and cycler-salt." [116] "You seem able enough to choke down Bailey's chow, Captain," I said. [117] I gazed at Winkelmann's form, bulbous from a lifetime of surfeit feeding. [118] "Yes, I eat it," the Captain said, taking and talking through another bite. [119] "But I eat only as a man in the desert will eat worms and grasshoppers, to stay alive." [120] "Sir, what in heaven's name do you expect from me?" [121] Bailey pleaded. [122] "Only good food," Winkelmann mumbled through his mouthful of disguised algae. [123] He tapped his head with a finger. [124] "This—the brain that guides the ship—cannot be coaxed to work on hog-slop. [125] You understand me, Belly-Robber?" [126] Bailey, his hands fisted at his sides, nodded. [127] "Yes, sir. [128] But I really don't know what I can do to please you." [129] "You are a spacer and a Ship's Cook, not a suburban Hausfrau with the vapors," Winkelmann said. [130] "I do not expect from you hysterics, tantrums or weeping. [131] Only—can you understand this, so simple?—food that will keep my belly content and my brain alive." [132] "Yes, sir," Bailey said, his face a picture of that offense the British term Dumb Insolence. [133] Winkelmann got up and climbed the ladder to the pilot-cubicle. [134] I followed him. [135] "Captain," I said, "you're driving Bailey too hard. [136] You're asking him to make bricks without straw." [137] Winkelmann regarded me with his pale-blue stare. [138] "You think, Doctor, that my cruelty to the Belly-Robber is the biliousness of a middle-aged man?" [139] "Frankly, I can't understand your attitude at all," I said. [140] "You accuse me of driving a man to make bricks without straw," Winkelmann said. [141] "Very well, Doctor. [142] It is my belief that if the Pharaoh's taskmaster had had my firmness of purpose, the Children of Israel would have made bricks with stubble. [143] Necessity, Doctor, is the mother of invention. [144] I am Bailey's necessity. [145] My unkindnesses make him uncomfortable, I doubt that not. [146] But I am forcing him to experiment, to improvise, to widen the horizons of his ingenuity. [147] He will learn somehow to bring good food from Chlorella tanks." [148] "You're driving him too hard, Sir," I said. [149] "He'll crack." [150] "Bailey will have some fifty thousand dollars' salary waiting when we ground at Brady Station," Captain Winkelmann said. [151] "So much money buys many discomforts. [152] That will be all, Doctor Vilanova." [153] "Crew morale on the ship...." I began. [154] "That will be all, Doctor Vilanova," Captain Winkelmann repeated. [155] Bailey grew more silent as we threaded our way along the elliptical path to Mars. [156] Each meal he prepared was a fresh attempt to propitiate the appetite of our splenetic Captain. [157] Each such offering was condemned by that heartless man. [158] Bailey began to try avoiding the Captain at mealtimes, but was frustrated by Winkelmann's orders. [159] "Convey my compliments to the Chef, please," the Captain would instruct one of the crew, "and ask him to step down here a moment." [160] And the Cook would cheerlessly appear in the dining-cubby, to have his culinary genius acidly called in question again. [161] I myself do not doubt that Bailey was the finest Cook ever to go into Hohmann orbit. [162] His every meal established a higher benchmark in brilliant galleymanship. [163] We were served, for instance, an ersatz hot turkey supreme. [164] The cheese-sauce was almost believable, the Chlorella turkey-flesh was white and tender. [165] Bailey served with this delicacy a grainy and delicious "cornbread," and had extracted from his algae a lipid butter-substitute that soaked into the hot "bread" with a genuinely dairy smell. [166] "Splendid, Bailey," I said. [167] "We are not amused," said Captain Winkelmann, accepting a second helping of the pseudo-turkey. [168] "You are improving, Belly-Robber, but only arithmetically. [169] Your first efforts were so hideous as to require a geometric progression of improving excellence to raise them to mere edibility. [170] By the time we are halfway 'round the Sun, I trust you will have learned to cook with the competence of a freshman Home Economics student. [171] That will be all, Bailey." [172] The crew and my fellow-officers were amused by Winkelmann's riding of Bailey; they were in addition gratified that the battle between their Captain and their Cook served to feed them so well. [173] Most spacers embark on an outward voyage somewhat plump, having eaten enough on their last few days aground to smuggle several hundred calories of fat and many memories of good food aboard with them. [174] This trip, none of the men had lost weight during the first four months in space. [175] Winkelmann, indeed, seemed to have gained. [176] His uniform was taut over his plump backside, and he puffed a bit up the ladders. [177] I was considering suggesting to our Captain that he curtail his diet for reasons of health, a bit of advice that would have stood unique in the annals of space medicine, when Winkelmann produced his supreme insult to our Cook. [178] Each man aboard a spacer is allowed ten kilograms of personal effects besides his uniforms, these being considered Ship's Furnishing. [179] As his rank and responsibility merit, the Captain is allowed double this ration. [180] He may thus bring aboard with him some forty-five pounds of books, playing-cards, knitting-wool, whiskey or what have you to help him while away the hours between the planets. [181] Bailey, I knew for a fact, had used up his weight-allowance in bringing aboard a case of spices: marjoram and mint, costmary, file powder, basil and allspice, and a dozen others. [182] Captain Winkelmann was not a reader, and had brought no books. [183] Cards interested him not at all, as card-playing implies a sociability alien to his nature. [184] He never drank aboard ship. [185] I had supposed that he'd exercised his option of returning his personal-effects weight allowance to the owners for the consideration of one hundred dollars a kilogram. [186] To collect the maximum allowance, spacers have been known to come aboard their ship mother-naked. [187] But this was not the case with Winkelmann. [188] His personal-effects baggage, an unlabeled cardboard box, appeared under the table at noon mess some hundred days out from Piano West. [189] Winkelmann rested his feet on the mysterious box as he sat to eat. [190] "What disgusting form does the ship's garbage appear in today, Belly-Robber?" [191] he asked the Cook. [192] Bailey frowned, but kept his temper, an asceticism in which by now he'd had much practice. [193] "I've been working on the problem of steak, Sir," he said. [194] "I think I've whipped the taste; what was left was to get the texture steak-like. [195] Do you understand, Sir?" [196] "I understand," Winkelmann growled. [197] "You intend that your latest mess should feel like steak to the mouth, and not like baby-food. [198] Right?" [199] "Yes, Sir," Bailey said. [200] "Well, I squeezed the steak-substrate—Chlorella, of course, with all sorts of special seasonings—through a sieve, and blanched the strands in hot algaeal oil. [201] Then I chopped those strands to bits and rolled them out. [202] Voila! [203] I had something very close in texture to the muscle-fibers of genuine meat." [204] "Remarkable, Bailey," I said. [205] "It rather throws me off my appetite to hear how you muddle about with our food," the Captain said, his jowls settling into an expression of distaste. [206] "It's quite all right to eat lobster, for example, but I never cared to see the ugly beast boiled before my eyes. [207] Detail spoils the meal." [208] Bailey lifted the cover off the electric warming-pan at the center of the table and tenderly lifted a small "steak" onto each of our plates. [209] "Try it," he urged the Captain. [210] Captain Winkelmann sliced off a corner of his algaeal steak. [211] The color was an excellent medium-rare, the odor was the rich smell of fresh-broiled beef. [212] Winkelmann bit down, chewed, swallowed. [213] "Not too bad, Belly-Robber," he said, nodding. [214] Bailey grinned and bobbed his head, his hands folded before him in an ecstasy of pleasure. [215] A kind word from the Captain bettered the ruffles-and-flourishes of a more reasonable man. [216] "But it still needs something ... something," Winkelmann went on, slicing off another portion of the tasty Chlorella. [217] "Aha! [218] I have it!" [219] "Yes, Sir?" [220] Bailey asked. [221] "This, Belly-Robber!" [222] Winkelmann reached beneath the mess-table and ripped open his cardboard carton. [223] He brought out a bottle and unscrewed the cap. [224] "Ketchup," he said, splattering the red juice over Bailey's masterpiece. [225] "The scarlet burial-shroud for the failures of Cooks." [226] Lifting a hunk of the "steak," streaming ketchup, to his mouth, Winkelmann chewed. [227] "Just the thing," he smiled. [228] "Damn you!" [229] Bailey shouted. [230] Winkelmann's smile flicked off, and his blue eyes pierced the Cook. [231] "... Sir," Bailey added. [232] "That's better," Winkelmann said, and took another bite. [233] He said meditatively, "Used with caution, and only by myself, I believe I have sufficient ketchup here to see me through to Mars. [234] Please keep a bottle on the table for all my future meals, Belly-Robber." [235] "But, Sir...." Bailey began. [236] "You must realize, Belly-Robber, that a dyspeptic Captain is a threat to the welfare of his ship. [237] Were I to continue eating your surrealistic slops for another hundred days, without the small consolation of this sauce I had the foresight to bring with me, I'd likely be in no condition to jet us safely down to the Piano West pad. [238] Do you understand, Belly-Robber?" [239] he demanded. [240] "I understand that you're an ungrateful, impossible, square-headed, slave-driving...." "Watch your noun," Winkelmann cautioned the Cook. [241] "Your adjectives are insubordinate; your noun might prove mutinous." [242] "Captain, you've gone too far," I said. [243] Bailey, his fists knotted, was scarlet, his chest heaving with emotion. [244] "Doctor, I must point out to you that it ill behooves the Ship's Surgeon to side with the Cook against the Captain," Winkelmann said. [245] "Sir, Bailey has tried hard to please you," I said. [246] "The other officers and the men have been more than satisfied with his work." [247] "That only suggests atrophy of their taste buds," Winkelmann said. [248] "Doctor, you are excused. [249] As are you, Belly-Robber," he added. [250] Bailey and I climbed from the mess compartment together. [251] I steered him to my quarters, where the medical supplies were stored. [252] He sat on my bunk and exploded into weeping, banging his fists against the metal bulkhead. [253] "You'll have that drink now," I said. [254] "No, dammit!" [255] he shouted. [256] "Orders," I said. [257] I poured us each some fifty cc's of rye. [258] "This is therapy, Bailey," I told him. [259] He poured the fiery stuff down his throat like water and silently held out his glass for a second. [260] I provided it. [261] After a few minutes Bailey's sobbing ceased. [262] "Sorry, Doc," he said. [263] "You've taken more pressure than most men would," I said. [264] "Nothing to be ashamed of." [265] "He's crazy. [266] What sane man would expect me to dip Wiener schnitzel and sauerkraut and Backhahndl nach suddeutscher Art out of an algae tank? [267] I've got nothing but microscopic weeds to cook for him! [268] Worn-out molecules reclaimed from the head; packaged amino acid additives. [269] And he expects meals that would take the blue ribbon at the annual banquet of the Friends of Escoffier!" [270] "Yours is an ancient plaint, Bailey," I said. [271] "You've worked your fingers to the bone, slaving over a hot stove, and you're not appreciated. [272] But you're not married to Winkelmann, remember. [273] A year from now you'll be home in Ohio, fifty grand richer, set to start that restaurant of yours and forget about our fat Flying Dutchman." [274] "I hate him," Bailey said with the simplicity of true emotion. [275] He reached for the bottle. [276] I let him have it. [277] Sometimes alcohol can be an apt confederate of vis medicatrix naturae , the healing power of nature. [278] Half an hour later I strapped Bailey into his bunk to sleep it off. [279] That therapeutic drunk seemed to be just what he'd needed. [280] For morning mess the next day we had a broth remarkable in horribleness, a pottage or boiled Chlorella vulgaris that looked and tasted like the vomit of some bottom-feeding sea-beast. [281] Bailey, red-eyed and a-tremble, made no apology, and stared at Winkelmann as though daring him to comment. [282] The Captain lifted a spoonful of the disgusting stuff to his lips, smacked and said, "Belly-Robber, you're improving a little at last." [283] Bailey nodded and smiled. [284] "Thank you, Sir," he said. [285] I smiled, too. [286] Bailey had conquered himself. [287] His psychic defenses were now strong enough to withstand the Captain's fiercest assaults of irony. [288] Our food would likely be bad the rest of this trip, but that was a price I was willing to pay for seeing destroyed the Willy Winkelmann theory of forcing a Cook to make bricks without straw. [289] The Captain had pushed too hard. [290] He'd need that ketchup for the meals to come, I thought. [291] Noon mess was nearly as awful as breakfast had been. [292] The coffee tasted of salt, and went largely undrunk. [293] The men in the mess compartment were vehement in their protests, blaming the Captain, in his absence, for the decline in culinary standards. [294] Bailey seemed not to care. [295] He served the algaeburgers with half a mind, and hurried back into his galley oblivious of the taunts of his crewmates. [296] There being only three seats in the Sale's mess compartment, we ate our meals in three shifts. [297] That evening, going down the ladder to supper, my nose was met with a spine-tingling barbecue tang, a smell to make a man think of gray charcoal glowing in a picnic brazier, of cicadas chirping and green grass underfoot, of the pop and hiss of canned beer being church-keyed. [298] "He's done it, Doc!" [299] one of the first-shift diners said. [300] "It actually tastes of food!" [301] "Then he's beat the Captain at his game," I said. [302] "The Dutchman won't want to mess ketchup on these steaks," the crewman said. [303] I sat, unfolded my napkin, and looked with hope to the electric warming-pan at the center of the table. [304] Bailey served the three of us with the small "steaks." [305] Each contained about a pound of dried Chlorella, I judged, teasing mine with my fork. [306] But they were drenched in a gravy rich as the stuff grandma used to make in her black iron skillet, peppery and seasoned with courageous bits of garlic. [307] I cut a bit from my steak and chewed it. [308] Too tender, of course; there are limits to art. [309] But the pond-scum taste was gone. [310] Bailey appeared in the galley door. [311] I gestured for him to join me. [312] "You've done it, Bailey," I said. [313] "Every Slimehead in orbit will thank you for this. [314] This is actually good ." [315] "Thanks, Doc," Bailey said. [316] I smiled and took another bite. [317] "You may not realize it, Bailey; but this is a victory for the Captain, too. [318] He drove you to this triumph; you couldn't have done it without him." [319] "You mean he was just whipping me on, trying to make me do better?" [320] Bailey asked. [321] "He was driving you to do the impossible," I said; "and you did it. [322] Our Captain may be a hard man, Bailey; but he did know how to coax maximum performance out of his Ship's Cook." [323] Bailey stood up. [324] "Do you like Captain Winkelmann, Doctor?" [325] he asked. [326] I thought about his question a moment. [327] Winkelmann was good at his job. [328] He persuaded his men by foul means, true; but it was all for the good of the ship and his crew. [329] "Do I like Captain Winkelmann?" [330] I asked, spearing another piece of my artificial steak. [331] "Bailey, I'm afraid I'll have to admit that I do." [332] Bailey smiled and lifted a second steak from the warming-pan onto my plate. [333] "Then have another piece," he said.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "What is the plot of the story?": 1. [28] The Sale blasted off from Brady Station in the middle of August, due in at Piano West in early May. 2. [29] In no special hurry, we were taking the low-energy route to Mars, a pathway about as long in time as the human period of gestation. 3. [30] Our cargo consisted mostly of Tien-Shen fir seedlings and some tons of an arctic grass-seed—these to be planted in the maria to squeeze out the native blue bugberry vines. 4. [31] We had aboard the Registry minimum of six men and three officers. 5. [32] Ship's Surgeon was myself, Paul Vilanova. 6. [33] Our Captain was Willy Winkelmann, the hardest man in space and very likely the fattest. 7. [34] Ship's Cook was Robert Bailey. 8. [155] Bailey grew more silent as we threaded our way along the elliptical path to Mars. 9. [156] Each meal he prepared was a fresh attempt to propitiate the appetite of our splenetic Captain. 10. [157] Each such offering was condemned by that heartless man. 11. [158] Bailey began to try avoiding the Captain at mealtimes, but was frustrated by Winkelmann's orders. 12. [159] "Convey my compliments to the Chef, please," the Captain would instruct one of the crew, "and ask him to step down here a moment." 13. [160] And the Cook would cheerlessly appear in the dining-cubby, to have his culinary genius acidly called in question again. 14. [161] I myself do not doubt that Bailey was the finest Cook ever to go into Hohmann orbit. 15. [162] His every meal established a higher benchmark in brilliant galleymanship. 16. [163] We were served, for instance, an ersatz hot turkey supreme. 17. [164] The cheese-sauce was almost believable, the Chlorella turkey-flesh was white and tender. 18. [165] Bailey served with this delicacy a grainy and delicious "cornbread," and had extracted from his algae a lipid butter-substitute that soaked into the hot "bread" with a genuinely dairy smell. 19. [166] "Splendid, Bailey," I said. 20. [167] "We are not amused," said Captain Winkelmann, accepting a second helping of the pseudo-turkey. 21. [168] "You are improving, Belly-Robber, but only arithmetically. 22. [169] Your first efforts were so hideous as to require a geometric progression of improving excellence to raise them to mere edibility. 23. [170] By the time we are halfway 'round the Sun, I trust you will have learned to cook with the competence of a freshman Home Economics student. 24. [171] That will be all, Bailey." 25. [172] The crew and my fellow-officers were amused by Winkelmann's riding of Bailey; they were in addition gratified that the battle between their Captain and their Cook served to feed them so well. 26. [173] Most spacers embark on an outward voyage somewhat plump, having eaten enough on their last few days aground to smuggle several hundred calories of fat and many memories of good food aboard with them. 27. [174] This trip, none of the men had lost weight during the first four months in space. 28. [175] Winkelmann, indeed, seemed to have gained. 29. [176] His uniform was taut over his plump backside, and he puffed a bit up the ladders. 30. [177] I was considering suggesting to our Captain that he curtail his diet for reasons of health, a bit of advice that would have stood unique in the annals of space medicine, when Winkelmann produced his supreme insult to our Cook. 31. [178] Each man aboard a spacer is allowed ten kilograms of personal effects besides his uniforms, these being considered Ship's Furnishing. 32. [179] As his rank and responsibility merit, the Captain is allowed double this ration. 33. [180] He may thus bring aboard with him some forty-five pounds of books, playing-cards, knitting-wool, whiskey or what have you to help him while away the hours between the planets. 34. [181] Bailey, I knew for a fact, had used up his weight-allowance in bringing aboard a case of spices: marjoram and mint, costmary, file powder, basil and allspice, and a dozen others. 35. [182] Captain Winkelmann was not a reader, and had brought no books. 36. [183] Cards interested him not at all, as card-playing implies a sociability alien to his nature. 37. [184] He never drank aboard ship. 38. [185] I had supposed that he'd exercised his option of returning his personal-effects weight allowance to the owners for the consideration of one hundred dollars a kilogram. 39. [186] To collect the maximum allowance, spacers have been known to come aboard their ship mother-naked. 40. [187] But this was not the case with Winkelmann. 41. [188] His personal-effects baggage, an unlabeled cardboard box, appeared under the table at noon mess some hundred days out from Piano West. 42. [189] Winkelmann rested his feet on the mysterious box as he sat to eat. 43. [190] "What disgusting form does the ship's garbage appear in today, Belly-Robber?" he asked the Cook. 44. [191] Bailey frowned, but kept his temper, an asceticism in which by now he'd had much practice. 45. [192] "I've been working on the problem of steak, Sir," he said. 46. [193] "I think I've whipped the taste; what was left was to get the texture steak-like. 47. [194] Do you understand, Sir?" 48. [195] "I understand," Winkelmann growled. 49. [196] "You intend that your latest mess should feel like steak to the mouth, and not like baby-food. 50. [197] Right?" 51. [198] "Yes, Sir," Bailey said. 52. [199] "Well, I squeezed the steak-substrate—Chlorella, of course, with all sorts of special seasonings—through a sieve, and blanched the strands in hot algaeal oil. 53. [200] Then I chopped those strands to bits and rolled them out. 54. [201] Voila! 55. [202] I had something very close in texture to the muscle-fibers of genuine meat." 56. [203] "Remarkable, Bailey," I said. 57. [204] "It rather throws me off my appetite to hear how you muddle about with our food," the Captain said, his jowls settling into an expression of distaste. 58. [205] "It's quite all right to eat lobster, for example, but I never cared to see the ugly beast boiled before my eyes. 59. [206] Detail spoils the meal." 60. [207] Bailey lifted the cover off the electric warming-pan at the center of the table and tenderly lifted a small "steak" onto each of our plates. 61. [208] "Try it," he urged the Captain. 62. [209] Captain Winkelmann sliced off a corner of his algaeal steak. 63. [210] The color was an excellent medium-rare, the odor was the rich smell of fresh-broiled beef. 64. [211] Winkelmann bit down, chewed, swallowed. 65. [212] "Not too bad, Belly-Robber," he said, nodding. 66. [213] Bailey grinned and bobbed his head, his hands folded before him in an ecstasy of pleasure. 67. [214] A kind word from the Captain bettered the ruffles-and-flourishes of a more reasonable man. 68. [215] "But it still needs something ... something," Winkelmann went on, slicing off another portion of the tasty Chlorella. 69. [216] "Aha! 70. [217] I have it!" 71. [218] "Yes, Sir?" Bailey asked. 72. [219] "This, Belly-Robber!" Winkelmann reached beneath the mess-table and ripped open his cardboard carton. 73. [220] He brought out a bottle and unscrewed the cap. 74. [221] "Ketchup," he said, splattering the red juice over Bailey's masterpiece. 75. [222] "The scarlet burial-shroud for the failures of Cooks." 76. [223] Lifting a hunk of the "steak," streaming ketchup, to his mouth, Winkelmann chewed. 77. [224] "Just the thing," he smiled. 78. [225] "Damn you!" Bailey shouted. 79. [226] Winkelmann's smile flicked off, and his blue eyes pierced the Cook. 80. [227] "... Sir," Bailey added. 81. [228] "That's better," Winkelmann said, and took another bite. 82. [229] He said meditatively, "Used with caution, and only by myself, I believe I have sufficient ketchup here to see me through to Mars. 83. [230] Please keep a bottle on the table for all my future meals, Belly-Robber." 84. [231] "But, Sir...." Bailey began. 85. [232] "You must realize, Belly-Robber, that a dyspeptic Captain is a threat to the welfare of his ship. 86. [233] Were I to continue eating your surrealistic slops for another hundred days, without the small consolation of this sauce I had the foresight to bring with me, I'd likely be in no condition to jet us safely down to the Piano West pad. 87. [234] Do you understand, Belly-Robber?" he demanded. 88. [235] "I understand that you're an ungrateful, impossible, square-headed, slave-driving...." "Watch your noun," Winkelmann cautioned the Cook. 89. [236] "Your adjectives are insubordinate; your noun might prove mutinous." 90. [237] "Captain, you've gone too far," I said. 91. [238] Bailey, his fists knotted, was scarlet, his chest heaving with emotion. 92. [239] "Doctor, I must point out to you that it ill behooves the Ship's Surgeon to side with the Cook against the Captain," Winkelmann said. 93. [240] "Sir, Bailey has tried hard to please you," I said. 94. [241] "The other officers and the men have been more than satisfied with his work." 95. [242] "That only suggests atrophy of their taste buds," Winkelmann said. 96. [243] "Doctor, you are excused. 97. [244] As are you, Belly-Robber," he added. 98. [245] Bailey and I climbed from the mess compartment together. 99. [246] I steered him to my quarters, where the medical supplies were stored. 100. [247] He sat on my bunk and exploded into weeping, banging his fists against the metal bulkhead. 101. [248] "You'll have that drink now," I said. 102. [249] "No, dammit!" he shouted. 103. [250] "Orders," I said. 104. [251] I poured us each some fifty cc's of rye. 105. [252] "This is therapy, Bailey," I told him. 106. [253] He poured the fiery stuff down his throat like water and silently held out his glass for a second. 107. [254] I provided it. 108. [255] After a few minutes Bailey's sobbing ceased. 109. [256] "Sorry, Doc," he said. 110. [257] "You've taken more pressure than most men would," I said. 111. [258] "Nothing to be ashamed of." 112. [259] "He's crazy. What sane man would expect me to dip Wiener schnitzel and sauerkraut and Backhahndl nach suddeutscher Art out of an algae tank? 113. [260] I've got nothing but microscopic weeds to cook for him! Worn-out molecules reclaimed from the head; packaged amino acid additives. 114. [261] And he expects meals that would take the blue ribbon at the annual banquet of the Friends of Escoffier!" 115. [262] "Yours is an ancient plaint, Bailey," I said. 116. [263] "You've worked your fingers to the bone, slaving over a hot stove, and you're not appreciated. 117. [264] But you're not married to Winkelmann, remember. 118. [265] A year from now you'll be home in Ohio, fifty grand richer, set to start that restaurant of yours and forget about our fat Flying Dutchman." 119. [266] "I hate him," Bailey said with the simplicity of true emotion. 120. [267] He reached for the bottle. 121. [268] I let him have it. 122. [269] Sometimes alcohol can be an apt confederate of vis medicatrix naturae , the healing power of nature. 123. [270] Half an hour later I strapped Bailey into his bunk to sleep it off. 124. [271] That therapeutic drunk seemed to be just what he'd needed. 125. [272] For morning mess the next day we had a broth remarkable in horribleness, a pottage or boiled Chlorella vulgaris that looked and tasted like the vomit of some bottom-feeding sea-beast. 126. [273] Bailey, red-eyed and a-tremble, made no apology, and stared at Winkelmann as though daring him to comment. 127. [274] The Captain lifted a spoonful of the disgusting stuff to his lips, smacked and said, "Belly-Robber, you're improving a little at last." 128. [275] Bailey nodded and smiled. 129. [276] "Thank you, Sir," he said. 130. [277] I smiled, too. 131. [278] Bailey had conquered himself. 132. [279] His psychic defenses were now strong enough to withstand the Captain's fiercest assaults of irony. 133. [280] Our food would likely be bad the rest of this trip, but that was a price I was willing to pay for seeing destroyed the Willy Winkelmann theory of forcing a Cook to make bricks without straw. 134. [281] The Captain had pushed too hard. 135. [282] He'd need that ketchup for the meals to come, I thought. 136. [283] Noon mess was nearly as awful as breakfast had been. 137. [284] The coffee tasted of salt, and went largely undrunk. 138. [285] The men in the mess compartment were vehement in their protests, blaming the Captain, in his absence, for the decline in culinary standards. 139. [286] Bailey seemed not to care. 140. [287] He served the algaeburgers with half a mind, and hurried back into his galley oblivious of the taunts of his crewmates. 141. [288] There being only three seats in the Sale's mess compartment, we ate our meals in three shifts. 142. [289] That evening, going down the ladder to supper, my nose was met with a spine-tingling barbecue tang, a smell to make a man think of gray charcoal glowing in a picnic brazier, of cicadas chirping and green grass underfoot, of the pop and hiss of canned beer being church-keyed. 143. [290] "He's done it, Doc!" one of the first-shift diners said. 144. [291] "It actually tastes of food!" 145. [292] "Then he's beat the Captain at his game," I said. 146. [293] "The Dutchman won't want to mess ketchup on these steaks," the crewman said. 147. [294] I sat, unfolded my napkin, and looked with hope to the electric warming-pan at the center of the table. 148. [295] Bailey served the three of us with the small "steaks." 149. [296] Each contained about a pound of dried Chlorella, I judged, teasing mine with my fork. 150. [297] But they were drenched in a gravy rich as the stuff grandma used to make in her black iron skillet, peppery and seasoned with courageous bits of garlic. 151. [298] I cut a bit from my steak and chewed it. 152. [299] Too tender, of course; there are limits to art. 153. [300] But the pond-scum taste was gone. 154. [301] Bailey appeared in the galley door. 155. [302] I gestured for him to join me. 156. [303] "You've done it, Bailey," I said. 157. [304] "Every

What are some of the dishes that Bailey cooks for the crew?

[1] GOURMET By ALLEN KIM LANG [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Magazine April 1962. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] This was the endless problem of all spaceship cooks: He had to feed the men tomorrow on what they had eaten today! [4] Unable to get out to the ballgame and a long way off from the girls, men on ships think about, talk about, bitch about their food. [5] It's true that Woman remains a topic of thoughtful study, but discussion can never replace practice in an art. [6] Food, on the other hand, is a challenge shipmen face three times a day, so central to their thoughts that a history of sea-faring can be read from a commissary list. [7] In the days when salt-sea sailors were charting islands and spearing seals, for example, the fo'c's'le hands called themselves Lobscousers, celebrating the liquid hash then prominent in the marine menu. [8] The Limey sailor got the name of the anti-scorbutic citrus squeezed into his diet, a fruit known to us mariners of a more sophisticated age only as garnish for our groundside gin-and-tonic. [9] And today we Marsmen are called Slimeheads, honoring in our title the Chlorella and Scenedesmus algae that, by filling up the spaces within, open the road to the larger Space without. [10] Should any groundsman dispute the importance of belly-furniture in history—whether it be exterminating whales, or introducing syphilis to the Fiji Islanders, or settling the Australian littoral with cross-coves from Middlesex and Hampshire—he is referred to the hundred-and-first chapter of Moby Dick , a book spooled in the amusement tanks of all but the smallest spacers. [11] I trust, however, that no Marsman will undertake to review this inventory of refreshment more than a week from groundfall. [12] A catalogue of sides of beef and heads of Leyden cheese and ankers of good Geneva would prove heavy reading for a man condemned to snack on the Chlorella-spawn of cis-Martian space. [13] The Pequod's crew ate wormy biscuit and salt beef. [14] Nimitz's men won their war on canned pork and beans. [15] The Triton made her underwater periplus of Earth with a galley stocked with frozen pizza and concentrated apple-juice. [16] But then, when sailors left the seas for the skies, a decline set in. [17] The first amenity of groundside existence to be abandoned was decent food. [18] The earliest men into the vacuum swallowed protein squeezings from aluminum tubes, and were glad enough to drop back to the groundsman's diet of steak and fried potatoes. [19] Long before I was a boy in Med School, itching to look at black sky through a view-port, galley science had fulfilled the disgusting exordium of Isaiah 36:12, to feed the Slimeheads for breakfast today what was day-before-yesterday's table-scraps and jakes-water. [20] The Ship's Cook, the man who accomplishes the daily miracle of turning offal into eatables, is in many ways the most vital man aboard a spacer. [21] He can make morale or foment a mutiny. [22] His power is paramount. [23] Slimeheads remember the H. M. S. Ajax fiasco, for example, in which a galleyman leveled his Chlorella tanks with heavy water from the ship's shielding. [24] Four officers and twenty-one Other Ranks were rescued from the Ajax in deep space, half dead from deuterium poisoning. [25] We think of the Benjo Maru incident, too, caused by a Ship's Cook who allowed his algaeal staff-of-life to become contaminated with a fast-growing Saccharomycodes yeast. [26] The Japanese vessel staggered to her pad at Piano West after a twenty-week drunk: the alien yeast had got into the stomach of every man aboard, where it fermented each subsequent bite he ate to a superior grade of sake . [27] And for a third footnote to the ancient observation, "God sends food, and the Devil sends cooks," Marsmen will recall what happened aboard my ship the Charles Partlow Sale . [28] The Sale blasted off from Brady Station in the middle of August, due in at Piano West in early May. [29] In no special hurry, we were taking the low-energy route to Mars, a pathway about as long in time as the human period of gestation. [30] Our cargo consisted mostly of Tien-Shen fir seedlings and some tons of an arctic grass-seed—these to be planted in the maria to squeeze out the native blue bugberry vines. [31] We had aboard the Registry minimum of six men and three officers. [32] Ship's Surgeon was myself, Paul Vilanova. [33] Our Captain was Willy Winkelmann, the hardest man in space and very likely the fattest. [34] Ship's Cook was Robert Bailey. [35] Cooking aboard a spacer is a job combining the more frustrating tensions of biochemistry, applied mycology, high-speed farming, dietetics and sewage engineering. [36] It's the Cook's responsibility to see that each man aboard gets each day no less than five pounds of water, two pounds of oxygen, and one-and-a-half pounds of dry food. [37] This isn't just a paragraph from the Spacer Union Contract. [38] It's a statement of the least fuel a man can run on. [39] Twelve tons of water, oxygen, and food would have filled the cargo compartments to bursting, and left a small ship like the C. P. Sale no reason to reach for Mars. [40] By allowing a colony of Chlorella algae to work over our used air, water and other effluvia, though, three tons of metabolites would see us through from Brady Station to Piano West and back. [41] Recycling was the answer. [42] The molecule of carbohydrate, fat, protein or mineral that didn't feed the crew fed the algae. [43] And the algae fed us. [44] All waste was used to fertilize our liquid fields. [45] Even the stubble from our 2,680 shaves and the clippings from our 666 haircuts en route and back would be fed into the Chlorella tanks. [46] Human hair is rich in essential amino acids. [47] The algae—dried by the Cook, bleached with methyl alcohol to kill the smell and make the residue more digestible, disguised and seasoned in a hundred ways—served as a sort of meat-and-potatoes that never quite wore out. [48] Our air and water were equally immortal. [49] Each molecule of oxygen would be conversant with the alveoli of every man aboard by the end of our trip. [50] Every drop of water would have been intimate with the glomeruli of each kidney on the ship before we grounded in. [51] Groundling politicians are right enough when they say that we spacers are a breed apart. [52] We're the one race of men who can't afford the luxury of squeamishness. [53] Though I'm signed aboard as Ship's Surgeon, I seldom lift a knife in space. [54] My employment is more in the nature of TS-card-puncher extraordinary. [55] My duties are to serve as wailing-wall, morale officer, guardian of the medicinal whiskey and frustrator of mutual murder. [56] Generally the man aboard who'd serve as the most popular murder-victim is the Cook. [57] This trip, the-man-you-love-to-hate was our Captain. [58] If the Cook hadn't problems enough with the chemical and psychic duties of his office, Winkelmann supplied the want. [59] Captain Willy Winkelmann was the sort of man who, if he had to go into space at all, had best do so alone. [60] If the Prussians had a Marine Corps, Winkelmann would have done splendidly as Drill Instructor for their boot camp. [61] His heart was a chip of helium ice, his voice dripped sarcastic acid. [62] The planet Earth was hardly large enough to accommodate a wart as annoying as Willy Winkelmann. [63] Cheek-by-jowl every day in a nacelle the size of a Pullman car, our Captain quickly established himself as a major social hemorrhoid. [64] The Captain's particular patsy was, of course, young Bailey the Cook. [65] It was Winkelmann who saw humorous possibilities in the entry, "Bailey, Robert," on Ship's Articles. [66] He at once renamed our unfortunate shipmate "Belly-Robber." [67] It was Winkelmann who discussed haut cuisine and the properties of the nobler wines while we munched our algaeburgers and sipped coffee that tasted of utility water. [68] And it was Captain Willy Winkelmann who never referred to the ship's head by any other name than The Kitchen Cabinet. [69] Bailey tried to feed us by groundside standards. [70] He hid the taste of synthetic methionine—an essential amino acid not synthesized by Chlorella—by seasoning our algaeal repasts with pinches of oregano and thyme. [71] He tinted the pale-green dollops of pressed Chlorella pink, textured the mass to the consistency of hamburger and toasted the slabs to a delicate brown in a forlorn attempt to make mock-meat. [72] For dessert, he served a fudge compounded from the dextrose-paste of the carbohydrate recycler. [73] The crew thanked him. [74] The Captain did not. [75] "Belly-Robber," he said, his tone icy as winter wind off the North Sea, "you had best cycle this mess through the tanks again. [76] There is a pun in my home country: Mensch ist was er isst. [77] It means, you are what you eat. [78] I think you are impertinent to suggest I should become this Schweinerei you are feeding me." [79] Captain Winkelmann blotted his chin with his napkin, heaved his bulk up from the table, and climbed up the ladder from the dining-cubby. [80] "Doc, do you like Winkelmann?" [81] the Cook asked me. [82] "Not much," I said. [83] "I suspect that the finest gift our Captain can give his mother is to be absent from her on Mother's Day. [84] But we've got to live with him. [85] He's a good man at driving a ship." [86] "I wish he'd leave off driving this Cook," Bailey said. [87] "The fat swine!" [88] "His plumpness is an unwitting tribute to your cooking, Bailey," I said. [89] "He eats well. [90] We all do. [91] I've dined aboard a lot of spacers in my time, and I'll testify that you set a table second to none." [92] Bailey took a handful of dried Chlorella from a bin and fingered it. [93] It was green, smelled of swamp, and looked appetizing as a bedsore. [94] "This is what I have to work with," he said. [95] He tossed the stuff back into its bin. [96] "In Ohio, which is my home country, in the presence of ladies, we'd call such garbage Horse-Leavings." [97] "You'll never make Winkelmann happy," I said. [98] "Even the simultaneous death of all other human beings could hardly make him smile. [99] Keep up the good work, though, and you'll keep our Captain fat." [100] Bailey nodded from his one-man cloud of gloom. [101] I got a bottle of rye from Medical Stores and offered him a therapeutic draught. [102] The Cook waved my gift aside. [103] "Not now, Doc," he said. [104] "I'm thinking about tomorrow's menu." [105] The product of Bailey's cerebrations was on the mess table at noon the next day. [106] We were each served an individual head of lettuce, dressed with something very like vinegar and oil, spiced with tiny leaves of burnet. [107] How Bailey had constructed those synthetic lettuces I can only guess: the hours spent preparing a green Chlorella paste, rolling and drying and shaping each artificial leaf, the fitting together of nine heads like crisp, three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles. [108] The pièce de résistance was again a "hamburger steak;" but this time the algaeal mass that made it up was buried in a rich, meaty gravy that was only faintly green. [109] The essence-of-steak used in these Chlorella cutlets had been sprinkled with a lavish hand. [110] Garlic was richly in evidence. [111] "It's so tender," the radioman joked, "that I can hardly believe it's really steak." [112] Bailey stared across the dining-cubby toward Winkelmann, silently imploring the Captain's ratification of his masterpiece. [113] The big man's pink cheeks bulged and jumped with his chewing. [114] He swallowed. [115] "Belly-Robber," Winkelmann said, "I had almost rather you served me this pond-scum raw than have it all mucked-up with synthetic onions and cycler-salt." [116] "You seem able enough to choke down Bailey's chow, Captain," I said. [117] I gazed at Winkelmann's form, bulbous from a lifetime of surfeit feeding. [118] "Yes, I eat it," the Captain said, taking and talking through another bite. [119] "But I eat only as a man in the desert will eat worms and grasshoppers, to stay alive." [120] "Sir, what in heaven's name do you expect from me?" [121] Bailey pleaded. [122] "Only good food," Winkelmann mumbled through his mouthful of disguised algae. [123] He tapped his head with a finger. [124] "This—the brain that guides the ship—cannot be coaxed to work on hog-slop. [125] You understand me, Belly-Robber?" [126] Bailey, his hands fisted at his sides, nodded. [127] "Yes, sir. [128] But I really don't know what I can do to please you." [129] "You are a spacer and a Ship's Cook, not a suburban Hausfrau with the vapors," Winkelmann said. [130] "I do not expect from you hysterics, tantrums or weeping. [131] Only—can you understand this, so simple?—food that will keep my belly content and my brain alive." [132] "Yes, sir," Bailey said, his face a picture of that offense the British term Dumb Insolence. [133] Winkelmann got up and climbed the ladder to the pilot-cubicle. [134] I followed him. [135] "Captain," I said, "you're driving Bailey too hard. [136] You're asking him to make bricks without straw." [137] Winkelmann regarded me with his pale-blue stare. [138] "You think, Doctor, that my cruelty to the Belly-Robber is the biliousness of a middle-aged man?" [139] "Frankly, I can't understand your attitude at all," I said. [140] "You accuse me of driving a man to make bricks without straw," Winkelmann said. [141] "Very well, Doctor. [142] It is my belief that if the Pharaoh's taskmaster had had my firmness of purpose, the Children of Israel would have made bricks with stubble. [143] Necessity, Doctor, is the mother of invention. [144] I am Bailey's necessity. [145] My unkindnesses make him uncomfortable, I doubt that not. [146] But I am forcing him to experiment, to improvise, to widen the horizons of his ingenuity. [147] He will learn somehow to bring good food from Chlorella tanks." [148] "You're driving him too hard, Sir," I said. [149] "He'll crack." [150] "Bailey will have some fifty thousand dollars' salary waiting when we ground at Brady Station," Captain Winkelmann said. [151] "So much money buys many discomforts. [152] That will be all, Doctor Vilanova." [153] "Crew morale on the ship...." I began. [154] "That will be all, Doctor Vilanova," Captain Winkelmann repeated. [155] Bailey grew more silent as we threaded our way along the elliptical path to Mars. [156] Each meal he prepared was a fresh attempt to propitiate the appetite of our splenetic Captain. [157] Each such offering was condemned by that heartless man. [158] Bailey began to try avoiding the Captain at mealtimes, but was frustrated by Winkelmann's orders. [159] "Convey my compliments to the Chef, please," the Captain would instruct one of the crew, "and ask him to step down here a moment." [160] And the Cook would cheerlessly appear in the dining-cubby, to have his culinary genius acidly called in question again. [161] I myself do not doubt that Bailey was the finest Cook ever to go into Hohmann orbit. [162] His every meal established a higher benchmark in brilliant galleymanship. [163] We were served, for instance, an ersatz hot turkey supreme. [164] The cheese-sauce was almost believable, the Chlorella turkey-flesh was white and tender. [165] Bailey served with this delicacy a grainy and delicious "cornbread," and had extracted from his algae a lipid butter-substitute that soaked into the hot "bread" with a genuinely dairy smell. [166] "Splendid, Bailey," I said. [167] "We are not amused," said Captain Winkelmann, accepting a second helping of the pseudo-turkey. [168] "You are improving, Belly-Robber, but only arithmetically. [169] Your first efforts were so hideous as to require a geometric progression of improving excellence to raise them to mere edibility. [170] By the time we are halfway 'round the Sun, I trust you will have learned to cook with the competence of a freshman Home Economics student. [171] That will be all, Bailey." [172] The crew and my fellow-officers were amused by Winkelmann's riding of Bailey; they were in addition gratified that the battle between their Captain and their Cook served to feed them so well. [173] Most spacers embark on an outward voyage somewhat plump, having eaten enough on their last few days aground to smuggle several hundred calories of fat and many memories of good food aboard with them. [174] This trip, none of the men had lost weight during the first four months in space. [175] Winkelmann, indeed, seemed to have gained. [176] His uniform was taut over his plump backside, and he puffed a bit up the ladders. [177] I was considering suggesting to our Captain that he curtail his diet for reasons of health, a bit of advice that would have stood unique in the annals of space medicine, when Winkelmann produced his supreme insult to our Cook. [178] Each man aboard a spacer is allowed ten kilograms of personal effects besides his uniforms, these being considered Ship's Furnishing. [179] As his rank and responsibility merit, the Captain is allowed double this ration. [180] He may thus bring aboard with him some forty-five pounds of books, playing-cards, knitting-wool, whiskey or what have you to help him while away the hours between the planets. [181] Bailey, I knew for a fact, had used up his weight-allowance in bringing aboard a case of spices: marjoram and mint, costmary, file powder, basil and allspice, and a dozen others. [182] Captain Winkelmann was not a reader, and had brought no books. [183] Cards interested him not at all, as card-playing implies a sociability alien to his nature. [184] He never drank aboard ship. [185] I had supposed that he'd exercised his option of returning his personal-effects weight allowance to the owners for the consideration of one hundred dollars a kilogram. [186] To collect the maximum allowance, spacers have been known to come aboard their ship mother-naked. [187] But this was not the case with Winkelmann. [188] His personal-effects baggage, an unlabeled cardboard box, appeared under the table at noon mess some hundred days out from Piano West. [189] Winkelmann rested his feet on the mysterious box as he sat to eat. [190] "What disgusting form does the ship's garbage appear in today, Belly-Robber?" [191] he asked the Cook. [192] Bailey frowned, but kept his temper, an asceticism in which by now he'd had much practice. [193] "I've been working on the problem of steak, Sir," he said. [194] "I think I've whipped the taste; what was left was to get the texture steak-like. [195] Do you understand, Sir?" [196] "I understand," Winkelmann growled. [197] "You intend that your latest mess should feel like steak to the mouth, and not like baby-food. [198] Right?" [199] "Yes, Sir," Bailey said. [200] "Well, I squeezed the steak-substrate—Chlorella, of course, with all sorts of special seasonings—through a sieve, and blanched the strands in hot algaeal oil. [201] Then I chopped those strands to bits and rolled them out. [202] Voila! [203] I had something very close in texture to the muscle-fibers of genuine meat." [204] "Remarkable, Bailey," I said. [205] "It rather throws me off my appetite to hear how you muddle about with our food," the Captain said, his jowls settling into an expression of distaste. [206] "It's quite all right to eat lobster, for example, but I never cared to see the ugly beast boiled before my eyes. [207] Detail spoils the meal." [208] Bailey lifted the cover off the electric warming-pan at the center of the table and tenderly lifted a small "steak" onto each of our plates. [209] "Try it," he urged the Captain. [210] Captain Winkelmann sliced off a corner of his algaeal steak. [211] The color was an excellent medium-rare, the odor was the rich smell of fresh-broiled beef. [212] Winkelmann bit down, chewed, swallowed. [213] "Not too bad, Belly-Robber," he said, nodding. [214] Bailey grinned and bobbed his head, his hands folded before him in an ecstasy of pleasure. [215] A kind word from the Captain bettered the ruffles-and-flourishes of a more reasonable man. [216] "But it still needs something ... something," Winkelmann went on, slicing off another portion of the tasty Chlorella. [217] "Aha! [218] I have it!" [219] "Yes, Sir?" [220] Bailey asked. [221] "This, Belly-Robber!" [222] Winkelmann reached beneath the mess-table and ripped open his cardboard carton. [223] He brought out a bottle and unscrewed the cap. [224] "Ketchup," he said, splattering the red juice over Bailey's masterpiece. [225] "The scarlet burial-shroud for the failures of Cooks." [226] Lifting a hunk of the "steak," streaming ketchup, to his mouth, Winkelmann chewed. [227] "Just the thing," he smiled. [228] "Damn you!" [229] Bailey shouted. [230] Winkelmann's smile flicked off, and his blue eyes pierced the Cook. [231] "... Sir," Bailey added. [232] "That's better," Winkelmann said, and took another bite. [233] He said meditatively, "Used with caution, and only by myself, I believe I have sufficient ketchup here to see me through to Mars. [234] Please keep a bottle on the table for all my future meals, Belly-Robber." [235] "But, Sir...." Bailey began. [236] "You must realize, Belly-Robber, that a dyspeptic Captain is a threat to the welfare of his ship. [237] Were I to continue eating your surrealistic slops for another hundred days, without the small consolation of this sauce I had the foresight to bring with me, I'd likely be in no condition to jet us safely down to the Piano West pad. [238] Do you understand, Belly-Robber?" [239] he demanded. [240] "I understand that you're an ungrateful, impossible, square-headed, slave-driving...." "Watch your noun," Winkelmann cautioned the Cook. [241] "Your adjectives are insubordinate; your noun might prove mutinous." [242] "Captain, you've gone too far," I said. [243] Bailey, his fists knotted, was scarlet, his chest heaving with emotion. [244] "Doctor, I must point out to you that it ill behooves the Ship's Surgeon to side with the Cook against the Captain," Winkelmann said. [245] "Sir, Bailey has tried hard to please you," I said. [246] "The other officers and the men have been more than satisfied with his work." [247] "That only suggests atrophy of their taste buds," Winkelmann said. [248] "Doctor, you are excused. [249] As are you, Belly-Robber," he added. [250] Bailey and I climbed from the mess compartment together. [251] I steered him to my quarters, where the medical supplies were stored. [252] He sat on my bunk and exploded into weeping, banging his fists against the metal bulkhead. [253] "You'll have that drink now," I said. [254] "No, dammit!" [255] he shouted. [256] "Orders," I said. [257] I poured us each some fifty cc's of rye. [258] "This is therapy, Bailey," I told him. [259] He poured the fiery stuff down his throat like water and silently held out his glass for a second. [260] I provided it. [261] After a few minutes Bailey's sobbing ceased. [262] "Sorry, Doc," he said. [263] "You've taken more pressure than most men would," I said. [264] "Nothing to be ashamed of." [265] "He's crazy. [266] What sane man would expect me to dip Wiener schnitzel and sauerkraut and Backhahndl nach suddeutscher Art out of an algae tank? [267] I've got nothing but microscopic weeds to cook for him! [268] Worn-out molecules reclaimed from the head; packaged amino acid additives. [269] And he expects meals that would take the blue ribbon at the annual banquet of the Friends of Escoffier!" [270] "Yours is an ancient plaint, Bailey," I said. [271] "You've worked your fingers to the bone, slaving over a hot stove, and you're not appreciated. [272] But you're not married to Winkelmann, remember. [273] A year from now you'll be home in Ohio, fifty grand richer, set to start that restaurant of yours and forget about our fat Flying Dutchman." [274] "I hate him," Bailey said with the simplicity of true emotion. [275] He reached for the bottle. [276] I let him have it. [277] Sometimes alcohol can be an apt confederate of vis medicatrix naturae , the healing power of nature. [278] Half an hour later I strapped Bailey into his bunk to sleep it off. [279] That therapeutic drunk seemed to be just what he'd needed. [280] For morning mess the next day we had a broth remarkable in horribleness, a pottage or boiled Chlorella vulgaris that looked and tasted like the vomit of some bottom-feeding sea-beast. [281] Bailey, red-eyed and a-tremble, made no apology, and stared at Winkelmann as though daring him to comment. [282] The Captain lifted a spoonful of the disgusting stuff to his lips, smacked and said, "Belly-Robber, you're improving a little at last." [283] Bailey nodded and smiled. [284] "Thank you, Sir," he said. [285] I smiled, too. [286] Bailey had conquered himself. [287] His psychic defenses were now strong enough to withstand the Captain's fiercest assaults of irony. [288] Our food would likely be bad the rest of this trip, but that was a price I was willing to pay for seeing destroyed the Willy Winkelmann theory of forcing a Cook to make bricks without straw. [289] The Captain had pushed too hard. [290] He'd need that ketchup for the meals to come, I thought. [291] Noon mess was nearly as awful as breakfast had been. [292] The coffee tasted of salt, and went largely undrunk. [293] The men in the mess compartment were vehement in their protests, blaming the Captain, in his absence, for the decline in culinary standards. [294] Bailey seemed not to care. [295] He served the algaeburgers with half a mind, and hurried back into his galley oblivious of the taunts of his crewmates. [296] There being only three seats in the Sale's mess compartment, we ate our meals in three shifts. [297] That evening, going down the ladder to supper, my nose was met with a spine-tingling barbecue tang, a smell to make a man think of gray charcoal glowing in a picnic brazier, of cicadas chirping and green grass underfoot, of the pop and hiss of canned beer being church-keyed. [298] "He's done it, Doc!" [299] one of the first-shift diners said. [300] "It actually tastes of food!" [301] "Then he's beat the Captain at his game," I said. [302] "The Dutchman won't want to mess ketchup on these steaks," the crewman said. [303] I sat, unfolded my napkin, and looked with hope to the electric warming-pan at the center of the table. [304] Bailey served the three of us with the small "steaks." [305] Each contained about a pound of dried Chlorella, I judged, teasing mine with my fork. [306] But they were drenched in a gravy rich as the stuff grandma used to make in her black iron skillet, peppery and seasoned with courageous bits of garlic. [307] I cut a bit from my steak and chewed it. [308] Too tender, of course; there are limits to art. [309] But the pond-scum taste was gone. [310] Bailey appeared in the galley door. [311] I gestured for him to join me. [312] "You've done it, Bailey," I said. [313] "Every Slimehead in orbit will thank you for this. [314] This is actually good ." [315] "Thanks, Doc," Bailey said. [316] I smiled and took another bite. [317] "You may not realize it, Bailey; but this is a victory for the Captain, too. [318] He drove you to this triumph; you couldn't have done it without him." [319] "You mean he was just whipping me on, trying to make me do better?" [320] Bailey asked. [321] "He was driving you to do the impossible," I said; "and you did it. [322] Our Captain may be a hard man, Bailey; but he did know how to coax maximum performance out of his Ship's Cook." [323] Bailey stood up. [324] "Do you like Captain Winkelmann, Doctor?" [325] he asked. [326] I thought about his question a moment. [327] Winkelmann was good at his job. [328] He persuaded his men by foul means, true; but it was all for the good of the ship and his crew. [329] "Do I like Captain Winkelmann?" [330] I asked, spearing another piece of my artificial steak. [331] "Bailey, I'm afraid I'll have to admit that I do." [332] Bailey smiled and lifted a second steak from the warming-pan onto my plate. [333] "Then have another piece," he said.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "What are some of the dishes that Bailey cooks for the crew?": 1. [105] The product of Bailey's cerebrations was on the mess table at noon the next day. We were each served an individual head of lettuce, dressed with something very like vinegar and oil, spiced with tiny leaves of burnet. [106] How Bailey had constructed those synthetic lettuces I can only guess: the hours spent preparing a green Chlorella paste, rolling and drying and shaping each artificial leaf, the fitting together of nine heads like crisp, three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles. [107] The pièce de résistance was again a "hamburger steak;" but this time the algaeal mass that made it up was buried in a rich, meaty gravy that was only faintly green. [108] The essence-of-steak used in these Chlorella cutlets had been sprinkled with a lavish hand. [109] Garlic was richly in evidence. 2. [163] We were served, for instance, an ersatz hot turkey supreme. [164] The cheese-sauce was almost believable, the Chlorella turkey-flesh was white and tender. [165] Bailey served with this delicacy a grainy and delicious "cornbread," and had extracted from his algae a lipid butter-substitute that soaked into the hot "bread" with a genuinely dairy smell. 3. [200] "I've been working on the problem of steak, Sir," he said. [201] "I think I've whipped the taste; what was left was to get the texture steak-like. [202] Voila! [203] I had something very close in texture to the muscle-fibers of genuine meat." 4. [280] For morning mess the next day we had a broth remarkable in horribleness, a pottage or boiled Chlorella vulgaris that looked and tasted like the vomit of some bottom-feeding sea-beast. [281] Bailey, red-eyed and a-tremble, made no apology, and stared at Winkelmann as though daring him to comment. [282] The Captain lifted a spoonful of the disgusting stuff to his lips, smacked and said, "Belly-Robber, you're improving a little at last." 5. [290] The Captain had pushed too hard. [291] He'd need that ketchup for the meals to come, I thought. [292] Noon mess was nearly as awful as breakfast had been. [293] The coffee tasted of salt, and went largely undrunk. [294] The men in the mess compartment were vehement in their protests, blaming the Captain, in his absence, for the decline in culinary standards. [295] Bailey seemed not to care. [296] He served the algaeburgers with half a mind, and hurried back into his galley oblivious of the taunts of his crewmates. 6. [297] There being only three seats in the Sale's mess compartment, we ate our meals in three shifts. [298] That evening, going down the ladder to supper, my nose was met with a spine-tingling barbecue tang, a smell to make a man think of gray charcoal glowing in a picnic brazier, of cicadas chirping and green grass underfoot, of the pop and hiss of canned beer being church-keyed. [299] "He's done it, Doc!" [300] one of the first-shift diners said. [301] "It actually tastes of food!" 7. [302] "Then he's beat the Captain at his game," I said. [303] "The Dutchman won't want to mess ketchup on these steaks," the crewman said. [304] I sat, unfolded my napkin, and looked with hope to the electric warming-pan at the center of the table. [305] Bailey served the three of us with the small "steaks." [306] Each contained about a pound of dried Chlorella, I judged, teasing mine with my fork. [307] But they were drenched in a gravy rich as the stuff grandma used to make in her black iron skillet, peppery and seasoned with courageous bits of garlic. [308] I cut a bit from my steak and chewed it. [309] Too tender, of course; there are limits to art. [310] But the pond-scum taste was gone. 8. [3] This was the endless problem of all spaceship cooks: He had to feed the men tomorrow on what they had eaten today! 9. [4] Unable to get out to the ballgame and a long way off from the girls, men on ships think about, talk about, bitch about their food. 10. [6] Food, on the other hand, is a challenge shipmen face three times a day, so central to their thoughts that a history of sea-faring can be read from a commissary list. 11. [35] Cooking aboard a spacer is a job combining the more frustrating tensions of biochemistry, applied mycology, high-speed farming, dietetics and sewage engineering. 12. [36] It's the Cook's responsibility to see that each man aboard gets each day no less than five pounds of water, two pounds of oxygen, and one-and-a-half pounds of dry food. 13. [47] The algae—dried by the Cook, bleached with methyl alcohol to kill the smell and make the residue more digestible, disguised and seasoned in a hundred ways—served as a sort of meat-and-potatoes that never quite wore out. 14. [20] The Ship's Cook, the man who accomplishes the daily miracle of turning offal into eatables, is in many ways the most vital man aboard a spacer. 15. [21] He can make morale or foment a mutiny. 16. [22] His power is paramount. 17. [35] Cooking aboard a spacer is a job combining the more frustrating tensions of biochemistry, applied mycology, high-speed farming, dietetics and sewage engineering. 18. [36] It's the Cook's responsibility to see that each man aboard gets each day no less than five pounds of water, two pounds of oxygen, and one-and-a-half pounds of dry food. 19. [47] The algae—dried by the Cook, bleached with methyl alcohol to kill the smell and make the residue more digestible, disguised and seasoned in a hundred ways—served as a sort of meat-and-potatoes that never quite wore out. 20. [1] GOURMET By ALLEN KIM LANG [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Magazine April 1962. 21. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] 22. [7] In the days when salt-sea sailors were charting islands and spearing seals, for example, the fo'c's'le hands called themselves Lobscousers, celebrating the liquid hash then prominent in the marine menu. 23. [8] The Limey sailor got the name of the anti-scorbutic citrus squeezed into his diet, a fruit known to us mariners of a more sophisticated age only as garnish for our groundside gin-and-tonic. 24. [9] And today we Marsmen are called Slimeheads, honoring in our title the Chlorella and Scenedesmus algae that, by filling up the spaces within, open the road to the larger Space without. 25. [10] Should any groundsman dispute the importance of belly-furniture in history—whether it be exterminating whales, or introducing syphilis to the Fiji Islanders, or settling the Australian littoral with cross-coves from Middlesex and Hampshire—he is referred to the hundred-and-first chapter of Moby Dick , a book spooled in the amusement tanks of all but the smallest spacers. 26. [11] I trust, however, that no Marsman will undertake to review this inventory of refreshment more than a week from groundfall. 27. [12] A catalogue of sides of beef and heads of Leyden cheese and ankers of good Geneva would prove heavy reading for a man condemned to snack on the Chlorella-spawn of cis-Martian space. 28. [13] The Pequod's crew ate wormy biscuit and salt beef. 29. [14] Nimitz's men won their war on canned pork and beans. 30. [15] The Triton made her underwater periplus of Earth with a galley stocked with frozen pizza and concentrated apple-juice. 31. [16] But then, when sailors left the seas for the skies, a decline set in. 32. [17] The first amenity of groundside existence to be abandoned was decent food. 33. [18] The earliest men into the vacuum swallowed protein squeezings from aluminum tubes, and were glad enough to drop back to the groundsman's diet of steak and fried potatoes. 34. [19] Long before I was a boy in Med School, itching to look at black sky through a view-port, galley science had fulfilled the disgusting exordium of Isaiah 36:12, to feed the Slimeheads for breakfast today what was day-before-yesterday's table-scraps and jakes-water. 35. [23] Slimeheads remember the H. M. S. Ajax fiasco, for example, in which a galleyman leveled his Chlorella tanks with heavy water from the ship's shielding. 36. [25] We think of the Benjo Maru incident, too, caused by a Ship's Cook who allowed his algaeal staff-of-life to become contaminated with a fast-growing Saccharomycodes yeast. 37. [27] And for a third footnote to the ancient observation, "God sends food, and the Devil sends cooks," Marsmen will recall what happened aboard my ship the Charles Partlow Sale . 38. [40] By allowing a colony of Chlorella algae to work over our used air, water and other effluvia, though, three tons of metabolites would see us through from Brady Station to Piano West and back. 39. [41] Recycling was the answer. 40. [42] The molecule of carbohydrate, fat, protein or mineral that didn't feed the crew fed the algae. 41. [43] And the algae fed us. 42. [44] All waste was used to fertilize our liquid fields. 43. [45] Even the stubble from our 2,680 shaves and the clippings from our 666 haircuts en route and back would be fed into the Chlorella tanks. 44. [46] Human hair is rich in essential amino acids. 45. [47] The algae—dried by the Cook, bleached with methyl alcohol to kill the smell and make the residue more digestible, disguised and seasoned in a hundred ways—served as a sort of meat-and-potatoes that never quite wore out. 46. [48] Our air and water were equally immortal. 47. [49] Each molecule of oxygen would be conversant with the alveoli of every man aboard by the end of our trip. 48. [50] Every drop of water would have been intimate with the glomeruli of each kidney on the ship before we grounded in. 49. [51] Groundling politicians are right enough when they say that we spacers are a breed apart. 50. [52] We're the one race of men who can't afford the luxury of squeamishness. 51. [53] Though I'm signed aboard as Ship's Surgeon, I seldom lift a knife in space. 52. [54] My employment is more in the nature of TS-card-puncher extraordinary. 53. [55] My duties are to serve as wailing-wall, morale officer, guardian of the medicinal whiskey and frustrator of mutual murder. 54. [56] Generally the man aboard who'd serve as the most popular murder-victim is the Cook. 55. [57] This trip, the-man-you-love-to-hate was our Captain. 56. [58] If the Cook hadn't problems enough with the chemical and psychic duties of his office, Winkelmann supplied the want. 57. [69] Bailey tried to feed us by groundside standards. 58. [70] He hid the taste of synthetic methionine—an essential amino acid not synthesized by Chlorella—by seasoning our algaeal repasts with pinches of oregano and thyme. 59. [71] He tinted the pale-green dollops of pressed Chlorella pink, textured the mass to the consistency of hamburger and toasted the slabs to a delicate brown in a forlorn attempt to make mock-meat. 60. [72] For dessert, he served a fudge compounded from the dextrose-paste of the carbohydrate recycler. 61. [73] The crew thanked him. 62. [74] The Captain did not. 63. [75] "Belly-Robber," he said, his tone icy as winter wind off the North Sea, "you had best cycle this mess through the tanks again. 64. [76] There is a pun in my home country: Mensch ist was er isst. [77] It means, you are what you eat. [78] I think you are impertinent to suggest I should become this Schweinerei you are feeding me." 65. [92] Bailey took a handful of dried Chlorella from a bin and fingered it. [93] It was green, smelled of swamp, and looked appetizing as a bedsore. [94] "This is what I have to work with," he said. [95] He tossed the stuff back into its bin. [96] "In Ohio, which is my home country, in the presence of ladies, we'd call such garbage Horse-Leavings." 66. [104] The product of Bailey's cerebrations was on the mess table at noon the next day.

Who is Robert Bailey, and what are his characteristics?

[1] GOURMET By ALLEN KIM LANG [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Magazine April 1962. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] This was the endless problem of all spaceship cooks: He had to feed the men tomorrow on what they had eaten today! [4] Unable to get out to the ballgame and a long way off from the girls, men on ships think about, talk about, bitch about their food. [5] It's true that Woman remains a topic of thoughtful study, but discussion can never replace practice in an art. [6] Food, on the other hand, is a challenge shipmen face three times a day, so central to their thoughts that a history of sea-faring can be read from a commissary list. [7] In the days when salt-sea sailors were charting islands and spearing seals, for example, the fo'c's'le hands called themselves Lobscousers, celebrating the liquid hash then prominent in the marine menu. [8] The Limey sailor got the name of the anti-scorbutic citrus squeezed into his diet, a fruit known to us mariners of a more sophisticated age only as garnish for our groundside gin-and-tonic. [9] And today we Marsmen are called Slimeheads, honoring in our title the Chlorella and Scenedesmus algae that, by filling up the spaces within, open the road to the larger Space without. [10] Should any groundsman dispute the importance of belly-furniture in history—whether it be exterminating whales, or introducing syphilis to the Fiji Islanders, or settling the Australian littoral with cross-coves from Middlesex and Hampshire—he is referred to the hundred-and-first chapter of Moby Dick , a book spooled in the amusement tanks of all but the smallest spacers. [11] I trust, however, that no Marsman will undertake to review this inventory of refreshment more than a week from groundfall. [12] A catalogue of sides of beef and heads of Leyden cheese and ankers of good Geneva would prove heavy reading for a man condemned to snack on the Chlorella-spawn of cis-Martian space. [13] The Pequod's crew ate wormy biscuit and salt beef. [14] Nimitz's men won their war on canned pork and beans. [15] The Triton made her underwater periplus of Earth with a galley stocked with frozen pizza and concentrated apple-juice. [16] But then, when sailors left the seas for the skies, a decline set in. [17] The first amenity of groundside existence to be abandoned was decent food. [18] The earliest men into the vacuum swallowed protein squeezings from aluminum tubes, and were glad enough to drop back to the groundsman's diet of steak and fried potatoes. [19] Long before I was a boy in Med School, itching to look at black sky through a view-port, galley science had fulfilled the disgusting exordium of Isaiah 36:12, to feed the Slimeheads for breakfast today what was day-before-yesterday's table-scraps and jakes-water. [20] The Ship's Cook, the man who accomplishes the daily miracle of turning offal into eatables, is in many ways the most vital man aboard a spacer. [21] He can make morale or foment a mutiny. [22] His power is paramount. [23] Slimeheads remember the H. M. S. Ajax fiasco, for example, in which a galleyman leveled his Chlorella tanks with heavy water from the ship's shielding. [24] Four officers and twenty-one Other Ranks were rescued from the Ajax in deep space, half dead from deuterium poisoning. [25] We think of the Benjo Maru incident, too, caused by a Ship's Cook who allowed his algaeal staff-of-life to become contaminated with a fast-growing Saccharomycodes yeast. [26] The Japanese vessel staggered to her pad at Piano West after a twenty-week drunk: the alien yeast had got into the stomach of every man aboard, where it fermented each subsequent bite he ate to a superior grade of sake . [27] And for a third footnote to the ancient observation, "God sends food, and the Devil sends cooks," Marsmen will recall what happened aboard my ship the Charles Partlow Sale . [28] The Sale blasted off from Brady Station in the middle of August, due in at Piano West in early May. [29] In no special hurry, we were taking the low-energy route to Mars, a pathway about as long in time as the human period of gestation. [30] Our cargo consisted mostly of Tien-Shen fir seedlings and some tons of an arctic grass-seed—these to be planted in the maria to squeeze out the native blue bugberry vines. [31] We had aboard the Registry minimum of six men and three officers. [32] Ship's Surgeon was myself, Paul Vilanova. [33] Our Captain was Willy Winkelmann, the hardest man in space and very likely the fattest. [34] Ship's Cook was Robert Bailey. [35] Cooking aboard a spacer is a job combining the more frustrating tensions of biochemistry, applied mycology, high-speed farming, dietetics and sewage engineering. [36] It's the Cook's responsibility to see that each man aboard gets each day no less than five pounds of water, two pounds of oxygen, and one-and-a-half pounds of dry food. [37] This isn't just a paragraph from the Spacer Union Contract. [38] It's a statement of the least fuel a man can run on. [39] Twelve tons of water, oxygen, and food would have filled the cargo compartments to bursting, and left a small ship like the C. P. Sale no reason to reach for Mars. [40] By allowing a colony of Chlorella algae to work over our used air, water and other effluvia, though, three tons of metabolites would see us through from Brady Station to Piano West and back. [41] Recycling was the answer. [42] The molecule of carbohydrate, fat, protein or mineral that didn't feed the crew fed the algae. [43] And the algae fed us. [44] All waste was used to fertilize our liquid fields. [45] Even the stubble from our 2,680 shaves and the clippings from our 666 haircuts en route and back would be fed into the Chlorella tanks. [46] Human hair is rich in essential amino acids. [47] The algae—dried by the Cook, bleached with methyl alcohol to kill the smell and make the residue more digestible, disguised and seasoned in a hundred ways—served as a sort of meat-and-potatoes that never quite wore out. [48] Our air and water were equally immortal. [49] Each molecule of oxygen would be conversant with the alveoli of every man aboard by the end of our trip. [50] Every drop of water would have been intimate with the glomeruli of each kidney on the ship before we grounded in. [51] Groundling politicians are right enough when they say that we spacers are a breed apart. [52] We're the one race of men who can't afford the luxury of squeamishness. [53] Though I'm signed aboard as Ship's Surgeon, I seldom lift a knife in space. [54] My employment is more in the nature of TS-card-puncher extraordinary. [55] My duties are to serve as wailing-wall, morale officer, guardian of the medicinal whiskey and frustrator of mutual murder. [56] Generally the man aboard who'd serve as the most popular murder-victim is the Cook. [57] This trip, the-man-you-love-to-hate was our Captain. [58] If the Cook hadn't problems enough with the chemical and psychic duties of his office, Winkelmann supplied the want. [59] Captain Willy Winkelmann was the sort of man who, if he had to go into space at all, had best do so alone. [60] If the Prussians had a Marine Corps, Winkelmann would have done splendidly as Drill Instructor for their boot camp. [61] His heart was a chip of helium ice, his voice dripped sarcastic acid. [62] The planet Earth was hardly large enough to accommodate a wart as annoying as Willy Winkelmann. [63] Cheek-by-jowl every day in a nacelle the size of a Pullman car, our Captain quickly established himself as a major social hemorrhoid. [64] The Captain's particular patsy was, of course, young Bailey the Cook. [65] It was Winkelmann who saw humorous possibilities in the entry, "Bailey, Robert," on Ship's Articles. [66] He at once renamed our unfortunate shipmate "Belly-Robber." [67] It was Winkelmann who discussed haut cuisine and the properties of the nobler wines while we munched our algaeburgers and sipped coffee that tasted of utility water. [68] And it was Captain Willy Winkelmann who never referred to the ship's head by any other name than The Kitchen Cabinet. [69] Bailey tried to feed us by groundside standards. [70] He hid the taste of synthetic methionine—an essential amino acid not synthesized by Chlorella—by seasoning our algaeal repasts with pinches of oregano and thyme. [71] He tinted the pale-green dollops of pressed Chlorella pink, textured the mass to the consistency of hamburger and toasted the slabs to a delicate brown in a forlorn attempt to make mock-meat. [72] For dessert, he served a fudge compounded from the dextrose-paste of the carbohydrate recycler. [73] The crew thanked him. [74] The Captain did not. [75] "Belly-Robber," he said, his tone icy as winter wind off the North Sea, "you had best cycle this mess through the tanks again. [76] There is a pun in my home country: Mensch ist was er isst. [77] It means, you are what you eat. [78] I think you are impertinent to suggest I should become this Schweinerei you are feeding me." [79] Captain Winkelmann blotted his chin with his napkin, heaved his bulk up from the table, and climbed up the ladder from the dining-cubby. [80] "Doc, do you like Winkelmann?" [81] the Cook asked me. [82] "Not much," I said. [83] "I suspect that the finest gift our Captain can give his mother is to be absent from her on Mother's Day. [84] But we've got to live with him. [85] He's a good man at driving a ship." [86] "I wish he'd leave off driving this Cook," Bailey said. [87] "The fat swine!" [88] "His plumpness is an unwitting tribute to your cooking, Bailey," I said. [89] "He eats well. [90] We all do. [91] I've dined aboard a lot of spacers in my time, and I'll testify that you set a table second to none." [92] Bailey took a handful of dried Chlorella from a bin and fingered it. [93] It was green, smelled of swamp, and looked appetizing as a bedsore. [94] "This is what I have to work with," he said. [95] He tossed the stuff back into its bin. [96] "In Ohio, which is my home country, in the presence of ladies, we'd call such garbage Horse-Leavings." [97] "You'll never make Winkelmann happy," I said. [98] "Even the simultaneous death of all other human beings could hardly make him smile. [99] Keep up the good work, though, and you'll keep our Captain fat." [100] Bailey nodded from his one-man cloud of gloom. [101] I got a bottle of rye from Medical Stores and offered him a therapeutic draught. [102] The Cook waved my gift aside. [103] "Not now, Doc," he said. [104] "I'm thinking about tomorrow's menu." [105] The product of Bailey's cerebrations was on the mess table at noon the next day. [106] We were each served an individual head of lettuce, dressed with something very like vinegar and oil, spiced with tiny leaves of burnet. [107] How Bailey had constructed those synthetic lettuces I can only guess: the hours spent preparing a green Chlorella paste, rolling and drying and shaping each artificial leaf, the fitting together of nine heads like crisp, three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles. [108] The pièce de résistance was again a "hamburger steak;" but this time the algaeal mass that made it up was buried in a rich, meaty gravy that was only faintly green. [109] The essence-of-steak used in these Chlorella cutlets had been sprinkled with a lavish hand. [110] Garlic was richly in evidence. [111] "It's so tender," the radioman joked, "that I can hardly believe it's really steak." [112] Bailey stared across the dining-cubby toward Winkelmann, silently imploring the Captain's ratification of his masterpiece. [113] The big man's pink cheeks bulged and jumped with his chewing. [114] He swallowed. [115] "Belly-Robber," Winkelmann said, "I had almost rather you served me this pond-scum raw than have it all mucked-up with synthetic onions and cycler-salt." [116] "You seem able enough to choke down Bailey's chow, Captain," I said. [117] I gazed at Winkelmann's form, bulbous from a lifetime of surfeit feeding. [118] "Yes, I eat it," the Captain said, taking and talking through another bite. [119] "But I eat only as a man in the desert will eat worms and grasshoppers, to stay alive." [120] "Sir, what in heaven's name do you expect from me?" [121] Bailey pleaded. [122] "Only good food," Winkelmann mumbled through his mouthful of disguised algae. [123] He tapped his head with a finger. [124] "This—the brain that guides the ship—cannot be coaxed to work on hog-slop. [125] You understand me, Belly-Robber?" [126] Bailey, his hands fisted at his sides, nodded. [127] "Yes, sir. [128] But I really don't know what I can do to please you." [129] "You are a spacer and a Ship's Cook, not a suburban Hausfrau with the vapors," Winkelmann said. [130] "I do not expect from you hysterics, tantrums or weeping. [131] Only—can you understand this, so simple?—food that will keep my belly content and my brain alive." [132] "Yes, sir," Bailey said, his face a picture of that offense the British term Dumb Insolence. [133] Winkelmann got up and climbed the ladder to the pilot-cubicle. [134] I followed him. [135] "Captain," I said, "you're driving Bailey too hard. [136] You're asking him to make bricks without straw." [137] Winkelmann regarded me with his pale-blue stare. [138] "You think, Doctor, that my cruelty to the Belly-Robber is the biliousness of a middle-aged man?" [139] "Frankly, I can't understand your attitude at all," I said. [140] "You accuse me of driving a man to make bricks without straw," Winkelmann said. [141] "Very well, Doctor. [142] It is my belief that if the Pharaoh's taskmaster had had my firmness of purpose, the Children of Israel would have made bricks with stubble. [143] Necessity, Doctor, is the mother of invention. [144] I am Bailey's necessity. [145] My unkindnesses make him uncomfortable, I doubt that not. [146] But I am forcing him to experiment, to improvise, to widen the horizons of his ingenuity. [147] He will learn somehow to bring good food from Chlorella tanks." [148] "You're driving him too hard, Sir," I said. [149] "He'll crack." [150] "Bailey will have some fifty thousand dollars' salary waiting when we ground at Brady Station," Captain Winkelmann said. [151] "So much money buys many discomforts. [152] That will be all, Doctor Vilanova." [153] "Crew morale on the ship...." I began. [154] "That will be all, Doctor Vilanova," Captain Winkelmann repeated. [155] Bailey grew more silent as we threaded our way along the elliptical path to Mars. [156] Each meal he prepared was a fresh attempt to propitiate the appetite of our splenetic Captain. [157] Each such offering was condemned by that heartless man. [158] Bailey began to try avoiding the Captain at mealtimes, but was frustrated by Winkelmann's orders. [159] "Convey my compliments to the Chef, please," the Captain would instruct one of the crew, "and ask him to step down here a moment." [160] And the Cook would cheerlessly appear in the dining-cubby, to have his culinary genius acidly called in question again. [161] I myself do not doubt that Bailey was the finest Cook ever to go into Hohmann orbit. [162] His every meal established a higher benchmark in brilliant galleymanship. [163] We were served, for instance, an ersatz hot turkey supreme. [164] The cheese-sauce was almost believable, the Chlorella turkey-flesh was white and tender. [165] Bailey served with this delicacy a grainy and delicious "cornbread," and had extracted from his algae a lipid butter-substitute that soaked into the hot "bread" with a genuinely dairy smell. [166] "Splendid, Bailey," I said. [167] "We are not amused," said Captain Winkelmann, accepting a second helping of the pseudo-turkey. [168] "You are improving, Belly-Robber, but only arithmetically. [169] Your first efforts were so hideous as to require a geometric progression of improving excellence to raise them to mere edibility. [170] By the time we are halfway 'round the Sun, I trust you will have learned to cook with the competence of a freshman Home Economics student. [171] That will be all, Bailey." [172] The crew and my fellow-officers were amused by Winkelmann's riding of Bailey; they were in addition gratified that the battle between their Captain and their Cook served to feed them so well. [173] Most spacers embark on an outward voyage somewhat plump, having eaten enough on their last few days aground to smuggle several hundred calories of fat and many memories of good food aboard with them. [174] This trip, none of the men had lost weight during the first four months in space. [175] Winkelmann, indeed, seemed to have gained. [176] His uniform was taut over his plump backside, and he puffed a bit up the ladders. [177] I was considering suggesting to our Captain that he curtail his diet for reasons of health, a bit of advice that would have stood unique in the annals of space medicine, when Winkelmann produced his supreme insult to our Cook. [178] Each man aboard a spacer is allowed ten kilograms of personal effects besides his uniforms, these being considered Ship's Furnishing. [179] As his rank and responsibility merit, the Captain is allowed double this ration. [180] He may thus bring aboard with him some forty-five pounds of books, playing-cards, knitting-wool, whiskey or what have you to help him while away the hours between the planets. [181] Bailey, I knew for a fact, had used up his weight-allowance in bringing aboard a case of spices: marjoram and mint, costmary, file powder, basil and allspice, and a dozen others. [182] Captain Winkelmann was not a reader, and had brought no books. [183] Cards interested him not at all, as card-playing implies a sociability alien to his nature. [184] He never drank aboard ship. [185] I had supposed that he'd exercised his option of returning his personal-effects weight allowance to the owners for the consideration of one hundred dollars a kilogram. [186] To collect the maximum allowance, spacers have been known to come aboard their ship mother-naked. [187] But this was not the case with Winkelmann. [188] His personal-effects baggage, an unlabeled cardboard box, appeared under the table at noon mess some hundred days out from Piano West. [189] Winkelmann rested his feet on the mysterious box as he sat to eat. [190] "What disgusting form does the ship's garbage appear in today, Belly-Robber?" [191] he asked the Cook. [192] Bailey frowned, but kept his temper, an asceticism in which by now he'd had much practice. [193] "I've been working on the problem of steak, Sir," he said. [194] "I think I've whipped the taste; what was left was to get the texture steak-like. [195] Do you understand, Sir?" [196] "I understand," Winkelmann growled. [197] "You intend that your latest mess should feel like steak to the mouth, and not like baby-food. [198] Right?" [199] "Yes, Sir," Bailey said. [200] "Well, I squeezed the steak-substrate—Chlorella, of course, with all sorts of special seasonings—through a sieve, and blanched the strands in hot algaeal oil. [201] Then I chopped those strands to bits and rolled them out. [202] Voila! [203] I had something very close in texture to the muscle-fibers of genuine meat." [204] "Remarkable, Bailey," I said. [205] "It rather throws me off my appetite to hear how you muddle about with our food," the Captain said, his jowls settling into an expression of distaste. [206] "It's quite all right to eat lobster, for example, but I never cared to see the ugly beast boiled before my eyes. [207] Detail spoils the meal." [208] Bailey lifted the cover off the electric warming-pan at the center of the table and tenderly lifted a small "steak" onto each of our plates. [209] "Try it," he urged the Captain. [210] Captain Winkelmann sliced off a corner of his algaeal steak. [211] The color was an excellent medium-rare, the odor was the rich smell of fresh-broiled beef. [212] Winkelmann bit down, chewed, swallowed. [213] "Not too bad, Belly-Robber," he said, nodding. [214] Bailey grinned and bobbed his head, his hands folded before him in an ecstasy of pleasure. [215] A kind word from the Captain bettered the ruffles-and-flourishes of a more reasonable man. [216] "But it still needs something ... something," Winkelmann went on, slicing off another portion of the tasty Chlorella. [217] "Aha! [218] I have it!" [219] "Yes, Sir?" [220] Bailey asked. [221] "This, Belly-Robber!" [222] Winkelmann reached beneath the mess-table and ripped open his cardboard carton. [223] He brought out a bottle and unscrewed the cap. [224] "Ketchup," he said, splattering the red juice over Bailey's masterpiece. [225] "The scarlet burial-shroud for the failures of Cooks." [226] Lifting a hunk of the "steak," streaming ketchup, to his mouth, Winkelmann chewed. [227] "Just the thing," he smiled. [228] "Damn you!" [229] Bailey shouted. [230] Winkelmann's smile flicked off, and his blue eyes pierced the Cook. [231] "... Sir," Bailey added. [232] "That's better," Winkelmann said, and took another bite. [233] He said meditatively, "Used with caution, and only by myself, I believe I have sufficient ketchup here to see me through to Mars. [234] Please keep a bottle on the table for all my future meals, Belly-Robber." [235] "But, Sir...." Bailey began. [236] "You must realize, Belly-Robber, that a dyspeptic Captain is a threat to the welfare of his ship. [237] Were I to continue eating your surrealistic slops for another hundred days, without the small consolation of this sauce I had the foresight to bring with me, I'd likely be in no condition to jet us safely down to the Piano West pad. [238] Do you understand, Belly-Robber?" [239] he demanded. [240] "I understand that you're an ungrateful, impossible, square-headed, slave-driving...." "Watch your noun," Winkelmann cautioned the Cook. [241] "Your adjectives are insubordinate; your noun might prove mutinous." [242] "Captain, you've gone too far," I said. [243] Bailey, his fists knotted, was scarlet, his chest heaving with emotion. [244] "Doctor, I must point out to you that it ill behooves the Ship's Surgeon to side with the Cook against the Captain," Winkelmann said. [245] "Sir, Bailey has tried hard to please you," I said. [246] "The other officers and the men have been more than satisfied with his work." [247] "That only suggests atrophy of their taste buds," Winkelmann said. [248] "Doctor, you are excused. [249] As are you, Belly-Robber," he added. [250] Bailey and I climbed from the mess compartment together. [251] I steered him to my quarters, where the medical supplies were stored. [252] He sat on my bunk and exploded into weeping, banging his fists against the metal bulkhead. [253] "You'll have that drink now," I said. [254] "No, dammit!" [255] he shouted. [256] "Orders," I said. [257] I poured us each some fifty cc's of rye. [258] "This is therapy, Bailey," I told him. [259] He poured the fiery stuff down his throat like water and silently held out his glass for a second. [260] I provided it. [261] After a few minutes Bailey's sobbing ceased. [262] "Sorry, Doc," he said. [263] "You've taken more pressure than most men would," I said. [264] "Nothing to be ashamed of." [265] "He's crazy. [266] What sane man would expect me to dip Wiener schnitzel and sauerkraut and Backhahndl nach suddeutscher Art out of an algae tank? [267] I've got nothing but microscopic weeds to cook for him! [268] Worn-out molecules reclaimed from the head; packaged amino acid additives. [269] And he expects meals that would take the blue ribbon at the annual banquet of the Friends of Escoffier!" [270] "Yours is an ancient plaint, Bailey," I said. [271] "You've worked your fingers to the bone, slaving over a hot stove, and you're not appreciated. [272] But you're not married to Winkelmann, remember. [273] A year from now you'll be home in Ohio, fifty grand richer, set to start that restaurant of yours and forget about our fat Flying Dutchman." [274] "I hate him," Bailey said with the simplicity of true emotion. [275] He reached for the bottle. [276] I let him have it. [277] Sometimes alcohol can be an apt confederate of vis medicatrix naturae , the healing power of nature. [278] Half an hour later I strapped Bailey into his bunk to sleep it off. [279] That therapeutic drunk seemed to be just what he'd needed. [280] For morning mess the next day we had a broth remarkable in horribleness, a pottage or boiled Chlorella vulgaris that looked and tasted like the vomit of some bottom-feeding sea-beast. [281] Bailey, red-eyed and a-tremble, made no apology, and stared at Winkelmann as though daring him to comment. [282] The Captain lifted a spoonful of the disgusting stuff to his lips, smacked and said, "Belly-Robber, you're improving a little at last." [283] Bailey nodded and smiled. [284] "Thank you, Sir," he said. [285] I smiled, too. [286] Bailey had conquered himself. [287] His psychic defenses were now strong enough to withstand the Captain's fiercest assaults of irony. [288] Our food would likely be bad the rest of this trip, but that was a price I was willing to pay for seeing destroyed the Willy Winkelmann theory of forcing a Cook to make bricks without straw. [289] The Captain had pushed too hard. [290] He'd need that ketchup for the meals to come, I thought. [291] Noon mess was nearly as awful as breakfast had been. [292] The coffee tasted of salt, and went largely undrunk. [293] The men in the mess compartment were vehement in their protests, blaming the Captain, in his absence, for the decline in culinary standards. [294] Bailey seemed not to care. [295] He served the algaeburgers with half a mind, and hurried back into his galley oblivious of the taunts of his crewmates. [296] There being only three seats in the Sale's mess compartment, we ate our meals in three shifts. [297] That evening, going down the ladder to supper, my nose was met with a spine-tingling barbecue tang, a smell to make a man think of gray charcoal glowing in a picnic brazier, of cicadas chirping and green grass underfoot, of the pop and hiss of canned beer being church-keyed. [298] "He's done it, Doc!" [299] one of the first-shift diners said. [300] "It actually tastes of food!" [301] "Then he's beat the Captain at his game," I said. [302] "The Dutchman won't want to mess ketchup on these steaks," the crewman said. [303] I sat, unfolded my napkin, and looked with hope to the electric warming-pan at the center of the table. [304] Bailey served the three of us with the small "steaks." [305] Each contained about a pound of dried Chlorella, I judged, teasing mine with my fork. [306] But they were drenched in a gravy rich as the stuff grandma used to make in her black iron skillet, peppery and seasoned with courageous bits of garlic. [307] I cut a bit from my steak and chewed it. [308] Too tender, of course; there are limits to art. [309] But the pond-scum taste was gone. [310] Bailey appeared in the galley door. [311] I gestured for him to join me. [312] "You've done it, Bailey," I said. [313] "Every Slimehead in orbit will thank you for this. [314] This is actually good ." [315] "Thanks, Doc," Bailey said. [316] I smiled and took another bite. [317] "You may not realize it, Bailey; but this is a victory for the Captain, too. [318] He drove you to this triumph; you couldn't have done it without him." [319] "You mean he was just whipping me on, trying to make me do better?" [320] Bailey asked. [321] "He was driving you to do the impossible," I said; "and you did it. [322] Our Captain may be a hard man, Bailey; but he did know how to coax maximum performance out of his Ship's Cook." [323] Bailey stood up. [324] "Do you like Captain Winkelmann, Doctor?" [325] he asked. [326] I thought about his question a moment. [327] Winkelmann was good at his job. [328] He persuaded his men by foul means, true; but it was all for the good of the ship and his crew. [329] "Do I like Captain Winkelmann?" [330] I asked, spearing another piece of my artificial steak. [331] "Bailey, I'm afraid I'll have to admit that I do." [332] Bailey smiled and lifted a second steak from the warming-pan onto my plate. [333] "Then have another piece," he said.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "Who is Robert Bailey, and what are his characteristics?": 1. [35] Cooking aboard a spacer is a job combining the more frustrating tensions of biochemistry, applied mycology, high-speed farming, dietetics and sewage engineering. 2. [36] It's the Cook's responsibility to see that each man aboard gets each day no less than five pounds of water, two pounds of oxygen, and one-and-a-half pounds of dry food. 3. [94] "This is what I have to work with," he said. 4. [95] He tossed the stuff back into its bin. 5. [96] "In Ohio, which is my home country, in the presence of ladies, we'd call such garbage Horse-Leavings." 6. [104] The product of Bailey's cerebrations was on the mess table at noon the next day. 7. [105] We were each served an individual head of lettuce, dressed with something very like vinegar and oil, spiced with tiny leaves of burnet. 8. [106] How Bailey had constructed those synthetic lettuces I can only guess: the hours spent preparing a green Chlorella paste, rolling and drying and shaping each artificial leaf, the fitting together of nine heads like crisp, three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles. 9. [107] The pièce de résistance was again a "hamburger steak;" but this time the algaeal mass that made it up was buried in a rich, meaty gravy that was only faintly green. 10. [108] The essence-of-steak used in these Chlorella cutlets had been sprinkled with a lavish hand. 11. [109] Garlic was richly in evidence. 12. [120] "Sir, what in heaven's name do you expect from me?" Bailey pleaded. 13. [126] Bailey, his hands fisted at his sides, nodded. 14. [127] "Yes, sir. But I really don't know what I can do to please you." 15. [132] Bailey's face a picture of that offense the British term Dumb Insolence. 16. [155] Bailey grew more silent as we threaded our way along the elliptical path to Mars. 17. [156] Each meal he prepared was a fresh attempt to propitiate the appetite of our splenetic Captain. 18. [157] Each such offering was condemned by that heartless man. 19. [158] Bailey began to try avoiding the Captain at mealtimes, but was frustrated by Winkelmann's orders. 20. [161] I myself do not doubt that Bailey was the finest Cook ever to go into Hohmann orbit. 21. [162] His every meal established a higher benchmark in brilliant galleymanship. 22. [163] We were served, for instance, an ersatz hot turkey supreme. 23. [164] The cheese-sauce was almost believable, the Chlorella turkey-flesh was white and tender. 24. [165] Bailey served with this delicacy a grainy and delicious "cornbread," and had extracted from his algae a lipid butter-substitute that soaked into the hot "bread" with a genuinely dairy smell. 25. [191] "What disgusting form does the ship's garbage appear in today, Belly-Robber?" he asked the Cook. 26. [192] Bailey frowned, but kept his temper, an asceticism in which by now he'd had much practice. 27. [193] "I've been working on the problem of steak, Sir," he said. 28. [194] "I think I've whipped the taste; what was left was to get the texture steak-like." 29. [195] "Do you understand, Sir?" 30. [200] "Well, I squeezed the steak-substrate—Chlorella, of course, with all sorts of special seasonings—through a sieve, and blanched the strands in hot algaeal oil." 31. [201] "Then I chopped those strands to bits and rolled them out." 32. [202] "Voila! I had something very close in texture to the muscle-fibers of genuine meat." 33. [228] "Damn you!" Bailey shouted. 34. [229] Winkelmann's smile flicked off, and his blue eyes pierced the Cook. 35. [230] "... Sir," Bailey added. 36. [231] "That's better," Winkelmann said, and took another bite. 37. [265] "He's crazy. What sane man would expect me to dip Wiener schnitzel and sauerkraut and Backhahndl nach suddeutscher Art out of an algae tank?" 38. [266] "I've got nothing but microscopic weeds to cook for him! Worn-out molecules reclaimed from the head; packaged amino acid additives." 39. [267] "And he expects meals that would take the blue ribbon at the annual banquet of the Friends of Escoffier!" 40. [274] "I hate him," Bailey said with the simplicity of true emotion. 41. [280] For morning mess the next day we had a broth remarkable in horribleness, a pottage or boiled Chlorella vulgaris that looked and tasted like the vomit of some bottom-feeding sea-beast. 42. [281] Bailey, red-eyed and a-tremble, made no apology, and stared at Winkelmann as though daring him to comment. 43. [282] The Captain lifted a spoonful of the disgusting stuff to his lips, smacked and said, "Belly-Robber, you're improving a little at last." 44. [283] Bailey nodded and smiled. 45. [284] "Thank you, Sir," he said. 46. [292] The coffee tasted of salt, and went largely undrunk. 47. [293] The men in the mess compartment were vehement in their protests, blaming the Captain, in his absence, for the decline in culinary standards. 48. [294] Bailey seemed not to care. 49. [295] He served the algaeburgers with half a mind, and hurried back into his galley oblivious of the taunts of his crewmates. 50. [298] "He's done it, Doc!" one of the first-shift diners said. 51. [299] "It actually tastes of food!" 52. [302] "The Dutchman won't want to mess ketchup on these steaks," the crewman said. 53. [303] I sat, unfolded my napkin, and looked with hope to the electric warming-pan at the center of the table. 54. [304] Bailey served the three of us with the small "steaks." 55. [305] Each contained about a pound of dried Chlorella, I judged, teasing mine with my fork. 56. [306] But they were drenched in a gravy rich as the stuff grandma used to make in her black iron skillet, peppery and seasoned with courageous bits of garlic. 57. [307] I cut a bit from my steak and chewed it. 58. [308] Too tender, of course; there are limits to art. 59. [309] But the pond-scum taste was gone. 60. [310] Bailey appeared in the galley door. 61. [311] I gestured for him to join me. 62. [312] "You've done it, Bailey," I said. 63. [313] "Every Slimehead in orbit will thank you for this. This is actually good." 64. [314] "Thanks, Doc," Bailey said. 65. [315] I smiled and took another bite. 66. [316] "You may not realize it, Bailey; but this is a victory for the Captain, too." 67. [317] "He drove you to this triumph; you couldn't have done it without him." 68. [318] "You mean he was just whipping me on, trying to make me do better?" Bailey asked. 69. [319] "He was driving you to do the impossible," I said; "and you did it." 70. [320] "Our Captain may be a hard man, Bailey; but he did know how to coax maximum performance out of his Ship's Cook." 71. [321] Bailey stood up. 72. [322] "Do you like Captain Winkelmann, Doctor?" he asked. 73. [323] I thought about his question a moment. 74. [324] Winkelmann was good at his job. 75. [325] He persuaded his men by foul means, true; but it was all for the good of the ship and his crew. 76. [326] "Do I like Captain Winkelmann?" I asked, spearing another piece of my artificial steak. 77. [327] "Bailey, I'm afraid I'll have to admit that I do." 78. [328] Bailey smiled and lifted a second steak from the warming-pan onto my plate. 79. [329] "Then have another piece," he said.

Describe the setting of the story.

[1] GOURMET By ALLEN KIM LANG [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Magazine April 1962. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] This was the endless problem of all spaceship cooks: He had to feed the men tomorrow on what they had eaten today! [4] Unable to get out to the ballgame and a long way off from the girls, men on ships think about, talk about, bitch about their food. [5] It's true that Woman remains a topic of thoughtful study, but discussion can never replace practice in an art. [6] Food, on the other hand, is a challenge shipmen face three times a day, so central to their thoughts that a history of sea-faring can be read from a commissary list. [7] In the days when salt-sea sailors were charting islands and spearing seals, for example, the fo'c's'le hands called themselves Lobscousers, celebrating the liquid hash then prominent in the marine menu. [8] The Limey sailor got the name of the anti-scorbutic citrus squeezed into his diet, a fruit known to us mariners of a more sophisticated age only as garnish for our groundside gin-and-tonic. [9] And today we Marsmen are called Slimeheads, honoring in our title the Chlorella and Scenedesmus algae that, by filling up the spaces within, open the road to the larger Space without. [10] Should any groundsman dispute the importance of belly-furniture in history—whether it be exterminating whales, or introducing syphilis to the Fiji Islanders, or settling the Australian littoral with cross-coves from Middlesex and Hampshire—he is referred to the hundred-and-first chapter of Moby Dick , a book spooled in the amusement tanks of all but the smallest spacers. [11] I trust, however, that no Marsman will undertake to review this inventory of refreshment more than a week from groundfall. [12] A catalogue of sides of beef and heads of Leyden cheese and ankers of good Geneva would prove heavy reading for a man condemned to snack on the Chlorella-spawn of cis-Martian space. [13] The Pequod's crew ate wormy biscuit and salt beef. [14] Nimitz's men won their war on canned pork and beans. [15] The Triton made her underwater periplus of Earth with a galley stocked with frozen pizza and concentrated apple-juice. [16] But then, when sailors left the seas for the skies, a decline set in. [17] The first amenity of groundside existence to be abandoned was decent food. [18] The earliest men into the vacuum swallowed protein squeezings from aluminum tubes, and were glad enough to drop back to the groundsman's diet of steak and fried potatoes. [19] Long before I was a boy in Med School, itching to look at black sky through a view-port, galley science had fulfilled the disgusting exordium of Isaiah 36:12, to feed the Slimeheads for breakfast today what was day-before-yesterday's table-scraps and jakes-water. [20] The Ship's Cook, the man who accomplishes the daily miracle of turning offal into eatables, is in many ways the most vital man aboard a spacer. [21] He can make morale or foment a mutiny. [22] His power is paramount. [23] Slimeheads remember the H. M. S. Ajax fiasco, for example, in which a galleyman leveled his Chlorella tanks with heavy water from the ship's shielding. [24] Four officers and twenty-one Other Ranks were rescued from the Ajax in deep space, half dead from deuterium poisoning. [25] We think of the Benjo Maru incident, too, caused by a Ship's Cook who allowed his algaeal staff-of-life to become contaminated with a fast-growing Saccharomycodes yeast. [26] The Japanese vessel staggered to her pad at Piano West after a twenty-week drunk: the alien yeast had got into the stomach of every man aboard, where it fermented each subsequent bite he ate to a superior grade of sake . [27] And for a third footnote to the ancient observation, "God sends food, and the Devil sends cooks," Marsmen will recall what happened aboard my ship the Charles Partlow Sale . [28] The Sale blasted off from Brady Station in the middle of August, due in at Piano West in early May. [29] In no special hurry, we were taking the low-energy route to Mars, a pathway about as long in time as the human period of gestation. [30] Our cargo consisted mostly of Tien-Shen fir seedlings and some tons of an arctic grass-seed—these to be planted in the maria to squeeze out the native blue bugberry vines. [31] We had aboard the Registry minimum of six men and three officers. [32] Ship's Surgeon was myself, Paul Vilanova. [33] Our Captain was Willy Winkelmann, the hardest man in space and very likely the fattest. [34] Ship's Cook was Robert Bailey. [35] Cooking aboard a spacer is a job combining the more frustrating tensions of biochemistry, applied mycology, high-speed farming, dietetics and sewage engineering. [36] It's the Cook's responsibility to see that each man aboard gets each day no less than five pounds of water, two pounds of oxygen, and one-and-a-half pounds of dry food. [37] This isn't just a paragraph from the Spacer Union Contract. [38] It's a statement of the least fuel a man can run on. [39] Twelve tons of water, oxygen, and food would have filled the cargo compartments to bursting, and left a small ship like the C. P. Sale no reason to reach for Mars. [40] By allowing a colony of Chlorella algae to work over our used air, water and other effluvia, though, three tons of metabolites would see us through from Brady Station to Piano West and back. [41] Recycling was the answer. [42] The molecule of carbohydrate, fat, protein or mineral that didn't feed the crew fed the algae. [43] And the algae fed us. [44] All waste was used to fertilize our liquid fields. [45] Even the stubble from our 2,680 shaves and the clippings from our 666 haircuts en route and back would be fed into the Chlorella tanks. [46] Human hair is rich in essential amino acids. [47] The algae—dried by the Cook, bleached with methyl alcohol to kill the smell and make the residue more digestible, disguised and seasoned in a hundred ways—served as a sort of meat-and-potatoes that never quite wore out. [48] Our air and water were equally immortal. [49] Each molecule of oxygen would be conversant with the alveoli of every man aboard by the end of our trip. [50] Every drop of water would have been intimate with the glomeruli of each kidney on the ship before we grounded in. [51] Groundling politicians are right enough when they say that we spacers are a breed apart. [52] We're the one race of men who can't afford the luxury of squeamishness. [53] Though I'm signed aboard as Ship's Surgeon, I seldom lift a knife in space. [54] My employment is more in the nature of TS-card-puncher extraordinary. [55] My duties are to serve as wailing-wall, morale officer, guardian of the medicinal whiskey and frustrator of mutual murder. [56] Generally the man aboard who'd serve as the most popular murder-victim is the Cook. [57] This trip, the-man-you-love-to-hate was our Captain. [58] If the Cook hadn't problems enough with the chemical and psychic duties of his office, Winkelmann supplied the want. [59] Captain Willy Winkelmann was the sort of man who, if he had to go into space at all, had best do so alone. [60] If the Prussians had a Marine Corps, Winkelmann would have done splendidly as Drill Instructor for their boot camp. [61] His heart was a chip of helium ice, his voice dripped sarcastic acid. [62] The planet Earth was hardly large enough to accommodate a wart as annoying as Willy Winkelmann. [63] Cheek-by-jowl every day in a nacelle the size of a Pullman car, our Captain quickly established himself as a major social hemorrhoid. [64] The Captain's particular patsy was, of course, young Bailey the Cook. [65] It was Winkelmann who saw humorous possibilities in the entry, "Bailey, Robert," on Ship's Articles. [66] He at once renamed our unfortunate shipmate "Belly-Robber." [67] It was Winkelmann who discussed haut cuisine and the properties of the nobler wines while we munched our algaeburgers and sipped coffee that tasted of utility water. [68] And it was Captain Willy Winkelmann who never referred to the ship's head by any other name than The Kitchen Cabinet. [69] Bailey tried to feed us by groundside standards. [70] He hid the taste of synthetic methionine—an essential amino acid not synthesized by Chlorella—by seasoning our algaeal repasts with pinches of oregano and thyme. [71] He tinted the pale-green dollops of pressed Chlorella pink, textured the mass to the consistency of hamburger and toasted the slabs to a delicate brown in a forlorn attempt to make mock-meat. [72] For dessert, he served a fudge compounded from the dextrose-paste of the carbohydrate recycler. [73] The crew thanked him. [74] The Captain did not. [75] "Belly-Robber," he said, his tone icy as winter wind off the North Sea, "you had best cycle this mess through the tanks again. [76] There is a pun in my home country: Mensch ist was er isst. [77] It means, you are what you eat. [78] I think you are impertinent to suggest I should become this Schweinerei you are feeding me." [79] Captain Winkelmann blotted his chin with his napkin, heaved his bulk up from the table, and climbed up the ladder from the dining-cubby. [80] "Doc, do you like Winkelmann?" [81] the Cook asked me. [82] "Not much," I said. [83] "I suspect that the finest gift our Captain can give his mother is to be absent from her on Mother's Day. [84] But we've got to live with him. [85] He's a good man at driving a ship." [86] "I wish he'd leave off driving this Cook," Bailey said. [87] "The fat swine!" [88] "His plumpness is an unwitting tribute to your cooking, Bailey," I said. [89] "He eats well. [90] We all do. [91] I've dined aboard a lot of spacers in my time, and I'll testify that you set a table second to none." [92] Bailey took a handful of dried Chlorella from a bin and fingered it. [93] It was green, smelled of swamp, and looked appetizing as a bedsore. [94] "This is what I have to work with," he said. [95] He tossed the stuff back into its bin. [96] "In Ohio, which is my home country, in the presence of ladies, we'd call such garbage Horse-Leavings." [97] "You'll never make Winkelmann happy," I said. [98] "Even the simultaneous death of all other human beings could hardly make him smile. [99] Keep up the good work, though, and you'll keep our Captain fat." [100] Bailey nodded from his one-man cloud of gloom. [101] I got a bottle of rye from Medical Stores and offered him a therapeutic draught. [102] The Cook waved my gift aside. [103] "Not now, Doc," he said. [104] "I'm thinking about tomorrow's menu." [105] The product of Bailey's cerebrations was on the mess table at noon the next day. [106] We were each served an individual head of lettuce, dressed with something very like vinegar and oil, spiced with tiny leaves of burnet. [107] How Bailey had constructed those synthetic lettuces I can only guess: the hours spent preparing a green Chlorella paste, rolling and drying and shaping each artificial leaf, the fitting together of nine heads like crisp, three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles. [108] The pièce de résistance was again a "hamburger steak;" but this time the algaeal mass that made it up was buried in a rich, meaty gravy that was only faintly green. [109] The essence-of-steak used in these Chlorella cutlets had been sprinkled with a lavish hand. [110] Garlic was richly in evidence. [111] "It's so tender," the radioman joked, "that I can hardly believe it's really steak." [112] Bailey stared across the dining-cubby toward Winkelmann, silently imploring the Captain's ratification of his masterpiece. [113] The big man's pink cheeks bulged and jumped with his chewing. [114] He swallowed. [115] "Belly-Robber," Winkelmann said, "I had almost rather you served me this pond-scum raw than have it all mucked-up with synthetic onions and cycler-salt." [116] "You seem able enough to choke down Bailey's chow, Captain," I said. [117] I gazed at Winkelmann's form, bulbous from a lifetime of surfeit feeding. [118] "Yes, I eat it," the Captain said, taking and talking through another bite. [119] "But I eat only as a man in the desert will eat worms and grasshoppers, to stay alive." [120] "Sir, what in heaven's name do you expect from me?" [121] Bailey pleaded. [122] "Only good food," Winkelmann mumbled through his mouthful of disguised algae. [123] He tapped his head with a finger. [124] "This—the brain that guides the ship—cannot be coaxed to work on hog-slop. [125] You understand me, Belly-Robber?" [126] Bailey, his hands fisted at his sides, nodded. [127] "Yes, sir. [128] But I really don't know what I can do to please you." [129] "You are a spacer and a Ship's Cook, not a suburban Hausfrau with the vapors," Winkelmann said. [130] "I do not expect from you hysterics, tantrums or weeping. [131] Only—can you understand this, so simple?—food that will keep my belly content and my brain alive." [132] "Yes, sir," Bailey said, his face a picture of that offense the British term Dumb Insolence. [133] Winkelmann got up and climbed the ladder to the pilot-cubicle. [134] I followed him. [135] "Captain," I said, "you're driving Bailey too hard. [136] You're asking him to make bricks without straw." [137] Winkelmann regarded me with his pale-blue stare. [138] "You think, Doctor, that my cruelty to the Belly-Robber is the biliousness of a middle-aged man?" [139] "Frankly, I can't understand your attitude at all," I said. [140] "You accuse me of driving a man to make bricks without straw," Winkelmann said. [141] "Very well, Doctor. [142] It is my belief that if the Pharaoh's taskmaster had had my firmness of purpose, the Children of Israel would have made bricks with stubble. [143] Necessity, Doctor, is the mother of invention. [144] I am Bailey's necessity. [145] My unkindnesses make him uncomfortable, I doubt that not. [146] But I am forcing him to experiment, to improvise, to widen the horizons of his ingenuity. [147] He will learn somehow to bring good food from Chlorella tanks." [148] "You're driving him too hard, Sir," I said. [149] "He'll crack." [150] "Bailey will have some fifty thousand dollars' salary waiting when we ground at Brady Station," Captain Winkelmann said. [151] "So much money buys many discomforts. [152] That will be all, Doctor Vilanova." [153] "Crew morale on the ship...." I began. [154] "That will be all, Doctor Vilanova," Captain Winkelmann repeated. [155] Bailey grew more silent as we threaded our way along the elliptical path to Mars. [156] Each meal he prepared was a fresh attempt to propitiate the appetite of our splenetic Captain. [157] Each such offering was condemned by that heartless man. [158] Bailey began to try avoiding the Captain at mealtimes, but was frustrated by Winkelmann's orders. [159] "Convey my compliments to the Chef, please," the Captain would instruct one of the crew, "and ask him to step down here a moment." [160] And the Cook would cheerlessly appear in the dining-cubby, to have his culinary genius acidly called in question again. [161] I myself do not doubt that Bailey was the finest Cook ever to go into Hohmann orbit. [162] His every meal established a higher benchmark in brilliant galleymanship. [163] We were served, for instance, an ersatz hot turkey supreme. [164] The cheese-sauce was almost believable, the Chlorella turkey-flesh was white and tender. [165] Bailey served with this delicacy a grainy and delicious "cornbread," and had extracted from his algae a lipid butter-substitute that soaked into the hot "bread" with a genuinely dairy smell. [166] "Splendid, Bailey," I said. [167] "We are not amused," said Captain Winkelmann, accepting a second helping of the pseudo-turkey. [168] "You are improving, Belly-Robber, but only arithmetically. [169] Your first efforts were so hideous as to require a geometric progression of improving excellence to raise them to mere edibility. [170] By the time we are halfway 'round the Sun, I trust you will have learned to cook with the competence of a freshman Home Economics student. [171] That will be all, Bailey." [172] The crew and my fellow-officers were amused by Winkelmann's riding of Bailey; they were in addition gratified that the battle between their Captain and their Cook served to feed them so well. [173] Most spacers embark on an outward voyage somewhat plump, having eaten enough on their last few days aground to smuggle several hundred calories of fat and many memories of good food aboard with them. [174] This trip, none of the men had lost weight during the first four months in space. [175] Winkelmann, indeed, seemed to have gained. [176] His uniform was taut over his plump backside, and he puffed a bit up the ladders. [177] I was considering suggesting to our Captain that he curtail his diet for reasons of health, a bit of advice that would have stood unique in the annals of space medicine, when Winkelmann produced his supreme insult to our Cook. [178] Each man aboard a spacer is allowed ten kilograms of personal effects besides his uniforms, these being considered Ship's Furnishing. [179] As his rank and responsibility merit, the Captain is allowed double this ration. [180] He may thus bring aboard with him some forty-five pounds of books, playing-cards, knitting-wool, whiskey or what have you to help him while away the hours between the planets. [181] Bailey, I knew for a fact, had used up his weight-allowance in bringing aboard a case of spices: marjoram and mint, costmary, file powder, basil and allspice, and a dozen others. [182] Captain Winkelmann was not a reader, and had brought no books. [183] Cards interested him not at all, as card-playing implies a sociability alien to his nature. [184] He never drank aboard ship. [185] I had supposed that he'd exercised his option of returning his personal-effects weight allowance to the owners for the consideration of one hundred dollars a kilogram. [186] To collect the maximum allowance, spacers have been known to come aboard their ship mother-naked. [187] But this was not the case with Winkelmann. [188] His personal-effects baggage, an unlabeled cardboard box, appeared under the table at noon mess some hundred days out from Piano West. [189] Winkelmann rested his feet on the mysterious box as he sat to eat. [190] "What disgusting form does the ship's garbage appear in today, Belly-Robber?" [191] he asked the Cook. [192] Bailey frowned, but kept his temper, an asceticism in which by now he'd had much practice. [193] "I've been working on the problem of steak, Sir," he said. [194] "I think I've whipped the taste; what was left was to get the texture steak-like. [195] Do you understand, Sir?" [196] "I understand," Winkelmann growled. [197] "You intend that your latest mess should feel like steak to the mouth, and not like baby-food. [198] Right?" [199] "Yes, Sir," Bailey said. [200] "Well, I squeezed the steak-substrate—Chlorella, of course, with all sorts of special seasonings—through a sieve, and blanched the strands in hot algaeal oil. [201] Then I chopped those strands to bits and rolled them out. [202] Voila! [203] I had something very close in texture to the muscle-fibers of genuine meat." [204] "Remarkable, Bailey," I said. [205] "It rather throws me off my appetite to hear how you muddle about with our food," the Captain said, his jowls settling into an expression of distaste. [206] "It's quite all right to eat lobster, for example, but I never cared to see the ugly beast boiled before my eyes. [207] Detail spoils the meal." [208] Bailey lifted the cover off the electric warming-pan at the center of the table and tenderly lifted a small "steak" onto each of our plates. [209] "Try it," he urged the Captain. [210] Captain Winkelmann sliced off a corner of his algaeal steak. [211] The color was an excellent medium-rare, the odor was the rich smell of fresh-broiled beef. [212] Winkelmann bit down, chewed, swallowed. [213] "Not too bad, Belly-Robber," he said, nodding. [214] Bailey grinned and bobbed his head, his hands folded before him in an ecstasy of pleasure. [215] A kind word from the Captain bettered the ruffles-and-flourishes of a more reasonable man. [216] "But it still needs something ... something," Winkelmann went on, slicing off another portion of the tasty Chlorella. [217] "Aha! [218] I have it!" [219] "Yes, Sir?" [220] Bailey asked. [221] "This, Belly-Robber!" [222] Winkelmann reached beneath the mess-table and ripped open his cardboard carton. [223] He brought out a bottle and unscrewed the cap. [224] "Ketchup," he said, splattering the red juice over Bailey's masterpiece. [225] "The scarlet burial-shroud for the failures of Cooks." [226] Lifting a hunk of the "steak," streaming ketchup, to his mouth, Winkelmann chewed. [227] "Just the thing," he smiled. [228] "Damn you!" [229] Bailey shouted. [230] Winkelmann's smile flicked off, and his blue eyes pierced the Cook. [231] "... Sir," Bailey added. [232] "That's better," Winkelmann said, and took another bite. [233] He said meditatively, "Used with caution, and only by myself, I believe I have sufficient ketchup here to see me through to Mars. [234] Please keep a bottle on the table for all my future meals, Belly-Robber." [235] "But, Sir...." Bailey began. [236] "You must realize, Belly-Robber, that a dyspeptic Captain is a threat to the welfare of his ship. [237] Were I to continue eating your surrealistic slops for another hundred days, without the small consolation of this sauce I had the foresight to bring with me, I'd likely be in no condition to jet us safely down to the Piano West pad. [238] Do you understand, Belly-Robber?" [239] he demanded. [240] "I understand that you're an ungrateful, impossible, square-headed, slave-driving...." "Watch your noun," Winkelmann cautioned the Cook. [241] "Your adjectives are insubordinate; your noun might prove mutinous." [242] "Captain, you've gone too far," I said. [243] Bailey, his fists knotted, was scarlet, his chest heaving with emotion. [244] "Doctor, I must point out to you that it ill behooves the Ship's Surgeon to side with the Cook against the Captain," Winkelmann said. [245] "Sir, Bailey has tried hard to please you," I said. [246] "The other officers and the men have been more than satisfied with his work." [247] "That only suggests atrophy of their taste buds," Winkelmann said. [248] "Doctor, you are excused. [249] As are you, Belly-Robber," he added. [250] Bailey and I climbed from the mess compartment together. [251] I steered him to my quarters, where the medical supplies were stored. [252] He sat on my bunk and exploded into weeping, banging his fists against the metal bulkhead. [253] "You'll have that drink now," I said. [254] "No, dammit!" [255] he shouted. [256] "Orders," I said. [257] I poured us each some fifty cc's of rye. [258] "This is therapy, Bailey," I told him. [259] He poured the fiery stuff down his throat like water and silently held out his glass for a second. [260] I provided it. [261] After a few minutes Bailey's sobbing ceased. [262] "Sorry, Doc," he said. [263] "You've taken more pressure than most men would," I said. [264] "Nothing to be ashamed of." [265] "He's crazy. [266] What sane man would expect me to dip Wiener schnitzel and sauerkraut and Backhahndl nach suddeutscher Art out of an algae tank? [267] I've got nothing but microscopic weeds to cook for him! [268] Worn-out molecules reclaimed from the head; packaged amino acid additives. [269] And he expects meals that would take the blue ribbon at the annual banquet of the Friends of Escoffier!" [270] "Yours is an ancient plaint, Bailey," I said. [271] "You've worked your fingers to the bone, slaving over a hot stove, and you're not appreciated. [272] But you're not married to Winkelmann, remember. [273] A year from now you'll be home in Ohio, fifty grand richer, set to start that restaurant of yours and forget about our fat Flying Dutchman." [274] "I hate him," Bailey said with the simplicity of true emotion. [275] He reached for the bottle. [276] I let him have it. [277] Sometimes alcohol can be an apt confederate of vis medicatrix naturae , the healing power of nature. [278] Half an hour later I strapped Bailey into his bunk to sleep it off. [279] That therapeutic drunk seemed to be just what he'd needed. [280] For morning mess the next day we had a broth remarkable in horribleness, a pottage or boiled Chlorella vulgaris that looked and tasted like the vomit of some bottom-feeding sea-beast. [281] Bailey, red-eyed and a-tremble, made no apology, and stared at Winkelmann as though daring him to comment. [282] The Captain lifted a spoonful of the disgusting stuff to his lips, smacked and said, "Belly-Robber, you're improving a little at last." [283] Bailey nodded and smiled. [284] "Thank you, Sir," he said. [285] I smiled, too. [286] Bailey had conquered himself. [287] His psychic defenses were now strong enough to withstand the Captain's fiercest assaults of irony. [288] Our food would likely be bad the rest of this trip, but that was a price I was willing to pay for seeing destroyed the Willy Winkelmann theory of forcing a Cook to make bricks without straw. [289] The Captain had pushed too hard. [290] He'd need that ketchup for the meals to come, I thought. [291] Noon mess was nearly as awful as breakfast had been. [292] The coffee tasted of salt, and went largely undrunk. [293] The men in the mess compartment were vehement in their protests, blaming the Captain, in his absence, for the decline in culinary standards. [294] Bailey seemed not to care. [295] He served the algaeburgers with half a mind, and hurried back into his galley oblivious of the taunts of his crewmates. [296] There being only three seats in the Sale's mess compartment, we ate our meals in three shifts. [297] That evening, going down the ladder to supper, my nose was met with a spine-tingling barbecue tang, a smell to make a man think of gray charcoal glowing in a picnic brazier, of cicadas chirping and green grass underfoot, of the pop and hiss of canned beer being church-keyed. [298] "He's done it, Doc!" [299] one of the first-shift diners said. [300] "It actually tastes of food!" [301] "Then he's beat the Captain at his game," I said. [302] "The Dutchman won't want to mess ketchup on these steaks," the crewman said. [303] I sat, unfolded my napkin, and looked with hope to the electric warming-pan at the center of the table. [304] Bailey served the three of us with the small "steaks." [305] Each contained about a pound of dried Chlorella, I judged, teasing mine with my fork. [306] But they were drenched in a gravy rich as the stuff grandma used to make in her black iron skillet, peppery and seasoned with courageous bits of garlic. [307] I cut a bit from my steak and chewed it. [308] Too tender, of course; there are limits to art. [309] But the pond-scum taste was gone. [310] Bailey appeared in the galley door. [311] I gestured for him to join me. [312] "You've done it, Bailey," I said. [313] "Every Slimehead in orbit will thank you for this. [314] This is actually good ." [315] "Thanks, Doc," Bailey said. [316] I smiled and took another bite. [317] "You may not realize it, Bailey; but this is a victory for the Captain, too. [318] He drove you to this triumph; you couldn't have done it without him." [319] "You mean he was just whipping me on, trying to make me do better?" [320] Bailey asked. [321] "He was driving you to do the impossible," I said; "and you did it. [322] Our Captain may be a hard man, Bailey; but he did know how to coax maximum performance out of his Ship's Cook." [323] Bailey stood up. [324] "Do you like Captain Winkelmann, Doctor?" [325] he asked. [326] I thought about his question a moment. [327] Winkelmann was good at his job. [328] He persuaded his men by foul means, true; but it was all for the good of the ship and his crew. [329] "Do I like Captain Winkelmann?" [330] I asked, spearing another piece of my artificial steak. [331] "Bailey, I'm afraid I'll have to admit that I do." [332] Bailey smiled and lifted a second steak from the warming-pan onto my plate. [333] "Then have another piece," he said.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "Describe the setting of the story": 1. [28] The Sale blasted off from Brady Station in the middle of August, due in at Piano West in early May. 2. [29] In no special hurry, we were taking the low-energy route to Mars, a pathway about as long in time as the human period of gestation. 3. [30] Our cargo consisted mostly of Tien-Shen fir seedlings and some tons of an arctic grass-seed—these to be planted in the maria to squeeze out the native blue bugberry vines. 4. [31] We had aboard the Registry minimum of six men and three officers. 5. [40] By allowing a colony of Chlorella algae to work over our used air, water and other effluvia, though, three tons of metabolites would see us through from Brady Station to Piano West and back. 6. [1] GOURMET By ALLEN KIM LANG [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Magazine April 1962.] 7. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] 8. [3] This was the endless problem of all spaceship cooks: He had to feed the men tomorrow on what they had eaten today! 9. [4] Unable to get out to the ballgame and a long way off from the girls, men on ships think about, talk about, bitch about their food. 10. [5] It's true that Woman remains a topic of thoughtful study, but discussion can never replace practice in an art. 11. [6] Food, on the other hand, is a challenge shipmen face three times a day, so central to their thoughts that a history of sea-faring can be read from a commissary list. 12. [7] In the days when salt-sea sailors were charting islands and spearing seals, for example, the fo'c's'le hands called themselves Lobscousers, celebrating the liquid hash then prominent in the marine menu. 13. [8] The Limey sailor got the name of the anti-scorbutic citrus squeezed into his diet, a fruit known to us mariners of a more sophisticated age only as garnish for our groundside gin-and-tonic. 14. [9] And today we Marsmen are called Slimeheads, honoring in our title the Chlorella and Scenedesmus algae that, by filling up the spaces within, open the road to the larger Space without. 15. [10] Should any groundsman dispute the importance of belly-furniture in history—whether it be exterminating whales, or introducing syphilis to the Fiji Islanders, or settling the Australian littoral with cross-coves from Middlesex and Hampshire—he is referred to the hundred-and-first chapter of Moby Dick , a book spooled in the amusement tanks of all but the smallest spacers. 16. [11] I trust, however, that no Marsman will undertake to review this inventory of refreshment more than a week from groundfall. 17. [12] A catalogue of sides of beef and heads of Leyden cheese and ankers of good Geneva would prove heavy reading for a man condemned to snack on the Chlorella-spawn of cis-Martian space. 18. [13] The Pequod's crew ate wormy biscuit and salt beef. 19. [14] Nimitz's men won their war on canned pork and beans. 20. [15] The Triton made her underwater periplus of Earth with a galley stocked with frozen pizza and concentrated apple-juice. 21. [16] But then, when sailors left the seas for the skies, a decline set in. 22. [17] The first amenity of groundside existence to be abandoned was decent food. 23. [18] The earliest men into the vacuum swallowed protein squeezings from aluminum tubes, and were glad enough to drop back to the groundsman's diet of steak and fried potatoes. 24. [19] Long before I was a boy in Med School, itching to look at black sky through a view-port, galley science had fulfilled the disgusting exordium of Isaiah 36:12, to feed the Slimeheads for breakfast today what was day-before-yesterday's table-scraps and jakes-water. 25. [20] The Ship's Cook, the man who accomplishes the daily miracle of turning offal into eatables, is in many ways the most vital man aboard a spacer. 26. [21] He can make morale or foment a mutiny. 27. [22] His power is paramount. 28. [23] Slimeheads remember the H. M. S. Ajax fiasco, for example, in which a galleyman leveled his Chlorella tanks with heavy water from the ship's shielding. 29. [24] Four officers and twenty-one Other Ranks were rescued from the Ajax in deep space, half dead from deuterium poisoning. 30. [25] We think of the Benjo Maru incident, too, caused by a Ship's Cook who allowed his algaeal staff-of-life to become contaminated with a fast-growing Saccharomycodes yeast. 31. [26] The Japanese vessel staggered to her pad at Piano West after a twenty-week drunk: the alien yeast had got into the stomach of every man aboard, where it fermented each subsequent bite he ate to a superior grade of sake . 32. [27] And for a third footnote to the ancient observation, "God sends food, and the Devil sends cooks," Marsmen will recall what happened aboard my ship the Charles Partlow Sale . 33. [32] Ship's Surgeon was myself, Paul Vilanova. 34. [33] Our Captain was Willy Winkelmann, the hardest man in space and very likely the fattest. 35. [34] Ship's Cook was Robert Bailey. 36. [35] Cooking aboard a spacer is a job combining the more frustrating tensions of biochemistry, applied mycology, high-speed farming, dietetics and sewage engineering. 37. [36] It's the Cook's responsibility to see that each man aboard gets each day no less than five pounds of water, two pounds of oxygen, and one-and-a-half pounds of dry food. 38. [37] This isn't just a paragraph from the Spacer Union Contract. 39. [38] It's a statement of the least fuel a man can run on. 40. [39] Twelve tons of water, oxygen, and food would have filled the cargo compartments to bursting, and left a small ship like the C. P. Sale no reason to reach for Mars. 41. [51] Groundling politicians are right enough when they say that we spacers are a breed apart. 42. [52] We're the one race of men who can't afford the luxury of squeamishness. 43. [53] Though I'm signed aboard as Ship's Surgeon, I seldom lift a knife in space. 44. [54] My employment is more in the nature of TS-card-puncher extraordinary. 45. [55] My duties are to serve as wailing-wall, morale officer, guardian of the medicinal whiskey and frustrator of mutual murder. 46. [56] Generally the man aboard who'd serve as the most popular murder-victim is the Cook. 47. [57] This trip, the-man-you-love-to-hate was our Captain. 48. [58] If the Cook hadn't problems enough with the chemical and psychic duties of his office, Winkelmann supplied the want. 49. [59] Captain Willy Winkelmann was the sort of man who, if he had to go into space at all, had best do so alone. 50. [60] If the Prussians had a Marine Corps, Winkelmann would have done splendidly as Drill Instructor for their boot camp. 51. [61] His heart was a chip of helium ice, his voice dripped sarcastic acid. 52. [62] The planet Earth was hardly large enough to accommodate a wart as annoying as Willy Winkelmann. 53. [63] Cheek-by-jowl every day in a nacelle the size of a Pullman car, our Captain quickly established himself as a major social hemorrhoid. 54. [64] The Captain's particular patsy was, of course, young Bailey the Cook. 55. [65] It was Winkelmann who saw humorous possibilities in the entry, "Bailey, Robert," on Ship's Articles. 56. [66] He at once renamed our unfortunate shipmate "Belly-Robber." 57. [67] It was Winkelmann who discussed haut cuisine and the properties of the nobler wines while we munched our algaeburgers and sipped coffee that tasted of utility water. 58. [68] And it was Captain Willy Winkelmann who never referred to the ship's head by any other name than The Kitchen Cabinet. 59. [173] Most spacers embark on an outward voyage somewhat plump, having eaten enough on their last few days aground to smuggle several hundred calories of fat and many memories of good food aboard with them. 60. [174] This trip, none of the men had lost weight during the first four months in space. 61. [175] Winkelmann, indeed, seemed to have gained. 62. [176] His uniform was taut over his plump backside, and he puffed a bit up the ladders. 63. [177] I was considering suggesting to our Captain that he curtail his diet for reasons of health, a bit of advice that would have stood unique in the annals of space medicine, when Winkelmann produced his supreme insult to our Cook. 64. [178] Each man aboard a spacer is allowed ten kilograms of personal effects besides his uniforms, these being considered Ship's Furnishing. 65. [179] As his rank and responsibility merit, the Captain is allowed double this ration. 66. [180] He may thus bring aboard with him some forty-five pounds of books, playing-cards, knitting-wool, whiskey or what have you to help him while away the hours between the planets. 67. [181] Bailey, I knew for a fact, had used up his weight-allowance in bringing aboard a case of spices: marjoram and mint, costmary, file powder, basil and allspice, and a dozen others. 68. [182] Captain Winkelmann was not a reader, and had brought no books. 69. [183] Cards interested him not at all, as card-playing implies a sociability alien to his nature. 70. [184] He never drank aboard ship. 71. [185] I had supposed that he'd exercised his option of returning his personal-effects weight allowance to the owners for the consideration of one hundred dollars a kilogram. 72. [186] To collect the maximum allowance, spacers have been known to come aboard their ship mother-naked. 73. [187] But this was not the case with Winkelmann. 74. [188] His personal-effects baggage, an unlabeled cardboard box, appeared under the table at noon mess some hundred days out from Piano West. 75. [189] Winkelmann rested his feet on the mysterious box as he sat to eat.

What is the importance of the Chlorella algae?

[1] GOURMET By ALLEN KIM LANG [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Magazine April 1962. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] This was the endless problem of all spaceship cooks: He had to feed the men tomorrow on what they had eaten today! [4] Unable to get out to the ballgame and a long way off from the girls, men on ships think about, talk about, bitch about their food. [5] It's true that Woman remains a topic of thoughtful study, but discussion can never replace practice in an art. [6] Food, on the other hand, is a challenge shipmen face three times a day, so central to their thoughts that a history of sea-faring can be read from a commissary list. [7] In the days when salt-sea sailors were charting islands and spearing seals, for example, the fo'c's'le hands called themselves Lobscousers, celebrating the liquid hash then prominent in the marine menu. [8] The Limey sailor got the name of the anti-scorbutic citrus squeezed into his diet, a fruit known to us mariners of a more sophisticated age only as garnish for our groundside gin-and-tonic. [9] And today we Marsmen are called Slimeheads, honoring in our title the Chlorella and Scenedesmus algae that, by filling up the spaces within, open the road to the larger Space without. [10] Should any groundsman dispute the importance of belly-furniture in history—whether it be exterminating whales, or introducing syphilis to the Fiji Islanders, or settling the Australian littoral with cross-coves from Middlesex and Hampshire—he is referred to the hundred-and-first chapter of Moby Dick , a book spooled in the amusement tanks of all but the smallest spacers. [11] I trust, however, that no Marsman will undertake to review this inventory of refreshment more than a week from groundfall. [12] A catalogue of sides of beef and heads of Leyden cheese and ankers of good Geneva would prove heavy reading for a man condemned to snack on the Chlorella-spawn of cis-Martian space. [13] The Pequod's crew ate wormy biscuit and salt beef. [14] Nimitz's men won their war on canned pork and beans. [15] The Triton made her underwater periplus of Earth with a galley stocked with frozen pizza and concentrated apple-juice. [16] But then, when sailors left the seas for the skies, a decline set in. [17] The first amenity of groundside existence to be abandoned was decent food. [18] The earliest men into the vacuum swallowed protein squeezings from aluminum tubes, and were glad enough to drop back to the groundsman's diet of steak and fried potatoes. [19] Long before I was a boy in Med School, itching to look at black sky through a view-port, galley science had fulfilled the disgusting exordium of Isaiah 36:12, to feed the Slimeheads for breakfast today what was day-before-yesterday's table-scraps and jakes-water. [20] The Ship's Cook, the man who accomplishes the daily miracle of turning offal into eatables, is in many ways the most vital man aboard a spacer. [21] He can make morale or foment a mutiny. [22] His power is paramount. [23] Slimeheads remember the H. M. S. Ajax fiasco, for example, in which a galleyman leveled his Chlorella tanks with heavy water from the ship's shielding. [24] Four officers and twenty-one Other Ranks were rescued from the Ajax in deep space, half dead from deuterium poisoning. [25] We think of the Benjo Maru incident, too, caused by a Ship's Cook who allowed his algaeal staff-of-life to become contaminated with a fast-growing Saccharomycodes yeast. [26] The Japanese vessel staggered to her pad at Piano West after a twenty-week drunk: the alien yeast had got into the stomach of every man aboard, where it fermented each subsequent bite he ate to a superior grade of sake . [27] And for a third footnote to the ancient observation, "God sends food, and the Devil sends cooks," Marsmen will recall what happened aboard my ship the Charles Partlow Sale . [28] The Sale blasted off from Brady Station in the middle of August, due in at Piano West in early May. [29] In no special hurry, we were taking the low-energy route to Mars, a pathway about as long in time as the human period of gestation. [30] Our cargo consisted mostly of Tien-Shen fir seedlings and some tons of an arctic grass-seed—these to be planted in the maria to squeeze out the native blue bugberry vines. [31] We had aboard the Registry minimum of six men and three officers. [32] Ship's Surgeon was myself, Paul Vilanova. [33] Our Captain was Willy Winkelmann, the hardest man in space and very likely the fattest. [34] Ship's Cook was Robert Bailey. [35] Cooking aboard a spacer is a job combining the more frustrating tensions of biochemistry, applied mycology, high-speed farming, dietetics and sewage engineering. [36] It's the Cook's responsibility to see that each man aboard gets each day no less than five pounds of water, two pounds of oxygen, and one-and-a-half pounds of dry food. [37] This isn't just a paragraph from the Spacer Union Contract. [38] It's a statement of the least fuel a man can run on. [39] Twelve tons of water, oxygen, and food would have filled the cargo compartments to bursting, and left a small ship like the C. P. Sale no reason to reach for Mars. [40] By allowing a colony of Chlorella algae to work over our used air, water and other effluvia, though, three tons of metabolites would see us through from Brady Station to Piano West and back. [41] Recycling was the answer. [42] The molecule of carbohydrate, fat, protein or mineral that didn't feed the crew fed the algae. [43] And the algae fed us. [44] All waste was used to fertilize our liquid fields. [45] Even the stubble from our 2,680 shaves and the clippings from our 666 haircuts en route and back would be fed into the Chlorella tanks. [46] Human hair is rich in essential amino acids. [47] The algae—dried by the Cook, bleached with methyl alcohol to kill the smell and make the residue more digestible, disguised and seasoned in a hundred ways—served as a sort of meat-and-potatoes that never quite wore out. [48] Our air and water were equally immortal. [49] Each molecule of oxygen would be conversant with the alveoli of every man aboard by the end of our trip. [50] Every drop of water would have been intimate with the glomeruli of each kidney on the ship before we grounded in. [51] Groundling politicians are right enough when they say that we spacers are a breed apart. [52] We're the one race of men who can't afford the luxury of squeamishness. [53] Though I'm signed aboard as Ship's Surgeon, I seldom lift a knife in space. [54] My employment is more in the nature of TS-card-puncher extraordinary. [55] My duties are to serve as wailing-wall, morale officer, guardian of the medicinal whiskey and frustrator of mutual murder. [56] Generally the man aboard who'd serve as the most popular murder-victim is the Cook. [57] This trip, the-man-you-love-to-hate was our Captain. [58] If the Cook hadn't problems enough with the chemical and psychic duties of his office, Winkelmann supplied the want. [59] Captain Willy Winkelmann was the sort of man who, if he had to go into space at all, had best do so alone. [60] If the Prussians had a Marine Corps, Winkelmann would have done splendidly as Drill Instructor for their boot camp. [61] His heart was a chip of helium ice, his voice dripped sarcastic acid. [62] The planet Earth was hardly large enough to accommodate a wart as annoying as Willy Winkelmann. [63] Cheek-by-jowl every day in a nacelle the size of a Pullman car, our Captain quickly established himself as a major social hemorrhoid. [64] The Captain's particular patsy was, of course, young Bailey the Cook. [65] It was Winkelmann who saw humorous possibilities in the entry, "Bailey, Robert," on Ship's Articles. [66] He at once renamed our unfortunate shipmate "Belly-Robber." [67] It was Winkelmann who discussed haut cuisine and the properties of the nobler wines while we munched our algaeburgers and sipped coffee that tasted of utility water. [68] And it was Captain Willy Winkelmann who never referred to the ship's head by any other name than The Kitchen Cabinet. [69] Bailey tried to feed us by groundside standards. [70] He hid the taste of synthetic methionine—an essential amino acid not synthesized by Chlorella—by seasoning our algaeal repasts with pinches of oregano and thyme. [71] He tinted the pale-green dollops of pressed Chlorella pink, textured the mass to the consistency of hamburger and toasted the slabs to a delicate brown in a forlorn attempt to make mock-meat. [72] For dessert, he served a fudge compounded from the dextrose-paste of the carbohydrate recycler. [73] The crew thanked him. [74] The Captain did not. [75] "Belly-Robber," he said, his tone icy as winter wind off the North Sea, "you had best cycle this mess through the tanks again. [76] There is a pun in my home country: Mensch ist was er isst. [77] It means, you are what you eat. [78] I think you are impertinent to suggest I should become this Schweinerei you are feeding me." [79] Captain Winkelmann blotted his chin with his napkin, heaved his bulk up from the table, and climbed up the ladder from the dining-cubby. [80] "Doc, do you like Winkelmann?" [81] the Cook asked me. [82] "Not much," I said. [83] "I suspect that the finest gift our Captain can give his mother is to be absent from her on Mother's Day. [84] But we've got to live with him. [85] He's a good man at driving a ship." [86] "I wish he'd leave off driving this Cook," Bailey said. [87] "The fat swine!" [88] "His plumpness is an unwitting tribute to your cooking, Bailey," I said. [89] "He eats well. [90] We all do. [91] I've dined aboard a lot of spacers in my time, and I'll testify that you set a table second to none." [92] Bailey took a handful of dried Chlorella from a bin and fingered it. [93] It was green, smelled of swamp, and looked appetizing as a bedsore. [94] "This is what I have to work with," he said. [95] He tossed the stuff back into its bin. [96] "In Ohio, which is my home country, in the presence of ladies, we'd call such garbage Horse-Leavings." [97] "You'll never make Winkelmann happy," I said. [98] "Even the simultaneous death of all other human beings could hardly make him smile. [99] Keep up the good work, though, and you'll keep our Captain fat." [100] Bailey nodded from his one-man cloud of gloom. [101] I got a bottle of rye from Medical Stores and offered him a therapeutic draught. [102] The Cook waved my gift aside. [103] "Not now, Doc," he said. [104] "I'm thinking about tomorrow's menu." [105] The product of Bailey's cerebrations was on the mess table at noon the next day. [106] We were each served an individual head of lettuce, dressed with something very like vinegar and oil, spiced with tiny leaves of burnet. [107] How Bailey had constructed those synthetic lettuces I can only guess: the hours spent preparing a green Chlorella paste, rolling and drying and shaping each artificial leaf, the fitting together of nine heads like crisp, three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles. [108] The pièce de résistance was again a "hamburger steak;" but this time the algaeal mass that made it up was buried in a rich, meaty gravy that was only faintly green. [109] The essence-of-steak used in these Chlorella cutlets had been sprinkled with a lavish hand. [110] Garlic was richly in evidence. [111] "It's so tender," the radioman joked, "that I can hardly believe it's really steak." [112] Bailey stared across the dining-cubby toward Winkelmann, silently imploring the Captain's ratification of his masterpiece. [113] The big man's pink cheeks bulged and jumped with his chewing. [114] He swallowed. [115] "Belly-Robber," Winkelmann said, "I had almost rather you served me this pond-scum raw than have it all mucked-up with synthetic onions and cycler-salt." [116] "You seem able enough to choke down Bailey's chow, Captain," I said. [117] I gazed at Winkelmann's form, bulbous from a lifetime of surfeit feeding. [118] "Yes, I eat it," the Captain said, taking and talking through another bite. [119] "But I eat only as a man in the desert will eat worms and grasshoppers, to stay alive." [120] "Sir, what in heaven's name do you expect from me?" [121] Bailey pleaded. [122] "Only good food," Winkelmann mumbled through his mouthful of disguised algae. [123] He tapped his head with a finger. [124] "This—the brain that guides the ship—cannot be coaxed to work on hog-slop. [125] You understand me, Belly-Robber?" [126] Bailey, his hands fisted at his sides, nodded. [127] "Yes, sir. [128] But I really don't know what I can do to please you." [129] "You are a spacer and a Ship's Cook, not a suburban Hausfrau with the vapors," Winkelmann said. [130] "I do not expect from you hysterics, tantrums or weeping. [131] Only—can you understand this, so simple?—food that will keep my belly content and my brain alive." [132] "Yes, sir," Bailey said, his face a picture of that offense the British term Dumb Insolence. [133] Winkelmann got up and climbed the ladder to the pilot-cubicle. [134] I followed him. [135] "Captain," I said, "you're driving Bailey too hard. [136] You're asking him to make bricks without straw." [137] Winkelmann regarded me with his pale-blue stare. [138] "You think, Doctor, that my cruelty to the Belly-Robber is the biliousness of a middle-aged man?" [139] "Frankly, I can't understand your attitude at all," I said. [140] "You accuse me of driving a man to make bricks without straw," Winkelmann said. [141] "Very well, Doctor. [142] It is my belief that if the Pharaoh's taskmaster had had my firmness of purpose, the Children of Israel would have made bricks with stubble. [143] Necessity, Doctor, is the mother of invention. [144] I am Bailey's necessity. [145] My unkindnesses make him uncomfortable, I doubt that not. [146] But I am forcing him to experiment, to improvise, to widen the horizons of his ingenuity. [147] He will learn somehow to bring good food from Chlorella tanks." [148] "You're driving him too hard, Sir," I said. [149] "He'll crack." [150] "Bailey will have some fifty thousand dollars' salary waiting when we ground at Brady Station," Captain Winkelmann said. [151] "So much money buys many discomforts. [152] That will be all, Doctor Vilanova." [153] "Crew morale on the ship...." I began. [154] "That will be all, Doctor Vilanova," Captain Winkelmann repeated. [155] Bailey grew more silent as we threaded our way along the elliptical path to Mars. [156] Each meal he prepared was a fresh attempt to propitiate the appetite of our splenetic Captain. [157] Each such offering was condemned by that heartless man. [158] Bailey began to try avoiding the Captain at mealtimes, but was frustrated by Winkelmann's orders. [159] "Convey my compliments to the Chef, please," the Captain would instruct one of the crew, "and ask him to step down here a moment." [160] And the Cook would cheerlessly appear in the dining-cubby, to have his culinary genius acidly called in question again. [161] I myself do not doubt that Bailey was the finest Cook ever to go into Hohmann orbit. [162] His every meal established a higher benchmark in brilliant galleymanship. [163] We were served, for instance, an ersatz hot turkey supreme. [164] The cheese-sauce was almost believable, the Chlorella turkey-flesh was white and tender. [165] Bailey served with this delicacy a grainy and delicious "cornbread," and had extracted from his algae a lipid butter-substitute that soaked into the hot "bread" with a genuinely dairy smell. [166] "Splendid, Bailey," I said. [167] "We are not amused," said Captain Winkelmann, accepting a second helping of the pseudo-turkey. [168] "You are improving, Belly-Robber, but only arithmetically. [169] Your first efforts were so hideous as to require a geometric progression of improving excellence to raise them to mere edibility. [170] By the time we are halfway 'round the Sun, I trust you will have learned to cook with the competence of a freshman Home Economics student. [171] That will be all, Bailey." [172] The crew and my fellow-officers were amused by Winkelmann's riding of Bailey; they were in addition gratified that the battle between their Captain and their Cook served to feed them so well. [173] Most spacers embark on an outward voyage somewhat plump, having eaten enough on their last few days aground to smuggle several hundred calories of fat and many memories of good food aboard with them. [174] This trip, none of the men had lost weight during the first four months in space. [175] Winkelmann, indeed, seemed to have gained. [176] His uniform was taut over his plump backside, and he puffed a bit up the ladders. [177] I was considering suggesting to our Captain that he curtail his diet for reasons of health, a bit of advice that would have stood unique in the annals of space medicine, when Winkelmann produced his supreme insult to our Cook. [178] Each man aboard a spacer is allowed ten kilograms of personal effects besides his uniforms, these being considered Ship's Furnishing. [179] As his rank and responsibility merit, the Captain is allowed double this ration. [180] He may thus bring aboard with him some forty-five pounds of books, playing-cards, knitting-wool, whiskey or what have you to help him while away the hours between the planets. [181] Bailey, I knew for a fact, had used up his weight-allowance in bringing aboard a case of spices: marjoram and mint, costmary, file powder, basil and allspice, and a dozen others. [182] Captain Winkelmann was not a reader, and had brought no books. [183] Cards interested him not at all, as card-playing implies a sociability alien to his nature. [184] He never drank aboard ship. [185] I had supposed that he'd exercised his option of returning his personal-effects weight allowance to the owners for the consideration of one hundred dollars a kilogram. [186] To collect the maximum allowance, spacers have been known to come aboard their ship mother-naked. [187] But this was not the case with Winkelmann. [188] His personal-effects baggage, an unlabeled cardboard box, appeared under the table at noon mess some hundred days out from Piano West. [189] Winkelmann rested his feet on the mysterious box as he sat to eat. [190] "What disgusting form does the ship's garbage appear in today, Belly-Robber?" [191] he asked the Cook. [192] Bailey frowned, but kept his temper, an asceticism in which by now he'd had much practice. [193] "I've been working on the problem of steak, Sir," he said. [194] "I think I've whipped the taste; what was left was to get the texture steak-like. [195] Do you understand, Sir?" [196] "I understand," Winkelmann growled. [197] "You intend that your latest mess should feel like steak to the mouth, and not like baby-food. [198] Right?" [199] "Yes, Sir," Bailey said. [200] "Well, I squeezed the steak-substrate—Chlorella, of course, with all sorts of special seasonings—through a sieve, and blanched the strands in hot algaeal oil. [201] Then I chopped those strands to bits and rolled them out. [202] Voila! [203] I had something very close in texture to the muscle-fibers of genuine meat." [204] "Remarkable, Bailey," I said. [205] "It rather throws me off my appetite to hear how you muddle about with our food," the Captain said, his jowls settling into an expression of distaste. [206] "It's quite all right to eat lobster, for example, but I never cared to see the ugly beast boiled before my eyes. [207] Detail spoils the meal." [208] Bailey lifted the cover off the electric warming-pan at the center of the table and tenderly lifted a small "steak" onto each of our plates. [209] "Try it," he urged the Captain. [210] Captain Winkelmann sliced off a corner of his algaeal steak. [211] The color was an excellent medium-rare, the odor was the rich smell of fresh-broiled beef. [212] Winkelmann bit down, chewed, swallowed. [213] "Not too bad, Belly-Robber," he said, nodding. [214] Bailey grinned and bobbed his head, his hands folded before him in an ecstasy of pleasure. [215] A kind word from the Captain bettered the ruffles-and-flourishes of a more reasonable man. [216] "But it still needs something ... something," Winkelmann went on, slicing off another portion of the tasty Chlorella. [217] "Aha! [218] I have it!" [219] "Yes, Sir?" [220] Bailey asked. [221] "This, Belly-Robber!" [222] Winkelmann reached beneath the mess-table and ripped open his cardboard carton. [223] He brought out a bottle and unscrewed the cap. [224] "Ketchup," he said, splattering the red juice over Bailey's masterpiece. [225] "The scarlet burial-shroud for the failures of Cooks." [226] Lifting a hunk of the "steak," streaming ketchup, to his mouth, Winkelmann chewed. [227] "Just the thing," he smiled. [228] "Damn you!" [229] Bailey shouted. [230] Winkelmann's smile flicked off, and his blue eyes pierced the Cook. [231] "... Sir," Bailey added. [232] "That's better," Winkelmann said, and took another bite. [233] He said meditatively, "Used with caution, and only by myself, I believe I have sufficient ketchup here to see me through to Mars. [234] Please keep a bottle on the table for all my future meals, Belly-Robber." [235] "But, Sir...." Bailey began. [236] "You must realize, Belly-Robber, that a dyspeptic Captain is a threat to the welfare of his ship. [237] Were I to continue eating your surrealistic slops for another hundred days, without the small consolation of this sauce I had the foresight to bring with me, I'd likely be in no condition to jet us safely down to the Piano West pad. [238] Do you understand, Belly-Robber?" [239] he demanded. [240] "I understand that you're an ungrateful, impossible, square-headed, slave-driving...." "Watch your noun," Winkelmann cautioned the Cook. [241] "Your adjectives are insubordinate; your noun might prove mutinous." [242] "Captain, you've gone too far," I said. [243] Bailey, his fists knotted, was scarlet, his chest heaving with emotion. [244] "Doctor, I must point out to you that it ill behooves the Ship's Surgeon to side with the Cook against the Captain," Winkelmann said. [245] "Sir, Bailey has tried hard to please you," I said. [246] "The other officers and the men have been more than satisfied with his work." [247] "That only suggests atrophy of their taste buds," Winkelmann said. [248] "Doctor, you are excused. [249] As are you, Belly-Robber," he added. [250] Bailey and I climbed from the mess compartment together. [251] I steered him to my quarters, where the medical supplies were stored. [252] He sat on my bunk and exploded into weeping, banging his fists against the metal bulkhead. [253] "You'll have that drink now," I said. [254] "No, dammit!" [255] he shouted. [256] "Orders," I said. [257] I poured us each some fifty cc's of rye. [258] "This is therapy, Bailey," I told him. [259] He poured the fiery stuff down his throat like water and silently held out his glass for a second. [260] I provided it. [261] After a few minutes Bailey's sobbing ceased. [262] "Sorry, Doc," he said. [263] "You've taken more pressure than most men would," I said. [264] "Nothing to be ashamed of." [265] "He's crazy. [266] What sane man would expect me to dip Wiener schnitzel and sauerkraut and Backhahndl nach suddeutscher Art out of an algae tank? [267] I've got nothing but microscopic weeds to cook for him! [268] Worn-out molecules reclaimed from the head; packaged amino acid additives. [269] And he expects meals that would take the blue ribbon at the annual banquet of the Friends of Escoffier!" [270] "Yours is an ancient plaint, Bailey," I said. [271] "You've worked your fingers to the bone, slaving over a hot stove, and you're not appreciated. [272] But you're not married to Winkelmann, remember. [273] A year from now you'll be home in Ohio, fifty grand richer, set to start that restaurant of yours and forget about our fat Flying Dutchman." [274] "I hate him," Bailey said with the simplicity of true emotion. [275] He reached for the bottle. [276] I let him have it. [277] Sometimes alcohol can be an apt confederate of vis medicatrix naturae , the healing power of nature. [278] Half an hour later I strapped Bailey into his bunk to sleep it off. [279] That therapeutic drunk seemed to be just what he'd needed. [280] For morning mess the next day we had a broth remarkable in horribleness, a pottage or boiled Chlorella vulgaris that looked and tasted like the vomit of some bottom-feeding sea-beast. [281] Bailey, red-eyed and a-tremble, made no apology, and stared at Winkelmann as though daring him to comment. [282] The Captain lifted a spoonful of the disgusting stuff to his lips, smacked and said, "Belly-Robber, you're improving a little at last." [283] Bailey nodded and smiled. [284] "Thank you, Sir," he said. [285] I smiled, too. [286] Bailey had conquered himself. [287] His psychic defenses were now strong enough to withstand the Captain's fiercest assaults of irony. [288] Our food would likely be bad the rest of this trip, but that was a price I was willing to pay for seeing destroyed the Willy Winkelmann theory of forcing a Cook to make bricks without straw. [289] The Captain had pushed too hard. [290] He'd need that ketchup for the meals to come, I thought. [291] Noon mess was nearly as awful as breakfast had been. [292] The coffee tasted of salt, and went largely undrunk. [293] The men in the mess compartment were vehement in their protests, blaming the Captain, in his absence, for the decline in culinary standards. [294] Bailey seemed not to care. [295] He served the algaeburgers with half a mind, and hurried back into his galley oblivious of the taunts of his crewmates. [296] There being only three seats in the Sale's mess compartment, we ate our meals in three shifts. [297] That evening, going down the ladder to supper, my nose was met with a spine-tingling barbecue tang, a smell to make a man think of gray charcoal glowing in a picnic brazier, of cicadas chirping and green grass underfoot, of the pop and hiss of canned beer being church-keyed. [298] "He's done it, Doc!" [299] one of the first-shift diners said. [300] "It actually tastes of food!" [301] "Then he's beat the Captain at his game," I said. [302] "The Dutchman won't want to mess ketchup on these steaks," the crewman said. [303] I sat, unfolded my napkin, and looked with hope to the electric warming-pan at the center of the table. [304] Bailey served the three of us with the small "steaks." [305] Each contained about a pound of dried Chlorella, I judged, teasing mine with my fork. [306] But they were drenched in a gravy rich as the stuff grandma used to make in her black iron skillet, peppery and seasoned with courageous bits of garlic. [307] I cut a bit from my steak and chewed it. [308] Too tender, of course; there are limits to art. [309] But the pond-scum taste was gone. [310] Bailey appeared in the galley door. [311] I gestured for him to join me. [312] "You've done it, Bailey," I said. [313] "Every Slimehead in orbit will thank you for this. [314] This is actually good ." [315] "Thanks, Doc," Bailey said. [316] I smiled and took another bite. [317] "You may not realize it, Bailey; but this is a victory for the Captain, too. [318] He drove you to this triumph; you couldn't have done it without him." [319] "You mean he was just whipping me on, trying to make me do better?" [320] Bailey asked. [321] "He was driving you to do the impossible," I said; "and you did it. [322] Our Captain may be a hard man, Bailey; but he did know how to coax maximum performance out of his Ship's Cook." [323] Bailey stood up. [324] "Do you like Captain Winkelmann, Doctor?" [325] he asked. [326] I thought about his question a moment. [327] Winkelmann was good at his job. [328] He persuaded his men by foul means, true; but it was all for the good of the ship and his crew. [329] "Do I like Captain Winkelmann?" [330] I asked, spearing another piece of my artificial steak. [331] "Bailey, I'm afraid I'll have to admit that I do." [332] Bailey smiled and lifted a second steak from the warming-pan onto my plate. [333] "Then have another piece," he said.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences in order of importance for answering the question "What is the importance of the Chlorella algae?": 1. [40] By allowing a colony of Chlorella algae to work over our used air, water and other effluvia, though, three tons of metabolites would see us through from Brady Station to Piano West and back. 2. [41] Recycling was the answer. 3. [42] The molecule of carbohydrate, fat, protein or mineral that didn't feed the crew fed the algae. 4. [43] And the algae fed us. 5. [44] All waste was used to fertilize our liquid fields. 6. [45] Even the stubble from our 2,680 shaves and the clippings from our 666 haircuts en route and back would be fed into the Chlorella tanks. 7. [46] Human hair is rich in essential amino acids. 8. [47] The algae—dried by the Cook, bleached with methyl alcohol to kill the smell and make the residue more digestible, disguised and seasoned in a hundred ways—served as a sort of meat-and-potatoes that never quite wore out. 9. [48] Our air and water were equally immortal. 10. [49] Each molecule of oxygen would be conversant with the alveoli of every man aboard by the end of our trip. 11. [50] Every drop of water would have been intimate with the glomeruli of each kidney on the ship before we grounded in. 12. [9] And today we Marsmen are called Slimeheads, honoring in our title the Chlorella and Scenedesmus algae that, by filling up the spaces within, open the road to the larger Space without. 13. [23] Slimeheads remember the H. M. S. Ajax fiasco, for example, in which a galleyman leveled his Chlorella tanks with heavy water from the ship's shielding. 14. [25] We think of the Benjo Maru incident, too, caused by a Ship's Cook who allowed his algaeal staff-of-life to become contaminated with a fast-growing Saccharomycodes yeast. 15. [35] Cooking aboard a spacer is a job combining the more frustrating tensions of biochemistry, applied mycology, high-speed farming, dietetics and sewage engineering. 16. [36] It's the Cook's responsibility to see that each man aboard gets each day no less than five pounds of water, two pounds of oxygen, and one-and-a-half pounds of dry food. 17. [37] This isn't just a paragraph from the Spacer Union Contract. 18. [38] It's a statement of the least fuel a man can run on. 19. [39] Twelve tons of water, oxygen, and food would have filled the cargo compartments to bursting, and left a small ship like the C. P. Sale no reason to reach for Mars. 20. [51] Groundling politicians are right enough when they say that we spacers are a breed apart. 21. [52] We're the one race of men who can't afford the luxury of squeamishness.

What is the plot of the story?

[1] UNBORN TOMORROW BY MACK REYNOLDS Unfortunately , there was only one thing he could bring back from the wonderful future ... and though he didn't want to ... nevertheless he did.... [2] Illustrated by Freas Betty looked up from her magazine. [3] She said mildly, "You're late." [4] "Don't yell at me, I feel awful," Simon told her. [5] He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle. [6] He looked over at Betty and said, almost as though reciting, "What I need is a vacation." [7] "What," Betty said, "are you going to use for money?" [8] "Providence," Simon told her whilst fiddling with the aspirin bottle, "will provide." [9] "Hm-m-m. [10] But before providing vacations it'd be nice if Providence turned up a missing jewel deal, say. [11] Something where you could deduce that actually the ruby ring had gone down the drain and was caught in the elbow. [12] Something that would net about fifty dollars." [13] Simon said, mournful of tone, "Fifty dollars? [14] Why not make it five hundred?" [15] "I'm not selfish," Betty said. [16] "All I want is enough to pay me this week's salary." [17] "Money," Simon said. [18] "When you took this job you said it was the romance that appealed to you." [19] "Hm-m-m. [20] I didn't know most sleuthing amounted to snooping around department stores to check on the clerks knocking down." [21] Simon said, enigmatically, "Now it comes." [22] There was a knock. [23] Betty bounced up with Olympic agility and had the door swinging wide before the knocking was quite completed. [24] He was old, little and had bug eyes behind pince-nez glasses. [25] His suit was cut in the style of yesteryear but when a suit costs two or three hundred dollars you still retain caste whatever the styling. [26] Simon said unenthusiastically, "Good morning, Mr. [27] Oyster." [28] He indicated the client's chair. [29] "Sit down, sir." [30] The client fussed himself with Betty's assistance into the seat, bug-eyed Simon, said finally, "You know my name, that's pretty good. [31] Never saw you before in my life. [32] Stop fussing with me, young lady. [33] Your ad in the phone book says you'll investigate anything." [34] "Anything," Simon said. [35] "Only one exception." [36] "Excellent. [37] Do you believe in time travel?" [38] Simon said nothing. [39] Across the room, where she had resumed her seat, Betty cleared her throat. [40] When Simon continued to say nothing she ventured, "Time travel is impossible." [41] "Why?" [42] "Why?" [43] "Yes, why?" [44] Betty looked to her boss for assistance. [45] None was forthcoming. [46] There ought to be some very quick, positive, definite answer. [47] She said, "Well, for one thing, paradox. [48] Suppose you had a time machine and traveled back a hundred years or so and killed your own great-grandfather. [49] Then how could you ever be born?" [50] "Confound it if I know," the little fellow growled. [51] "How?" [52] Simon said, "Let's get to the point, what you wanted to see me about." [53] "I want to hire you to hunt me up some time travelers," the old boy said. [54] Betty was too far in now to maintain her proper role of silent secretary. [55] "Time travelers," she said, not very intelligently. [56] The potential client sat more erect, obviously with intent to hold the floor for a time. [57] He removed the pince-nez glasses and pointed them at Betty. [58] He said, "Have you read much science fiction, Miss?" [59] "Some," Betty admitted. [60] "Then you'll realize that there are a dozen explanations of the paradoxes of time travel. [61] Every writer in the field worth his salt has explained them away. [62] But to get on. [63] It's my contention that within a century or so man will have solved the problems of immortality and eternal youth, and it's also my suspicion that he will eventually be able to travel in time. [64] So convinced am I of these possibilities that I am willing to gamble a portion of my fortune to investigate the presence in our era of such time travelers." [65] Simon seemed incapable of carrying the ball this morning, so Betty said, "But ... Mr. [66] Oyster, if the future has developed time travel why don't we ever meet such travelers?" [67] Simon put in a word. [68] "The usual explanation, Betty, is that they can't afford to allow the space-time continuum track to be altered. [69] If, say, a time traveler returned to a period of twenty-five years ago and shot Hitler, then all subsequent history would be changed. [70] In that case, the time traveler himself might never be born. [71] They have to tread mighty carefully." [72] Mr. [73] Oyster was pleased. [74] "I didn't expect you to be so well informed on the subject, young man." [75] Simon shrugged and fumbled again with the aspirin bottle. [76] Mr. [77] Oyster went on. [78] "I've been considering the matter for some time and—" Simon held up a hand. [79] "There's no use prolonging this. [80] As I understand it, you're an elderly gentleman with a considerable fortune and you realize that thus far nobody has succeeded in taking it with him." [81] Mr. [82] Oyster returned his glasses to their perch, bug-eyed Simon, but then nodded. [83] Simon said, "You want to hire me to find a time traveler and in some manner or other—any manner will do—exhort from him the secret of eternal life and youth, which you figure the future will have discovered. [84] You're willing to pony up a part of this fortune of yours, if I can deliver a bona fide time traveler." [85] "Right!" [86] Betty had been looking from one to the other. [87] Now she said, plaintively, "But where are you going to find one of these characters—especially if they're interested in keeping hid?" [88] The old boy was the center again. [89] "I told you I'd been considering it for some time. [90] The Oktoberfest , that's where they'd be!" [91] He seemed elated. [92] Betty and Simon waited. [93] "The Oktoberfest ," he repeated. [94] "The greatest festival the world has ever seen, the carnival, feria , fiesta to beat them all. [95] Every year it's held in Munich. [96] Makes the New Orleans Mardi gras look like a quilting party." [97] He began to swing into the spirit of his description. [98] "It originally started in celebration of the wedding of some local prince a century and a half ago and the Bavarians had such a bang-up time they've been holding it every year since. [99] The Munich breweries do up a special beer, Marzenbräu they call it, and each brewery opens a tremendous tent on the fair grounds which will hold five thousand customers apiece. [100] Millions of liters of beer are put away, hundreds of thousands of barbecued chickens, a small herd of oxen are roasted whole over spits, millions of pair of weisswurst , a very special sausage, millions upon millions of pretzels—" "All right," Simon said. [101] "We'll accept it. [102] The Oktoberfest is one whale of a wingding." [103] "Well," the old boy pursued, into his subject now, "that's where they'd be, places like the Oktoberfest . [104] For one thing, a time traveler wouldn't be conspicuous. [105] At a festival like this somebody with a strange accent, or who didn't know exactly how to wear his clothes correctly, or was off the ordinary in any of a dozen other ways, wouldn't be noticed. [106] You could be a four-armed space traveler from Mars, and you still wouldn't be conspicuous at the Oktoberfest . [107] People would figure they had D.T.'s." [108] "But why would a time traveler want to go to a—" Betty began. [109] "Why not! [110] What better opportunity to study a people than when they are in their cups? [111] If you could go back a few thousand years, the things you would wish to see would be a Roman Triumph, perhaps the Rites of Dionysus, or one of Alexander's orgies. [112] You wouldn't want to wander up and down the streets of, say, Athens while nothing was going on, particularly when you might be revealed as a suspicious character not being able to speak the language, not knowing how to wear the clothes and not familiar with the city's layout." [113] He took a deep breath. [114] "No ma'am, you'd have to stick to some great event, both for the sake of actual interest and for protection against being unmasked." [115] The old boy wound it up. [116] "Well, that's the story. [117] What are your rates? [118] The Oktoberfest starts on Friday and continues for sixteen days. [119] You can take the plane to Munich, spend a week there and—" Simon was shaking his head. [120] "Not interested." [121] As soon as Betty had got her jaw back into place, she glared unbelievingly at him. [122] Mr. [123] Oyster was taken aback himself. [124] "See here, young man, I realize this isn't an ordinary assignment, however, as I said, I am willing to risk a considerable portion of my fortune—" "Sorry," Simon said. [125] "Can't be done." [126] "A hundred dollars a day plus expenses," Mr. [127] Oyster said quietly. [128] "I like the fact that you already seem to have some interest and knowledge of the matter. [129] I liked the way you knew my name when I walked in the door; my picture doesn't appear often in the papers." [130] "No go," Simon said, a sad quality in his voice. [131] "A fifty thousand dollar bonus if you bring me a time traveler." [132] "Out of the question," Simon said. [133] "But why ?" [134] Betty wailed. [135] "Just for laughs," Simon told the two of them sourly, "suppose I tell you a funny story. [136] It goes like this:" I got a thousand dollars from Mr. [137] Oyster (Simon began) in the way of an advance, and leaving him with Betty who was making out a receipt, I hustled back to the apartment and packed a bag. [138] Hell, I'd wanted a vacation anyway, this was a natural. [139] On the way to Idlewild I stopped off at the Germany Information Offices for some tourist literature. [140] It takes roughly three and a half hours to get to Gander from Idlewild. [141] I spent the time planning the fun I was going to have. [142] It takes roughly seven and a half hours from Gander to Shannon and I spent that time dreaming up material I could put into my reports to Mr. [143] Oyster. [144] I was going to have to give him some kind of report for his money. [145] Time travel yet! [146] What a laugh! [147] Between Shannon and Munich a faint suspicion began to simmer in my mind. [148] These statistics I read on the Oktoberfest in the Munich tourist pamphlets. [149] Five million people attended annually. [150] Where did five million people come from to attend an overgrown festival in comparatively remote Southern Germany? [151] The tourist season is over before September 21st, first day of the gigantic beer bust. [152] Nor could the Germans account for any such number. [153] Munich itself has a population of less than a million, counting children. [154] And those millions of gallons of beer, the hundreds of thousands of chickens, the herds of oxen. [155] Who ponied up all the money for such expenditures? [156] How could the average German, with his twenty-five dollars a week salary? [157] In Munich there was no hotel space available. [158] I went to the Bahnhof where they have a hotel service and applied. [159] They put my name down, pocketed the husky bribe, showed me where I could check my bag, told me they'd do what they could, and to report back in a few hours. [160] I had another suspicious twinge. [161] If five million people attended this beer bout, how were they accommodated? [162] The Theresienwiese , the fair ground, was only a few blocks away. [163] I was stiff from the plane ride so I walked. [164] There are seven major brewers in the Munich area, each of them represented by one of the circuslike tents that Mr. [165] Oyster mentioned. [166] Each tent contained benches and tables for about five thousand persons and from six to ten thousands pack themselves in, competing for room. [167] In the center is a tremendous bandstand, the musicians all lederhosen clad, the music as Bavarian as any to be found in a Bavarian beer hall. [168] Hundreds of peasant garbed fräuleins darted about the tables with quart sized earthenware mugs, platters of chicken, sausage, kraut and pretzels. [169] I found a place finally at a table which had space for twenty-odd beer bibbers. [170] Odd is right. [171] As weird an assortment of Germans and foreign tourists as could have been dreamed up, ranging from a seventy- or eighty-year-old couple in Bavarian costume, to the bald-headed drunk across the table from me. [172] A desperate waitress bearing six mugs of beer in each hand scurried past. [173] They call them masses , by the way, not mugs. [174] The bald-headed character and I both held up a finger and she slid two of the masses over to us and then hustled on. [175] "Down the hatch," the other said, holding up his mass in toast. [176] "To the ladies," I told him. [177] Before sipping, I said, "You know, the tourist pamphlets say this stuff is eighteen per cent. [178] That's nonsense. [179] No beer is that strong." [180] I took a long pull. [181] He looked at me, waiting. [182] I came up. [183] "Mistaken," I admitted. [184] A mass or two apiece later he looked carefully at the name engraved on his earthenware mug. [185] "Löwenbräu," he said. [186] He took a small notebook from his pocket and a pencil, noted down the word and returned the things. [187] "That's a queer looking pencil you have there," I told him. [188] "German?" [189] "Venusian," he said. [190] "Oops, sorry. [191] Shouldn't have said that." [192] I had never heard of the brand so I skipped it. [193] "Next is the Hofbräu," he said. [194] "Next what?" [195] Baldy's conversation didn't seem to hang together very well. [196] "My pilgrimage," he told me. [197] "All my life I've been wanting to go back to an Oktoberfest and sample every one of the seven brands of the best beer the world has ever known. [198] I'm only as far as Löwenbräu. [199] I'm afraid I'll never make it." [200] I finished my mass . [201] "I'll help you," I told him. [202] "Very noble endeavor. [203] Name is Simon." [204] "Arth," he said. [205] "How could you help?" [206] "I'm still fresh—comparatively. [207] I'll navigate you around. [208] There are seven beer tents. [209] How many have you got through, so far?" [210] "Two, counting this one," Arth said. [211] I looked at him. [212] "It's going to be a chore," I said. [213] "You've already got a nice edge on." [214] Outside, as we made our way to the next tent, the fair looked like every big State-Fair ever seen, except it was bigger. [215] Games, souvenir stands, sausage stands, rides, side shows, and people, people, people. [216] The Hofbräu tent was as overflowing as the last but we managed to find two seats. [217] The band was blaring, and five thousand half-swacked voices were roaring accompaniment. [218] In Muenchen steht ein Hofbräuhaus! [219] Eins, Zwei, G'sufa! [220] At the G'sufa everybody upped with the mugs and drank each other's health. [221] "This is what I call a real beer bust," I said approvingly. [222] Arth was waving to a waitress. [223] As in the Löwenbräu tent, a full quart was the smallest amount obtainable. [224] A beer later I said, "I don't know if you'll make it or not, Arth." [225] "Make what?" [226] "All seven tents." [227] "Oh." [228] A waitress was on her way by, mugs foaming over their rims. [229] I gestured to her for refills. [230] "Where are you from, Arth?" [231] I asked him, in the way of making conversation. [232] "2183." [233] "2183 where?" [234] He looked at me, closing one eye to focus better. [235] "Oh," he said. [236] "Well, 2183 South Street, ah, New Albuquerque." [237] "New Albuquerque? [238] Where's that?" [239] Arth thought about it. [240] Took another long pull at the beer. [241] "Right across the way from old Albuquerque," he said finally. [242] "Maybe we ought to be getting on to the Pschorrbräu tent." [243] "Maybe we ought to eat something first," I said. [244] "I'm beginning to feel this. [245] We could get some of that barbecued ox." [246] Arth closed his eyes in pain. [247] "Vegetarian," he said. [248] "Couldn't possibly eat meat. [249] Barbarous. [250] Ugh." [251] "Well, we need some nourishment," I said. [252] "There's supposed to be considerable nourishment in beer." [253] That made sense. [254] I yelled, " Fräulein! [255] Zwei neu bier! " [256] Somewhere along in here the fog rolled in. [257] When it rolled out again, I found myself closing one eye the better to read the lettering on my earthenware mug. [258] It read Augustinerbräu. [259] Somehow we'd evidently navigated from one tent to another. [260] Arth was saying, "Where's your hotel?" [261] That seemed like a good question. [262] I thought about it for a while. [263] Finally I said, "Haven't got one. [264] Town's jam packed. [265] Left my bag at the Bahnhof. [266] I don't think we'll ever make it, Arth. [267] How many we got to go?" [268] "Lost track," Arth said. [269] "You can come home with me." [270] We drank to that and the fog rolled in again. [271] When the fog rolled out, it was daylight. [272] Bright, glaring, awful daylight. [273] I was sprawled, complete with clothes, on one of twin beds. [274] On the other bed, also completely clothed, was Arth. [275] That sun was too much. [276] I stumbled up from the bed, staggered to the window and fumbled around for a blind or curtain. [277] There was none. [278] Behind me a voice said in horror, "Who ... how ... oh, Wodo , where'd you come from?" [279] I got a quick impression, looking out the window, that the Germans were certainly the most modern, futuristic people in the world. [280] But I couldn't stand the light. [281] "Where's the shade," I moaned. [282] Arth did something and the window went opaque. [283] "That's quite a gadget," I groaned. [284] "If I didn't feel so lousy, I'd appreciate it." [285] Arth was sitting on the edge of the bed holding his bald head in his hands. [286] "I remember now," he sorrowed. [287] "You didn't have a hotel. [288] What a stupidity. [289] I'll be phased. [290] Phased all the way down." [291] "You haven't got a handful of aspirin, have you?" [292] I asked him. [293] "Just a minute," Arth said, staggering erect and heading for what undoubtedly was a bathroom. [294] "Stay where you are. [295] Don't move. [296] Don't touch anything." [297] "All right," I told him plaintively. [298] "I'm clean. [299] I won't mess up the place. [300] All I've got is a hangover, not lice." [301] Arth was gone. [302] He came back in two or three minutes, box of pills in hand. [303] "Here, take one of these." [304] I took the pill, followed it with a glass of water. [305] And went out like a light. [306] Arth was shaking my arm. [307] "Want another mass ?" [308] The band was blaring, and five thousand half-swacked voices were roaring accompaniment. [309] In Muenchen steht ein Hofbräuhaus! [310] Eins, Zwei, G'sufa! [311] At the G'sufa everybody upped with their king-size mugs and drank each other's health. [312] My head was killing me. [313] "This is where I came in, or something," I groaned. [314] Arth said, "That was last night." [315] He looked at me over the rim of his beer mug. [316] Something, somewhere, was wrong. [317] But I didn't care. [318] I finished my mass and then remembered. [319] "I've got to get my bag. [320] Oh, my head. [321] Where did we spend last night?" [322] Arth said, and his voice sounded cautious, "At my hotel, don't you remember?" [323] "Not very well," I admitted. [324] "I feel lousy. [325] I must have dimmed out. [326] I've got to go to the Bahnhof and get my luggage." [327] Arth didn't put up an argument on that. [328] We said good-by and I could feel him watching after me as I pushed through the tables on the way out. [329] At the Bahnhof they could do me no good. [330] There were no hotel rooms available in Munich. [331] The head was getting worse by the minute. [332] The fact that they'd somehow managed to lose my bag didn't help. [333] I worked on that project for at least a couple of hours. [334] Not only wasn't the bag at the luggage checking station, but the attendant there evidently couldn't make heads nor tails of the check receipt. [335] He didn't speak English and my high school German was inadequate, especially accompanied by a blockbusting hangover. [336] I didn't get anywhere tearing my hair and complaining from one end of the Bahnhof to the other. [337] I drew a blank on the bag. [338] And the head was getting worse by the minute. [339] I was bleeding to death through the eyes and instead of butterflies I had bats in my stomach. [340] Believe me, nobody should drink a gallon or more of Marzenbräu. [341] I decided the hell with it. [342] I took a cab to the airport, presented my return ticket, told them I wanted to leave on the first obtainable plane to New York. [343] I'd spent two days at the Oktoberfest , and I'd had it. [344] I got more guff there. [345] Something was wrong with the ticket, wrong date or some such. [346] But they fixed that up. [347] I never was clear on what was fouled up, some clerk's error, evidently. [348] The trip back was as uninteresting as the one over. [349] As the hangover began to wear off—a little—I was almost sorry I hadn't been able to stay. [350] If I'd only been able to get a room I would have stayed, I told myself. [351] From Idlewild, I came directly to the office rather than going to my apartment. [352] I figured I might as well check in with Betty. [353] I opened the door and there I found Mr. [354] Oyster sitting in the chair he had been occupying four—or was it five—days before when I'd left. [355] I'd lost track of the time. [356] I said to him, "Glad you're here, sir. [357] I can report. [358] Ah, what was it you came for? [359] Impatient to hear if I'd had any results?" [360] My mind was spinning like a whirling dervish in a revolving door. [361] I'd spent a wad of his money and had nothing I could think of to show for it; nothing but the last stages of a grand-daddy hangover. [362] "Came for?" [363] Mr. [364] Oyster snorted. [365] "I'm merely waiting for your girl to make out my receipt. [366] I thought you had already left." [367] "You'll miss your plane," Betty said. [368] There was suddenly a double dip of ice cream in my stomach. [369] I walked over to my desk and looked down at the calendar. [370] Mr. [371] Oyster was saying something to the effect that if I didn't leave today, it would have to be tomorrow, that he hadn't ponied up that thousand dollars advance for anything less than immediate service. [372] Stuffing his receipt in his wallet, he fussed his way out the door. [373] I said to Betty hopefully, "I suppose you haven't changed this calendar since I left." [374] Betty said, "What's the matter with you? [375] You look funny. [376] How did your clothes get so mussed? [377] You tore the top sheet off that calendar yourself, not half an hour ago, just before this marble-missing client came in." [378] She added, irrelevantly, "Time travelers yet." [379] I tried just once more. [380] "Uh, when did you first see this Mr. [381] Oyster?" [382] "Never saw him before in my life," she said. [383] "Not until he came in this morning." [384] "This morning," I said weakly. [385] While Betty stared at me as though it was me that needed candling by a head shrinker preparatory to being sent off to a pressure cooker, I fished in my pocket for my wallet, counted the contents and winced at the pathetic remains of the thousand. [386] I said pleadingly, "Betty, listen, how long ago did I go out that door—on the way to the airport?" [387] "You've been acting sick all morning. [388] You went out that door about ten minutes ago, were gone about three minutes, and then came back." [389] "See here," Mr. [390] Oyster said (interrupting Simon's story), "did you say this was supposed to be amusing, young man? [391] I don't find it so. [392] In fact, I believe I am being ridiculed." [393] Simon shrugged, put one hand to his forehead and said, "That's only the first chapter. [394] There are two more." [395] "I'm not interested in more," Mr. [396] Oyster said. [397] "I suppose your point was to show me how ridiculous the whole idea actually is. [398] Very well, you've done it. [399] Confound it. [400] However, I suppose your time, even when spent in this manner, has some value. [401] Here is fifty dollars. [402] And good day, sir!" [403] He slammed the door after him as he left. [404] Simon winced at the noise, took the aspirin bottle from its drawer, took two, washed them down with water from the desk carafe. [405] Betty looked at him admiringly. [406] Came to her feet, crossed over and took up the fifty dollars. [407] "Week's wages," she said. [408] "I suppose that's one way of taking care of a crackpot. [409] But I'm surprised you didn't take his money and enjoy that vacation you've been yearning about." [410] "I did," Simon groaned. [411] "Three times." [412] Betty stared at him. [413] "You mean—" Simon nodded, miserably. [414] She said, "But Simon . [415] Fifty thousand dollars bonus. [416] If that story was true, you should have gone back again to Munich. [417] If there was one time traveler, there might have been—" "I keep telling you," Simon said bitterly, "I went back there three times. [418] There were hundreds of them. [419] Probably thousands." [420] He took a deep breath. [421] "Listen, we're just going to have to forget about it. [422] They're not going to stand for the space-time continuum track being altered. [423] If something comes up that looks like it might result in the track being changed, they set you right back at the beginning and let things start—for you—all over again. [424] They just can't allow anything to come back from the future and change the past." [425] "You mean," Betty was suddenly furious at him, "you've given up! [426] Why this is the biggest thing— Why the fifty thousand dollars is nothing. [427] The future! [428] Just think!" [429] Simon said wearily, "There's just one thing you can bring back with you from the future, a hangover compounded of a gallon or so of Marzenbräu. [430] What's more you can pile one on top of the other, and another on top of that!" [431] He shuddered. [432] "If you think I'm going to take another crack at this merry-go-round and pile a fourth hangover on the three I'm already nursing, all at once, you can think again." [433] THE END

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "What is the plot of the story?": 1. [1] UNBORN TOMORROW BY MACK REYNOLDS Unfortunately , there was only one thing he could bring back from the wonderful future ... and though he didn't want to ... nevertheless he did.... 2. [135] "Just for laughs," Simon told the two of them sourly, "suppose I tell you a funny story." 3. [136] I got a thousand dollars from Mr. Oyster (Simon began) in the way of an advance, and leaving him with Betty who was making out a receipt, I hustled back to the apartment and packed a bag. 4. [147] Between Shannon and Munich a faint suspicion began to simmer in my mind. 5. [158] I went to the Bahnhof where they have a hotel service and applied. 6. [189] "Venusian," he said. 7. [190] "Oops, sorry. Shouldn't have said that." 8. [228] I gestured to her for refills. 9. [229] "Where are you from, Arth?" 10. [230] I asked him, in the way of making conversation. 11. [231] "2183." 12. [232] "2183 where?" 13. [233] He looked at me, closing one eye to focus better. 14. [234] "Oh," he said. 15. [235] "Well, 2183 South Street, ah, New Albuquerque." 16. [236] "New Albuquerque? Where's that?" 17. [237] Arth thought about it. 18. [238] Took another long pull at the beer. 19. [239] "Right across the way from old Albuquerque," he said finally. 20. [240] "Maybe we ought to be getting on to the Pschorrbräu tent." 21. [241] "Maybe we ought to eat something first," I said. 22. [242] "I'm beginning to feel this. We could get some of that barbecued ox." 23. [243] Arth closed his eyes in pain. 24. [244] "Vegetarian," he said. 25. [245] "Couldn't possibly eat meat. Barbarous. Ugh." 26. [246] "Well, we need some nourishment," I said. 27. [247] "There's supposed to be considerable nourishment in beer." 28. [248] That made sense. 29. [249] I yelled, " Fräulein! Zwei neu bier! " 30. [250] Somewhere along in here the fog rolled in. 31. [251] When it rolled out again, I found myself closing one eye the better to read the lettering on my earthenware mug. 32. [252] It read Augustinerbräu. 33. [253] Somehow we'd evidently navigated from one tent to another. 34. [254] Arth was saying, "Where's your hotel?" 35. [255] That seemed like a good question. 36. [256] I thought about it for a while. 37. [257] Finally I said, "Haven't got one. Town's jam packed. Left my bag at the Bahnhof. I don't think we'll ever make it, Arth. How many we got to go?" 38. [258] "Lost track," Arth said. 39. [259] "You can come home with me." 40. [260] We drank to that and the fog rolled in again. 41. [261] When the fog rolled out, it was daylight. 42. [262] Bright, glaring, awful daylight. 43. [263] I was sprawled, complete with clothes, on one of twin beds. 44. [264] On the other bed, also completely clothed, was Arth. 45. [265] That sun was too much. 46. [266] I stumbled up from the bed, staggered to the window and fumbled around for a blind or curtain. 47. [267] There was none. 48. [268] Behind me a voice said in horror, "Who ... how ... oh, Wodo , where'd you come from?" 49. [269] I got a quick impression, looking out the window, that the Germans were certainly the most modern, futuristic people in the world. 50. [270] But I couldn't stand the light. 51. [271] "Where's the shade," I moaned. 52. [272] Arth did something and the window went opaque. 53. [273] "That's quite a gadget," I groaned. 54. [274] "If I didn't feel so lousy, I'd appreciate it." 55. [275] Arth was sitting on the edge of the bed holding his bald head in his hands. 56. [276] "I remember now," he sorrowed. 57. [277] "You didn't have a hotel. What a stupidity. I'll be phased. Phased all the way down." 58. [278] "You haven't got a handful of aspirin, have you?" I asked him. 59. [279] "Just a minute," Arth said, staggering erect and heading for what undoubtedly was a bathroom. 60. [280] "Stay where you are. Don't move. Don't touch anything." 61. [281] "All right," I told him plaintively. 62. [282] "I'm clean. I won't mess up the place. All I've got is a hangover, not lice." 63. [283] Arth was gone. 64. [284] He came back in two or three minutes, box of pills in hand. 65. [285] "Here, take one of these." 66. [286] I took the pill, followed it with a glass of water. 67. [287] And went out like a light. 68. [288] Arth was shaking my arm. 69. [289] "Want another mass?" 70. [290] The band was blaring, and five thousand half-swacked voices were roaring accompaniment. 71. [291] In Muenchen steht ein Hofbräuhaus! Eins, Zwei, G'sufa! 72. [292] At the G'sufa everybody upped with their king-size mugs and drank each other's health. 73. [293] My head was killing me. 74. [294] "This is where I came in, or something," I groaned. 75. [295] Arth said, "That was last night." 76. [296] He looked at me over the rim of his beer mug. 77. [297] Something, somewhere, was wrong. 78. [298] But I didn't care. 79. [299] I finished my mass and then remembered. 80. [300] "I've got to get my bag. Oh, my head. Where did we spend last night?" 81. [301] Arth said, and his voice sounded cautious, "At my hotel, don't you remember?" 82. [302] "Not very well," I admitted. 83. [303] "I feel lousy. I must have dimmed out. I've got to go to the Bahnhof and get my luggage." 84. [304] Arth didn't put up an argument on that. 85. [305] We said good-by and I could feel him watching after me as I pushed through the tables on the way out. 86. [306] At the Bahnhof they could do me no good. 87. [307] There were no hotel rooms available in Munich. 88. [308] The head was getting worse by the minute. 89. [309] The fact that they'd somehow managed to lose my bag didn't help. 90. [310] I worked on that project for at least a couple of hours. 91. [311] Not only wasn't the bag at the luggage checking station, but the attendant there evidently couldn't make heads nor tails of the check receipt. 92. [312] He didn't speak English and my high school German was inadequate, especially accompanied by a blockbusting hangover. 93. [313] I didn't get anywhere tearing my hair and complaining from one end of the Bahnhof to the other. 94. [314] I drew a blank on the bag. 95. [315] And the head was getting worse by the minute. 96. [316] I was bleeding to death through the eyes and instead of butterflies I had bats in my stomach. 97. [317] Believe me, nobody should drink a gallon or more of Marzenbräu. 98. [318] I decided the hell with it. 99. [319] I took a cab to the airport, presented my return ticket, told them I wanted to leave on the first obtainable plane to New York. 100. [320] I'd spent two days at the Oktoberfest , and I'd had it. 101. [321] I got more guff there. 102. [322] Something was wrong with the ticket, wrong date or some such. 103. [323] But they fixed that up. 104. [324] I never was clear on what was fouled up, some clerk's error, evidently. 105. [325] The trip back was as uninteresting as the one over. 106. [326] As the hangover began to wear off—a little—I was almost sorry I hadn't been able to stay. 107. [327] If I'd only been able to get a room I would have stayed, I told myself. 108. [328] From Idlewild, I came directly to the office rather than going to my apartment. 109. [329] I figured I might as well check in with Betty. 110. [330] I opened the door and there I found Mr. Oyster sitting in the chair he had been occupying four—or was it five—days before when I'd left. 111. [331] I'd lost track of the time. 112. [332] I said to him, "Glad you're here, sir. I can report. Ah, what was it you came for? Impatient to hear if I'd had any results?" 113. [333] My mind was spinning like a whirling dervish in a revolving door. 114. [334] I'd spent a wad of his money and had nothing I could think of to show for it; nothing but the last stages of a grand-daddy hangover. 115. [335] "Came for?" Mr. Oyster snorted. 116. [336] "I'm merely waiting for your girl to make out my receipt. I thought you had already left." 117. [337] "You'll miss your plane," Betty said. 118. [338] There was suddenly a double dip of ice cream in my stomach. 119. [339] I walked over to my desk and looked down at the calendar. 120. [340] Mr. Oyster was saying something to the effect that if I didn't leave today, it would have to be tomorrow, that he hadn't ponied up that thousand dollars advance for anything less than immediate service. 121. [341] Stuffing his receipt in his wallet, he fussed his way out the door. 122. [342] I said to Betty hopefully, "I suppose you haven't changed this calendar since I left." 123. [343] Betty said, "What's the matter with you? You look funny. How did your clothes get so mussed? You tore the top sheet off that calendar yourself, not half an hour ago, just before this marble-missing client came in." 124. [344] She added, irrelevantly, "Time travelers yet." 125. [345] I tried just once more. 126. [346] "Uh, when did you first see this Mr. Oyster?" 127. [347] "Never saw him before in my life," she said. 128. [348] "Not until he came in this morning." 129. [349] "This morning," I said weakly. 130. [350] While Betty stared at me as though it was me that needed candling by a head shrinker preparatory to being sent off to a pressure cooker, I fished in my pocket for my wallet, counted the contents and winced at the pathetic remains of the thousand. 131. [351] I said pleadingly, "Betty, listen, how long ago did I go out that door—on the way to the airport?" 132. [352] "You've been acting sick all morning. You went out that door about ten minutes ago, were gone about three minutes, and then came back." 133. [353] "See here," Mr. Oyster said (interrupting Simon's story), "did you say this was supposed to be amusing, young man? I don't find it so. In fact, I believe I am being ridiculed." 134. [354] Simon shrugged, put one hand to his forehead and said, "That's only the first chapter. There are two more." 135. [355] "I'm not interested in more," Mr. Oyster said. 136. [356] "I suppose your point was to show me how ridiculous the whole idea actually is. Very well, you've done it. Confound it. However, I suppose your time, even when spent in this manner, has some value. Here is fifty dollars. And good day, sir!" 137. [357] He slammed the door after him as he left. 138. [358] Simon winced at the noise, took the aspirin bottle from its drawer, took two, washed them down with water from the desk carafe. 139. [359] Betty looked at him admiringly. 140. [360] Came to her feet, crossed over and took up the fifty dollars. 141. [361] "Week's wages," she said. 142. [362] "I suppose that's one way of taking care of a crackpot. But I'm surprised you didn't take his money and enjoy that vacation you've been yearning about." 143. [363] "I did," Simon groaned. 144. [364] "Three times." 145. [365] Betty stared at him. 146. [366] "You mean—" Simon nodded, miserably. 147. [367] She said, "But Simon . Fifty thousand dollars bonus. If that story was true, you should have gone back again to Munich. If there was one time traveler, there might have been—" 148. [368] "I keep telling you," Simon said bitterly, "I went back there three times. There were hundreds of them. Probably thousands." 149. [369] He took a deep breath. 150. [370] "Listen, we're just going to have to forget about it. They're not going to stand for the space-time continuum track being altered. If something comes up that looks like it might result in the track being changed, they set you right back at the beginning and let things start—for you—all over again. They just can't allow anything to come back from the future and change the past." 151. [371] "You mean," Betty was suddenly furious at him, "you've given up! Why this is the biggest thing— Why the fifty thousand dollars is nothing. The future! Just think!" 152. [372] Simon said wearily, "There's just one thing you can bring back with you from the future, a hangover compounded of a gallon or so of Marzenbräu. What's more you can pile one on top of the other, and another on top of that!" 153. [373] He shuddered. 154. [374] "If you think I'm going to take another crack at this merry-go-round and pile a fourth hangover on the three I'm already nursing, all at once, you can think again."

Describe Oktoberfest in the story.

[1] UNBORN TOMORROW BY MACK REYNOLDS Unfortunately , there was only one thing he could bring back from the wonderful future ... and though he didn't want to ... nevertheless he did.... [2] Illustrated by Freas Betty looked up from her magazine. [3] She said mildly, "You're late." [4] "Don't yell at me, I feel awful," Simon told her. [5] He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle. [6] He looked over at Betty and said, almost as though reciting, "What I need is a vacation." [7] "What," Betty said, "are you going to use for money?" [8] "Providence," Simon told her whilst fiddling with the aspirin bottle, "will provide." [9] "Hm-m-m. [10] But before providing vacations it'd be nice if Providence turned up a missing jewel deal, say. [11] Something where you could deduce that actually the ruby ring had gone down the drain and was caught in the elbow. [12] Something that would net about fifty dollars." [13] Simon said, mournful of tone, "Fifty dollars? [14] Why not make it five hundred?" [15] "I'm not selfish," Betty said. [16] "All I want is enough to pay me this week's salary." [17] "Money," Simon said. [18] "When you took this job you said it was the romance that appealed to you." [19] "Hm-m-m. [20] I didn't know most sleuthing amounted to snooping around department stores to check on the clerks knocking down." [21] Simon said, enigmatically, "Now it comes." [22] There was a knock. [23] Betty bounced up with Olympic agility and had the door swinging wide before the knocking was quite completed. [24] He was old, little and had bug eyes behind pince-nez glasses. [25] His suit was cut in the style of yesteryear but when a suit costs two or three hundred dollars you still retain caste whatever the styling. [26] Simon said unenthusiastically, "Good morning, Mr. [27] Oyster." [28] He indicated the client's chair. [29] "Sit down, sir." [30] The client fussed himself with Betty's assistance into the seat, bug-eyed Simon, said finally, "You know my name, that's pretty good. [31] Never saw you before in my life. [32] Stop fussing with me, young lady. [33] Your ad in the phone book says you'll investigate anything." [34] "Anything," Simon said. [35] "Only one exception." [36] "Excellent. [37] Do you believe in time travel?" [38] Simon said nothing. [39] Across the room, where she had resumed her seat, Betty cleared her throat. [40] When Simon continued to say nothing she ventured, "Time travel is impossible." [41] "Why?" [42] "Why?" [43] "Yes, why?" [44] Betty looked to her boss for assistance. [45] None was forthcoming. [46] There ought to be some very quick, positive, definite answer. [47] She said, "Well, for one thing, paradox. [48] Suppose you had a time machine and traveled back a hundred years or so and killed your own great-grandfather. [49] Then how could you ever be born?" [50] "Confound it if I know," the little fellow growled. [51] "How?" [52] Simon said, "Let's get to the point, what you wanted to see me about." [53] "I want to hire you to hunt me up some time travelers," the old boy said. [54] Betty was too far in now to maintain her proper role of silent secretary. [55] "Time travelers," she said, not very intelligently. [56] The potential client sat more erect, obviously with intent to hold the floor for a time. [57] He removed the pince-nez glasses and pointed them at Betty. [58] He said, "Have you read much science fiction, Miss?" [59] "Some," Betty admitted. [60] "Then you'll realize that there are a dozen explanations of the paradoxes of time travel. [61] Every writer in the field worth his salt has explained them away. [62] But to get on. [63] It's my contention that within a century or so man will have solved the problems of immortality and eternal youth, and it's also my suspicion that he will eventually be able to travel in time. [64] So convinced am I of these possibilities that I am willing to gamble a portion of my fortune to investigate the presence in our era of such time travelers." [65] Simon seemed incapable of carrying the ball this morning, so Betty said, "But ... Mr. [66] Oyster, if the future has developed time travel why don't we ever meet such travelers?" [67] Simon put in a word. [68] "The usual explanation, Betty, is that they can't afford to allow the space-time continuum track to be altered. [69] If, say, a time traveler returned to a period of twenty-five years ago and shot Hitler, then all subsequent history would be changed. [70] In that case, the time traveler himself might never be born. [71] They have to tread mighty carefully." [72] Mr. [73] Oyster was pleased. [74] "I didn't expect you to be so well informed on the subject, young man." [75] Simon shrugged and fumbled again with the aspirin bottle. [76] Mr. [77] Oyster went on. [78] "I've been considering the matter for some time and—" Simon held up a hand. [79] "There's no use prolonging this. [80] As I understand it, you're an elderly gentleman with a considerable fortune and you realize that thus far nobody has succeeded in taking it with him." [81] Mr. [82] Oyster returned his glasses to their perch, bug-eyed Simon, but then nodded. [83] Simon said, "You want to hire me to find a time traveler and in some manner or other—any manner will do—exhort from him the secret of eternal life and youth, which you figure the future will have discovered. [84] You're willing to pony up a part of this fortune of yours, if I can deliver a bona fide time traveler." [85] "Right!" [86] Betty had been looking from one to the other. [87] Now she said, plaintively, "But where are you going to find one of these characters—especially if they're interested in keeping hid?" [88] The old boy was the center again. [89] "I told you I'd been considering it for some time. [90] The Oktoberfest , that's where they'd be!" [91] He seemed elated. [92] Betty and Simon waited. [93] "The Oktoberfest ," he repeated. [94] "The greatest festival the world has ever seen, the carnival, feria , fiesta to beat them all. [95] Every year it's held in Munich. [96] Makes the New Orleans Mardi gras look like a quilting party." [97] He began to swing into the spirit of his description. [98] "It originally started in celebration of the wedding of some local prince a century and a half ago and the Bavarians had such a bang-up time they've been holding it every year since. [99] The Munich breweries do up a special beer, Marzenbräu they call it, and each brewery opens a tremendous tent on the fair grounds which will hold five thousand customers apiece. [100] Millions of liters of beer are put away, hundreds of thousands of barbecued chickens, a small herd of oxen are roasted whole over spits, millions of pair of weisswurst , a very special sausage, millions upon millions of pretzels—" "All right," Simon said. [101] "We'll accept it. [102] The Oktoberfest is one whale of a wingding." [103] "Well," the old boy pursued, into his subject now, "that's where they'd be, places like the Oktoberfest . [104] For one thing, a time traveler wouldn't be conspicuous. [105] At a festival like this somebody with a strange accent, or who didn't know exactly how to wear his clothes correctly, or was off the ordinary in any of a dozen other ways, wouldn't be noticed. [106] You could be a four-armed space traveler from Mars, and you still wouldn't be conspicuous at the Oktoberfest . [107] People would figure they had D.T.'s." [108] "But why would a time traveler want to go to a—" Betty began. [109] "Why not! [110] What better opportunity to study a people than when they are in their cups? [111] If you could go back a few thousand years, the things you would wish to see would be a Roman Triumph, perhaps the Rites of Dionysus, or one of Alexander's orgies. [112] You wouldn't want to wander up and down the streets of, say, Athens while nothing was going on, particularly when you might be revealed as a suspicious character not being able to speak the language, not knowing how to wear the clothes and not familiar with the city's layout." [113] He took a deep breath. [114] "No ma'am, you'd have to stick to some great event, both for the sake of actual interest and for protection against being unmasked." [115] The old boy wound it up. [116] "Well, that's the story. [117] What are your rates? [118] The Oktoberfest starts on Friday and continues for sixteen days. [119] You can take the plane to Munich, spend a week there and—" Simon was shaking his head. [120] "Not interested." [121] As soon as Betty had got her jaw back into place, she glared unbelievingly at him. [122] Mr. [123] Oyster was taken aback himself. [124] "See here, young man, I realize this isn't an ordinary assignment, however, as I said, I am willing to risk a considerable portion of my fortune—" "Sorry," Simon said. [125] "Can't be done." [126] "A hundred dollars a day plus expenses," Mr. [127] Oyster said quietly. [128] "I like the fact that you already seem to have some interest and knowledge of the matter. [129] I liked the way you knew my name when I walked in the door; my picture doesn't appear often in the papers." [130] "No go," Simon said, a sad quality in his voice. [131] "A fifty thousand dollar bonus if you bring me a time traveler." [132] "Out of the question," Simon said. [133] "But why ?" [134] Betty wailed. [135] "Just for laughs," Simon told the two of them sourly, "suppose I tell you a funny story. [136] It goes like this:" I got a thousand dollars from Mr. [137] Oyster (Simon began) in the way of an advance, and leaving him with Betty who was making out a receipt, I hustled back to the apartment and packed a bag. [138] Hell, I'd wanted a vacation anyway, this was a natural. [139] On the way to Idlewild I stopped off at the Germany Information Offices for some tourist literature. [140] It takes roughly three and a half hours to get to Gander from Idlewild. [141] I spent the time planning the fun I was going to have. [142] It takes roughly seven and a half hours from Gander to Shannon and I spent that time dreaming up material I could put into my reports to Mr. [143] Oyster. [144] I was going to have to give him some kind of report for his money. [145] Time travel yet! [146] What a laugh! [147] Between Shannon and Munich a faint suspicion began to simmer in my mind. [148] These statistics I read on the Oktoberfest in the Munich tourist pamphlets. [149] Five million people attended annually. [150] Where did five million people come from to attend an overgrown festival in comparatively remote Southern Germany? [151] The tourist season is over before September 21st, first day of the gigantic beer bust. [152] Nor could the Germans account for any such number. [153] Munich itself has a population of less than a million, counting children. [154] And those millions of gallons of beer, the hundreds of thousands of chickens, the herds of oxen. [155] Who ponied up all the money for such expenditures? [156] How could the average German, with his twenty-five dollars a week salary? [157] In Munich there was no hotel space available. [158] I went to the Bahnhof where they have a hotel service and applied. [159] They put my name down, pocketed the husky bribe, showed me where I could check my bag, told me they'd do what they could, and to report back in a few hours. [160] I had another suspicious twinge. [161] If five million people attended this beer bout, how were they accommodated? [162] The Theresienwiese , the fair ground, was only a few blocks away. [163] I was stiff from the plane ride so I walked. [164] There are seven major brewers in the Munich area, each of them represented by one of the circuslike tents that Mr. [165] Oyster mentioned. [166] Each tent contained benches and tables for about five thousand persons and from six to ten thousands pack themselves in, competing for room. [167] In the center is a tremendous bandstand, the musicians all lederhosen clad, the music as Bavarian as any to be found in a Bavarian beer hall. [168] Hundreds of peasant garbed fräuleins darted about the tables with quart sized earthenware mugs, platters of chicken, sausage, kraut and pretzels. [169] I found a place finally at a table which had space for twenty-odd beer bibbers. [170] Odd is right. [171] As weird an assortment of Germans and foreign tourists as could have been dreamed up, ranging from a seventy- or eighty-year-old couple in Bavarian costume, to the bald-headed drunk across the table from me. [172] A desperate waitress bearing six mugs of beer in each hand scurried past. [173] They call them masses , by the way, not mugs. [174] The bald-headed character and I both held up a finger and she slid two of the masses over to us and then hustled on. [175] "Down the hatch," the other said, holding up his mass in toast. [176] "To the ladies," I told him. [177] Before sipping, I said, "You know, the tourist pamphlets say this stuff is eighteen per cent. [178] That's nonsense. [179] No beer is that strong." [180] I took a long pull. [181] He looked at me, waiting. [182] I came up. [183] "Mistaken," I admitted. [184] A mass or two apiece later he looked carefully at the name engraved on his earthenware mug. [185] "Löwenbräu," he said. [186] He took a small notebook from his pocket and a pencil, noted down the word and returned the things. [187] "That's a queer looking pencil you have there," I told him. [188] "German?" [189] "Venusian," he said. [190] "Oops, sorry. [191] Shouldn't have said that." [192] I had never heard of the brand so I skipped it. [193] "Next is the Hofbräu," he said. [194] "Next what?" [195] Baldy's conversation didn't seem to hang together very well. [196] "My pilgrimage," he told me. [197] "All my life I've been wanting to go back to an Oktoberfest and sample every one of the seven brands of the best beer the world has ever known. [198] I'm only as far as Löwenbräu. [199] I'm afraid I'll never make it." [200] I finished my mass . [201] "I'll help you," I told him. [202] "Very noble endeavor. [203] Name is Simon." [204] "Arth," he said. [205] "How could you help?" [206] "I'm still fresh—comparatively. [207] I'll navigate you around. [208] There are seven beer tents. [209] How many have you got through, so far?" [210] "Two, counting this one," Arth said. [211] I looked at him. [212] "It's going to be a chore," I said. [213] "You've already got a nice edge on." [214] Outside, as we made our way to the next tent, the fair looked like every big State-Fair ever seen, except it was bigger. [215] Games, souvenir stands, sausage stands, rides, side shows, and people, people, people. [216] The Hofbräu tent was as overflowing as the last but we managed to find two seats. [217] The band was blaring, and five thousand half-swacked voices were roaring accompaniment. [218] In Muenchen steht ein Hofbräuhaus! [219] Eins, Zwei, G'sufa! [220] At the G'sufa everybody upped with the mugs and drank each other's health. [221] "This is what I call a real beer bust," I said approvingly. [222] Arth was waving to a waitress. [223] As in the Löwenbräu tent, a full quart was the smallest amount obtainable. [224] A beer later I said, "I don't know if you'll make it or not, Arth." [225] "Make what?" [226] "All seven tents." [227] "Oh." [228] A waitress was on her way by, mugs foaming over their rims. [229] I gestured to her for refills. [230] "Where are you from, Arth?" [231] I asked him, in the way of making conversation. [232] "2183." [233] "2183 where?" [234] He looked at me, closing one eye to focus better. [235] "Oh," he said. [236] "Well, 2183 South Street, ah, New Albuquerque." [237] "New Albuquerque? [238] Where's that?" [239] Arth thought about it. [240] Took another long pull at the beer. [241] "Right across the way from old Albuquerque," he said finally. [242] "Maybe we ought to be getting on to the Pschorrbräu tent." [243] "Maybe we ought to eat something first," I said. [244] "I'm beginning to feel this. [245] We could get some of that barbecued ox." [246] Arth closed his eyes in pain. [247] "Vegetarian," he said. [248] "Couldn't possibly eat meat. [249] Barbarous. [250] Ugh." [251] "Well, we need some nourishment," I said. [252] "There's supposed to be considerable nourishment in beer." [253] That made sense. [254] I yelled, " Fräulein! [255] Zwei neu bier! " [256] Somewhere along in here the fog rolled in. [257] When it rolled out again, I found myself closing one eye the better to read the lettering on my earthenware mug. [258] It read Augustinerbräu. [259] Somehow we'd evidently navigated from one tent to another. [260] Arth was saying, "Where's your hotel?" [261] That seemed like a good question. [262] I thought about it for a while. [263] Finally I said, "Haven't got one. [264] Town's jam packed. [265] Left my bag at the Bahnhof. [266] I don't think we'll ever make it, Arth. [267] How many we got to go?" [268] "Lost track," Arth said. [269] "You can come home with me." [270] We drank to that and the fog rolled in again. [271] When the fog rolled out, it was daylight. [272] Bright, glaring, awful daylight. [273] I was sprawled, complete with clothes, on one of twin beds. [274] On the other bed, also completely clothed, was Arth. [275] That sun was too much. [276] I stumbled up from the bed, staggered to the window and fumbled around for a blind or curtain. [277] There was none. [278] Behind me a voice said in horror, "Who ... how ... oh, Wodo , where'd you come from?" [279] I got a quick impression, looking out the window, that the Germans were certainly the most modern, futuristic people in the world. [280] But I couldn't stand the light. [281] "Where's the shade," I moaned. [282] Arth did something and the window went opaque. [283] "That's quite a gadget," I groaned. [284] "If I didn't feel so lousy, I'd appreciate it." [285] Arth was sitting on the edge of the bed holding his bald head in his hands. [286] "I remember now," he sorrowed. [287] "You didn't have a hotel. [288] What a stupidity. [289] I'll be phased. [290] Phased all the way down." [291] "You haven't got a handful of aspirin, have you?" [292] I asked him. [293] "Just a minute," Arth said, staggering erect and heading for what undoubtedly was a bathroom. [294] "Stay where you are. [295] Don't move. [296] Don't touch anything." [297] "All right," I told him plaintively. [298] "I'm clean. [299] I won't mess up the place. [300] All I've got is a hangover, not lice." [301] Arth was gone. [302] He came back in two or three minutes, box of pills in hand. [303] "Here, take one of these." [304] I took the pill, followed it with a glass of water. [305] And went out like a light. [306] Arth was shaking my arm. [307] "Want another mass ?" [308] The band was blaring, and five thousand half-swacked voices were roaring accompaniment. [309] In Muenchen steht ein Hofbräuhaus! [310] Eins, Zwei, G'sufa! [311] At the G'sufa everybody upped with their king-size mugs and drank each other's health. [312] My head was killing me. [313] "This is where I came in, or something," I groaned. [314] Arth said, "That was last night." [315] He looked at me over the rim of his beer mug. [316] Something, somewhere, was wrong. [317] But I didn't care. [318] I finished my mass and then remembered. [319] "I've got to get my bag. [320] Oh, my head. [321] Where did we spend last night?" [322] Arth said, and his voice sounded cautious, "At my hotel, don't you remember?" [323] "Not very well," I admitted. [324] "I feel lousy. [325] I must have dimmed out. [326] I've got to go to the Bahnhof and get my luggage." [327] Arth didn't put up an argument on that. [328] We said good-by and I could feel him watching after me as I pushed through the tables on the way out. [329] At the Bahnhof they could do me no good. [330] There were no hotel rooms available in Munich. [331] The head was getting worse by the minute. [332] The fact that they'd somehow managed to lose my bag didn't help. [333] I worked on that project for at least a couple of hours. [334] Not only wasn't the bag at the luggage checking station, but the attendant there evidently couldn't make heads nor tails of the check receipt. [335] He didn't speak English and my high school German was inadequate, especially accompanied by a blockbusting hangover. [336] I didn't get anywhere tearing my hair and complaining from one end of the Bahnhof to the other. [337] I drew a blank on the bag. [338] And the head was getting worse by the minute. [339] I was bleeding to death through the eyes and instead of butterflies I had bats in my stomach. [340] Believe me, nobody should drink a gallon or more of Marzenbräu. [341] I decided the hell with it. [342] I took a cab to the airport, presented my return ticket, told them I wanted to leave on the first obtainable plane to New York. [343] I'd spent two days at the Oktoberfest , and I'd had it. [344] I got more guff there. [345] Something was wrong with the ticket, wrong date or some such. [346] But they fixed that up. [347] I never was clear on what was fouled up, some clerk's error, evidently. [348] The trip back was as uninteresting as the one over. [349] As the hangover began to wear off—a little—I was almost sorry I hadn't been able to stay. [350] If I'd only been able to get a room I would have stayed, I told myself. [351] From Idlewild, I came directly to the office rather than going to my apartment. [352] I figured I might as well check in with Betty. [353] I opened the door and there I found Mr. [354] Oyster sitting in the chair he had been occupying four—or was it five—days before when I'd left. [355] I'd lost track of the time. [356] I said to him, "Glad you're here, sir. [357] I can report. [358] Ah, what was it you came for? [359] Impatient to hear if I'd had any results?" [360] My mind was spinning like a whirling dervish in a revolving door. [361] I'd spent a wad of his money and had nothing I could think of to show for it; nothing but the last stages of a grand-daddy hangover. [362] "Came for?" [363] Mr. [364] Oyster snorted. [365] "I'm merely waiting for your girl to make out my receipt. [366] I thought you had already left." [367] "You'll miss your plane," Betty said. [368] There was suddenly a double dip of ice cream in my stomach. [369] I walked over to my desk and looked down at the calendar. [370] Mr. [371] Oyster was saying something to the effect that if I didn't leave today, it would have to be tomorrow, that he hadn't ponied up that thousand dollars advance for anything less than immediate service. [372] Stuffing his receipt in his wallet, he fussed his way out the door. [373] I said to Betty hopefully, "I suppose you haven't changed this calendar since I left." [374] Betty said, "What's the matter with you? [375] You look funny. [376] How did your clothes get so mussed? [377] You tore the top sheet off that calendar yourself, not half an hour ago, just before this marble-missing client came in." [378] She added, irrelevantly, "Time travelers yet." [379] I tried just once more. [380] "Uh, when did you first see this Mr. [381] Oyster?" [382] "Never saw him before in my life," she said. [383] "Not until he came in this morning." [384] "This morning," I said weakly. [385] While Betty stared at me as though it was me that needed candling by a head shrinker preparatory to being sent off to a pressure cooker, I fished in my pocket for my wallet, counted the contents and winced at the pathetic remains of the thousand. [386] I said pleadingly, "Betty, listen, how long ago did I go out that door—on the way to the airport?" [387] "You've been acting sick all morning. [388] You went out that door about ten minutes ago, were gone about three minutes, and then came back." [389] "See here," Mr. [390] Oyster said (interrupting Simon's story), "did you say this was supposed to be amusing, young man? [391] I don't find it so. [392] In fact, I believe I am being ridiculed." [393] Simon shrugged, put one hand to his forehead and said, "That's only the first chapter. [394] There are two more." [395] "I'm not interested in more," Mr. [396] Oyster said. [397] "I suppose your point was to show me how ridiculous the whole idea actually is. [398] Very well, you've done it. [399] Confound it. [400] However, I suppose your time, even when spent in this manner, has some value. [401] Here is fifty dollars. [402] And good day, sir!" [403] He slammed the door after him as he left. [404] Simon winced at the noise, took the aspirin bottle from its drawer, took two, washed them down with water from the desk carafe. [405] Betty looked at him admiringly. [406] Came to her feet, crossed over and took up the fifty dollars. [407] "Week's wages," she said. [408] "I suppose that's one way of taking care of a crackpot. [409] But I'm surprised you didn't take his money and enjoy that vacation you've been yearning about." [410] "I did," Simon groaned. [411] "Three times." [412] Betty stared at him. [413] "You mean—" Simon nodded, miserably. [414] She said, "But Simon . [415] Fifty thousand dollars bonus. [416] If that story was true, you should have gone back again to Munich. [417] If there was one time traveler, there might have been—" "I keep telling you," Simon said bitterly, "I went back there three times. [418] There were hundreds of them. [419] Probably thousands." [420] He took a deep breath. [421] "Listen, we're just going to have to forget about it. [422] They're not going to stand for the space-time continuum track being altered. [423] If something comes up that looks like it might result in the track being changed, they set you right back at the beginning and let things start—for you—all over again. [424] They just can't allow anything to come back from the future and change the past." [425] "You mean," Betty was suddenly furious at him, "you've given up! [426] Why this is the biggest thing— Why the fifty thousand dollars is nothing. [427] The future! [428] Just think!" [429] Simon said wearily, "There's just one thing you can bring back with you from the future, a hangover compounded of a gallon or so of Marzenbräu. [430] What's more you can pile one on top of the other, and another on top of that!" [431] He shuddered. [432] "If you think I'm going to take another crack at this merry-go-round and pile a fourth hangover on the three I'm already nursing, all at once, you can think again." [433] THE END

Here is the ranking of the context sentences in order of importance for answering the question "Describe Oktoberfest in the story": 1. [94] "The Oktoberfest, that's where they'd be!" 2. [98] "It originally started in celebration of the wedding of some local prince a century and a half ago and the Bavarians had such a bang-up time they've been holding it every year since." 3. [99] "The Munich breweries do up a special beer, Marzenbräu they call it, and each brewery opens a tremendous tent on the fair grounds which will hold five thousand customers apiece." 4. [100] "Millions of liters of beer are put away, hundreds of thousands of barbecued chickens, a small herd of oxen are roasted whole over spits, millions of pair of weisswurst, a very special sausage, millions upon millions of pretzels—" 5. [103] "For one thing, a time traveler wouldn't be conspicuous. At a festival like this somebody with a strange accent, or who didn't know exactly how to wear his clothes correctly, or was off the ordinary in any of a dozen other ways, wouldn't be noticed." 6. [104] "You could be a four-armed space traveler from Mars, and you still wouldn't be conspicuous at the Oktoberfest. People would figure they had D.T.'s." 7. [110] "What better opportunity to study a people than when they are in their cups?" 8. [111] "If you could go back a few thousand years, the things you would wish to see would be a Roman Triumph, perhaps the Rites of Dionysus, or one of Alexander's orgies." 9. [112] "You wouldn't want to wander up and down the streets of, say, Athens while nothing was going on, particularly when you might be revealed as a suspicious character not being able to speak the language, not knowing how to wear the clothes and not familiar with the city's layout." 10. [113] "No ma'am, you'd have to stick to some great event, both for the sake of actual interest and for protection against being unmasked." 11. [117] "What are your rates? The Oktoberfest starts on Friday and continues for sixteen days." 12. [118] "You can take the plane to Munich, spend a week there and—" 13. [163] "There are seven major brewers in the Munich area, each of them represented by one of the circuslike tents that Mr. Oyster mentioned." 14. [164] "Each tent contained benches and tables for about five thousand persons and from six to ten thousands pack themselves in, competing for room." 15. [165] "In the center is a tremendous bandstand, the musicians all lederhosen clad, the music as Bavarian as any to be found in a Bavarian beer hall." 16. [166] "Hundreds of peasant garbed fräuleins darted about the tables with quart sized earthenware mugs, platters of chicken, sausage, kraut and pretzels." 17. [167] "I found a place finally at a table which had space for twenty-odd beer bibbers." 18. [168] "Odd is right. As weird an assortment of Germans and foreign tourists as could have been dreamed up, ranging from a seventy- or eighty-year-old couple in Bavarian costume, to the bald-headed drunk across the table from me." 19. [172] "They call them masses, by the way, not mugs." 20. [177] "You know, the tourist pamphlets say this stuff is eighteen per cent. That's nonsense. No beer is that strong." 21. [196] "All my life I've been wanting to go back to an Oktoberfest and sample every one of the seven brands of the best beer the world has ever known." 22. [215] "Outside, as we made our way to the next tent, the fair looked like every big State-Fair ever seen, except it was bigger. Games, souvenir stands, sausage stands, rides, side shows, and people, people, people." 23. [218] "In Muenchen steht ein Hofbräuhaus! Eins, Zwei, G'sufa!" 24. [220] "At the G'sufa everybody upped with the mugs and drank each other's health." 25. [221] "This is what I call a real beer bust," I said approvingly.

Who is Arth, and what are his characteristics?

[1] UNBORN TOMORROW BY MACK REYNOLDS Unfortunately , there was only one thing he could bring back from the wonderful future ... and though he didn't want to ... nevertheless he did.... [2] Illustrated by Freas Betty looked up from her magazine. [3] She said mildly, "You're late." [4] "Don't yell at me, I feel awful," Simon told her. [5] He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle. [6] He looked over at Betty and said, almost as though reciting, "What I need is a vacation." [7] "What," Betty said, "are you going to use for money?" [8] "Providence," Simon told her whilst fiddling with the aspirin bottle, "will provide." [9] "Hm-m-m. [10] But before providing vacations it'd be nice if Providence turned up a missing jewel deal, say. [11] Something where you could deduce that actually the ruby ring had gone down the drain and was caught in the elbow. [12] Something that would net about fifty dollars." [13] Simon said, mournful of tone, "Fifty dollars? [14] Why not make it five hundred?" [15] "I'm not selfish," Betty said. [16] "All I want is enough to pay me this week's salary." [17] "Money," Simon said. [18] "When you took this job you said it was the romance that appealed to you." [19] "Hm-m-m. [20] I didn't know most sleuthing amounted to snooping around department stores to check on the clerks knocking down." [21] Simon said, enigmatically, "Now it comes." [22] There was a knock. [23] Betty bounced up with Olympic agility and had the door swinging wide before the knocking was quite completed. [24] He was old, little and had bug eyes behind pince-nez glasses. [25] His suit was cut in the style of yesteryear but when a suit costs two or three hundred dollars you still retain caste whatever the styling. [26] Simon said unenthusiastically, "Good morning, Mr. [27] Oyster." [28] He indicated the client's chair. [29] "Sit down, sir." [30] The client fussed himself with Betty's assistance into the seat, bug-eyed Simon, said finally, "You know my name, that's pretty good. [31] Never saw you before in my life. [32] Stop fussing with me, young lady. [33] Your ad in the phone book says you'll investigate anything." [34] "Anything," Simon said. [35] "Only one exception." [36] "Excellent. [37] Do you believe in time travel?" [38] Simon said nothing. [39] Across the room, where she had resumed her seat, Betty cleared her throat. [40] When Simon continued to say nothing she ventured, "Time travel is impossible." [41] "Why?" [42] "Why?" [43] "Yes, why?" [44] Betty looked to her boss for assistance. [45] None was forthcoming. [46] There ought to be some very quick, positive, definite answer. [47] She said, "Well, for one thing, paradox. [48] Suppose you had a time machine and traveled back a hundred years or so and killed your own great-grandfather. [49] Then how could you ever be born?" [50] "Confound it if I know," the little fellow growled. [51] "How?" [52] Simon said, "Let's get to the point, what you wanted to see me about." [53] "I want to hire you to hunt me up some time travelers," the old boy said. [54] Betty was too far in now to maintain her proper role of silent secretary. [55] "Time travelers," she said, not very intelligently. [56] The potential client sat more erect, obviously with intent to hold the floor for a time. [57] He removed the pince-nez glasses and pointed them at Betty. [58] He said, "Have you read much science fiction, Miss?" [59] "Some," Betty admitted. [60] "Then you'll realize that there are a dozen explanations of the paradoxes of time travel. [61] Every writer in the field worth his salt has explained them away. [62] But to get on. [63] It's my contention that within a century or so man will have solved the problems of immortality and eternal youth, and it's also my suspicion that he will eventually be able to travel in time. [64] So convinced am I of these possibilities that I am willing to gamble a portion of my fortune to investigate the presence in our era of such time travelers." [65] Simon seemed incapable of carrying the ball this morning, so Betty said, "But ... Mr. [66] Oyster, if the future has developed time travel why don't we ever meet such travelers?" [67] Simon put in a word. [68] "The usual explanation, Betty, is that they can't afford to allow the space-time continuum track to be altered. [69] If, say, a time traveler returned to a period of twenty-five years ago and shot Hitler, then all subsequent history would be changed. [70] In that case, the time traveler himself might never be born. [71] They have to tread mighty carefully." [72] Mr. [73] Oyster was pleased. [74] "I didn't expect you to be so well informed on the subject, young man." [75] Simon shrugged and fumbled again with the aspirin bottle. [76] Mr. [77] Oyster went on. [78] "I've been considering the matter for some time and—" Simon held up a hand. [79] "There's no use prolonging this. [80] As I understand it, you're an elderly gentleman with a considerable fortune and you realize that thus far nobody has succeeded in taking it with him." [81] Mr. [82] Oyster returned his glasses to their perch, bug-eyed Simon, but then nodded. [83] Simon said, "You want to hire me to find a time traveler and in some manner or other—any manner will do—exhort from him the secret of eternal life and youth, which you figure the future will have discovered. [84] You're willing to pony up a part of this fortune of yours, if I can deliver a bona fide time traveler." [85] "Right!" [86] Betty had been looking from one to the other. [87] Now she said, plaintively, "But where are you going to find one of these characters—especially if they're interested in keeping hid?" [88] The old boy was the center again. [89] "I told you I'd been considering it for some time. [90] The Oktoberfest , that's where they'd be!" [91] He seemed elated. [92] Betty and Simon waited. [93] "The Oktoberfest ," he repeated. [94] "The greatest festival the world has ever seen, the carnival, feria , fiesta to beat them all. [95] Every year it's held in Munich. [96] Makes the New Orleans Mardi gras look like a quilting party." [97] He began to swing into the spirit of his description. [98] "It originally started in celebration of the wedding of some local prince a century and a half ago and the Bavarians had such a bang-up time they've been holding it every year since. [99] The Munich breweries do up a special beer, Marzenbräu they call it, and each brewery opens a tremendous tent on the fair grounds which will hold five thousand customers apiece. [100] Millions of liters of beer are put away, hundreds of thousands of barbecued chickens, a small herd of oxen are roasted whole over spits, millions of pair of weisswurst , a very special sausage, millions upon millions of pretzels—" "All right," Simon said. [101] "We'll accept it. [102] The Oktoberfest is one whale of a wingding." [103] "Well," the old boy pursued, into his subject now, "that's where they'd be, places like the Oktoberfest . [104] For one thing, a time traveler wouldn't be conspicuous. [105] At a festival like this somebody with a strange accent, or who didn't know exactly how to wear his clothes correctly, or was off the ordinary in any of a dozen other ways, wouldn't be noticed. [106] You could be a four-armed space traveler from Mars, and you still wouldn't be conspicuous at the Oktoberfest . [107] People would figure they had D.T.'s." [108] "But why would a time traveler want to go to a—" Betty began. [109] "Why not! [110] What better opportunity to study a people than when they are in their cups? [111] If you could go back a few thousand years, the things you would wish to see would be a Roman Triumph, perhaps the Rites of Dionysus, or one of Alexander's orgies. [112] You wouldn't want to wander up and down the streets of, say, Athens while nothing was going on, particularly when you might be revealed as a suspicious character not being able to speak the language, not knowing how to wear the clothes and not familiar with the city's layout." [113] He took a deep breath. [114] "No ma'am, you'd have to stick to some great event, both for the sake of actual interest and for protection against being unmasked." [115] The old boy wound it up. [116] "Well, that's the story. [117] What are your rates? [118] The Oktoberfest starts on Friday and continues for sixteen days. [119] You can take the plane to Munich, spend a week there and—" Simon was shaking his head. [120] "Not interested." [121] As soon as Betty had got her jaw back into place, she glared unbelievingly at him. [122] Mr. [123] Oyster was taken aback himself. [124] "See here, young man, I realize this isn't an ordinary assignment, however, as I said, I am willing to risk a considerable portion of my fortune—" "Sorry," Simon said. [125] "Can't be done." [126] "A hundred dollars a day plus expenses," Mr. [127] Oyster said quietly. [128] "I like the fact that you already seem to have some interest and knowledge of the matter. [129] I liked the way you knew my name when I walked in the door; my picture doesn't appear often in the papers." [130] "No go," Simon said, a sad quality in his voice. [131] "A fifty thousand dollar bonus if you bring me a time traveler." [132] "Out of the question," Simon said. [133] "But why ?" [134] Betty wailed. [135] "Just for laughs," Simon told the two of them sourly, "suppose I tell you a funny story. [136] It goes like this:" I got a thousand dollars from Mr. [137] Oyster (Simon began) in the way of an advance, and leaving him with Betty who was making out a receipt, I hustled back to the apartment and packed a bag. [138] Hell, I'd wanted a vacation anyway, this was a natural. [139] On the way to Idlewild I stopped off at the Germany Information Offices for some tourist literature. [140] It takes roughly three and a half hours to get to Gander from Idlewild. [141] I spent the time planning the fun I was going to have. [142] It takes roughly seven and a half hours from Gander to Shannon and I spent that time dreaming up material I could put into my reports to Mr. [143] Oyster. [144] I was going to have to give him some kind of report for his money. [145] Time travel yet! [146] What a laugh! [147] Between Shannon and Munich a faint suspicion began to simmer in my mind. [148] These statistics I read on the Oktoberfest in the Munich tourist pamphlets. [149] Five million people attended annually. [150] Where did five million people come from to attend an overgrown festival in comparatively remote Southern Germany? [151] The tourist season is over before September 21st, first day of the gigantic beer bust. [152] Nor could the Germans account for any such number. [153] Munich itself has a population of less than a million, counting children. [154] And those millions of gallons of beer, the hundreds of thousands of chickens, the herds of oxen. [155] Who ponied up all the money for such expenditures? [156] How could the average German, with his twenty-five dollars a week salary? [157] In Munich there was no hotel space available. [158] I went to the Bahnhof where they have a hotel service and applied. [159] They put my name down, pocketed the husky bribe, showed me where I could check my bag, told me they'd do what they could, and to report back in a few hours. [160] I had another suspicious twinge. [161] If five million people attended this beer bout, how were they accommodated? [162] The Theresienwiese , the fair ground, was only a few blocks away. [163] I was stiff from the plane ride so I walked. [164] There are seven major brewers in the Munich area, each of them represented by one of the circuslike tents that Mr. [165] Oyster mentioned. [166] Each tent contained benches and tables for about five thousand persons and from six to ten thousands pack themselves in, competing for room. [167] In the center is a tremendous bandstand, the musicians all lederhosen clad, the music as Bavarian as any to be found in a Bavarian beer hall. [168] Hundreds of peasant garbed fräuleins darted about the tables with quart sized earthenware mugs, platters of chicken, sausage, kraut and pretzels. [169] I found a place finally at a table which had space for twenty-odd beer bibbers. [170] Odd is right. [171] As weird an assortment of Germans and foreign tourists as could have been dreamed up, ranging from a seventy- or eighty-year-old couple in Bavarian costume, to the bald-headed drunk across the table from me. [172] A desperate waitress bearing six mugs of beer in each hand scurried past. [173] They call them masses , by the way, not mugs. [174] The bald-headed character and I both held up a finger and she slid two of the masses over to us and then hustled on. [175] "Down the hatch," the other said, holding up his mass in toast. [176] "To the ladies," I told him. [177] Before sipping, I said, "You know, the tourist pamphlets say this stuff is eighteen per cent. [178] That's nonsense. [179] No beer is that strong." [180] I took a long pull. [181] He looked at me, waiting. [182] I came up. [183] "Mistaken," I admitted. [184] A mass or two apiece later he looked carefully at the name engraved on his earthenware mug. [185] "Löwenbräu," he said. [186] He took a small notebook from his pocket and a pencil, noted down the word and returned the things. [187] "That's a queer looking pencil you have there," I told him. [188] "German?" [189] "Venusian," he said. [190] "Oops, sorry. [191] Shouldn't have said that." [192] I had never heard of the brand so I skipped it. [193] "Next is the Hofbräu," he said. [194] "Next what?" [195] Baldy's conversation didn't seem to hang together very well. [196] "My pilgrimage," he told me. [197] "All my life I've been wanting to go back to an Oktoberfest and sample every one of the seven brands of the best beer the world has ever known. [198] I'm only as far as Löwenbräu. [199] I'm afraid I'll never make it." [200] I finished my mass . [201] "I'll help you," I told him. [202] "Very noble endeavor. [203] Name is Simon." [204] "Arth," he said. [205] "How could you help?" [206] "I'm still fresh—comparatively. [207] I'll navigate you around. [208] There are seven beer tents. [209] How many have you got through, so far?" [210] "Two, counting this one," Arth said. [211] I looked at him. [212] "It's going to be a chore," I said. [213] "You've already got a nice edge on." [214] Outside, as we made our way to the next tent, the fair looked like every big State-Fair ever seen, except it was bigger. [215] Games, souvenir stands, sausage stands, rides, side shows, and people, people, people. [216] The Hofbräu tent was as overflowing as the last but we managed to find two seats. [217] The band was blaring, and five thousand half-swacked voices were roaring accompaniment. [218] In Muenchen steht ein Hofbräuhaus! [219] Eins, Zwei, G'sufa! [220] At the G'sufa everybody upped with the mugs and drank each other's health. [221] "This is what I call a real beer bust," I said approvingly. [222] Arth was waving to a waitress. [223] As in the Löwenbräu tent, a full quart was the smallest amount obtainable. [224] A beer later I said, "I don't know if you'll make it or not, Arth." [225] "Make what?" [226] "All seven tents." [227] "Oh." [228] A waitress was on her way by, mugs foaming over their rims. [229] I gestured to her for refills. [230] "Where are you from, Arth?" [231] I asked him, in the way of making conversation. [232] "2183." [233] "2183 where?" [234] He looked at me, closing one eye to focus better. [235] "Oh," he said. [236] "Well, 2183 South Street, ah, New Albuquerque." [237] "New Albuquerque? [238] Where's that?" [239] Arth thought about it. [240] Took another long pull at the beer. [241] "Right across the way from old Albuquerque," he said finally. [242] "Maybe we ought to be getting on to the Pschorrbräu tent." [243] "Maybe we ought to eat something first," I said. [244] "I'm beginning to feel this. [245] We could get some of that barbecued ox." [246] Arth closed his eyes in pain. [247] "Vegetarian," he said. [248] "Couldn't possibly eat meat. [249] Barbarous. [250] Ugh." [251] "Well, we need some nourishment," I said. [252] "There's supposed to be considerable nourishment in beer." [253] That made sense. [254] I yelled, " Fräulein! [255] Zwei neu bier! " [256] Somewhere along in here the fog rolled in. [257] When it rolled out again, I found myself closing one eye the better to read the lettering on my earthenware mug. [258] It read Augustinerbräu. [259] Somehow we'd evidently navigated from one tent to another. [260] Arth was saying, "Where's your hotel?" [261] That seemed like a good question. [262] I thought about it for a while. [263] Finally I said, "Haven't got one. [264] Town's jam packed. [265] Left my bag at the Bahnhof. [266] I don't think we'll ever make it, Arth. [267] How many we got to go?" [268] "Lost track," Arth said. [269] "You can come home with me." [270] We drank to that and the fog rolled in again. [271] When the fog rolled out, it was daylight. [272] Bright, glaring, awful daylight. [273] I was sprawled, complete with clothes, on one of twin beds. [274] On the other bed, also completely clothed, was Arth. [275] That sun was too much. [276] I stumbled up from the bed, staggered to the window and fumbled around for a blind or curtain. [277] There was none. [278] Behind me a voice said in horror, "Who ... how ... oh, Wodo , where'd you come from?" [279] I got a quick impression, looking out the window, that the Germans were certainly the most modern, futuristic people in the world. [280] But I couldn't stand the light. [281] "Where's the shade," I moaned. [282] Arth did something and the window went opaque. [283] "That's quite a gadget," I groaned. [284] "If I didn't feel so lousy, I'd appreciate it." [285] Arth was sitting on the edge of the bed holding his bald head in his hands. [286] "I remember now," he sorrowed. [287] "You didn't have a hotel. [288] What a stupidity. [289] I'll be phased. [290] Phased all the way down." [291] "You haven't got a handful of aspirin, have you?" [292] I asked him. [293] "Just a minute," Arth said, staggering erect and heading for what undoubtedly was a bathroom. [294] "Stay where you are. [295] Don't move. [296] Don't touch anything." [297] "All right," I told him plaintively. [298] "I'm clean. [299] I won't mess up the place. [300] All I've got is a hangover, not lice." [301] Arth was gone. [302] He came back in two or three minutes, box of pills in hand. [303] "Here, take one of these." [304] I took the pill, followed it with a glass of water. [305] And went out like a light. [306] Arth was shaking my arm. [307] "Want another mass ?" [308] The band was blaring, and five thousand half-swacked voices were roaring accompaniment. [309] In Muenchen steht ein Hofbräuhaus! [310] Eins, Zwei, G'sufa! [311] At the G'sufa everybody upped with their king-size mugs and drank each other's health. [312] My head was killing me. [313] "This is where I came in, or something," I groaned. [314] Arth said, "That was last night." [315] He looked at me over the rim of his beer mug. [316] Something, somewhere, was wrong. [317] But I didn't care. [318] I finished my mass and then remembered. [319] "I've got to get my bag. [320] Oh, my head. [321] Where did we spend last night?" [322] Arth said, and his voice sounded cautious, "At my hotel, don't you remember?" [323] "Not very well," I admitted. [324] "I feel lousy. [325] I must have dimmed out. [326] I've got to go to the Bahnhof and get my luggage." [327] Arth didn't put up an argument on that. [328] We said good-by and I could feel him watching after me as I pushed through the tables on the way out. [329] At the Bahnhof they could do me no good. [330] There were no hotel rooms available in Munich. [331] The head was getting worse by the minute. [332] The fact that they'd somehow managed to lose my bag didn't help. [333] I worked on that project for at least a couple of hours. [334] Not only wasn't the bag at the luggage checking station, but the attendant there evidently couldn't make heads nor tails of the check receipt. [335] He didn't speak English and my high school German was inadequate, especially accompanied by a blockbusting hangover. [336] I didn't get anywhere tearing my hair and complaining from one end of the Bahnhof to the other. [337] I drew a blank on the bag. [338] And the head was getting worse by the minute. [339] I was bleeding to death through the eyes and instead of butterflies I had bats in my stomach. [340] Believe me, nobody should drink a gallon or more of Marzenbräu. [341] I decided the hell with it. [342] I took a cab to the airport, presented my return ticket, told them I wanted to leave on the first obtainable plane to New York. [343] I'd spent two days at the Oktoberfest , and I'd had it. [344] I got more guff there. [345] Something was wrong with the ticket, wrong date or some such. [346] But they fixed that up. [347] I never was clear on what was fouled up, some clerk's error, evidently. [348] The trip back was as uninteresting as the one over. [349] As the hangover began to wear off—a little—I was almost sorry I hadn't been able to stay. [350] If I'd only been able to get a room I would have stayed, I told myself. [351] From Idlewild, I came directly to the office rather than going to my apartment. [352] I figured I might as well check in with Betty. [353] I opened the door and there I found Mr. [354] Oyster sitting in the chair he had been occupying four—or was it five—days before when I'd left. [355] I'd lost track of the time. [356] I said to him, "Glad you're here, sir. [357] I can report. [358] Ah, what was it you came for? [359] Impatient to hear if I'd had any results?" [360] My mind was spinning like a whirling dervish in a revolving door. [361] I'd spent a wad of his money and had nothing I could think of to show for it; nothing but the last stages of a grand-daddy hangover. [362] "Came for?" [363] Mr. [364] Oyster snorted. [365] "I'm merely waiting for your girl to make out my receipt. [366] I thought you had already left." [367] "You'll miss your plane," Betty said. [368] There was suddenly a double dip of ice cream in my stomach. [369] I walked over to my desk and looked down at the calendar. [370] Mr. [371] Oyster was saying something to the effect that if I didn't leave today, it would have to be tomorrow, that he hadn't ponied up that thousand dollars advance for anything less than immediate service. [372] Stuffing his receipt in his wallet, he fussed his way out the door. [373] I said to Betty hopefully, "I suppose you haven't changed this calendar since I left." [374] Betty said, "What's the matter with you? [375] You look funny. [376] How did your clothes get so mussed? [377] You tore the top sheet off that calendar yourself, not half an hour ago, just before this marble-missing client came in." [378] She added, irrelevantly, "Time travelers yet." [379] I tried just once more. [380] "Uh, when did you first see this Mr. [381] Oyster?" [382] "Never saw him before in my life," she said. [383] "Not until he came in this morning." [384] "This morning," I said weakly. [385] While Betty stared at me as though it was me that needed candling by a head shrinker preparatory to being sent off to a pressure cooker, I fished in my pocket for my wallet, counted the contents and winced at the pathetic remains of the thousand. [386] I said pleadingly, "Betty, listen, how long ago did I go out that door—on the way to the airport?" [387] "You've been acting sick all morning. [388] You went out that door about ten minutes ago, were gone about three minutes, and then came back." [389] "See here," Mr. [390] Oyster said (interrupting Simon's story), "did you say this was supposed to be amusing, young man? [391] I don't find it so. [392] In fact, I believe I am being ridiculed." [393] Simon shrugged, put one hand to his forehead and said, "That's only the first chapter. [394] There are two more." [395] "I'm not interested in more," Mr. [396] Oyster said. [397] "I suppose your point was to show me how ridiculous the whole idea actually is. [398] Very well, you've done it. [399] Confound it. [400] However, I suppose your time, even when spent in this manner, has some value. [401] Here is fifty dollars. [402] And good day, sir!" [403] He slammed the door after him as he left. [404] Simon winced at the noise, took the aspirin bottle from its drawer, took two, washed them down with water from the desk carafe. [405] Betty looked at him admiringly. [406] Came to her feet, crossed over and took up the fifty dollars. [407] "Week's wages," she said. [408] "I suppose that's one way of taking care of a crackpot. [409] But I'm surprised you didn't take his money and enjoy that vacation you've been yearning about." [410] "I did," Simon groaned. [411] "Three times." [412] Betty stared at him. [413] "You mean—" Simon nodded, miserably. [414] She said, "But Simon . [415] Fifty thousand dollars bonus. [416] If that story was true, you should have gone back again to Munich. [417] If there was one time traveler, there might have been—" "I keep telling you," Simon said bitterly, "I went back there three times. [418] There were hundreds of them. [419] Probably thousands." [420] He took a deep breath. [421] "Listen, we're just going to have to forget about it. [422] They're not going to stand for the space-time continuum track being altered. [423] If something comes up that looks like it might result in the track being changed, they set you right back at the beginning and let things start—for you—all over again. [424] They just can't allow anything to come back from the future and change the past." [425] "You mean," Betty was suddenly furious at him, "you've given up! [426] Why this is the biggest thing— Why the fifty thousand dollars is nothing. [427] The future! [428] Just think!" [429] Simon said wearily, "There's just one thing you can bring back with you from the future, a hangover compounded of a gallon or so of Marzenbräu. [430] What's more you can pile one on top of the other, and another on top of that!" [431] He shuddered. [432] "If you think I'm going to take another crack at this merry-go-round and pile a fourth hangover on the three I'm already nursing, all at once, you can think again." [433] THE END

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "Who is Arth, and what are his characteristics?": 1. [204] "Arth," he said. 2. [205] "How could you help?" 3. [206] "I'm still fresh—comparatively. 4. [207] I'll navigate you around. 5. [208] There are seven beer tents. 6. [209] How many have you got through, so far?" 7. [210] "Two, counting this one," Arth said. 8. [211] I looked at him. 9. [212] "It's going to be a chore," I said. 10. [213] "You've already got a nice edge on." 11. [230] "Where are you from, Arth?" 12. [231] I asked him, in the way of making conversation. 13. [232] "2183." 14. [233] "2183 where?" 15. [234] He looked at me, closing one eye to focus better. 16. [235] "Oh," he said. 17. [236] "Well, 2183 South Street, ah, New Albuquerque." 18. [237] "New Albuquerque? 19. [238] Where's that?" 20. [239] Arth thought about it. 21. [240] Took another long pull at the beer. 22. [241] "Right across the way from old Albuquerque," he said finally. 23. [246] Arth closed his eyes in pain. 24. [247] "Vegetarian," he said. 25. [248] "Couldn't possibly eat meat. 26. [249] Barbarous. 27. [250] Ugh." 28. [258] It read Augustinerbräu. 29. [259] Somehow we'd evidently navigated from one tent to another. 30. [260] Arth was saying, "Where's your hotel?" 31. [268] "Lost track," Arth said. 32. [269] "You can come home with me." 33. [285] Arth was sitting on the edge of the bed holding his bald head in his hands. 34. [286] "I remember now," he sorrowed. 35. [287] "You didn't have a hotel. 36. [288] What a stupidity. 37. [289] I'll be phased. 38. [290] Phased all the way down." 39. [306] Arth was shaking my arm. 40. [307] "Want another mass?" 41. [314] Arth said, "That was last night." 42. [322] Arth said, and his voice sounded cautious, "At my hotel, don't you remember?"

Who is Simon, and what are his characteristics?

[1] UNBORN TOMORROW BY MACK REYNOLDS Unfortunately , there was only one thing he could bring back from the wonderful future ... and though he didn't want to ... nevertheless he did.... [2] Illustrated by Freas Betty looked up from her magazine. [3] She said mildly, "You're late." [4] "Don't yell at me, I feel awful," Simon told her. [5] He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle. [6] He looked over at Betty and said, almost as though reciting, "What I need is a vacation." [7] "What," Betty said, "are you going to use for money?" [8] "Providence," Simon told her whilst fiddling with the aspirin bottle, "will provide." [9] "Hm-m-m. [10] But before providing vacations it'd be nice if Providence turned up a missing jewel deal, say. [11] Something where you could deduce that actually the ruby ring had gone down the drain and was caught in the elbow. [12] Something that would net about fifty dollars." [13] Simon said, mournful of tone, "Fifty dollars? [14] Why not make it five hundred?" [15] "I'm not selfish," Betty said. [16] "All I want is enough to pay me this week's salary." [17] "Money," Simon said. [18] "When you took this job you said it was the romance that appealed to you." [19] "Hm-m-m. [20] I didn't know most sleuthing amounted to snooping around department stores to check on the clerks knocking down." [21] Simon said, enigmatically, "Now it comes." [22] There was a knock. [23] Betty bounced up with Olympic agility and had the door swinging wide before the knocking was quite completed. [24] He was old, little and had bug eyes behind pince-nez glasses. [25] His suit was cut in the style of yesteryear but when a suit costs two or three hundred dollars you still retain caste whatever the styling. [26] Simon said unenthusiastically, "Good morning, Mr. [27] Oyster." [28] He indicated the client's chair. [29] "Sit down, sir." [30] The client fussed himself with Betty's assistance into the seat, bug-eyed Simon, said finally, "You know my name, that's pretty good. [31] Never saw you before in my life. [32] Stop fussing with me, young lady. [33] Your ad in the phone book says you'll investigate anything." [34] "Anything," Simon said. [35] "Only one exception." [36] "Excellent. [37] Do you believe in time travel?" [38] Simon said nothing. [39] Across the room, where she had resumed her seat, Betty cleared her throat. [40] When Simon continued to say nothing she ventured, "Time travel is impossible." [41] "Why?" [42] "Why?" [43] "Yes, why?" [44] Betty looked to her boss for assistance. [45] None was forthcoming. [46] There ought to be some very quick, positive, definite answer. [47] She said, "Well, for one thing, paradox. [48] Suppose you had a time machine and traveled back a hundred years or so and killed your own great-grandfather. [49] Then how could you ever be born?" [50] "Confound it if I know," the little fellow growled. [51] "How?" [52] Simon said, "Let's get to the point, what you wanted to see me about." [53] "I want to hire you to hunt me up some time travelers," the old boy said. [54] Betty was too far in now to maintain her proper role of silent secretary. [55] "Time travelers," she said, not very intelligently. [56] The potential client sat more erect, obviously with intent to hold the floor for a time. [57] He removed the pince-nez glasses and pointed them at Betty. [58] He said, "Have you read much science fiction, Miss?" [59] "Some," Betty admitted. [60] "Then you'll realize that there are a dozen explanations of the paradoxes of time travel. [61] Every writer in the field worth his salt has explained them away. [62] But to get on. [63] It's my contention that within a century or so man will have solved the problems of immortality and eternal youth, and it's also my suspicion that he will eventually be able to travel in time. [64] So convinced am I of these possibilities that I am willing to gamble a portion of my fortune to investigate the presence in our era of such time travelers." [65] Simon seemed incapable of carrying the ball this morning, so Betty said, "But ... Mr. [66] Oyster, if the future has developed time travel why don't we ever meet such travelers?" [67] Simon put in a word. [68] "The usual explanation, Betty, is that they can't afford to allow the space-time continuum track to be altered. [69] If, say, a time traveler returned to a period of twenty-five years ago and shot Hitler, then all subsequent history would be changed. [70] In that case, the time traveler himself might never be born. [71] They have to tread mighty carefully." [72] Mr. [73] Oyster was pleased. [74] "I didn't expect you to be so well informed on the subject, young man." [75] Simon shrugged and fumbled again with the aspirin bottle. [76] Mr. [77] Oyster went on. [78] "I've been considering the matter for some time and—" Simon held up a hand. [79] "There's no use prolonging this. [80] As I understand it, you're an elderly gentleman with a considerable fortune and you realize that thus far nobody has succeeded in taking it with him." [81] Mr. [82] Oyster returned his glasses to their perch, bug-eyed Simon, but then nodded. [83] Simon said, "You want to hire me to find a time traveler and in some manner or other—any manner will do—exhort from him the secret of eternal life and youth, which you figure the future will have discovered. [84] You're willing to pony up a part of this fortune of yours, if I can deliver a bona fide time traveler." [85] "Right!" [86] Betty had been looking from one to the other. [87] Now she said, plaintively, "But where are you going to find one of these characters—especially if they're interested in keeping hid?" [88] The old boy was the center again. [89] "I told you I'd been considering it for some time. [90] The Oktoberfest , that's where they'd be!" [91] He seemed elated. [92] Betty and Simon waited. [93] "The Oktoberfest ," he repeated. [94] "The greatest festival the world has ever seen, the carnival, feria , fiesta to beat them all. [95] Every year it's held in Munich. [96] Makes the New Orleans Mardi gras look like a quilting party." [97] He began to swing into the spirit of his description. [98] "It originally started in celebration of the wedding of some local prince a century and a half ago and the Bavarians had such a bang-up time they've been holding it every year since. [99] The Munich breweries do up a special beer, Marzenbräu they call it, and each brewery opens a tremendous tent on the fair grounds which will hold five thousand customers apiece. [100] Millions of liters of beer are put away, hundreds of thousands of barbecued chickens, a small herd of oxen are roasted whole over spits, millions of pair of weisswurst , a very special sausage, millions upon millions of pretzels—" "All right," Simon said. [101] "We'll accept it. [102] The Oktoberfest is one whale of a wingding." [103] "Well," the old boy pursued, into his subject now, "that's where they'd be, places like the Oktoberfest . [104] For one thing, a time traveler wouldn't be conspicuous. [105] At a festival like this somebody with a strange accent, or who didn't know exactly how to wear his clothes correctly, or was off the ordinary in any of a dozen other ways, wouldn't be noticed. [106] You could be a four-armed space traveler from Mars, and you still wouldn't be conspicuous at the Oktoberfest . [107] People would figure they had D.T.'s." [108] "But why would a time traveler want to go to a—" Betty began. [109] "Why not! [110] What better opportunity to study a people than when they are in their cups? [111] If you could go back a few thousand years, the things you would wish to see would be a Roman Triumph, perhaps the Rites of Dionysus, or one of Alexander's orgies. [112] You wouldn't want to wander up and down the streets of, say, Athens while nothing was going on, particularly when you might be revealed as a suspicious character not being able to speak the language, not knowing how to wear the clothes and not familiar with the city's layout." [113] He took a deep breath. [114] "No ma'am, you'd have to stick to some great event, both for the sake of actual interest and for protection against being unmasked." [115] The old boy wound it up. [116] "Well, that's the story. [117] What are your rates? [118] The Oktoberfest starts on Friday and continues for sixteen days. [119] You can take the plane to Munich, spend a week there and—" Simon was shaking his head. [120] "Not interested." [121] As soon as Betty had got her jaw back into place, she glared unbelievingly at him. [122] Mr. [123] Oyster was taken aback himself. [124] "See here, young man, I realize this isn't an ordinary assignment, however, as I said, I am willing to risk a considerable portion of my fortune—" "Sorry," Simon said. [125] "Can't be done." [126] "A hundred dollars a day plus expenses," Mr. [127] Oyster said quietly. [128] "I like the fact that you already seem to have some interest and knowledge of the matter. [129] I liked the way you knew my name when I walked in the door; my picture doesn't appear often in the papers." [130] "No go," Simon said, a sad quality in his voice. [131] "A fifty thousand dollar bonus if you bring me a time traveler." [132] "Out of the question," Simon said. [133] "But why ?" [134] Betty wailed. [135] "Just for laughs," Simon told the two of them sourly, "suppose I tell you a funny story. [136] It goes like this:" I got a thousand dollars from Mr. [137] Oyster (Simon began) in the way of an advance, and leaving him with Betty who was making out a receipt, I hustled back to the apartment and packed a bag. [138] Hell, I'd wanted a vacation anyway, this was a natural. [139] On the way to Idlewild I stopped off at the Germany Information Offices for some tourist literature. [140] It takes roughly three and a half hours to get to Gander from Idlewild. [141] I spent the time planning the fun I was going to have. [142] It takes roughly seven and a half hours from Gander to Shannon and I spent that time dreaming up material I could put into my reports to Mr. [143] Oyster. [144] I was going to have to give him some kind of report for his money. [145] Time travel yet! [146] What a laugh! [147] Between Shannon and Munich a faint suspicion began to simmer in my mind. [148] These statistics I read on the Oktoberfest in the Munich tourist pamphlets. [149] Five million people attended annually. [150] Where did five million people come from to attend an overgrown festival in comparatively remote Southern Germany? [151] The tourist season is over before September 21st, first day of the gigantic beer bust. [152] Nor could the Germans account for any such number. [153] Munich itself has a population of less than a million, counting children. [154] And those millions of gallons of beer, the hundreds of thousands of chickens, the herds of oxen. [155] Who ponied up all the money for such expenditures? [156] How could the average German, with his twenty-five dollars a week salary? [157] In Munich there was no hotel space available. [158] I went to the Bahnhof where they have a hotel service and applied. [159] They put my name down, pocketed the husky bribe, showed me where I could check my bag, told me they'd do what they could, and to report back in a few hours. [160] I had another suspicious twinge. [161] If five million people attended this beer bout, how were they accommodated? [162] The Theresienwiese , the fair ground, was only a few blocks away. [163] I was stiff from the plane ride so I walked. [164] There are seven major brewers in the Munich area, each of them represented by one of the circuslike tents that Mr. [165] Oyster mentioned. [166] Each tent contained benches and tables for about five thousand persons and from six to ten thousands pack themselves in, competing for room. [167] In the center is a tremendous bandstand, the musicians all lederhosen clad, the music as Bavarian as any to be found in a Bavarian beer hall. [168] Hundreds of peasant garbed fräuleins darted about the tables with quart sized earthenware mugs, platters of chicken, sausage, kraut and pretzels. [169] I found a place finally at a table which had space for twenty-odd beer bibbers. [170] Odd is right. [171] As weird an assortment of Germans and foreign tourists as could have been dreamed up, ranging from a seventy- or eighty-year-old couple in Bavarian costume, to the bald-headed drunk across the table from me. [172] A desperate waitress bearing six mugs of beer in each hand scurried past. [173] They call them masses , by the way, not mugs. [174] The bald-headed character and I both held up a finger and she slid two of the masses over to us and then hustled on. [175] "Down the hatch," the other said, holding up his mass in toast. [176] "To the ladies," I told him. [177] Before sipping, I said, "You know, the tourist pamphlets say this stuff is eighteen per cent. [178] That's nonsense. [179] No beer is that strong." [180] I took a long pull. [181] He looked at me, waiting. [182] I came up. [183] "Mistaken," I admitted. [184] A mass or two apiece later he looked carefully at the name engraved on his earthenware mug. [185] "Löwenbräu," he said. [186] He took a small notebook from his pocket and a pencil, noted down the word and returned the things. [187] "That's a queer looking pencil you have there," I told him. [188] "German?" [189] "Venusian," he said. [190] "Oops, sorry. [191] Shouldn't have said that." [192] I had never heard of the brand so I skipped it. [193] "Next is the Hofbräu," he said. [194] "Next what?" [195] Baldy's conversation didn't seem to hang together very well. [196] "My pilgrimage," he told me. [197] "All my life I've been wanting to go back to an Oktoberfest and sample every one of the seven brands of the best beer the world has ever known. [198] I'm only as far as Löwenbräu. [199] I'm afraid I'll never make it." [200] I finished my mass . [201] "I'll help you," I told him. [202] "Very noble endeavor. [203] Name is Simon." [204] "Arth," he said. [205] "How could you help?" [206] "I'm still fresh—comparatively. [207] I'll navigate you around. [208] There are seven beer tents. [209] How many have you got through, so far?" [210] "Two, counting this one," Arth said. [211] I looked at him. [212] "It's going to be a chore," I said. [213] "You've already got a nice edge on." [214] Outside, as we made our way to the next tent, the fair looked like every big State-Fair ever seen, except it was bigger. [215] Games, souvenir stands, sausage stands, rides, side shows, and people, people, people. [216] The Hofbräu tent was as overflowing as the last but we managed to find two seats. [217] The band was blaring, and five thousand half-swacked voices were roaring accompaniment. [218] In Muenchen steht ein Hofbräuhaus! [219] Eins, Zwei, G'sufa! [220] At the G'sufa everybody upped with the mugs and drank each other's health. [221] "This is what I call a real beer bust," I said approvingly. [222] Arth was waving to a waitress. [223] As in the Löwenbräu tent, a full quart was the smallest amount obtainable. [224] A beer later I said, "I don't know if you'll make it or not, Arth." [225] "Make what?" [226] "All seven tents." [227] "Oh." [228] A waitress was on her way by, mugs foaming over their rims. [229] I gestured to her for refills. [230] "Where are you from, Arth?" [231] I asked him, in the way of making conversation. [232] "2183." [233] "2183 where?" [234] He looked at me, closing one eye to focus better. [235] "Oh," he said. [236] "Well, 2183 South Street, ah, New Albuquerque." [237] "New Albuquerque? [238] Where's that?" [239] Arth thought about it. [240] Took another long pull at the beer. [241] "Right across the way from old Albuquerque," he said finally. [242] "Maybe we ought to be getting on to the Pschorrbräu tent." [243] "Maybe we ought to eat something first," I said. [244] "I'm beginning to feel this. [245] We could get some of that barbecued ox." [246] Arth closed his eyes in pain. [247] "Vegetarian," he said. [248] "Couldn't possibly eat meat. [249] Barbarous. [250] Ugh." [251] "Well, we need some nourishment," I said. [252] "There's supposed to be considerable nourishment in beer." [253] That made sense. [254] I yelled, " Fräulein! [255] Zwei neu bier! " [256] Somewhere along in here the fog rolled in. [257] When it rolled out again, I found myself closing one eye the better to read the lettering on my earthenware mug. [258] It read Augustinerbräu. [259] Somehow we'd evidently navigated from one tent to another. [260] Arth was saying, "Where's your hotel?" [261] That seemed like a good question. [262] I thought about it for a while. [263] Finally I said, "Haven't got one. [264] Town's jam packed. [265] Left my bag at the Bahnhof. [266] I don't think we'll ever make it, Arth. [267] How many we got to go?" [268] "Lost track," Arth said. [269] "You can come home with me." [270] We drank to that and the fog rolled in again. [271] When the fog rolled out, it was daylight. [272] Bright, glaring, awful daylight. [273] I was sprawled, complete with clothes, on one of twin beds. [274] On the other bed, also completely clothed, was Arth. [275] That sun was too much. [276] I stumbled up from the bed, staggered to the window and fumbled around for a blind or curtain. [277] There was none. [278] Behind me a voice said in horror, "Who ... how ... oh, Wodo , where'd you come from?" [279] I got a quick impression, looking out the window, that the Germans were certainly the most modern, futuristic people in the world. [280] But I couldn't stand the light. [281] "Where's the shade," I moaned. [282] Arth did something and the window went opaque. [283] "That's quite a gadget," I groaned. [284] "If I didn't feel so lousy, I'd appreciate it." [285] Arth was sitting on the edge of the bed holding his bald head in his hands. [286] "I remember now," he sorrowed. [287] "You didn't have a hotel. [288] What a stupidity. [289] I'll be phased. [290] Phased all the way down." [291] "You haven't got a handful of aspirin, have you?" [292] I asked him. [293] "Just a minute," Arth said, staggering erect and heading for what undoubtedly was a bathroom. [294] "Stay where you are. [295] Don't move. [296] Don't touch anything." [297] "All right," I told him plaintively. [298] "I'm clean. [299] I won't mess up the place. [300] All I've got is a hangover, not lice." [301] Arth was gone. [302] He came back in two or three minutes, box of pills in hand. [303] "Here, take one of these." [304] I took the pill, followed it with a glass of water. [305] And went out like a light. [306] Arth was shaking my arm. [307] "Want another mass ?" [308] The band was blaring, and five thousand half-swacked voices were roaring accompaniment. [309] In Muenchen steht ein Hofbräuhaus! [310] Eins, Zwei, G'sufa! [311] At the G'sufa everybody upped with their king-size mugs and drank each other's health. [312] My head was killing me. [313] "This is where I came in, or something," I groaned. [314] Arth said, "That was last night." [315] He looked at me over the rim of his beer mug. [316] Something, somewhere, was wrong. [317] But I didn't care. [318] I finished my mass and then remembered. [319] "I've got to get my bag. [320] Oh, my head. [321] Where did we spend last night?" [322] Arth said, and his voice sounded cautious, "At my hotel, don't you remember?" [323] "Not very well," I admitted. [324] "I feel lousy. [325] I must have dimmed out. [326] I've got to go to the Bahnhof and get my luggage." [327] Arth didn't put up an argument on that. [328] We said good-by and I could feel him watching after me as I pushed through the tables on the way out. [329] At the Bahnhof they could do me no good. [330] There were no hotel rooms available in Munich. [331] The head was getting worse by the minute. [332] The fact that they'd somehow managed to lose my bag didn't help. [333] I worked on that project for at least a couple of hours. [334] Not only wasn't the bag at the luggage checking station, but the attendant there evidently couldn't make heads nor tails of the check receipt. [335] He didn't speak English and my high school German was inadequate, especially accompanied by a blockbusting hangover. [336] I didn't get anywhere tearing my hair and complaining from one end of the Bahnhof to the other. [337] I drew a blank on the bag. [338] And the head was getting worse by the minute. [339] I was bleeding to death through the eyes and instead of butterflies I had bats in my stomach. [340] Believe me, nobody should drink a gallon or more of Marzenbräu. [341] I decided the hell with it. [342] I took a cab to the airport, presented my return ticket, told them I wanted to leave on the first obtainable plane to New York. [343] I'd spent two days at the Oktoberfest , and I'd had it. [344] I got more guff there. [345] Something was wrong with the ticket, wrong date or some such. [346] But they fixed that up. [347] I never was clear on what was fouled up, some clerk's error, evidently. [348] The trip back was as uninteresting as the one over. [349] As the hangover began to wear off—a little—I was almost sorry I hadn't been able to stay. [350] If I'd only been able to get a room I would have stayed, I told myself. [351] From Idlewild, I came directly to the office rather than going to my apartment. [352] I figured I might as well check in with Betty. [353] I opened the door and there I found Mr. [354] Oyster sitting in the chair he had been occupying four—or was it five—days before when I'd left. [355] I'd lost track of the time. [356] I said to him, "Glad you're here, sir. [357] I can report. [358] Ah, what was it you came for? [359] Impatient to hear if I'd had any results?" [360] My mind was spinning like a whirling dervish in a revolving door. [361] I'd spent a wad of his money and had nothing I could think of to show for it; nothing but the last stages of a grand-daddy hangover. [362] "Came for?" [363] Mr. [364] Oyster snorted. [365] "I'm merely waiting for your girl to make out my receipt. [366] I thought you had already left." [367] "You'll miss your plane," Betty said. [368] There was suddenly a double dip of ice cream in my stomach. [369] I walked over to my desk and looked down at the calendar. [370] Mr. [371] Oyster was saying something to the effect that if I didn't leave today, it would have to be tomorrow, that he hadn't ponied up that thousand dollars advance for anything less than immediate service. [372] Stuffing his receipt in his wallet, he fussed his way out the door. [373] I said to Betty hopefully, "I suppose you haven't changed this calendar since I left." [374] Betty said, "What's the matter with you? [375] You look funny. [376] How did your clothes get so mussed? [377] You tore the top sheet off that calendar yourself, not half an hour ago, just before this marble-missing client came in." [378] She added, irrelevantly, "Time travelers yet." [379] I tried just once more. [380] "Uh, when did you first see this Mr. [381] Oyster?" [382] "Never saw him before in my life," she said. [383] "Not until he came in this morning." [384] "This morning," I said weakly. [385] While Betty stared at me as though it was me that needed candling by a head shrinker preparatory to being sent off to a pressure cooker, I fished in my pocket for my wallet, counted the contents and winced at the pathetic remains of the thousand. [386] I said pleadingly, "Betty, listen, how long ago did I go out that door—on the way to the airport?" [387] "You've been acting sick all morning. [388] You went out that door about ten minutes ago, were gone about three minutes, and then came back." [389] "See here," Mr. [390] Oyster said (interrupting Simon's story), "did you say this was supposed to be amusing, young man? [391] I don't find it so. [392] In fact, I believe I am being ridiculed." [393] Simon shrugged, put one hand to his forehead and said, "That's only the first chapter. [394] There are two more." [395] "I'm not interested in more," Mr. [396] Oyster said. [397] "I suppose your point was to show me how ridiculous the whole idea actually is. [398] Very well, you've done it. [399] Confound it. [400] However, I suppose your time, even when spent in this manner, has some value. [401] Here is fifty dollars. [402] And good day, sir!" [403] He slammed the door after him as he left. [404] Simon winced at the noise, took the aspirin bottle from its drawer, took two, washed them down with water from the desk carafe. [405] Betty looked at him admiringly. [406] Came to her feet, crossed over and took up the fifty dollars. [407] "Week's wages," she said. [408] "I suppose that's one way of taking care of a crackpot. [409] But I'm surprised you didn't take his money and enjoy that vacation you've been yearning about." [410] "I did," Simon groaned. [411] "Three times." [412] Betty stared at him. [413] "You mean—" Simon nodded, miserably. [414] She said, "But Simon . [415] Fifty thousand dollars bonus. [416] If that story was true, you should have gone back again to Munich. [417] If there was one time traveler, there might have been—" "I keep telling you," Simon said bitterly, "I went back there three times. [418] There were hundreds of them. [419] Probably thousands." [420] He took a deep breath. [421] "Listen, we're just going to have to forget about it. [422] They're not going to stand for the space-time continuum track being altered. [423] If something comes up that looks like it might result in the track being changed, they set you right back at the beginning and let things start—for you—all over again. [424] They just can't allow anything to come back from the future and change the past." [425] "You mean," Betty was suddenly furious at him, "you've given up! [426] Why this is the biggest thing— Why the fifty thousand dollars is nothing. [427] The future! [428] Just think!" [429] Simon said wearily, "There's just one thing you can bring back with you from the future, a hangover compounded of a gallon or so of Marzenbräu. [430] What's more you can pile one on top of the other, and another on top of that!" [431] He shuddered. [432] "If you think I'm going to take another crack at this merry-go-round and pile a fourth hangover on the three I'm already nursing, all at once, you can think again." [433] THE END

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "Who is Simon, and what are his characteristics?": 1. [4] "Don't yell at me, I feel awful," Simon told her. 2. [5] He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle. 3. [6] He looked over at Betty and said, almost as though reciting, "What I need is a vacation." 4. [26] Simon said unenthusiastically, "Good morning, Mr. Oyster." 5. [75] Simon shrugged and fumbled again with the aspirin bottle. 6. [120] "Not interested." 7. [124] "See here, young man, I realize this isn't an ordinary assignment, however, as I said, I am willing to risk a considerable portion of my fortune—" 8. [128] "I liked the way you knew my name when I walked in the door; my picture doesn't appear often in the papers." 9. [130] "No go," Simon said, a sad quality in his voice. 10. [135] "Just for laughs," Simon told the two of them sourly, "suppose I tell you a funny story." 11. [201] "I'll help you," I told him. 12. [203] "Name is Simon." 13. [282] "That's quite a gadget," I groaned. 14. [291] "You haven't got a handful of aspirin, have you?" 15. [298] "I'm clean. I won't mess up the place. All I've got is a hangover, not lice." 16. [410] "I did," Simon groaned. "Three times." 17. [417] "I keep telling you," Simon said bitterly, "I went back there three times. There were hundreds of them. Probably thousands." 18. [429] "There's just one thing you can bring back with you from the future, a hangover compounded of a gallon or so of Marzenbräu." 19. [430] "What's more you can pile one on top of the other, and another on top of that!" 20. [431] He shuddered. "If you think I'm going to take another crack at this merry-go-round and pile a fourth hangover on the three I'm already nursing, all at once, you can think again."

How does the story Simon tells relate back to Mr. Oyster’s initial request to find time travelers?

[1] UNBORN TOMORROW BY MACK REYNOLDS Unfortunately , there was only one thing he could bring back from the wonderful future ... and though he didn't want to ... nevertheless he did.... [2] Illustrated by Freas Betty looked up from her magazine. [3] She said mildly, "You're late." [4] "Don't yell at me, I feel awful," Simon told her. [5] He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle. [6] He looked over at Betty and said, almost as though reciting, "What I need is a vacation." [7] "What," Betty said, "are you going to use for money?" [8] "Providence," Simon told her whilst fiddling with the aspirin bottle, "will provide." [9] "Hm-m-m. [10] But before providing vacations it'd be nice if Providence turned up a missing jewel deal, say. [11] Something where you could deduce that actually the ruby ring had gone down the drain and was caught in the elbow. [12] Something that would net about fifty dollars." [13] Simon said, mournful of tone, "Fifty dollars? [14] Why not make it five hundred?" [15] "I'm not selfish," Betty said. [16] "All I want is enough to pay me this week's salary." [17] "Money," Simon said. [18] "When you took this job you said it was the romance that appealed to you." [19] "Hm-m-m. [20] I didn't know most sleuthing amounted to snooping around department stores to check on the clerks knocking down." [21] Simon said, enigmatically, "Now it comes." [22] There was a knock. [23] Betty bounced up with Olympic agility and had the door swinging wide before the knocking was quite completed. [24] He was old, little and had bug eyes behind pince-nez glasses. [25] His suit was cut in the style of yesteryear but when a suit costs two or three hundred dollars you still retain caste whatever the styling. [26] Simon said unenthusiastically, "Good morning, Mr. [27] Oyster." [28] He indicated the client's chair. [29] "Sit down, sir." [30] The client fussed himself with Betty's assistance into the seat, bug-eyed Simon, said finally, "You know my name, that's pretty good. [31] Never saw you before in my life. [32] Stop fussing with me, young lady. [33] Your ad in the phone book says you'll investigate anything." [34] "Anything," Simon said. [35] "Only one exception." [36] "Excellent. [37] Do you believe in time travel?" [38] Simon said nothing. [39] Across the room, where she had resumed her seat, Betty cleared her throat. [40] When Simon continued to say nothing she ventured, "Time travel is impossible." [41] "Why?" [42] "Why?" [43] "Yes, why?" [44] Betty looked to her boss for assistance. [45] None was forthcoming. [46] There ought to be some very quick, positive, definite answer. [47] She said, "Well, for one thing, paradox. [48] Suppose you had a time machine and traveled back a hundred years or so and killed your own great-grandfather. [49] Then how could you ever be born?" [50] "Confound it if I know," the little fellow growled. [51] "How?" [52] Simon said, "Let's get to the point, what you wanted to see me about." [53] "I want to hire you to hunt me up some time travelers," the old boy said. [54] Betty was too far in now to maintain her proper role of silent secretary. [55] "Time travelers," she said, not very intelligently. [56] The potential client sat more erect, obviously with intent to hold the floor for a time. [57] He removed the pince-nez glasses and pointed them at Betty. [58] He said, "Have you read much science fiction, Miss?" [59] "Some," Betty admitted. [60] "Then you'll realize that there are a dozen explanations of the paradoxes of time travel. [61] Every writer in the field worth his salt has explained them away. [62] But to get on. [63] It's my contention that within a century or so man will have solved the problems of immortality and eternal youth, and it's also my suspicion that he will eventually be able to travel in time. [64] So convinced am I of these possibilities that I am willing to gamble a portion of my fortune to investigate the presence in our era of such time travelers." [65] Simon seemed incapable of carrying the ball this morning, so Betty said, "But ... Mr. [66] Oyster, if the future has developed time travel why don't we ever meet such travelers?" [67] Simon put in a word. [68] "The usual explanation, Betty, is that they can't afford to allow the space-time continuum track to be altered. [69] If, say, a time traveler returned to a period of twenty-five years ago and shot Hitler, then all subsequent history would be changed. [70] In that case, the time traveler himself might never be born. [71] They have to tread mighty carefully." [72] Mr. [73] Oyster was pleased. [74] "I didn't expect you to be so well informed on the subject, young man." [75] Simon shrugged and fumbled again with the aspirin bottle. [76] Mr. [77] Oyster went on. [78] "I've been considering the matter for some time and—" Simon held up a hand. [79] "There's no use prolonging this. [80] As I understand it, you're an elderly gentleman with a considerable fortune and you realize that thus far nobody has succeeded in taking it with him." [81] Mr. [82] Oyster returned his glasses to their perch, bug-eyed Simon, but then nodded. [83] Simon said, "You want to hire me to find a time traveler and in some manner or other—any manner will do—exhort from him the secret of eternal life and youth, which you figure the future will have discovered. [84] You're willing to pony up a part of this fortune of yours, if I can deliver a bona fide time traveler." [85] "Right!" [86] Betty had been looking from one to the other. [87] Now she said, plaintively, "But where are you going to find one of these characters—especially if they're interested in keeping hid?" [88] The old boy was the center again. [89] "I told you I'd been considering it for some time. [90] The Oktoberfest , that's where they'd be!" [91] He seemed elated. [92] Betty and Simon waited. [93] "The Oktoberfest ," he repeated. [94] "The greatest festival the world has ever seen, the carnival, feria , fiesta to beat them all. [95] Every year it's held in Munich. [96] Makes the New Orleans Mardi gras look like a quilting party." [97] He began to swing into the spirit of his description. [98] "It originally started in celebration of the wedding of some local prince a century and a half ago and the Bavarians had such a bang-up time they've been holding it every year since. [99] The Munich breweries do up a special beer, Marzenbräu they call it, and each brewery opens a tremendous tent on the fair grounds which will hold five thousand customers apiece. [100] Millions of liters of beer are put away, hundreds of thousands of barbecued chickens, a small herd of oxen are roasted whole over spits, millions of pair of weisswurst , a very special sausage, millions upon millions of pretzels—" "All right," Simon said. [101] "We'll accept it. [102] The Oktoberfest is one whale of a wingding." [103] "Well," the old boy pursued, into his subject now, "that's where they'd be, places like the Oktoberfest . [104] For one thing, a time traveler wouldn't be conspicuous. [105] At a festival like this somebody with a strange accent, or who didn't know exactly how to wear his clothes correctly, or was off the ordinary in any of a dozen other ways, wouldn't be noticed. [106] You could be a four-armed space traveler from Mars, and you still wouldn't be conspicuous at the Oktoberfest . [107] People would figure they had D.T.'s." [108] "But why would a time traveler want to go to a—" Betty began. [109] "Why not! [110] What better opportunity to study a people than when they are in their cups? [111] If you could go back a few thousand years, the things you would wish to see would be a Roman Triumph, perhaps the Rites of Dionysus, or one of Alexander's orgies. [112] You wouldn't want to wander up and down the streets of, say, Athens while nothing was going on, particularly when you might be revealed as a suspicious character not being able to speak the language, not knowing how to wear the clothes and not familiar with the city's layout." [113] He took a deep breath. [114] "No ma'am, you'd have to stick to some great event, both for the sake of actual interest and for protection against being unmasked." [115] The old boy wound it up. [116] "Well, that's the story. [117] What are your rates? [118] The Oktoberfest starts on Friday and continues for sixteen days. [119] You can take the plane to Munich, spend a week there and—" Simon was shaking his head. [120] "Not interested." [121] As soon as Betty had got her jaw back into place, she glared unbelievingly at him. [122] Mr. [123] Oyster was taken aback himself. [124] "See here, young man, I realize this isn't an ordinary assignment, however, as I said, I am willing to risk a considerable portion of my fortune—" "Sorry," Simon said. [125] "Can't be done." [126] "A hundred dollars a day plus expenses," Mr. [127] Oyster said quietly. [128] "I like the fact that you already seem to have some interest and knowledge of the matter. [129] I liked the way you knew my name when I walked in the door; my picture doesn't appear often in the papers." [130] "No go," Simon said, a sad quality in his voice. [131] "A fifty thousand dollar bonus if you bring me a time traveler." [132] "Out of the question," Simon said. [133] "But why ?" [134] Betty wailed. [135] "Just for laughs," Simon told the two of them sourly, "suppose I tell you a funny story. [136] It goes like this:" I got a thousand dollars from Mr. [137] Oyster (Simon began) in the way of an advance, and leaving him with Betty who was making out a receipt, I hustled back to the apartment and packed a bag. [138] Hell, I'd wanted a vacation anyway, this was a natural. [139] On the way to Idlewild I stopped off at the Germany Information Offices for some tourist literature. [140] It takes roughly three and a half hours to get to Gander from Idlewild. [141] I spent the time planning the fun I was going to have. [142] It takes roughly seven and a half hours from Gander to Shannon and I spent that time dreaming up material I could put into my reports to Mr. [143] Oyster. [144] I was going to have to give him some kind of report for his money. [145] Time travel yet! [146] What a laugh! [147] Between Shannon and Munich a faint suspicion began to simmer in my mind. [148] These statistics I read on the Oktoberfest in the Munich tourist pamphlets. [149] Five million people attended annually. [150] Where did five million people come from to attend an overgrown festival in comparatively remote Southern Germany? [151] The tourist season is over before September 21st, first day of the gigantic beer bust. [152] Nor could the Germans account for any such number. [153] Munich itself has a population of less than a million, counting children. [154] And those millions of gallons of beer, the hundreds of thousands of chickens, the herds of oxen. [155] Who ponied up all the money for such expenditures? [156] How could the average German, with his twenty-five dollars a week salary? [157] In Munich there was no hotel space available. [158] I went to the Bahnhof where they have a hotel service and applied. [159] They put my name down, pocketed the husky bribe, showed me where I could check my bag, told me they'd do what they could, and to report back in a few hours. [160] I had another suspicious twinge. [161] If five million people attended this beer bout, how were they accommodated? [162] The Theresienwiese , the fair ground, was only a few blocks away. [163] I was stiff from the plane ride so I walked. [164] There are seven major brewers in the Munich area, each of them represented by one of the circuslike tents that Mr. [165] Oyster mentioned. [166] Each tent contained benches and tables for about five thousand persons and from six to ten thousands pack themselves in, competing for room. [167] In the center is a tremendous bandstand, the musicians all lederhosen clad, the music as Bavarian as any to be found in a Bavarian beer hall. [168] Hundreds of peasant garbed fräuleins darted about the tables with quart sized earthenware mugs, platters of chicken, sausage, kraut and pretzels. [169] I found a place finally at a table which had space for twenty-odd beer bibbers. [170] Odd is right. [171] As weird an assortment of Germans and foreign tourists as could have been dreamed up, ranging from a seventy- or eighty-year-old couple in Bavarian costume, to the bald-headed drunk across the table from me. [172] A desperate waitress bearing six mugs of beer in each hand scurried past. [173] They call them masses , by the way, not mugs. [174] The bald-headed character and I both held up a finger and she slid two of the masses over to us and then hustled on. [175] "Down the hatch," the other said, holding up his mass in toast. [176] "To the ladies," I told him. [177] Before sipping, I said, "You know, the tourist pamphlets say this stuff is eighteen per cent. [178] That's nonsense. [179] No beer is that strong." [180] I took a long pull. [181] He looked at me, waiting. [182] I came up. [183] "Mistaken," I admitted. [184] A mass or two apiece later he looked carefully at the name engraved on his earthenware mug. [185] "Löwenbräu," he said. [186] He took a small notebook from his pocket and a pencil, noted down the word and returned the things. [187] "That's a queer looking pencil you have there," I told him. [188] "German?" [189] "Venusian," he said. [190] "Oops, sorry. [191] Shouldn't have said that." [192] I had never heard of the brand so I skipped it. [193] "Next is the Hofbräu," he said. [194] "Next what?" [195] Baldy's conversation didn't seem to hang together very well. [196] "My pilgrimage," he told me. [197] "All my life I've been wanting to go back to an Oktoberfest and sample every one of the seven brands of the best beer the world has ever known. [198] I'm only as far as Löwenbräu. [199] I'm afraid I'll never make it." [200] I finished my mass . [201] "I'll help you," I told him. [202] "Very noble endeavor. [203] Name is Simon." [204] "Arth," he said. [205] "How could you help?" [206] "I'm still fresh—comparatively. [207] I'll navigate you around. [208] There are seven beer tents. [209] How many have you got through, so far?" [210] "Two, counting this one," Arth said. [211] I looked at him. [212] "It's going to be a chore," I said. [213] "You've already got a nice edge on." [214] Outside, as we made our way to the next tent, the fair looked like every big State-Fair ever seen, except it was bigger. [215] Games, souvenir stands, sausage stands, rides, side shows, and people, people, people. [216] The Hofbräu tent was as overflowing as the last but we managed to find two seats. [217] The band was blaring, and five thousand half-swacked voices were roaring accompaniment. [218] In Muenchen steht ein Hofbräuhaus! [219] Eins, Zwei, G'sufa! [220] At the G'sufa everybody upped with the mugs and drank each other's health. [221] "This is what I call a real beer bust," I said approvingly. [222] Arth was waving to a waitress. [223] As in the Löwenbräu tent, a full quart was the smallest amount obtainable. [224] A beer later I said, "I don't know if you'll make it or not, Arth." [225] "Make what?" [226] "All seven tents." [227] "Oh." [228] A waitress was on her way by, mugs foaming over their rims. [229] I gestured to her for refills. [230] "Where are you from, Arth?" [231] I asked him, in the way of making conversation. [232] "2183." [233] "2183 where?" [234] He looked at me, closing one eye to focus better. [235] "Oh," he said. [236] "Well, 2183 South Street, ah, New Albuquerque." [237] "New Albuquerque? [238] Where's that?" [239] Arth thought about it. [240] Took another long pull at the beer. [241] "Right across the way from old Albuquerque," he said finally. [242] "Maybe we ought to be getting on to the Pschorrbräu tent." [243] "Maybe we ought to eat something first," I said. [244] "I'm beginning to feel this. [245] We could get some of that barbecued ox." [246] Arth closed his eyes in pain. [247] "Vegetarian," he said. [248] "Couldn't possibly eat meat. [249] Barbarous. [250] Ugh." [251] "Well, we need some nourishment," I said. [252] "There's supposed to be considerable nourishment in beer." [253] That made sense. [254] I yelled, " Fräulein! [255] Zwei neu bier! " [256] Somewhere along in here the fog rolled in. [257] When it rolled out again, I found myself closing one eye the better to read the lettering on my earthenware mug. [258] It read Augustinerbräu. [259] Somehow we'd evidently navigated from one tent to another. [260] Arth was saying, "Where's your hotel?" [261] That seemed like a good question. [262] I thought about it for a while. [263] Finally I said, "Haven't got one. [264] Town's jam packed. [265] Left my bag at the Bahnhof. [266] I don't think we'll ever make it, Arth. [267] How many we got to go?" [268] "Lost track," Arth said. [269] "You can come home with me." [270] We drank to that and the fog rolled in again. [271] When the fog rolled out, it was daylight. [272] Bright, glaring, awful daylight. [273] I was sprawled, complete with clothes, on one of twin beds. [274] On the other bed, also completely clothed, was Arth. [275] That sun was too much. [276] I stumbled up from the bed, staggered to the window and fumbled around for a blind or curtain. [277] There was none. [278] Behind me a voice said in horror, "Who ... how ... oh, Wodo , where'd you come from?" [279] I got a quick impression, looking out the window, that the Germans were certainly the most modern, futuristic people in the world. [280] But I couldn't stand the light. [281] "Where's the shade," I moaned. [282] Arth did something and the window went opaque. [283] "That's quite a gadget," I groaned. [284] "If I didn't feel so lousy, I'd appreciate it." [285] Arth was sitting on the edge of the bed holding his bald head in his hands. [286] "I remember now," he sorrowed. [287] "You didn't have a hotel. [288] What a stupidity. [289] I'll be phased. [290] Phased all the way down." [291] "You haven't got a handful of aspirin, have you?" [292] I asked him. [293] "Just a minute," Arth said, staggering erect and heading for what undoubtedly was a bathroom. [294] "Stay where you are. [295] Don't move. [296] Don't touch anything." [297] "All right," I told him plaintively. [298] "I'm clean. [299] I won't mess up the place. [300] All I've got is a hangover, not lice." [301] Arth was gone. [302] He came back in two or three minutes, box of pills in hand. [303] "Here, take one of these." [304] I took the pill, followed it with a glass of water. [305] And went out like a light. [306] Arth was shaking my arm. [307] "Want another mass ?" [308] The band was blaring, and five thousand half-swacked voices were roaring accompaniment. [309] In Muenchen steht ein Hofbräuhaus! [310] Eins, Zwei, G'sufa! [311] At the G'sufa everybody upped with their king-size mugs and drank each other's health. [312] My head was killing me. [313] "This is where I came in, or something," I groaned. [314] Arth said, "That was last night." [315] He looked at me over the rim of his beer mug. [316] Something, somewhere, was wrong. [317] But I didn't care. [318] I finished my mass and then remembered. [319] "I've got to get my bag. [320] Oh, my head. [321] Where did we spend last night?" [322] Arth said, and his voice sounded cautious, "At my hotel, don't you remember?" [323] "Not very well," I admitted. [324] "I feel lousy. [325] I must have dimmed out. [326] I've got to go to the Bahnhof and get my luggage." [327] Arth didn't put up an argument on that. [328] We said good-by and I could feel him watching after me as I pushed through the tables on the way out. [329] At the Bahnhof they could do me no good. [330] There were no hotel rooms available in Munich. [331] The head was getting worse by the minute. [332] The fact that they'd somehow managed to lose my bag didn't help. [333] I worked on that project for at least a couple of hours. [334] Not only wasn't the bag at the luggage checking station, but the attendant there evidently couldn't make heads nor tails of the check receipt. [335] He didn't speak English and my high school German was inadequate, especially accompanied by a blockbusting hangover. [336] I didn't get anywhere tearing my hair and complaining from one end of the Bahnhof to the other. [337] I drew a blank on the bag. [338] And the head was getting worse by the minute. [339] I was bleeding to death through the eyes and instead of butterflies I had bats in my stomach. [340] Believe me, nobody should drink a gallon or more of Marzenbräu. [341] I decided the hell with it. [342] I took a cab to the airport, presented my return ticket, told them I wanted to leave on the first obtainable plane to New York. [343] I'd spent two days at the Oktoberfest , and I'd had it. [344] I got more guff there. [345] Something was wrong with the ticket, wrong date or some such. [346] But they fixed that up. [347] I never was clear on what was fouled up, some clerk's error, evidently. [348] The trip back was as uninteresting as the one over. [349] As the hangover began to wear off—a little—I was almost sorry I hadn't been able to stay. [350] If I'd only been able to get a room I would have stayed, I told myself. [351] From Idlewild, I came directly to the office rather than going to my apartment. [352] I figured I might as well check in with Betty. [353] I opened the door and there I found Mr. [354] Oyster sitting in the chair he had been occupying four—or was it five—days before when I'd left. [355] I'd lost track of the time. [356] I said to him, "Glad you're here, sir. [357] I can report. [358] Ah, what was it you came for? [359] Impatient to hear if I'd had any results?" [360] My mind was spinning like a whirling dervish in a revolving door. [361] I'd spent a wad of his money and had nothing I could think of to show for it; nothing but the last stages of a grand-daddy hangover. [362] "Came for?" [363] Mr. [364] Oyster snorted. [365] "I'm merely waiting for your girl to make out my receipt. [366] I thought you had already left." [367] "You'll miss your plane," Betty said. [368] There was suddenly a double dip of ice cream in my stomach. [369] I walked over to my desk and looked down at the calendar. [370] Mr. [371] Oyster was saying something to the effect that if I didn't leave today, it would have to be tomorrow, that he hadn't ponied up that thousand dollars advance for anything less than immediate service. [372] Stuffing his receipt in his wallet, he fussed his way out the door. [373] I said to Betty hopefully, "I suppose you haven't changed this calendar since I left." [374] Betty said, "What's the matter with you? [375] You look funny. [376] How did your clothes get so mussed? [377] You tore the top sheet off that calendar yourself, not half an hour ago, just before this marble-missing client came in." [378] She added, irrelevantly, "Time travelers yet." [379] I tried just once more. [380] "Uh, when did you first see this Mr. [381] Oyster?" [382] "Never saw him before in my life," she said. [383] "Not until he came in this morning." [384] "This morning," I said weakly. [385] While Betty stared at me as though it was me that needed candling by a head shrinker preparatory to being sent off to a pressure cooker, I fished in my pocket for my wallet, counted the contents and winced at the pathetic remains of the thousand. [386] I said pleadingly, "Betty, listen, how long ago did I go out that door—on the way to the airport?" [387] "You've been acting sick all morning. [388] You went out that door about ten minutes ago, were gone about three minutes, and then came back." [389] "See here," Mr. [390] Oyster said (interrupting Simon's story), "did you say this was supposed to be amusing, young man? [391] I don't find it so. [392] In fact, I believe I am being ridiculed." [393] Simon shrugged, put one hand to his forehead and said, "That's only the first chapter. [394] There are two more." [395] "I'm not interested in more," Mr. [396] Oyster said. [397] "I suppose your point was to show me how ridiculous the whole idea actually is. [398] Very well, you've done it. [399] Confound it. [400] However, I suppose your time, even when spent in this manner, has some value. [401] Here is fifty dollars. [402] And good day, sir!" [403] He slammed the door after him as he left. [404] Simon winced at the noise, took the aspirin bottle from its drawer, took two, washed them down with water from the desk carafe. [405] Betty looked at him admiringly. [406] Came to her feet, crossed over and took up the fifty dollars. [407] "Week's wages," she said. [408] "I suppose that's one way of taking care of a crackpot. [409] But I'm surprised you didn't take his money and enjoy that vacation you've been yearning about." [410] "I did," Simon groaned. [411] "Three times." [412] Betty stared at him. [413] "You mean—" Simon nodded, miserably. [414] She said, "But Simon . [415] Fifty thousand dollars bonus. [416] If that story was true, you should have gone back again to Munich. [417] If there was one time traveler, there might have been—" "I keep telling you," Simon said bitterly, "I went back there three times. [418] There were hundreds of them. [419] Probably thousands." [420] He took a deep breath. [421] "Listen, we're just going to have to forget about it. [422] They're not going to stand for the space-time continuum track being altered. [423] If something comes up that looks like it might result in the track being changed, they set you right back at the beginning and let things start—for you—all over again. [424] They just can't allow anything to come back from the future and change the past." [425] "You mean," Betty was suddenly furious at him, "you've given up! [426] Why this is the biggest thing— Why the fifty thousand dollars is nothing. [427] The future! [428] Just think!" [429] Simon said wearily, "There's just one thing you can bring back with you from the future, a hangover compounded of a gallon or so of Marzenbräu. [430] What's more you can pile one on top of the other, and another on top of that!" [431] He shuddered. [432] "If you think I'm going to take another crack at this merry-go-round and pile a fourth hangover on the three I'm already nursing, all at once, you can think again." [433] THE END

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question: 1. [135] "Just for laughs," Simon told the two of them sourly, "suppose I tell you a funny story." 2. [136] I got a thousand dollars from Mr. Oyster (Simon began) in the way of an advance, and leaving him with Betty who was making out a receipt, I hustled back to the apartment and packed a bag. 3. [137] Hell, I'd wanted a vacation anyway, this was a natural. 4. [138] On the way to Idlewild I stopped off at the Germany Information Offices for some tourist literature. 5. [139] It takes roughly three and a half hours to get to Gander from Idlewild. 6. [140] I spent the time planning the fun I was going to have. 7. [141] It takes roughly seven and a half hours from Gander to Shannon and I spent that time dreaming up material I could put into my reports to Mr. Oyster. 8. [142] I was going to have to give him some kind of report for his money. 9. [143] Time travel yet! What a laugh! 10. [144] Between Shannon and Munich a faint suspicion began to simmer in my mind. 11. [145] These statistics I read on the Oktoberfest in the Munich tourist pamphlets. 12. [146] Five million people attended annually. 13. [147] Where did five million people come from to attend an overgrown festival in comparatively remote Southern Germany? 14. [148] The tourist season is over before September 21st, first day of the gigantic beer bust. 15. [149] Nor could the Germans account for any such number. 16. [150] Munich itself has a population of less than a million, counting children. 17. [151] And those millions of gallons of beer, the hundreds of thousands of chickens, the herds of oxen. 18. [152] Who ponied up all the money for such expenditures? 19. [153] How could the average German, with his twenty-five dollars a week salary? 20. [154] In Munich there was no hotel space available. 21. [155] I went to the Bahnhof where they have a hotel service and applied. 22. [156] They put my name down, pocketed the husky bribe, showed me where I could check my bag, told me they'd do what they could, and to report back in a few hours. 23. [157] I had another suspicious twinge. 24. [158] If five million people attended this beer bout, how were they accommodated? 25. [159] The Theresienwiese, the fair ground, was only a few blocks away. 26. [160] I was stiff from the plane ride so I walked. 27. [161] There are seven major brewers in the Munich area, each of them represented by one of the circuslike tents that Mr. Oyster mentioned. 28. [162] Each tent contained benches and tables for about five thousand persons and from six to ten thousands pack themselves in, competing for room. 29. [163] In the center is a tremendous bandstand, the musicians all lederhosen clad, the music as Bavarian as any to be found in a Bavarian beer hall. 30. [164] Hundreds of peasant garbed fräuleins darted about the tables with quart sized earthenware mugs, platters of chicken, sausage, kraut and pretzels. 31. [165] I found a place finally at a table which had space for twenty-odd beer bibbers. 32. [166] Odd is right. As weird an assortment of Germans and foreign tourists as could have been dreamed up, ranging from a seventy- or eighty-year-old couple in Bavarian costume, to the bald-headed drunk across the table from me. 33. [167] A desperate waitress bearing six mugs of beer in each hand scurried past. 34. [168] They call them masses, by the way, not mugs. 35. [169] The bald-headed character and I both held up a finger and she slid two of the masses over to us and then hustled on. 36. [170] "Down the hatch," the other said, holding up his mass in toast. 37. [171] "To the ladies," I told him. 38. [172] Before sipping, I said, "You know, the tourist pamphlets say this stuff is eighteen per cent. That's nonsense. No beer is that strong." 39. [173] I took a long pull. 40. [174] He looked at me, waiting. 41. [175] I came up. "Mistaken," I admitted. 42. [176] A mass or two apiece later he looked carefully at the name engraved on his earthenware mug. 43. [177] "Löwenbräu," he said. 44. [178] He took a small notebook from his pocket and a pencil, noted down the word and returned the things. 45. [179] "That's a queer looking pencil you have there," I told him. "German?" 46. [180] "Venusian," he said. 47. [181] "Oops, sorry. Shouldn't have said that." 48. [182] I had never heard of the brand so I skipped it. 49. [183] "Next is the Hofbräu," he said. 50. [184] "Next what?" 51. [185] Baldy's conversation didn't seem to hang together very well. 52. [186] "My pilgrimage," he told me. 53. [187] "All my life I've been wanting to go back to an Oktoberfest and sample every one of the seven brands of the best beer the world has ever known. I'm only as far as Löwenbräu. I'm afraid I'll never make it." 54. [188] I finished my mass. 55. [189] "I'll help you," I told him. "Very noble endeavor. Name is Simon." 56. [190] "Arth," he said. 57. [191] "How could you help?" 58. [192] "I'm still fresh—comparatively. I'll navigate you around. There are seven beer tents. How many have you got through, so far?" 59. [193] "Two, counting this one," Arth said. 60. [194] I looked at him. "It's going to be a chore," I said. "You've already got a nice edge on." 61. [195] Outside, as we made our way to the next tent, the fair looked like every big State-Fair ever seen, except it was bigger. 62. [196] Games, souvenir stands, sausage stands, rides, side shows, and people, people, people. 63. [197] The Hofbräu tent was as overflowing as the last but we managed to find two seats. 64. [198] The band was blaring, and five thousand half-swacked voices were roaring accompaniment. 65. [199] In Muenchen steht ein Hofbräuhaus! Eins, Zwei, G'sufa! 66. [200] At the G'sufa everybody upped with the mugs and drank each other's health. 67. [201] "This is what I call a real beer bust," I said approvingly. 68. [202] Arth was waving to a waitress. 69. [203] As in the Löwenbräu tent, a full quart was the smallest amount obtainable. 70. [204] A beer later I said, "I don't know if you'll make it or not, Arth." 71. [205] "Make what?" 72. [206] "All seven tents." 73. [207] "Oh." 74. [208] A waitress was on her way by, mugs foaming over their rims. 75. [209] I gestured to her for refills. 76. [210] "Where are you from, Arth?" 77. [211] I asked him, in the way of making conversation. 78. [212] "2183." 79. [213] "2183 where?" 80. [214] He looked at me, closing one eye to focus better. 81. [215] "Oh," he said. "Well, 2183 South Street, ah, New Albuquerque." 82. [216] "New Albuquerque? Where's that?" 83. [217] Arth thought about it. Took another long pull at the beer. 84. [218] "Right across the way from old Albuquerque," he said finally. 85. [219] "Maybe we ought to be getting on to the Pschorrbräu tent." 86. [220] "Maybe we ought to eat something first," I said. "I'm beginning to feel this. We could get some of that barbecued ox." 87. [221] Arth closed his eyes in pain. 88. [222] "Vegetarian," he said. "Couldn't possibly eat meat. Barbarous. Ugh." 89. [223] "Well, we need some nourishment," I said. "There's supposed to be considerable nourishment in beer." 90. [224] That made sense. I yelled, "Fräulein! Zwei neu bier!" 91. [225] Somewhere along in here the fog rolled in. 92. [226] When it rolled out again, I found myself closing one eye the better to read the lettering on my earthenware mug. It read Augustinerbräu. 93. [227] Somehow we'd evidently navigated from one tent to another. 94. [228] Arth was saying, "Where's your hotel?" 95. [229] That seemed like a good question. 96. [230] I thought about it for a while. 97. [231] Finally I said, "Haven't got one. Town's jam packed. Left my bag at the Bahnhof. I don't think we'll ever make it, Arth. How many we got to go?" 98. [232] "Lost track," Arth said. 99. [233] "You can come home with me." 100. [234] We drank to that and the fog rolled in again. 101. [235] When the fog rolled out, it was daylight. 102. [236] Bright, glaring, awful daylight. 103. [237] I was sprawled, complete with clothes, on one of twin beds. 104. [238] On the other bed, also completely clothed, was Arth. 105. [239] That sun was too much. 106. [240] I stumbled up from the bed, staggered to the window and fumbled around for a blind or curtain. 107. [241] There was none. 108. [242] Behind me a voice said in horror, "Who ... how ... oh, Wodo, where'd you come from?" 109. [243] I got a quick impression, looking out the window, that the Germans were certainly the most modern, futuristic people in the world. 110. [244] But I couldn't stand the light. 111. [245] "Where's the shade," I moaned. 112. [246] Arth did something and the window went opaque. 113. [247] "That's quite a gadget," I groaned. "If I didn't feel so lousy, I'd appreciate it." 114. [248] Arth was sitting on the edge of the bed holding his bald head in his hands. 115. [249] "I remember now," he sorrowed. "You didn't have a hotel. What a stupidity. I'll be phased. Phased all the way down." 116. [250] "You haven't got a handful of aspirin, have you?" I asked him. 117. [251] "Just a minute," Arth said, staggering erect and heading for what undoubtedly was a bathroom. "Stay where you are. Don't move. Don't touch anything." 118. [252] "All right," I told him plaintively. "I'm clean. I won't mess up the place. All I've got is a hangover, not lice." 119. [253] Arth was gone. He came back in two or three minutes, box of pills in hand. 120. [254] "Here, take one of these." 121. [255] I took the pill, followed it with a glass of water. 122. [256] And went out like a light. 123. [257] Arth was shaking my arm. "Want another mass?" 124. [258] The band was blaring, and five thousand half-swacked voices were roaring accompaniment. 125. [259] In Muenchen steht ein Hofbräuhaus! Eins, Zwei, G'sufa! 126. [260] At the G'sufa everybody upped with their king-size mugs and drank each other's health. 127. [261] My head was killing me. 128. [262] "This is where I came in, or something," I groaned. 129. [263] Arth said, "That was last night." 130. [264] He looked at me over the rim of his beer mug. 131. [265] Something, somewhere, was wrong. 132. [266] But I didn't care. 133. [267] I finished my mass and then remembered. 134. [268] "I've got to get my bag. Oh, my head. Where did we spend last night?" 135. [269] Arth said, and his voice sounded cautious, "At my hotel, don't you remember?" 136. [270] "Not very well," I admitted. "I feel lousy. I must have dimmed out. I've got to go to the Bahnhof and get my luggage." 137. [271] Arth didn't put up an argument on that. 138. [272] We said good-by and I could feel him watching after me as I pushed through the tables on the way out. 139. [273] At the Bahnhof they could do me no good. 140. [274] There were no hotel rooms available in Munich. 141. [275] The head was getting worse by the minute. 142. [276] The fact that they'd somehow managed to lose my bag didn't help. 143. [277] I worked on that project for at least a couple of hours. 144. [278] Not only wasn't the bag at the luggage checking station, but the attendant there evidently couldn't make heads nor tails of the check receipt. 145. [279] He didn't speak English and my high school German was inadequate, especially accompanied by a blockbusting hangover. 146. [280] I didn't get anywhere tearing my hair and complaining from one end of the Bahnhof to the other. 147. [281] I drew a blank on the bag. 148. [282] And the head was getting worse by the minute. 149. [283] I was bleeding to death through the eyes and instead of butterflies I had bats in my stomach. 150. [284] Believe me, nobody should drink a gallon or more of Marzenbräu. 151. [285] I decided the hell with it. 152. [286] I took a cab to the airport, presented my return ticket, told them I wanted to leave on the first obtainable plane to New York. 153. [287] I'd spent two days at the Oktoberfest, and I'd had it. 154. [288] I got more guff there. 155. [289] Something was wrong with the ticket, wrong date or some such. 156. [290] But they fixed that up. 157. [291] I never was clear on what was fouled up, some clerk's error, evidently. 158. [292] The trip back was as uninteresting as the one over. 159. [293] As the hangover began to wear off—a little—I was almost sorry I hadn't been able to stay. 160. [294] If I'd only been able to get a room I would have stayed, I told myself. 161. [295] From Idlewild, I came directly to the office rather than going to my apartment. 162. [296] I figured I might as well check in with Betty. 163. [297] I opened the door and there I found Mr. Oyster sitting in the chair he had been occupying four—or was it five—days before when I'd left. 164. [298] I'd lost track of the time. 165. [299] I said to him, "Glad you're here, sir. I can report. Ah, what was it you came for? Impatient to hear if I'd had any results?" 166. [300] My mind was spinning like a whirling dervish in a revolving door. 167. [301] I'd spent a wad of his money and had nothing I could think of to show for it; nothing but the last stages of a grand-daddy hangover. 168. [302] "Came for?" Mr. Oyster snorted. 169. [303] "I'm merely waiting for your girl to make out my receipt. I thought you had already left." 170. [304] "

What is the plot of the story?

[1] A FALL OF GLASS By STANLEY R. LEE Illustrated by DILLON [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Magazine October 1960. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] The weatherman was always right: Temperature, 59; humidity, 47%; occasional light showers—but of what? [4] The pockets of Mr. Humphrey Fownes were being picked outrageously. [5] It was a splendid day. [6] The temperature was a crisp 59 degrees, the humidity a mildly dessicated 47%. [7] The sun was a flaming orange ball in a cloudless blue sky. [8] His pockets were picked eleven times. [9] It should have been difficult. [10] Under the circumstances it was a masterpiece of pocket picking. [11] What made it possible was Humphrey Fownes' abstraction; he was an uncommonly preoccupied individual. [12] He was strolling along a quiet residential avenue: small private houses, one after another, a place of little traffic and minimum distractions. [13] But he was thinking about weather, which was an unusual subject to begin with for a person living in a domed city. [14] He was thinking so deeply about it that it never occurred to him that entirely too many people were bumping into him. [15] He was thinking about Optimum Dome Conditions (a crisp 59 degrees, a mildly dessicated 47%) when a bogus postman, who pretended to be reading a postal card, jostled him. [16] In the confusion of spilled letters and apologies from both sides, the postman rifled Fownes's handkerchief and inside jacket pockets. [17] He was still thinking about temperature and humidity when a pretty girl happened along with something in her eye. [18] They collided. [19] She got his right and left jacket pockets. [20] It was much too much for coincidence. [21] The sidewalk was wide enough to allow four people to pass at one time. [22] He should surely have become suspicious when two men engaged in a heated argument came along. [23] In the ensuing contretemps they emptied his rear pants pockets, got his wristwatch and restored the contents of the handkerchief pocket. [24] It all went off very smoothly, like a game of put and take—the sole difference being that Humphrey Fownes had no idea he was playing. [25] There was an occasional tinkle of falling glass. [26] It fell on the streets and houses, making small geysers of shiny mist, hitting with a gentle musical sound, like the ephemeral droppings of a celesta. [27] It was precipitation peculiar to a dome: feather-light fragments showering harmlessly on the city from time to time. [28] Dome weevils, their metal arms reaching out with molten glass, roamed the huge casserole, ceaselessly patching and repairing. [29] Humphrey Fownes strode through the puffs of falling glass still intrigued by a temperature that was always 59 degrees, by a humidity that was always 47%, by weather that was always Optimum. [30] It was this rather than skill that enabled the police to maintain such a tight surveillance on him, a surveillance that went to the extent of getting his fingerprints off the postman's bag, and which photographed, X-rayed and chemically analyzed the contents of his pockets before returning them. [31] Two blocks away from his home a careless housewife spilled a five-pound bag of flour as he was passing. [32] It was really plaster of Paris. [33] He left his shoe prints, stride measurement, height, weight and handedness behind. [34] By the time Fownes reached his front door an entire dossier complete with photographs had been prepared and was being read by two men in an orange patrol car parked down the street. [35] Lanfierre had undoubtedly been affected by his job. [36] Sitting behind the wheel of the orange car, he watched Humphrey Fownes approach with a distinct feeling of admiration, although it was an odd, objective kind of admiration, clinical in nature. [37] It was similar to that of a pathologist observing for the first time a new and particularly virulent strain of pneumococcus under his microscope. [38] Lanfierre's job was to ferret out aberration. [39] It couldn't be tolerated within the confines of a dome. [40] Conformity had become more than a social force; it was a physical necessity. [41] And, after years of working at it, Lanfierre had become an admirer of eccentricity. [42] He came to see that genuine quirks were rare and, as time went on, due partly to his own small efforts, rarer. [43] Fownes was a masterpiece of queerness. [44] He was utterly inexplicable. [45] Lanfierre was almost proud of Humphrey Fownes. [46] "Sometimes his house shakes ," Lanfierre said. [47] "House shakes," Lieutenant MacBride wrote in his notebook. [48] Then he stopped and frowned. [49] He reread what he'd just written. [50] "You heard right. [51] The house shakes ," Lanfierre said, savoring it. [52] MacBride looked at the Fownes house through the magnifying glass of the windshield. [53] "Like from ... side to side ?" [54] he asked in a somewhat patronizing tone of voice. [55] "And up and down." [56] MacBride returned the notebook to the breast pocket of his orange uniform. [57] "Go on," he said, amused. [58] "It sounds interesting." [59] He tossed the dossier carelessly on the back seat. [60] Lanfierre sat stiffly behind the wheel, affronted. [61] The cynical MacBride couldn't really appreciate fine aberrations. [62] In some ways MacBride was a barbarian. [63] Lanfierre had held out on Fownes for months. [64] He had even contrived to engage him in conversation once, a pleasantly absurd, irrational little chat that titillated him for weeks. [65] It was only with the greatest reluctance that he finally mentioned Fownes to MacBride. [66] After years of searching for differences Lanfierre had seen how extraordinarily repetitious people were, echoes really, dimly resounding echoes, each believing itself whole and separate. [67] They spoke in an incessant chatter of cliches, and their actions were unbelievably trite. [68] Then a fine robust freak came along and the others—the echoes—refused to believe it. [69] The lieutenant was probably on the point of suggesting a vacation. [70] "Why don't you take a vacation?" [71] Lieutenant MacBride suggested. [72] "It's like this, MacBride. [73] Do you know what a wind is? [74] A breeze? [75] A zephyr?" [76] "I've heard some." [77] "They say there are mountain-tops where winds blow all the time. [78] Strong winds, MacBride. [79] Winds like you and I can't imagine. [80] And if there was a house sitting on such a mountain and if winds did blow, it would shake exactly the way that one does. [81] Sometimes I get the feeling the whole place is going to slide off its foundation and go sailing down the avenue." [82] Lieutenant MacBride pursed his lips. [83] "I'll tell you something else," Lanfierre went on. [84] "The windows all close at the same time. [85] You'll be watching and all of a sudden every single window in the place will drop to its sill." [86] Lanfierre leaned back in the seat, his eyes still on the house. [87] "Sometimes I think there's a whole crowd of people in there waiting for a signal—as if they all had something important to say but had to close the windows first so no one could hear. [88] Why else close the windows in a domed city? [89] And then as soon as the place is buttoned up they all explode into conversation—and that's why the house shakes." [90] MacBride whistled. [91] "No, I don't need a vacation." [92] A falling piece of glass dissolved into a puff of gossamer against the windshield. [93] Lanfierre started and bumped his knee on the steering wheel. [94] "No, you don't need a rest," MacBride said. [95] "You're starting to see flying houses, hear loud babbling voices. [96] You've got winds in your brain, Lanfierre, breezes of fatigue, zephyrs of irrationality—" At that moment, all at once, every last window in the house slammed shut. [97] The street was deserted and quiet, not a movement, not a sound. [98] MacBride and Lanfierre both leaned forward, as if waiting for the ghostly babble of voices to commence. [99] The house began to shake. [100] It rocked from side to side, it pitched forward and back, it yawed and dipped and twisted, straining at the mooring of its foundation. [101] The house could have been preparing to take off and sail down the.... MacBride looked at Lanfierre and Lanfierre looked at MacBride and then they both looked back at the dancing house. [102] "And the water ," Lanfierre said. [103] "The water he uses! [104] He could be the thirstiest and cleanest man in the city. [105] He could have a whole family of thirsty and clean kids, and he still wouldn't need all that water." [106] The lieutenant had picked up the dossier. [107] He thumbed through the pages now in amazement. [108] "Where do you get a guy like this?" [109] he asked. [110] "Did you see what he carries in his pockets?" [111] "And compasses won't work on this street." [112] The lieutenant lit a cigarette and sighed. [113] He usually sighed when making the decision to raid a dwelling. [114] It expressed his weariness and distaste for people who went off and got neurotic when they could be enjoying a happy, normal existence. [115] There was something implacable about his sighs. [116] "He'll be coming out soon," Lanfierre said. [117] "He eats supper next door with a widow. [118] Then he goes to the library. [119] Always the same. [120] Supper at the widow's next door and then the library." [121] MacBride's eyebrows went up a fraction of an inch. [122] "The library?" [123] he said. [124] "Is he in with that bunch?" [125] Lanfierre nodded. [126] "Should be very interesting," MacBride said slowly. [127] "I can't wait to see what he's got in there," Lanfierre murmured, watching the house with a consuming interest. [128] They sat there smoking in silence and every now and then their eyes widened as the house danced a new step. [129] Fownes stopped on the porch to brush the plaster of paris off his shoes. [130] He hadn't seen the patrol car and this intense preoccupation of his was also responsible for the dancing house—he simply hadn't noticed. [131] There was a certain amount of vibration, of course. [132] He had a bootleg pipe connected into the dome blower system, and the high-pressure air caused some buffeting against the thin walls of the house. [133] At least, he called it buffeting; he'd never thought to watch from outside. [134] He went in and threw his jacket on the sofa, there being no room left in the closets. [135] Crossing the living room he stopped to twist a draw-pull. [136] Every window slammed shut. [137] "Tight as a kite," he thought, satisfied. [138] He continued on toward the closet at the foot of the stairs and then stopped again. [139] Was that right? [140] No, snug as a hug in a rug . [141] He went on, thinking: The old devils. [142] The downstairs closet was like a great watch case, a profusion of wheels surrounding the Master Mechanism, which was a miniature see-saw that went back and forth 365-1/4 times an hour. [143] The wheels had a curious stateliness about them. [144] They were all quite old, salvaged from grandfather's clocks and music boxes and they went around in graceful circles at the rate of 30 and 31 times an hour ... although there was one slightly eccentric cam that vacillated between 28 and 29. [145] He watched as they spun and flashed in the darkness, and then set them for seven o'clock in the evening, April seventh, any year. [146] Outside, the domed city vanished. [147] It was replaced by an illusion. [148] Or, as Fownes hoped it might appear, the illusion of the domed city vanished and was replaced by a more satisfactory, and, for his specific purpose, more functional, illusion. [149] Looking through the window he saw only a garden. [150] Instead of an orange sun at perpetual high noon, there was a red sun setting brilliantly, marred only by an occasional arcover which left the smell of ozone in the air. [151] There was also a gigantic moon. [152] It hid a huge area of sky, and it sang. [153] The sun and moon both looked down upon a garden that was itself scintillant, composed largely of neon roses. [154] Moonlight, he thought, and roses. [155] Satisfactory. [156] And cocktails for two. [157] Blast, he'd never be able to figure that one out! [158] He watched as the moon played, Oh, You Beautiful Doll and the neon roses flashed slowly from red to violet, then went back to the closet and turned on the scent. [159] The house began to smell like an immensely concentrated rose as the moon shifted to People Will Say We're In Love . [160] He rubbed his chin critically. [161] It seemed all right. [162] A dreamy sunset, an enchanted moon, flowers, scent. [163] They were all purely speculative of course. [164] He had no idea how a rose really smelled—or looked for that matter. [165] Not to mention a moon. [166] But then, neither did the widow. [167] He'd have to be confident, assertive. [168] Insist on it. [169] I tell you, my dear, this is a genuine realistic romantic moon. [170] Now, does it do anything to your pulse? [171] Do you feel icy fingers marching up and down your spine? [172] His own spine didn't seem to be affected. [173] But then he hadn't read that book on ancient mores and courtship customs. [174] How really odd the ancients were. [175] Seduction seemed to be an incredibly long and drawn-out process, accompanied by a considerable amount of falsification. [176] Communication seemed virtually impossible. [177] "No" meant any number of things, depending on the tone of voice and the circumstances. [178] It could mean yes, it could mean ask me again later on this evening. [179] He went up the stairs to the bedroom closet and tried the rain-maker, thinking roguishly: Thou shalt not inundate. [180] The risks he was taking! [181] A shower fell gently on the garden and a male chorus began to chant Singing in the Rain . [182] Undiminished, the yellow moon and the red sun continued to be brilliant, although the sun occasionally arced over and demolished several of the neon roses. [183] The last wheel in the bedroom closet was a rather elegant steering wheel from an old 1995 Studebaker. [184] This was on the bootleg pipe; he gingerly turned it. [185] Far below in the cellar there was a rumble and then the soft whistle of winds came to him. [186] He went downstairs to watch out the living room window. [187] This was important; the window had a really fixed attitude about air currents. [188] The neon roses bent and tinkled against each other as the wind rose and the moon shook a trifle as it whispered Cuddle Up a Little Closer . [189] He watched with folded arms, considering how he would start. [190] My dear Mrs. Deshazaway. [191] Too formal. [192] They'd be looking out at the romantic garden; time to be a bit forward. [193] My very dear Mrs. Deshazaway. [194] No. [195] Contrived. [196] How about a simple, Dear Mrs. Deshazaway . [197] That might be it. [198] I was wondering, seeing as how it's so late, if you wouldn't rather stay over instead of going home.... [199] Preoccupied, he hadn't noticed the winds building up, didn't hear the shaking and rattling of the pipes. [200] There were attic pipes connected to wall pipes and wall pipes connected to cellar pipes, and they made one gigantic skeleton that began to rattle its bones and dance as high-pressure air from the dome blower rushed in, slowly opening the Studebaker valve wider and wider.... [201] The neon roses thrashed about, extinguishing each other. [202] The red sun shot off a mass of sparks and then quickly sank out of sight. [203] The moon fell on the garden and rolled ponderously along, crooning When the Blue of the Night Meets the Gold of the Day . [204] The shaking house finally woke him up. [205] He scrambled upstairs to the Studebaker wheel and shut it off. [206] At the window again, he sighed. [207] Repairs were in order. [208] And it wasn't the first time the winds got out of line. [209] Why didn't she marry him and save all this bother? [210] He shut it all down and went out the front door, wondering about the rhyme of the months, about stately August and eccentric February and romantic April. [211] April. [212] Its days were thirty and it followed September. [213] And all the rest have thirty-one. [214] What a strange people, the ancients! [215] He still didn't see the orange car parked down the street. [216] "Men are too perishable," Mrs. Deshazaway said over dinner. [217] "For all practical purposes I'm never going to marry again. [218] All my husbands die." [219] "Would you pass the beets, please?" [220] Humphrey Fownes said. [221] She handed him a platter of steaming red beets. [222] "And don't look at me that way," she said. [223] "I'm not going to marry you and if you want reasons I'll give you four of them. [224] Andrew. [225] Curt. [226] Norman. [227] And Alphonse." [228] The widow was a passionate woman. [229] She did everything passionately—talking, cooking, dressing. [230] Her beets were passionately red. [231] Her clothes rustled and her high heels clicked and her jewelry tinkled. [232] She was possessed by an uncontrollable dynamism. [233] Fownes had never known anyone like her. [234] "You forgot to put salt on the potatoes," she said passionately, then went on as calmly as it was possible for her to be, to explain why she couldn't marry him. [235] "Do you have any idea what people are saying? [236] They're all saying I'm a cannibal! [237] I rob my husbands of their life force and when they're empty I carry their bodies outside on my way to the justice of the peace." [238] "As long as there are people," he said philosophically, "there'll be talk." [239] "But it's the air! [240] Why don't they talk about that? [241] The air is stale, I'm positive. [242] It's not nourishing. [243] The air is stale and Andrew, Curt, Norman and Alphonse couldn't stand it. [244] Poor Alphonse. [245] He was never so healthy as on the day he was born. [246] From then on things got steadily worse for him." [247] "I don't seem to mind the air." [248] She threw up her hands. [249] "You'd be the worst of the lot!" [250] She left the table, rustling and tinkling about the room. [251] "I can just hear them. [252] Try some of the asparagus. [253] Five. [254] That's what they'd say. [255] That woman did it again. [256] And the plain fact is I don't want you on my record." [257] "Really," Fownes protested. [258] "I feel splendid. [259] Never better." [260] He could hear her moving about and then felt her hands on his shoulders. [261] "And what about those very elaborate plans you've been making to seduce me?" [262] Fownes froze with three asparagus hanging from his fork. [263] "Don't you think they'll find out? [264] I found out and you can bet they will. [265] It's my fault, I guess. [266] I talk too much. [267] And I don't always tell the truth. [268] To be completely honest with you, Mr. Fownes, it wasn't the old customs at all standing between us, it was air. [269] I can't have another man die on me, it's bad for my self-esteem. [270] And now you've gone and done something good and criminal, something peculiar." [271] Fownes put his fork down. [272] "Dear Mrs. Deshazaway," he started to say. [273] "And of course when they do find out and they ask you why, Mr. Fownes, you'll tell them. [274] No, no heroics, please! [275] When they ask a man a question he always answers and you will too. [276] You'll tell them I wanted to be courted and when they hear that they'll be around to ask me a few questions. [277] You see, we're both a bit queer." [278] "I hadn't thought of that," Fownes said quietly. [279] "Oh, it doesn't really matter. [280] I'll join Andrew, Curt, Norman—" "That won't be necessary," Fownes said with unusual force. [281] "With all due respect to Andrew, Curt, Norman and Alphonse, I might as well state here and now I have other plans for you, Mrs. [282] Deshazaway." [283] "But my dear Mr. Fownes," she said, leaning across the table. [284] "We're lost, you and I." [285] "Not if we could leave the dome," Fownes said quietly. [286] "That's impossible! [287] How?" [288] In no hurry, now that he had the widow's complete attention, Fownes leaned across the table and whispered: "Fresh air, Mrs. Deshazaway? [289] Space? [290] Miles and miles of space where the real-estate monopoly has no control whatever? [291] Where the wind blows across prairies ; or is it the other way around? [292] No matter. [293] How would you like that , Mrs. [294] Deshazaway?" [295] Breathing somewhat faster than usual, the widow rested her chin on her two hands. [296] "Pray continue," she said. [297] "Endless vistas of moonlight and roses? [298] April showers, Mrs. Deshazaway. [299] And June, which as you may know follows directly upon April and is supposed to be the month of brides, of marrying. [300] June also lies beyond the dome." [301] "I see." [302] " And ," Mr. Fownes added, his voice a honeyed whisper, "they say that somewhere out in the space and the roses and the moonlight, the sleeping equinox yawns and rises because on a certain day it's vernal and that's when it roams the Open Country where geigers no longer scintillate." [303] " My. " [304] Mrs. Deshazaway rose, paced slowly to the window and then came back to the table, standing directly over Fownes. [305] "If you can get us outside the dome," she said, "out where a man stays warm long enough for his wife to get to know him ... if you can do that, Mr. Fownes ... you may call me Agnes." [306] When Humphrey Fownes stepped out of the widow's house, there was a look of such intense abstraction on his features that Lanfierre felt a wistful desire to get out of the car and walk along with the man. [307] It would be such a deliciously insane experience. [308] ("April has thirty days," Fownes mumbled, passing them, "because thirty is the largest number such that all smaller numbers not having a common divisor with it are primes ." [309] MacBride frowned and added it to the dossier. [310] Lanfierre sighed.) [311] Pinning his hopes on the Movement, Fownes went straight to the library several blocks away, a shattered depressing place given over to government publications and censored old books with holes in them. [312] It was used so infrequently that the Movement was able to meet there undisturbed. [313] The librarian was a yellowed, dog-eared woman of eighty. [314] She spent her days reading ancient library cards and, like the books around her, had been rendered by time's own censor into near unintelligibility. [315] "Here's one," she said to him as he entered. " [316] Gulliver's Travels. [317] Loaned to John Wesley Davidson on March 14, 1979 for five days. [318] What do you make of it?" [319] In the litter of books and cards and dried out ink pads that surrounded the librarian, Fownes noticed a torn dust jacket with a curious illustration. [320] "What's that?" [321] he said. [322] "A twister," she replied quickly. [323] "Now listen to this . [324] Seven years later on March 21, 1986, Ella Marshall Davidson took out the same book. [325] What do you make of that ?" [326] "I'd say," Humphrey Fownes said, "that he ... that he recommended it to her, that one day they met in the street and he told her about this book and then they ... they went to the library together and she borrowed it and eventually, why eventually they got married." [327] "Hah! [328] They were brother and sister!" [329] the librarian shouted in her parched voice, her old buckram eyes laughing with cunning. [330] Fownes smiled weakly and looked again at the dust jacket. [331] The twister was unquestionably a meteorological phenomenon. [332] It spun ominously, like a malevolent top, and coursed the countryside destructively, carrying a Dorothy to an Oz. [333] He couldn't help wondering if twisters did anything to feminine pulses, if they could possibly be a part of a moonlit night, with cocktails and roses. [334] He absently stuffed the dust jacket in his pocket and went on into the other rooms, the librarian mumbling after him: "Edna Murdoch Featherstone, April 21, 1991," as though reading inscriptions on a tombstone. [335] The Movement met in what had been the children's room, where unpaid ladies of the afternoon had once upon a time read stories to other people's offspring. [336] The members sat around at the miniature tables looking oddly like giants fled from their fairy tales, protesting. [337] "Where did the old society fail?" [338] the leader was demanding of them. [339] He stood in the center of the room, leaning on a heavy knobbed cane. [340] He glanced around at the group almost complacently, and waited as Humphrey Fownes squeezed into an empty chair. [341] "We live in a dome," the leader said, "for lack of something. [342] An invention! [343] What is the one thing that the great technological societies before ours could not invent, notwithstanding their various giant brains, electronic and otherwise?" [344] Fownes was the kind of man who never answered a rhetorical question. [345] He waited, uncomfortable in the tight chair, while the others struggled with this problem in revolutionary dialectics. " [346] A sound foreign policy ," the leader said, aware that no one else had obtained the insight. [347] "If a sound foreign policy can't be created the only alternative is not to have any foreign policy at all. [348] Thus the movement into domes began— by common consent of the governments . [349] This is known as self-containment." [350] Dialectically out in left field, Humphrey Fownes waited for a lull in the ensuing discussion and then politely inquired how it might be arranged for him to get out. [351] "Out?" [352] the leader said, frowning. [353] "Out? [354] Out where?" [355] "Outside the dome." [356] "Oh. [357] All in good time, my friend. [358] One day we shall all pick up and leave." [359] "And that day I'll await impatiently," Fownes replied with marvelous tact, "because it will be lonely out there for the two of us. [360] My future wife and I have to leave now ." [361] "Nonsense. [362] Ridiculous! [363] You have to be prepared for the Open Country. [364] You can't just up and leave, it would be suicide, Fownes. [365] And dialectically very poor." [366] "Then you have discussed preparations, the practical necessities of life in the Open Country. [367] Food, clothing, a weapon perhaps? [368] What else? [369] Have I left anything out?" [370] The leader sighed. [371] "The gentleman wants to know if he's left anything out," he said to the group. [372] Fownes looked around at them, at some dozen pained expressions. [373] "Tell the man what he's forgotten," the leader said, walking to the far window and turning his back quite pointedly on them. [374] Everyone spoke at the same moment. " [375] A sound foreign policy ," they all said, it being almost too obvious for words. [376] On his way out the librarian shouted at him: " A Tale of a Tub , thirty-five years overdue!" [377] She was calculating the fine as he closed the door. [378] Humphrey Fownes' preoccupation finally came to an end when he was one block away from his house. [379] It was then that he realized something unusual must have occurred. [380] An orange patrol car of the security police was parked at his front door. [381] And something else was happening too. [382] His house was dancing. [383] It was disconcerting, and at the same time enchanting, to watch one's residence frisking about on its foundation. [384] It was such a strange sight that for the moment he didn't give a thought to what might be causing it. [385] But when he stepped gingerly onto the porch, which was doing its own independent gavotte, he reached for the doorknob with an immense curiosity. [386] The door flung itself open and knocked him back off the porch. [387] From a prone position on his miniscule front lawn, Fownes watched as his favorite easy chair sailed out of the living room on a blast of cold air and went pinwheeling down the avenue in the bright sunshine. [388] A wild wind and a thick fog poured out of the house. [389] It brought chairs, suits, small tables, lamps trailing their cords, ashtrays, sofa cushions. [390] The house was emptying itself fiercely, as if disgorging an old, spoiled meal. [391] From deep inside he could hear the rumble of his ancient upright piano as it rolled ponderously from room to room. [392] He stood up; a wet wind swept over him, whipping at his face, toying with his hair. [393] It was a whistling in his ears, and a tingle on his cheeks. [394] He got hit by a shoe. [395] As he forced his way back to the doorway needles of rain played over his face and he heard a voice cry out from somewhere in the living room. [396] "Help!" [397] Lieutenant MacBride called. [398] Standing in the doorway with his wet hair plastered down on his dripping scalp, the wind roaring about him, the piano rumbling in the distance like thunder, Humphrey Fownes suddenly saw it all very clearly. " [399] Winds ," he said in a whisper. [400] "What's happening?" [401] MacBride yelled, crouching behind the sofa. " [402] March winds," he said. [403] "What?!" [404] "April showers!" [405] The winds roared for a moment and then MacBride's lost voice emerged from the blackness of the living room. [406] "These are not Optimum Dome Conditions!" [407] the voice wailed. [408] "The temperature is not 59 degrees. [409] The humidity is not 47%!" [410] Fownes held his face up to let the rain fall on it. [411] "Moonlight!" [412] he shouted. [413] "Roses! [414] My soul for a cocktail for two!" [415] He grasped the doorway to keep from being blown out of the house. [416] "Are you going to make it stop or aren't you!" [417] MacBride yelled. [418] "You'll have to tell me what you did first!" [419] "I told him not to touch that wheel! [420] Lanfierre. [421] He's in the upstairs bedroom!" [422] When he heard this Fownes plunged into the house and fought his way up the stairs. [423] He found Lanfierre standing outside the bedroom with a wheel in his hand. [424] "What have I done?" [425] Lanfierre asked in the monotone of shock. [426] Fownes took the wheel. [427] It was off a 1995 Studebaker. [428] "I'm not sure what's going to come of this," he said to Lanfierre with an astonishing amount of objectivity, "but the entire dome air supply is now coming through my bedroom." [429] The wind screamed. [430] "Is there something I can turn?" [431] Lanfierre asked. [432] "Not any more there isn't." [433] They started down the stairs carefully, but the wind caught them and they quickly reached the bottom in a wet heap. [434] Recruiting Lieutenant MacBride from behind his sofa, the men carefully edged out of the house and forced the front door shut. [435] The wind died. [436] The fog dispersed. [437] They stood dripping in the Optimum Dome Conditions of the bright avenue. [438] "I never figured on this ," Lanfierre said, shaking his head. [439] With the front door closed the wind quickly built up inside the house. [440] They could see the furnishing whirl past the windows. [441] The house did a wild, elated jig. [442] "What kind of a place is this?" [443] MacBride said, his courage beginning to return. [444] He took out his notebook but it was a soggy mess. [445] He tossed it away. [446] "Sure, he was different ," Lanfierre murmured. [447] "I knew that much." [448] When the roof blew off they weren't really surprised. [449] With a certain amount of equanimity they watched it lift off almost gracefully, standing on end for a moment before toppling to the ground. [450] It was strangely slow motion, as was the black twirling cloud that now rose out of the master bedroom, spewing shorts and socks and cases every which way. " [451] Now what?" [452] MacBride said, thoroughly exasperated, as this strange black cloud began to accelerate, whirling about like some malevolent top.... Humphrey Fownes took out the dust jacket he'd found in the library. [453] He held it up and carefully compared the spinning cloud in his bedroom with the illustration. [454] The cloud rose and spun, assuming the identical shape of the illustration. [455] "It's a twister," he said softly. [456] "A Kansas twister!" [457] "What," MacBride asked, his bravado slipping away again, "what ... is a twister?" [458] The twister roared and moved out of the bedroom, out over the rear of the house toward the side of the dome. [459] "It says here," Fownes shouted over the roaring, "that Dorothy traveled from Kansas to Oz in a twister and that ... and that Oz is a wonderful and mysterious land beyond the confines of everyday living ." [460] MacBride's eyes and mouth were great zeros. [461] "Is there something I can turn?" [462] Lanfierre asked. [463] Huge chunks of glass began to fall around them. [464] "Fownes!" [465] MacBride shouted. [466] "This is a direct order! [467] Make it go back!" [468] But Fownes had already begun to run on toward the next house, dodging mountainous puffs of glass as he went. [469] "Mrs. [470] Deshazaway!" [471] he shouted. [472] "Yoo-hoo, Mrs. [473] Deshazaway!" [474] The dome weevils were going berserk trying to keep up with the precipitation. [475] They whirred back and forth at frightful speed, then, emptied of molten glass, rushed to the Trough which they quickly emptied and then rushed about empty-handed. [476] "Yoo-hoo!" [477] he yelled, running. [478] The artificial sun vanished behind the mushrooming twister. [479] Optimum temperature collapsed. [480] "Mrs. Deshazaway! [481] Agnes , will you marry me? [482] Yoo-hoo!" [483] Lanfierre and Lieutenant MacBride leaned against their car and waited, dazed. [484] There was quite a large fall of glass.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "What is the plot of the story?": 1. [147] Outside, the domed city vanished. It was replaced by an illusion. 2. [148] Or, as Fownes hoped it might appear, the illusion of the domed city vanished and was replaced by a more satisfactory, and, for his specific purpose, more functional, illusion. 3. [149] Looking through the window he saw only a garden. 4. [150] Instead of an orange sun at perpetual high noon, there was a red sun setting brilliantly, marred only by an occasional arcover which left the smell of ozone in the air. 5. [151] There was also a gigantic moon. It hid a huge area of sky, and it sang. 6. [152] The sun and moon both looked down upon a garden that was itself scintillant, composed largely of neon roses. 7. [156] He watched as the moon played, Oh, You Beautiful Doll and the neon roses flashed slowly from red to violet, then went back to the closet and turned on the scent. 8. [157] The house began to smell like an immensely concentrated rose as the moon shifted to People Will Say We're In Love. 9. [288] "Fresh air, Mrs. Deshazaway? Space? Miles and miles of space where the real-estate monopoly has no control whatever? Where the wind blows across prairies; or is it the other way around? No matter. How would you like that, Mrs. Deshazaway?" 10. [289] "Endless vistas of moonlight and roses? April showers, Mrs. Deshazaway. And June, which as you may know follows directly upon April and is supposed to be the month of brides, of marrying. June also lies beyond the dome." 11. [290] "And they say that somewhere out in the space and the roses and the moonlight, the sleeping equinox yawns and rises because on a certain day it's vernal and that's when it roams the Open Country where geigers no longer scintillate." 12. [305] "If you can get us outside the dome," she said, "out where a man stays warm long enough for his wife to get to know him ... if you can do that, Mr. Fownes ... you may call me Agnes." 13. [331] The twister was unquestionably a meteorological phenomenon. It spun ominously, like a malevolent top, and coursed the countryside destructively, carrying a Dorothy to an Oz. 14. [332] He couldn't help wondering if twisters did anything to feminine pulses, if they could possibly be a part of a moonlit night, with cocktails and roses. 15. [451] "Now what?" MacBride said, thoroughly exasperated, as this strange black cloud began to accelerate, whirling about like some malevolent top.... 16. [452] Humphrey Fownes took out the dust jacket he'd found in the library. He held it up and carefully compared the spinning cloud in his bedroom with the illustration. 17. [453] The cloud rose and spun, assuming the identical shape of the illustration. 18. [454] "It's a twister," he said softly. "A Kansas twister!" 19. [455] "What," MacBride asked, his bravado slipping away again, "what ... is a twister?" 20. [456] The twister roared and moved out of the bedroom, out over the rear of the house toward the side of the dome. 21. [457] "It says here," Fownes shouted over the roaring, "that Dorothy traveled from Kansas to Oz in a twister and that ... and that Oz is a wonderful and mysterious land beyond the confines of everyday living." 22. [458] MacBride's eyes and mouth were great zeros. 23. [459] "Is there something I can turn?" Lanfierre asked. 24. [460] Huge chunks of glass began to fall around them. 25. [461] "Fownes!" MacBride shouted. "This is a direct order! Make it go back!" 26. [462] But Fownes had already begun to run on toward the next house, dodging mountainous puffs of glass as he went. 27. [463] "Mrs. Deshazaway!" he shouted. "Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Deshazaway!" 28. [464] The dome weevils were going berserk trying to keep up with the precipitation. 29. [465] They whirred back and forth at frightful speed, then, emptied of molten glass, rushed to the Trough which they quickly emptied and then rushed about empty-handed. 30. [466] "Yoo-hoo!" he yelled, running. 31. [467] The artificial sun vanished behind the mushrooming twister. 32. [468] Optimum temperature collapsed. 33. [469] "Mrs. Deshazaway! Agnes, will you marry me? Yoo-hoo!" 34. [470] Lanfierre and Lieutenant MacBride leaned against their car and waited, dazed. 35. [471] There was quite a large fall of glass.

Who is Mrs. Deshazaway, and what are her characteristics?

[1] A FALL OF GLASS By STANLEY R. LEE Illustrated by DILLON [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Magazine October 1960. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] The weatherman was always right: Temperature, 59; humidity, 47%; occasional light showers—but of what? [4] The pockets of Mr. Humphrey Fownes were being picked outrageously. [5] It was a splendid day. [6] The temperature was a crisp 59 degrees, the humidity a mildly dessicated 47%. [7] The sun was a flaming orange ball in a cloudless blue sky. [8] His pockets were picked eleven times. [9] It should have been difficult. [10] Under the circumstances it was a masterpiece of pocket picking. [11] What made it possible was Humphrey Fownes' abstraction; he was an uncommonly preoccupied individual. [12] He was strolling along a quiet residential avenue: small private houses, one after another, a place of little traffic and minimum distractions. [13] But he was thinking about weather, which was an unusual subject to begin with for a person living in a domed city. [14] He was thinking so deeply about it that it never occurred to him that entirely too many people were bumping into him. [15] He was thinking about Optimum Dome Conditions (a crisp 59 degrees, a mildly dessicated 47%) when a bogus postman, who pretended to be reading a postal card, jostled him. [16] In the confusion of spilled letters and apologies from both sides, the postman rifled Fownes's handkerchief and inside jacket pockets. [17] He was still thinking about temperature and humidity when a pretty girl happened along with something in her eye. [18] They collided. [19] She got his right and left jacket pockets. [20] It was much too much for coincidence. [21] The sidewalk was wide enough to allow four people to pass at one time. [22] He should surely have become suspicious when two men engaged in a heated argument came along. [23] In the ensuing contretemps they emptied his rear pants pockets, got his wristwatch and restored the contents of the handkerchief pocket. [24] It all went off very smoothly, like a game of put and take—the sole difference being that Humphrey Fownes had no idea he was playing. [25] There was an occasional tinkle of falling glass. [26] It fell on the streets and houses, making small geysers of shiny mist, hitting with a gentle musical sound, like the ephemeral droppings of a celesta. [27] It was precipitation peculiar to a dome: feather-light fragments showering harmlessly on the city from time to time. [28] Dome weevils, their metal arms reaching out with molten glass, roamed the huge casserole, ceaselessly patching and repairing. [29] Humphrey Fownes strode through the puffs of falling glass still intrigued by a temperature that was always 59 degrees, by a humidity that was always 47%, by weather that was always Optimum. [30] It was this rather than skill that enabled the police to maintain such a tight surveillance on him, a surveillance that went to the extent of getting his fingerprints off the postman's bag, and which photographed, X-rayed and chemically analyzed the contents of his pockets before returning them. [31] Two blocks away from his home a careless housewife spilled a five-pound bag of flour as he was passing. [32] It was really plaster of Paris. [33] He left his shoe prints, stride measurement, height, weight and handedness behind. [34] By the time Fownes reached his front door an entire dossier complete with photographs had been prepared and was being read by two men in an orange patrol car parked down the street. [35] Lanfierre had undoubtedly been affected by his job. [36] Sitting behind the wheel of the orange car, he watched Humphrey Fownes approach with a distinct feeling of admiration, although it was an odd, objective kind of admiration, clinical in nature. [37] It was similar to that of a pathologist observing for the first time a new and particularly virulent strain of pneumococcus under his microscope. [38] Lanfierre's job was to ferret out aberration. [39] It couldn't be tolerated within the confines of a dome. [40] Conformity had become more than a social force; it was a physical necessity. [41] And, after years of working at it, Lanfierre had become an admirer of eccentricity. [42] He came to see that genuine quirks were rare and, as time went on, due partly to his own small efforts, rarer. [43] Fownes was a masterpiece of queerness. [44] He was utterly inexplicable. [45] Lanfierre was almost proud of Humphrey Fownes. [46] "Sometimes his house shakes ," Lanfierre said. [47] "House shakes," Lieutenant MacBride wrote in his notebook. [48] Then he stopped and frowned. [49] He reread what he'd just written. [50] "You heard right. [51] The house shakes ," Lanfierre said, savoring it. [52] MacBride looked at the Fownes house through the magnifying glass of the windshield. [53] "Like from ... side to side ?" [54] he asked in a somewhat patronizing tone of voice. [55] "And up and down." [56] MacBride returned the notebook to the breast pocket of his orange uniform. [57] "Go on," he said, amused. [58] "It sounds interesting." [59] He tossed the dossier carelessly on the back seat. [60] Lanfierre sat stiffly behind the wheel, affronted. [61] The cynical MacBride couldn't really appreciate fine aberrations. [62] In some ways MacBride was a barbarian. [63] Lanfierre had held out on Fownes for months. [64] He had even contrived to engage him in conversation once, a pleasantly absurd, irrational little chat that titillated him for weeks. [65] It was only with the greatest reluctance that he finally mentioned Fownes to MacBride. [66] After years of searching for differences Lanfierre had seen how extraordinarily repetitious people were, echoes really, dimly resounding echoes, each believing itself whole and separate. [67] They spoke in an incessant chatter of cliches, and their actions were unbelievably trite. [68] Then a fine robust freak came along and the others—the echoes—refused to believe it. [69] The lieutenant was probably on the point of suggesting a vacation. [70] "Why don't you take a vacation?" [71] Lieutenant MacBride suggested. [72] "It's like this, MacBride. [73] Do you know what a wind is? [74] A breeze? [75] A zephyr?" [76] "I've heard some." [77] "They say there are mountain-tops where winds blow all the time. [78] Strong winds, MacBride. [79] Winds like you and I can't imagine. [80] And if there was a house sitting on such a mountain and if winds did blow, it would shake exactly the way that one does. [81] Sometimes I get the feeling the whole place is going to slide off its foundation and go sailing down the avenue." [82] Lieutenant MacBride pursed his lips. [83] "I'll tell you something else," Lanfierre went on. [84] "The windows all close at the same time. [85] You'll be watching and all of a sudden every single window in the place will drop to its sill." [86] Lanfierre leaned back in the seat, his eyes still on the house. [87] "Sometimes I think there's a whole crowd of people in there waiting for a signal—as if they all had something important to say but had to close the windows first so no one could hear. [88] Why else close the windows in a domed city? [89] And then as soon as the place is buttoned up they all explode into conversation—and that's why the house shakes." [90] MacBride whistled. [91] "No, I don't need a vacation." [92] A falling piece of glass dissolved into a puff of gossamer against the windshield. [93] Lanfierre started and bumped his knee on the steering wheel. [94] "No, you don't need a rest," MacBride said. [95] "You're starting to see flying houses, hear loud babbling voices. [96] You've got winds in your brain, Lanfierre, breezes of fatigue, zephyrs of irrationality—" At that moment, all at once, every last window in the house slammed shut. [97] The street was deserted and quiet, not a movement, not a sound. [98] MacBride and Lanfierre both leaned forward, as if waiting for the ghostly babble of voices to commence. [99] The house began to shake. [100] It rocked from side to side, it pitched forward and back, it yawed and dipped and twisted, straining at the mooring of its foundation. [101] The house could have been preparing to take off and sail down the.... MacBride looked at Lanfierre and Lanfierre looked at MacBride and then they both looked back at the dancing house. [102] "And the water ," Lanfierre said. [103] "The water he uses! [104] He could be the thirstiest and cleanest man in the city. [105] He could have a whole family of thirsty and clean kids, and he still wouldn't need all that water." [106] The lieutenant had picked up the dossier. [107] He thumbed through the pages now in amazement. [108] "Where do you get a guy like this?" [109] he asked. [110] "Did you see what he carries in his pockets?" [111] "And compasses won't work on this street." [112] The lieutenant lit a cigarette and sighed. [113] He usually sighed when making the decision to raid a dwelling. [114] It expressed his weariness and distaste for people who went off and got neurotic when they could be enjoying a happy, normal existence. [115] There was something implacable about his sighs. [116] "He'll be coming out soon," Lanfierre said. [117] "He eats supper next door with a widow. [118] Then he goes to the library. [119] Always the same. [120] Supper at the widow's next door and then the library." [121] MacBride's eyebrows went up a fraction of an inch. [122] "The library?" [123] he said. [124] "Is he in with that bunch?" [125] Lanfierre nodded. [126] "Should be very interesting," MacBride said slowly. [127] "I can't wait to see what he's got in there," Lanfierre murmured, watching the house with a consuming interest. [128] They sat there smoking in silence and every now and then their eyes widened as the house danced a new step. [129] Fownes stopped on the porch to brush the plaster of paris off his shoes. [130] He hadn't seen the patrol car and this intense preoccupation of his was also responsible for the dancing house—he simply hadn't noticed. [131] There was a certain amount of vibration, of course. [132] He had a bootleg pipe connected into the dome blower system, and the high-pressure air caused some buffeting against the thin walls of the house. [133] At least, he called it buffeting; he'd never thought to watch from outside. [134] He went in and threw his jacket on the sofa, there being no room left in the closets. [135] Crossing the living room he stopped to twist a draw-pull. [136] Every window slammed shut. [137] "Tight as a kite," he thought, satisfied. [138] He continued on toward the closet at the foot of the stairs and then stopped again. [139] Was that right? [140] No, snug as a hug in a rug . [141] He went on, thinking: The old devils. [142] The downstairs closet was like a great watch case, a profusion of wheels surrounding the Master Mechanism, which was a miniature see-saw that went back and forth 365-1/4 times an hour. [143] The wheels had a curious stateliness about them. [144] They were all quite old, salvaged from grandfather's clocks and music boxes and they went around in graceful circles at the rate of 30 and 31 times an hour ... although there was one slightly eccentric cam that vacillated between 28 and 29. [145] He watched as they spun and flashed in the darkness, and then set them for seven o'clock in the evening, April seventh, any year. [146] Outside, the domed city vanished. [147] It was replaced by an illusion. [148] Or, as Fownes hoped it might appear, the illusion of the domed city vanished and was replaced by a more satisfactory, and, for his specific purpose, more functional, illusion. [149] Looking through the window he saw only a garden. [150] Instead of an orange sun at perpetual high noon, there was a red sun setting brilliantly, marred only by an occasional arcover which left the smell of ozone in the air. [151] There was also a gigantic moon. [152] It hid a huge area of sky, and it sang. [153] The sun and moon both looked down upon a garden that was itself scintillant, composed largely of neon roses. [154] Moonlight, he thought, and roses. [155] Satisfactory. [156] And cocktails for two. [157] Blast, he'd never be able to figure that one out! [158] He watched as the moon played, Oh, You Beautiful Doll and the neon roses flashed slowly from red to violet, then went back to the closet and turned on the scent. [159] The house began to smell like an immensely concentrated rose as the moon shifted to People Will Say We're In Love . [160] He rubbed his chin critically. [161] It seemed all right. [162] A dreamy sunset, an enchanted moon, flowers, scent. [163] They were all purely speculative of course. [164] He had no idea how a rose really smelled—or looked for that matter. [165] Not to mention a moon. [166] But then, neither did the widow. [167] He'd have to be confident, assertive. [168] Insist on it. [169] I tell you, my dear, this is a genuine realistic romantic moon. [170] Now, does it do anything to your pulse? [171] Do you feel icy fingers marching up and down your spine? [172] His own spine didn't seem to be affected. [173] But then he hadn't read that book on ancient mores and courtship customs. [174] How really odd the ancients were. [175] Seduction seemed to be an incredibly long and drawn-out process, accompanied by a considerable amount of falsification. [176] Communication seemed virtually impossible. [177] "No" meant any number of things, depending on the tone of voice and the circumstances. [178] It could mean yes, it could mean ask me again later on this evening. [179] He went up the stairs to the bedroom closet and tried the rain-maker, thinking roguishly: Thou shalt not inundate. [180] The risks he was taking! [181] A shower fell gently on the garden and a male chorus began to chant Singing in the Rain . [182] Undiminished, the yellow moon and the red sun continued to be brilliant, although the sun occasionally arced over and demolished several of the neon roses. [183] The last wheel in the bedroom closet was a rather elegant steering wheel from an old 1995 Studebaker. [184] This was on the bootleg pipe; he gingerly turned it. [185] Far below in the cellar there was a rumble and then the soft whistle of winds came to him. [186] He went downstairs to watch out the living room window. [187] This was important; the window had a really fixed attitude about air currents. [188] The neon roses bent and tinkled against each other as the wind rose and the moon shook a trifle as it whispered Cuddle Up a Little Closer . [189] He watched with folded arms, considering how he would start. [190] My dear Mrs. Deshazaway. [191] Too formal. [192] They'd be looking out at the romantic garden; time to be a bit forward. [193] My very dear Mrs. Deshazaway. [194] No. [195] Contrived. [196] How about a simple, Dear Mrs. Deshazaway . [197] That might be it. [198] I was wondering, seeing as how it's so late, if you wouldn't rather stay over instead of going home.... [199] Preoccupied, he hadn't noticed the winds building up, didn't hear the shaking and rattling of the pipes. [200] There were attic pipes connected to wall pipes and wall pipes connected to cellar pipes, and they made one gigantic skeleton that began to rattle its bones and dance as high-pressure air from the dome blower rushed in, slowly opening the Studebaker valve wider and wider.... [201] The neon roses thrashed about, extinguishing each other. [202] The red sun shot off a mass of sparks and then quickly sank out of sight. [203] The moon fell on the garden and rolled ponderously along, crooning When the Blue of the Night Meets the Gold of the Day . [204] The shaking house finally woke him up. [205] He scrambled upstairs to the Studebaker wheel and shut it off. [206] At the window again, he sighed. [207] Repairs were in order. [208] And it wasn't the first time the winds got out of line. [209] Why didn't she marry him and save all this bother? [210] He shut it all down and went out the front door, wondering about the rhyme of the months, about stately August and eccentric February and romantic April. [211] April. [212] Its days were thirty and it followed September. [213] And all the rest have thirty-one. [214] What a strange people, the ancients! [215] He still didn't see the orange car parked down the street. [216] "Men are too perishable," Mrs. Deshazaway said over dinner. [217] "For all practical purposes I'm never going to marry again. [218] All my husbands die." [219] "Would you pass the beets, please?" [220] Humphrey Fownes said. [221] She handed him a platter of steaming red beets. [222] "And don't look at me that way," she said. [223] "I'm not going to marry you and if you want reasons I'll give you four of them. [224] Andrew. [225] Curt. [226] Norman. [227] And Alphonse." [228] The widow was a passionate woman. [229] She did everything passionately—talking, cooking, dressing. [230] Her beets were passionately red. [231] Her clothes rustled and her high heels clicked and her jewelry tinkled. [232] She was possessed by an uncontrollable dynamism. [233] Fownes had never known anyone like her. [234] "You forgot to put salt on the potatoes," she said passionately, then went on as calmly as it was possible for her to be, to explain why she couldn't marry him. [235] "Do you have any idea what people are saying? [236] They're all saying I'm a cannibal! [237] I rob my husbands of their life force and when they're empty I carry their bodies outside on my way to the justice of the peace." [238] "As long as there are people," he said philosophically, "there'll be talk." [239] "But it's the air! [240] Why don't they talk about that? [241] The air is stale, I'm positive. [242] It's not nourishing. [243] The air is stale and Andrew, Curt, Norman and Alphonse couldn't stand it. [244] Poor Alphonse. [245] He was never so healthy as on the day he was born. [246] From then on things got steadily worse for him." [247] "I don't seem to mind the air." [248] She threw up her hands. [249] "You'd be the worst of the lot!" [250] She left the table, rustling and tinkling about the room. [251] "I can just hear them. [252] Try some of the asparagus. [253] Five. [254] That's what they'd say. [255] That woman did it again. [256] And the plain fact is I don't want you on my record." [257] "Really," Fownes protested. [258] "I feel splendid. [259] Never better." [260] He could hear her moving about and then felt her hands on his shoulders. [261] "And what about those very elaborate plans you've been making to seduce me?" [262] Fownes froze with three asparagus hanging from his fork. [263] "Don't you think they'll find out? [264] I found out and you can bet they will. [265] It's my fault, I guess. [266] I talk too much. [267] And I don't always tell the truth. [268] To be completely honest with you, Mr. Fownes, it wasn't the old customs at all standing between us, it was air. [269] I can't have another man die on me, it's bad for my self-esteem. [270] And now you've gone and done something good and criminal, something peculiar." [271] Fownes put his fork down. [272] "Dear Mrs. Deshazaway," he started to say. [273] "And of course when they do find out and they ask you why, Mr. Fownes, you'll tell them. [274] No, no heroics, please! [275] When they ask a man a question he always answers and you will too. [276] You'll tell them I wanted to be courted and when they hear that they'll be around to ask me a few questions. [277] You see, we're both a bit queer." [278] "I hadn't thought of that," Fownes said quietly. [279] "Oh, it doesn't really matter. [280] I'll join Andrew, Curt, Norman—" "That won't be necessary," Fownes said with unusual force. [281] "With all due respect to Andrew, Curt, Norman and Alphonse, I might as well state here and now I have other plans for you, Mrs. [282] Deshazaway." [283] "But my dear Mr. Fownes," she said, leaning across the table. [284] "We're lost, you and I." [285] "Not if we could leave the dome," Fownes said quietly. [286] "That's impossible! [287] How?" [288] In no hurry, now that he had the widow's complete attention, Fownes leaned across the table and whispered: "Fresh air, Mrs. Deshazaway? [289] Space? [290] Miles and miles of space where the real-estate monopoly has no control whatever? [291] Where the wind blows across prairies ; or is it the other way around? [292] No matter. [293] How would you like that , Mrs. [294] Deshazaway?" [295] Breathing somewhat faster than usual, the widow rested her chin on her two hands. [296] "Pray continue," she said. [297] "Endless vistas of moonlight and roses? [298] April showers, Mrs. Deshazaway. [299] And June, which as you may know follows directly upon April and is supposed to be the month of brides, of marrying. [300] June also lies beyond the dome." [301] "I see." [302] " And ," Mr. Fownes added, his voice a honeyed whisper, "they say that somewhere out in the space and the roses and the moonlight, the sleeping equinox yawns and rises because on a certain day it's vernal and that's when it roams the Open Country where geigers no longer scintillate." [303] " My. " [304] Mrs. Deshazaway rose, paced slowly to the window and then came back to the table, standing directly over Fownes. [305] "If you can get us outside the dome," she said, "out where a man stays warm long enough for his wife to get to know him ... if you can do that, Mr. Fownes ... you may call me Agnes." [306] When Humphrey Fownes stepped out of the widow's house, there was a look of such intense abstraction on his features that Lanfierre felt a wistful desire to get out of the car and walk along with the man. [307] It would be such a deliciously insane experience. [308] ("April has thirty days," Fownes mumbled, passing them, "because thirty is the largest number such that all smaller numbers not having a common divisor with it are primes ." [309] MacBride frowned and added it to the dossier. [310] Lanfierre sighed.) [311] Pinning his hopes on the Movement, Fownes went straight to the library several blocks away, a shattered depressing place given over to government publications and censored old books with holes in them. [312] It was used so infrequently that the Movement was able to meet there undisturbed. [313] The librarian was a yellowed, dog-eared woman of eighty. [314] She spent her days reading ancient library cards and, like the books around her, had been rendered by time's own censor into near unintelligibility. [315] "Here's one," she said to him as he entered. " [316] Gulliver's Travels. [317] Loaned to John Wesley Davidson on March 14, 1979 for five days. [318] What do you make of it?" [319] In the litter of books and cards and dried out ink pads that surrounded the librarian, Fownes noticed a torn dust jacket with a curious illustration. [320] "What's that?" [321] he said. [322] "A twister," she replied quickly. [323] "Now listen to this . [324] Seven years later on March 21, 1986, Ella Marshall Davidson took out the same book. [325] What do you make of that ?" [326] "I'd say," Humphrey Fownes said, "that he ... that he recommended it to her, that one day they met in the street and he told her about this book and then they ... they went to the library together and she borrowed it and eventually, why eventually they got married." [327] "Hah! [328] They were brother and sister!" [329] the librarian shouted in her parched voice, her old buckram eyes laughing with cunning. [330] Fownes smiled weakly and looked again at the dust jacket. [331] The twister was unquestionably a meteorological phenomenon. [332] It spun ominously, like a malevolent top, and coursed the countryside destructively, carrying a Dorothy to an Oz. [333] He couldn't help wondering if twisters did anything to feminine pulses, if they could possibly be a part of a moonlit night, with cocktails and roses. [334] He absently stuffed the dust jacket in his pocket and went on into the other rooms, the librarian mumbling after him: "Edna Murdoch Featherstone, April 21, 1991," as though reading inscriptions on a tombstone. [335] The Movement met in what had been the children's room, where unpaid ladies of the afternoon had once upon a time read stories to other people's offspring. [336] The members sat around at the miniature tables looking oddly like giants fled from their fairy tales, protesting. [337] "Where did the old society fail?" [338] the leader was demanding of them. [339] He stood in the center of the room, leaning on a heavy knobbed cane. [340] He glanced around at the group almost complacently, and waited as Humphrey Fownes squeezed into an empty chair. [341] "We live in a dome," the leader said, "for lack of something. [342] An invention! [343] What is the one thing that the great technological societies before ours could not invent, notwithstanding their various giant brains, electronic and otherwise?" [344] Fownes was the kind of man who never answered a rhetorical question. [345] He waited, uncomfortable in the tight chair, while the others struggled with this problem in revolutionary dialectics. " [346] A sound foreign policy ," the leader said, aware that no one else had obtained the insight. [347] "If a sound foreign policy can't be created the only alternative is not to have any foreign policy at all. [348] Thus the movement into domes began— by common consent of the governments . [349] This is known as self-containment." [350] Dialectically out in left field, Humphrey Fownes waited for a lull in the ensuing discussion and then politely inquired how it might be arranged for him to get out. [351] "Out?" [352] the leader said, frowning. [353] "Out? [354] Out where?" [355] "Outside the dome." [356] "Oh. [357] All in good time, my friend. [358] One day we shall all pick up and leave." [359] "And that day I'll await impatiently," Fownes replied with marvelous tact, "because it will be lonely out there for the two of us. [360] My future wife and I have to leave now ." [361] "Nonsense. [362] Ridiculous! [363] You have to be prepared for the Open Country. [364] You can't just up and leave, it would be suicide, Fownes. [365] And dialectically very poor." [366] "Then you have discussed preparations, the practical necessities of life in the Open Country. [367] Food, clothing, a weapon perhaps? [368] What else? [369] Have I left anything out?" [370] The leader sighed. [371] "The gentleman wants to know if he's left anything out," he said to the group. [372] Fownes looked around at them, at some dozen pained expressions. [373] "Tell the man what he's forgotten," the leader said, walking to the far window and turning his back quite pointedly on them. [374] Everyone spoke at the same moment. " [375] A sound foreign policy ," they all said, it being almost too obvious for words. [376] On his way out the librarian shouted at him: " A Tale of a Tub , thirty-five years overdue!" [377] She was calculating the fine as he closed the door. [378] Humphrey Fownes' preoccupation finally came to an end when he was one block away from his house. [379] It was then that he realized something unusual must have occurred. [380] An orange patrol car of the security police was parked at his front door. [381] And something else was happening too. [382] His house was dancing. [383] It was disconcerting, and at the same time enchanting, to watch one's residence frisking about on its foundation. [384] It was such a strange sight that for the moment he didn't give a thought to what might be causing it. [385] But when he stepped gingerly onto the porch, which was doing its own independent gavotte, he reached for the doorknob with an immense curiosity. [386] The door flung itself open and knocked him back off the porch. [387] From a prone position on his miniscule front lawn, Fownes watched as his favorite easy chair sailed out of the living room on a blast of cold air and went pinwheeling down the avenue in the bright sunshine. [388] A wild wind and a thick fog poured out of the house. [389] It brought chairs, suits, small tables, lamps trailing their cords, ashtrays, sofa cushions. [390] The house was emptying itself fiercely, as if disgorging an old, spoiled meal. [391] From deep inside he could hear the rumble of his ancient upright piano as it rolled ponderously from room to room. [392] He stood up; a wet wind swept over him, whipping at his face, toying with his hair. [393] It was a whistling in his ears, and a tingle on his cheeks. [394] He got hit by a shoe. [395] As he forced his way back to the doorway needles of rain played over his face and he heard a voice cry out from somewhere in the living room. [396] "Help!" [397] Lieutenant MacBride called. [398] Standing in the doorway with his wet hair plastered down on his dripping scalp, the wind roaring about him, the piano rumbling in the distance like thunder, Humphrey Fownes suddenly saw it all very clearly. " [399] Winds ," he said in a whisper. [400] "What's happening?" [401] MacBride yelled, crouching behind the sofa. " [402] March winds," he said. [403] "What?!" [404] "April showers!" [405] The winds roared for a moment and then MacBride's lost voice emerged from the blackness of the living room. [406] "These are not Optimum Dome Conditions!" [407] the voice wailed. [408] "The temperature is not 59 degrees. [409] The humidity is not 47%!" [410] Fownes held his face up to let the rain fall on it. [411] "Moonlight!" [412] he shouted. [413] "Roses! [414] My soul for a cocktail for two!" [415] He grasped the doorway to keep from being blown out of the house. [416] "Are you going to make it stop or aren't you!" [417] MacBride yelled. [418] "You'll have to tell me what you did first!" [419] "I told him not to touch that wheel! [420] Lanfierre. [421] He's in the upstairs bedroom!" [422] When he heard this Fownes plunged into the house and fought his way up the stairs. [423] He found Lanfierre standing outside the bedroom with a wheel in his hand. [424] "What have I done?" [425] Lanfierre asked in the monotone of shock. [426] Fownes took the wheel. [427] It was off a 1995 Studebaker. [428] "I'm not sure what's going to come of this," he said to Lanfierre with an astonishing amount of objectivity, "but the entire dome air supply is now coming through my bedroom." [429] The wind screamed. [430] "Is there something I can turn?" [431] Lanfierre asked. [432] "Not any more there isn't." [433] They started down the stairs carefully, but the wind caught them and they quickly reached the bottom in a wet heap. [434] Recruiting Lieutenant MacBride from behind his sofa, the men carefully edged out of the house and forced the front door shut. [435] The wind died. [436] The fog dispersed. [437] They stood dripping in the Optimum Dome Conditions of the bright avenue. [438] "I never figured on this ," Lanfierre said, shaking his head. [439] With the front door closed the wind quickly built up inside the house. [440] They could see the furnishing whirl past the windows. [441] The house did a wild, elated jig. [442] "What kind of a place is this?" [443] MacBride said, his courage beginning to return. [444] He took out his notebook but it was a soggy mess. [445] He tossed it away. [446] "Sure, he was different ," Lanfierre murmured. [447] "I knew that much." [448] When the roof blew off they weren't really surprised. [449] With a certain amount of equanimity they watched it lift off almost gracefully, standing on end for a moment before toppling to the ground. [450] It was strangely slow motion, as was the black twirling cloud that now rose out of the master bedroom, spewing shorts and socks and cases every which way. " [451] Now what?" [452] MacBride said, thoroughly exasperated, as this strange black cloud began to accelerate, whirling about like some malevolent top.... Humphrey Fownes took out the dust jacket he'd found in the library. [453] He held it up and carefully compared the spinning cloud in his bedroom with the illustration. [454] The cloud rose and spun, assuming the identical shape of the illustration. [455] "It's a twister," he said softly. [456] "A Kansas twister!" [457] "What," MacBride asked, his bravado slipping away again, "what ... is a twister?" [458] The twister roared and moved out of the bedroom, out over the rear of the house toward the side of the dome. [459] "It says here," Fownes shouted over the roaring, "that Dorothy traveled from Kansas to Oz in a twister and that ... and that Oz is a wonderful and mysterious land beyond the confines of everyday living ." [460] MacBride's eyes and mouth were great zeros. [461] "Is there something I can turn?" [462] Lanfierre asked. [463] Huge chunks of glass began to fall around them. [464] "Fownes!" [465] MacBride shouted. [466] "This is a direct order! [467] Make it go back!" [468] But Fownes had already begun to run on toward the next house, dodging mountainous puffs of glass as he went. [469] "Mrs. [470] Deshazaway!" [471] he shouted. [472] "Yoo-hoo, Mrs. [473] Deshazaway!" [474] The dome weevils were going berserk trying to keep up with the precipitation. [475] They whirred back and forth at frightful speed, then, emptied of molten glass, rushed to the Trough which they quickly emptied and then rushed about empty-handed. [476] "Yoo-hoo!" [477] he yelled, running. [478] The artificial sun vanished behind the mushrooming twister. [479] Optimum temperature collapsed. [480] "Mrs. Deshazaway! [481] Agnes , will you marry me? [482] Yoo-hoo!" [483] Lanfierre and Lieutenant MacBride leaned against their car and waited, dazed. [484] There was quite a large fall of glass.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences in order of importance for answering the question "Who is Mrs. Deshazaway, and what are her characteristics?": 1. [216] "Men are too perishable," Mrs. Deshazaway said over dinner. 2. [217] "For all practical purposes I'm never going to marry again. All my husbands die." 3. [218] "Would you pass the beets, please?" 4. [219] Humphrey Fownes said. 5. [220] She handed him a platter of steaming red beets. 6. [221] "And don't look at me that way," she said. 7. [222] "I'm not going to marry you and if you want reasons I'll give you four of them. 8. [223] Andrew. 9. [224] Curt. 10. [225] Norman. 11. [226] And Alphonse." 12. [227] The widow was a passionate woman. 13. [228] She did everything passionately—talking, cooking, dressing. 14. [229] Her beets were passionately red. 15. [230] Her clothes rustled and her high heels clicked and her jewelry tinkled. 16. [231] She was possessed by an uncontrollable dynamism. 17. [232] Fownes had never known anyone like her. 18. [233] "You forgot to put salt on the potatoes," she said passionately, then went on as calmly as it was possible for her to be, to explain why she couldn't marry him. 19. [234] "Do you have any idea what people are saying? 20. [235] They're all saying I'm a cannibal! 21. [236] I rob my husbands of their life force and when they're empty I carry their bodies outside on my way to the justice of the peace." 22. [237] "As long as there are people," he said philosophically, "there'll be talk." 23. [238] "But it's the air! 24. [239] Why don't they talk about that? 25. [240] The air is stale, I'm positive. 26. [241] It's not nourishing. 27. [242] The air is stale and Andrew, Curt, Norman and Alphonse couldn't stand it. 28. [243] Poor Alphonse. 29. [244] He was never so healthy as on the day he was born. 30. [245] From then on things got steadily worse for him." 31. [246] "I don't seem to mind the air." 32. [247] She threw up her hands. 33. [248] "You'd be the worst of the lot!" 34. [249] She left the table, rustling and tinkling about the room. 35. [250] "I can just hear them. 36. [251] Try some of the asparagus. 37. [252] Five. 38. [253] That's what they'd say. 39. [254] That woman did it again. 40. [255] And the plain fact is I don't want you on my record." 41. [256] "Really," Fownes protested. 42. [257] "I feel splendid. 43. [258] Never better." 44. [259] He could hear her moving about and then felt her hands on his shoulders. 45. [260] "And what about those very elaborate plans you've been making to seduce me?" 46. [261] Fownes froze with three asparagus hanging from his fork. 47. [262] "Don't you think they'll find out? 48. [263] I found out and you can bet they will. 49. [264] It's my fault, I guess. 50. [265] I talk too much. 51. [266] And I don't always tell the truth. 52. [267] To be completely honest with you, Mr. Fownes, it wasn't the old customs at all standing between us, it was air. 53. [268] I can't have another man die on me, it's bad for my self-esteem. 54. [269] And now you've gone and done something good and criminal, something peculiar." 55. [270] Fownes put his fork down. 56. [271] "Dear Mrs. Deshazaway," he started to say. 57. [272] "And of course when they do find out and they ask you why, Mr. Fownes, you'll tell them. 58. [273] No, no heroics, please! 59. [274] When they ask a man a question he always answers and you will too. 60. [275] You'll tell them I wanted to be courted and when they hear that they'll be around to ask me a few questions. 61. [276] You see, we're both a bit queer." 62. [277] "I hadn't thought of that," Fownes said quietly. 63. [278] "Oh, it doesn't really matter. 64. [279] I'll join Andrew, Curt, Norman—" 65. [280] "That won't be necessary," Fownes said with unusual force. 66. [281] "With all due respect to Andrew, Curt, Norman and Alphonse, I might as well state here and now I have other plans for you, Mrs. 67. [282] Deshazaway." 68. [283] "But my dear Mr. Fownes," she said, leaning across the table. 69. [284] "We're lost, you and I." 70. [285] "Not if we could leave the dome," Fownes said quietly. 71. [286] "That's impossible! 72. [287] How?" 73. [288] In no hurry, now that he had the widow's complete attention, Fownes leaned across the table and whispered: "Fresh air, Mrs. Deshazaway? 74. [289] Space? 75. [290] Miles and miles of space where the real-estate monopoly has no control whatever? 76. [291] Where the wind blows across prairies ; or is it the other way around? 77. [292] No matter. 78. [293] How would you like that , Mrs. 79. [294] Deshazaway?" 80. [295] Breathing somewhat faster than usual, the widow rested her chin on her two hands. 81. [296] "Pray continue," she said. 82. [297] "Endless vistas of moonlight and roses? 83. [298] April showers, Mrs. Deshazaway. 84. [299] And June, which as you may know follows directly upon April and is supposed to be the month of brides, of marrying. 85. [300] June also lies beyond the dome." 86. [301] "I see." 87. [302] " And ," Mr. Fownes added, his voice a honeyed whisper, "they say that somewhere out in the space and the roses and the moonlight, the sleeping equinox yawns and rises because on a certain day it's vernal and that's when it roams the Open Country where geigers no longer scintillate." 88. [303] " My. " 89. [304] Mrs. Deshazaway rose, paced slowly to the window and then came back to the table, standing directly over Fownes. 90. [305] "If you can get us outside the dome," she said, "out where a man stays warm long enough for his wife to get to know him ... if you can do that, Mr. Fownes ... you may call me Agnes."

Describe the setting of the story.

[1] A FALL OF GLASS By STANLEY R. LEE Illustrated by DILLON [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Magazine October 1960. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] The weatherman was always right: Temperature, 59; humidity, 47%; occasional light showers—but of what? [4] The pockets of Mr. Humphrey Fownes were being picked outrageously. [5] It was a splendid day. [6] The temperature was a crisp 59 degrees, the humidity a mildly dessicated 47%. [7] The sun was a flaming orange ball in a cloudless blue sky. [8] His pockets were picked eleven times. [9] It should have been difficult. [10] Under the circumstances it was a masterpiece of pocket picking. [11] What made it possible was Humphrey Fownes' abstraction; he was an uncommonly preoccupied individual. [12] He was strolling along a quiet residential avenue: small private houses, one after another, a place of little traffic and minimum distractions. [13] But he was thinking about weather, which was an unusual subject to begin with for a person living in a domed city. [14] He was thinking so deeply about it that it never occurred to him that entirely too many people were bumping into him. [15] He was thinking about Optimum Dome Conditions (a crisp 59 degrees, a mildly dessicated 47%) when a bogus postman, who pretended to be reading a postal card, jostled him. [16] In the confusion of spilled letters and apologies from both sides, the postman rifled Fownes's handkerchief and inside jacket pockets. [17] He was still thinking about temperature and humidity when a pretty girl happened along with something in her eye. [18] They collided. [19] She got his right and left jacket pockets. [20] It was much too much for coincidence. [21] The sidewalk was wide enough to allow four people to pass at one time. [22] He should surely have become suspicious when two men engaged in a heated argument came along. [23] In the ensuing contretemps they emptied his rear pants pockets, got his wristwatch and restored the contents of the handkerchief pocket. [24] It all went off very smoothly, like a game of put and take—the sole difference being that Humphrey Fownes had no idea he was playing. [25] There was an occasional tinkle of falling glass. [26] It fell on the streets and houses, making small geysers of shiny mist, hitting with a gentle musical sound, like the ephemeral droppings of a celesta. [27] It was precipitation peculiar to a dome: feather-light fragments showering harmlessly on the city from time to time. [28] Dome weevils, their metal arms reaching out with molten glass, roamed the huge casserole, ceaselessly patching and repairing. [29] Humphrey Fownes strode through the puffs of falling glass still intrigued by a temperature that was always 59 degrees, by a humidity that was always 47%, by weather that was always Optimum. [30] It was this rather than skill that enabled the police to maintain such a tight surveillance on him, a surveillance that went to the extent of getting his fingerprints off the postman's bag, and which photographed, X-rayed and chemically analyzed the contents of his pockets before returning them. [31] Two blocks away from his home a careless housewife spilled a five-pound bag of flour as he was passing. [32] It was really plaster of Paris. [33] He left his shoe prints, stride measurement, height, weight and handedness behind. [34] By the time Fownes reached his front door an entire dossier complete with photographs had been prepared and was being read by two men in an orange patrol car parked down the street. [35] Lanfierre had undoubtedly been affected by his job. [36] Sitting behind the wheel of the orange car, he watched Humphrey Fownes approach with a distinct feeling of admiration, although it was an odd, objective kind of admiration, clinical in nature. [37] It was similar to that of a pathologist observing for the first time a new and particularly virulent strain of pneumococcus under his microscope. [38] Lanfierre's job was to ferret out aberration. [39] It couldn't be tolerated within the confines of a dome. [40] Conformity had become more than a social force; it was a physical necessity. [41] And, after years of working at it, Lanfierre had become an admirer of eccentricity. [42] He came to see that genuine quirks were rare and, as time went on, due partly to his own small efforts, rarer. [43] Fownes was a masterpiece of queerness. [44] He was utterly inexplicable. [45] Lanfierre was almost proud of Humphrey Fownes. [46] "Sometimes his house shakes ," Lanfierre said. [47] "House shakes," Lieutenant MacBride wrote in his notebook. [48] Then he stopped and frowned. [49] He reread what he'd just written. [50] "You heard right. [51] The house shakes ," Lanfierre said, savoring it. [52] MacBride looked at the Fownes house through the magnifying glass of the windshield. [53] "Like from ... side to side ?" [54] he asked in a somewhat patronizing tone of voice. [55] "And up and down." [56] MacBride returned the notebook to the breast pocket of his orange uniform. [57] "Go on," he said, amused. [58] "It sounds interesting." [59] He tossed the dossier carelessly on the back seat. [60] Lanfierre sat stiffly behind the wheel, affronted. [61] The cynical MacBride couldn't really appreciate fine aberrations. [62] In some ways MacBride was a barbarian. [63] Lanfierre had held out on Fownes for months. [64] He had even contrived to engage him in conversation once, a pleasantly absurd, irrational little chat that titillated him for weeks. [65] It was only with the greatest reluctance that he finally mentioned Fownes to MacBride. [66] After years of searching for differences Lanfierre had seen how extraordinarily repetitious people were, echoes really, dimly resounding echoes, each believing itself whole and separate. [67] They spoke in an incessant chatter of cliches, and their actions were unbelievably trite. [68] Then a fine robust freak came along and the others—the echoes—refused to believe it. [69] The lieutenant was probably on the point of suggesting a vacation. [70] "Why don't you take a vacation?" [71] Lieutenant MacBride suggested. [72] "It's like this, MacBride. [73] Do you know what a wind is? [74] A breeze? [75] A zephyr?" [76] "I've heard some." [77] "They say there are mountain-tops where winds blow all the time. [78] Strong winds, MacBride. [79] Winds like you and I can't imagine. [80] And if there was a house sitting on such a mountain and if winds did blow, it would shake exactly the way that one does. [81] Sometimes I get the feeling the whole place is going to slide off its foundation and go sailing down the avenue." [82] Lieutenant MacBride pursed his lips. [83] "I'll tell you something else," Lanfierre went on. [84] "The windows all close at the same time. [85] You'll be watching and all of a sudden every single window in the place will drop to its sill." [86] Lanfierre leaned back in the seat, his eyes still on the house. [87] "Sometimes I think there's a whole crowd of people in there waiting for a signal—as if they all had something important to say but had to close the windows first so no one could hear. [88] Why else close the windows in a domed city? [89] And then as soon as the place is buttoned up they all explode into conversation—and that's why the house shakes." [90] MacBride whistled. [91] "No, I don't need a vacation." [92] A falling piece of glass dissolved into a puff of gossamer against the windshield. [93] Lanfierre started and bumped his knee on the steering wheel. [94] "No, you don't need a rest," MacBride said. [95] "You're starting to see flying houses, hear loud babbling voices. [96] You've got winds in your brain, Lanfierre, breezes of fatigue, zephyrs of irrationality—" At that moment, all at once, every last window in the house slammed shut. [97] The street was deserted and quiet, not a movement, not a sound. [98] MacBride and Lanfierre both leaned forward, as if waiting for the ghostly babble of voices to commence. [99] The house began to shake. [100] It rocked from side to side, it pitched forward and back, it yawed and dipped and twisted, straining at the mooring of its foundation. [101] The house could have been preparing to take off and sail down the.... MacBride looked at Lanfierre and Lanfierre looked at MacBride and then they both looked back at the dancing house. [102] "And the water ," Lanfierre said. [103] "The water he uses! [104] He could be the thirstiest and cleanest man in the city. [105] He could have a whole family of thirsty and clean kids, and he still wouldn't need all that water." [106] The lieutenant had picked up the dossier. [107] He thumbed through the pages now in amazement. [108] "Where do you get a guy like this?" [109] he asked. [110] "Did you see what he carries in his pockets?" [111] "And compasses won't work on this street." [112] The lieutenant lit a cigarette and sighed. [113] He usually sighed when making the decision to raid a dwelling. [114] It expressed his weariness and distaste for people who went off and got neurotic when they could be enjoying a happy, normal existence. [115] There was something implacable about his sighs. [116] "He'll be coming out soon," Lanfierre said. [117] "He eats supper next door with a widow. [118] Then he goes to the library. [119] Always the same. [120] Supper at the widow's next door and then the library." [121] MacBride's eyebrows went up a fraction of an inch. [122] "The library?" [123] he said. [124] "Is he in with that bunch?" [125] Lanfierre nodded. [126] "Should be very interesting," MacBride said slowly. [127] "I can't wait to see what he's got in there," Lanfierre murmured, watching the house with a consuming interest. [128] They sat there smoking in silence and every now and then their eyes widened as the house danced a new step. [129] Fownes stopped on the porch to brush the plaster of paris off his shoes. [130] He hadn't seen the patrol car and this intense preoccupation of his was also responsible for the dancing house—he simply hadn't noticed. [131] There was a certain amount of vibration, of course. [132] He had a bootleg pipe connected into the dome blower system, and the high-pressure air caused some buffeting against the thin walls of the house. [133] At least, he called it buffeting; he'd never thought to watch from outside. [134] He went in and threw his jacket on the sofa, there being no room left in the closets. [135] Crossing the living room he stopped to twist a draw-pull. [136] Every window slammed shut. [137] "Tight as a kite," he thought, satisfied. [138] He continued on toward the closet at the foot of the stairs and then stopped again. [139] Was that right? [140] No, snug as a hug in a rug . [141] He went on, thinking: The old devils. [142] The downstairs closet was like a great watch case, a profusion of wheels surrounding the Master Mechanism, which was a miniature see-saw that went back and forth 365-1/4 times an hour. [143] The wheels had a curious stateliness about them. [144] They were all quite old, salvaged from grandfather's clocks and music boxes and they went around in graceful circles at the rate of 30 and 31 times an hour ... although there was one slightly eccentric cam that vacillated between 28 and 29. [145] He watched as they spun and flashed in the darkness, and then set them for seven o'clock in the evening, April seventh, any year. [146] Outside, the domed city vanished. [147] It was replaced by an illusion. [148] Or, as Fownes hoped it might appear, the illusion of the domed city vanished and was replaced by a more satisfactory, and, for his specific purpose, more functional, illusion. [149] Looking through the window he saw only a garden. [150] Instead of an orange sun at perpetual high noon, there was a red sun setting brilliantly, marred only by an occasional arcover which left the smell of ozone in the air. [151] There was also a gigantic moon. [152] It hid a huge area of sky, and it sang. [153] The sun and moon both looked down upon a garden that was itself scintillant, composed largely of neon roses. [154] Moonlight, he thought, and roses. [155] Satisfactory. [156] And cocktails for two. [157] Blast, he'd never be able to figure that one out! [158] He watched as the moon played, Oh, You Beautiful Doll and the neon roses flashed slowly from red to violet, then went back to the closet and turned on the scent. [159] The house began to smell like an immensely concentrated rose as the moon shifted to People Will Say We're In Love . [160] He rubbed his chin critically. [161] It seemed all right. [162] A dreamy sunset, an enchanted moon, flowers, scent. [163] They were all purely speculative of course. [164] He had no idea how a rose really smelled—or looked for that matter. [165] Not to mention a moon. [166] But then, neither did the widow. [167] He'd have to be confident, assertive. [168] Insist on it. [169] I tell you, my dear, this is a genuine realistic romantic moon. [170] Now, does it do anything to your pulse? [171] Do you feel icy fingers marching up and down your spine? [172] His own spine didn't seem to be affected. [173] But then he hadn't read that book on ancient mores and courtship customs. [174] How really odd the ancients were. [175] Seduction seemed to be an incredibly long and drawn-out process, accompanied by a considerable amount of falsification. [176] Communication seemed virtually impossible. [177] "No" meant any number of things, depending on the tone of voice and the circumstances. [178] It could mean yes, it could mean ask me again later on this evening. [179] He went up the stairs to the bedroom closet and tried the rain-maker, thinking roguishly: Thou shalt not inundate. [180] The risks he was taking! [181] A shower fell gently on the garden and a male chorus began to chant Singing in the Rain . [182] Undiminished, the yellow moon and the red sun continued to be brilliant, although the sun occasionally arced over and demolished several of the neon roses. [183] The last wheel in the bedroom closet was a rather elegant steering wheel from an old 1995 Studebaker. [184] This was on the bootleg pipe; he gingerly turned it. [185] Far below in the cellar there was a rumble and then the soft whistle of winds came to him. [186] He went downstairs to watch out the living room window. [187] This was important; the window had a really fixed attitude about air currents. [188] The neon roses bent and tinkled against each other as the wind rose and the moon shook a trifle as it whispered Cuddle Up a Little Closer . [189] He watched with folded arms, considering how he would start. [190] My dear Mrs. Deshazaway. [191] Too formal. [192] They'd be looking out at the romantic garden; time to be a bit forward. [193] My very dear Mrs. Deshazaway. [194] No. [195] Contrived. [196] How about a simple, Dear Mrs. Deshazaway . [197] That might be it. [198] I was wondering, seeing as how it's so late, if you wouldn't rather stay over instead of going home.... [199] Preoccupied, he hadn't noticed the winds building up, didn't hear the shaking and rattling of the pipes. [200] There were attic pipes connected to wall pipes and wall pipes connected to cellar pipes, and they made one gigantic skeleton that began to rattle its bones and dance as high-pressure air from the dome blower rushed in, slowly opening the Studebaker valve wider and wider.... [201] The neon roses thrashed about, extinguishing each other. [202] The red sun shot off a mass of sparks and then quickly sank out of sight. [203] The moon fell on the garden and rolled ponderously along, crooning When the Blue of the Night Meets the Gold of the Day . [204] The shaking house finally woke him up. [205] He scrambled upstairs to the Studebaker wheel and shut it off. [206] At the window again, he sighed. [207] Repairs were in order. [208] And it wasn't the first time the winds got out of line. [209] Why didn't she marry him and save all this bother? [210] He shut it all down and went out the front door, wondering about the rhyme of the months, about stately August and eccentric February and romantic April. [211] April. [212] Its days were thirty and it followed September. [213] And all the rest have thirty-one. [214] What a strange people, the ancients! [215] He still didn't see the orange car parked down the street. [216] "Men are too perishable," Mrs. Deshazaway said over dinner. [217] "For all practical purposes I'm never going to marry again. [218] All my husbands die." [219] "Would you pass the beets, please?" [220] Humphrey Fownes said. [221] She handed him a platter of steaming red beets. [222] "And don't look at me that way," she said. [223] "I'm not going to marry you and if you want reasons I'll give you four of them. [224] Andrew. [225] Curt. [226] Norman. [227] And Alphonse." [228] The widow was a passionate woman. [229] She did everything passionately—talking, cooking, dressing. [230] Her beets were passionately red. [231] Her clothes rustled and her high heels clicked and her jewelry tinkled. [232] She was possessed by an uncontrollable dynamism. [233] Fownes had never known anyone like her. [234] "You forgot to put salt on the potatoes," she said passionately, then went on as calmly as it was possible for her to be, to explain why she couldn't marry him. [235] "Do you have any idea what people are saying? [236] They're all saying I'm a cannibal! [237] I rob my husbands of their life force and when they're empty I carry their bodies outside on my way to the justice of the peace." [238] "As long as there are people," he said philosophically, "there'll be talk." [239] "But it's the air! [240] Why don't they talk about that? [241] The air is stale, I'm positive. [242] It's not nourishing. [243] The air is stale and Andrew, Curt, Norman and Alphonse couldn't stand it. [244] Poor Alphonse. [245] He was never so healthy as on the day he was born. [246] From then on things got steadily worse for him." [247] "I don't seem to mind the air." [248] She threw up her hands. [249] "You'd be the worst of the lot!" [250] She left the table, rustling and tinkling about the room. [251] "I can just hear them. [252] Try some of the asparagus. [253] Five. [254] That's what they'd say. [255] That woman did it again. [256] And the plain fact is I don't want you on my record." [257] "Really," Fownes protested. [258] "I feel splendid. [259] Never better." [260] He could hear her moving about and then felt her hands on his shoulders. [261] "And what about those very elaborate plans you've been making to seduce me?" [262] Fownes froze with three asparagus hanging from his fork. [263] "Don't you think they'll find out? [264] I found out and you can bet they will. [265] It's my fault, I guess. [266] I talk too much. [267] And I don't always tell the truth. [268] To be completely honest with you, Mr. Fownes, it wasn't the old customs at all standing between us, it was air. [269] I can't have another man die on me, it's bad for my self-esteem. [270] And now you've gone and done something good and criminal, something peculiar." [271] Fownes put his fork down. [272] "Dear Mrs. Deshazaway," he started to say. [273] "And of course when they do find out and they ask you why, Mr. Fownes, you'll tell them. [274] No, no heroics, please! [275] When they ask a man a question he always answers and you will too. [276] You'll tell them I wanted to be courted and when they hear that they'll be around to ask me a few questions. [277] You see, we're both a bit queer." [278] "I hadn't thought of that," Fownes said quietly. [279] "Oh, it doesn't really matter. [280] I'll join Andrew, Curt, Norman—" "That won't be necessary," Fownes said with unusual force. [281] "With all due respect to Andrew, Curt, Norman and Alphonse, I might as well state here and now I have other plans for you, Mrs. [282] Deshazaway." [283] "But my dear Mr. Fownes," she said, leaning across the table. [284] "We're lost, you and I." [285] "Not if we could leave the dome," Fownes said quietly. [286] "That's impossible! [287] How?" [288] In no hurry, now that he had the widow's complete attention, Fownes leaned across the table and whispered: "Fresh air, Mrs. Deshazaway? [289] Space? [290] Miles and miles of space where the real-estate monopoly has no control whatever? [291] Where the wind blows across prairies ; or is it the other way around? [292] No matter. [293] How would you like that , Mrs. [294] Deshazaway?" [295] Breathing somewhat faster than usual, the widow rested her chin on her two hands. [296] "Pray continue," she said. [297] "Endless vistas of moonlight and roses? [298] April showers, Mrs. Deshazaway. [299] And June, which as you may know follows directly upon April and is supposed to be the month of brides, of marrying. [300] June also lies beyond the dome." [301] "I see." [302] " And ," Mr. Fownes added, his voice a honeyed whisper, "they say that somewhere out in the space and the roses and the moonlight, the sleeping equinox yawns and rises because on a certain day it's vernal and that's when it roams the Open Country where geigers no longer scintillate." [303] " My. " [304] Mrs. Deshazaway rose, paced slowly to the window and then came back to the table, standing directly over Fownes. [305] "If you can get us outside the dome," she said, "out where a man stays warm long enough for his wife to get to know him ... if you can do that, Mr. Fownes ... you may call me Agnes." [306] When Humphrey Fownes stepped out of the widow's house, there was a look of such intense abstraction on his features that Lanfierre felt a wistful desire to get out of the car and walk along with the man. [307] It would be such a deliciously insane experience. [308] ("April has thirty days," Fownes mumbled, passing them, "because thirty is the largest number such that all smaller numbers not having a common divisor with it are primes ." [309] MacBride frowned and added it to the dossier. [310] Lanfierre sighed.) [311] Pinning his hopes on the Movement, Fownes went straight to the library several blocks away, a shattered depressing place given over to government publications and censored old books with holes in them. [312] It was used so infrequently that the Movement was able to meet there undisturbed. [313] The librarian was a yellowed, dog-eared woman of eighty. [314] She spent her days reading ancient library cards and, like the books around her, had been rendered by time's own censor into near unintelligibility. [315] "Here's one," she said to him as he entered. " [316] Gulliver's Travels. [317] Loaned to John Wesley Davidson on March 14, 1979 for five days. [318] What do you make of it?" [319] In the litter of books and cards and dried out ink pads that surrounded the librarian, Fownes noticed a torn dust jacket with a curious illustration. [320] "What's that?" [321] he said. [322] "A twister," she replied quickly. [323] "Now listen to this . [324] Seven years later on March 21, 1986, Ella Marshall Davidson took out the same book. [325] What do you make of that ?" [326] "I'd say," Humphrey Fownes said, "that he ... that he recommended it to her, that one day they met in the street and he told her about this book and then they ... they went to the library together and she borrowed it and eventually, why eventually they got married." [327] "Hah! [328] They were brother and sister!" [329] the librarian shouted in her parched voice, her old buckram eyes laughing with cunning. [330] Fownes smiled weakly and looked again at the dust jacket. [331] The twister was unquestionably a meteorological phenomenon. [332] It spun ominously, like a malevolent top, and coursed the countryside destructively, carrying a Dorothy to an Oz. [333] He couldn't help wondering if twisters did anything to feminine pulses, if they could possibly be a part of a moonlit night, with cocktails and roses. [334] He absently stuffed the dust jacket in his pocket and went on into the other rooms, the librarian mumbling after him: "Edna Murdoch Featherstone, April 21, 1991," as though reading inscriptions on a tombstone. [335] The Movement met in what had been the children's room, where unpaid ladies of the afternoon had once upon a time read stories to other people's offspring. [336] The members sat around at the miniature tables looking oddly like giants fled from their fairy tales, protesting. [337] "Where did the old society fail?" [338] the leader was demanding of them. [339] He stood in the center of the room, leaning on a heavy knobbed cane. [340] He glanced around at the group almost complacently, and waited as Humphrey Fownes squeezed into an empty chair. [341] "We live in a dome," the leader said, "for lack of something. [342] An invention! [343] What is the one thing that the great technological societies before ours could not invent, notwithstanding their various giant brains, electronic and otherwise?" [344] Fownes was the kind of man who never answered a rhetorical question. [345] He waited, uncomfortable in the tight chair, while the others struggled with this problem in revolutionary dialectics. " [346] A sound foreign policy ," the leader said, aware that no one else had obtained the insight. [347] "If a sound foreign policy can't be created the only alternative is not to have any foreign policy at all. [348] Thus the movement into domes began— by common consent of the governments . [349] This is known as self-containment." [350] Dialectically out in left field, Humphrey Fownes waited for a lull in the ensuing discussion and then politely inquired how it might be arranged for him to get out. [351] "Out?" [352] the leader said, frowning. [353] "Out? [354] Out where?" [355] "Outside the dome." [356] "Oh. [357] All in good time, my friend. [358] One day we shall all pick up and leave." [359] "And that day I'll await impatiently," Fownes replied with marvelous tact, "because it will be lonely out there for the two of us. [360] My future wife and I have to leave now ." [361] "Nonsense. [362] Ridiculous! [363] You have to be prepared for the Open Country. [364] You can't just up and leave, it would be suicide, Fownes. [365] And dialectically very poor." [366] "Then you have discussed preparations, the practical necessities of life in the Open Country. [367] Food, clothing, a weapon perhaps? [368] What else? [369] Have I left anything out?" [370] The leader sighed. [371] "The gentleman wants to know if he's left anything out," he said to the group. [372] Fownes looked around at them, at some dozen pained expressions. [373] "Tell the man what he's forgotten," the leader said, walking to the far window and turning his back quite pointedly on them. [374] Everyone spoke at the same moment. " [375] A sound foreign policy ," they all said, it being almost too obvious for words. [376] On his way out the librarian shouted at him: " A Tale of a Tub , thirty-five years overdue!" [377] She was calculating the fine as he closed the door. [378] Humphrey Fownes' preoccupation finally came to an end when he was one block away from his house. [379] It was then that he realized something unusual must have occurred. [380] An orange patrol car of the security police was parked at his front door. [381] And something else was happening too. [382] His house was dancing. [383] It was disconcerting, and at the same time enchanting, to watch one's residence frisking about on its foundation. [384] It was such a strange sight that for the moment he didn't give a thought to what might be causing it. [385] But when he stepped gingerly onto the porch, which was doing its own independent gavotte, he reached for the doorknob with an immense curiosity. [386] The door flung itself open and knocked him back off the porch. [387] From a prone position on his miniscule front lawn, Fownes watched as his favorite easy chair sailed out of the living room on a blast of cold air and went pinwheeling down the avenue in the bright sunshine. [388] A wild wind and a thick fog poured out of the house. [389] It brought chairs, suits, small tables, lamps trailing their cords, ashtrays, sofa cushions. [390] The house was emptying itself fiercely, as if disgorging an old, spoiled meal. [391] From deep inside he could hear the rumble of his ancient upright piano as it rolled ponderously from room to room. [392] He stood up; a wet wind swept over him, whipping at his face, toying with his hair. [393] It was a whistling in his ears, and a tingle on his cheeks. [394] He got hit by a shoe. [395] As he forced his way back to the doorway needles of rain played over his face and he heard a voice cry out from somewhere in the living room. [396] "Help!" [397] Lieutenant MacBride called. [398] Standing in the doorway with his wet hair plastered down on his dripping scalp, the wind roaring about him, the piano rumbling in the distance like thunder, Humphrey Fownes suddenly saw it all very clearly. " [399] Winds ," he said in a whisper. [400] "What's happening?" [401] MacBride yelled, crouching behind the sofa. " [402] March winds," he said. [403] "What?!" [404] "April showers!" [405] The winds roared for a moment and then MacBride's lost voice emerged from the blackness of the living room. [406] "These are not Optimum Dome Conditions!" [407] the voice wailed. [408] "The temperature is not 59 degrees. [409] The humidity is not 47%!" [410] Fownes held his face up to let the rain fall on it. [411] "Moonlight!" [412] he shouted. [413] "Roses! [414] My soul for a cocktail for two!" [415] He grasped the doorway to keep from being blown out of the house. [416] "Are you going to make it stop or aren't you!" [417] MacBride yelled. [418] "You'll have to tell me what you did first!" [419] "I told him not to touch that wheel! [420] Lanfierre. [421] He's in the upstairs bedroom!" [422] When he heard this Fownes plunged into the house and fought his way up the stairs. [423] He found Lanfierre standing outside the bedroom with a wheel in his hand. [424] "What have I done?" [425] Lanfierre asked in the monotone of shock. [426] Fownes took the wheel. [427] It was off a 1995 Studebaker. [428] "I'm not sure what's going to come of this," he said to Lanfierre with an astonishing amount of objectivity, "but the entire dome air supply is now coming through my bedroom." [429] The wind screamed. [430] "Is there something I can turn?" [431] Lanfierre asked. [432] "Not any more there isn't." [433] They started down the stairs carefully, but the wind caught them and they quickly reached the bottom in a wet heap. [434] Recruiting Lieutenant MacBride from behind his sofa, the men carefully edged out of the house and forced the front door shut. [435] The wind died. [436] The fog dispersed. [437] They stood dripping in the Optimum Dome Conditions of the bright avenue. [438] "I never figured on this ," Lanfierre said, shaking his head. [439] With the front door closed the wind quickly built up inside the house. [440] They could see the furnishing whirl past the windows. [441] The house did a wild, elated jig. [442] "What kind of a place is this?" [443] MacBride said, his courage beginning to return. [444] He took out his notebook but it was a soggy mess. [445] He tossed it away. [446] "Sure, he was different ," Lanfierre murmured. [447] "I knew that much." [448] When the roof blew off they weren't really surprised. [449] With a certain amount of equanimity they watched it lift off almost gracefully, standing on end for a moment before toppling to the ground. [450] It was strangely slow motion, as was the black twirling cloud that now rose out of the master bedroom, spewing shorts and socks and cases every which way. " [451] Now what?" [452] MacBride said, thoroughly exasperated, as this strange black cloud began to accelerate, whirling about like some malevolent top.... Humphrey Fownes took out the dust jacket he'd found in the library. [453] He held it up and carefully compared the spinning cloud in his bedroom with the illustration. [454] The cloud rose and spun, assuming the identical shape of the illustration. [455] "It's a twister," he said softly. [456] "A Kansas twister!" [457] "What," MacBride asked, his bravado slipping away again, "what ... is a twister?" [458] The twister roared and moved out of the bedroom, out over the rear of the house toward the side of the dome. [459] "It says here," Fownes shouted over the roaring, "that Dorothy traveled from Kansas to Oz in a twister and that ... and that Oz is a wonderful and mysterious land beyond the confines of everyday living ." [460] MacBride's eyes and mouth were great zeros. [461] "Is there something I can turn?" [462] Lanfierre asked. [463] Huge chunks of glass began to fall around them. [464] "Fownes!" [465] MacBride shouted. [466] "This is a direct order! [467] Make it go back!" [468] But Fownes had already begun to run on toward the next house, dodging mountainous puffs of glass as he went. [469] "Mrs. [470] Deshazaway!" [471] he shouted. [472] "Yoo-hoo, Mrs. [473] Deshazaway!" [474] The dome weevils were going berserk trying to keep up with the precipitation. [475] They whirred back and forth at frightful speed, then, emptied of molten glass, rushed to the Trough which they quickly emptied and then rushed about empty-handed. [476] "Yoo-hoo!" [477] he yelled, running. [478] The artificial sun vanished behind the mushrooming twister. [479] Optimum temperature collapsed. [480] "Mrs. Deshazaway! [481] Agnes , will you marry me? [482] Yoo-hoo!" [483] Lanfierre and Lieutenant MacBride leaned against their car and waited, dazed. [484] There was quite a large fall of glass.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "Describe the setting of the story": 1. [12] He was strolling along a quiet residential avenue: small private houses, one after another, a place of little traffic and minimum distractions. 2. [25] There was an occasional tinkle of falling glass. 3. [26] It fell on the streets and houses, making small geysers of shiny mist, hitting with a gentle musical sound, like the ephemeral droppings of a celesta. 4. [27] It was precipitation peculiar to a dome: feather-light fragments showering harmlessly on the city from time to time. 5. [28] Dome weevils, their metal arms reaching out with molten glass, roamed the huge casserole, ceaselessly patching and repairing. 6. [29] Humphrey Fownes strode through the puffs of falling glass still intrigued by a temperature that was always 59 degrees, by a humidity that was always 47%, by weather that was always Optimum. 7. [146] Outside, the domed city vanished. 8. [147] It was replaced by an illusion. 9. [148] Or, as Fownes hoped it might appear, the illusion of the domed city vanished and was replaced by a more satisfactory, and, for his specific purpose, more functional, illusion. 10. [149] Looking through the window he saw only a garden. 11. [150] Instead of an orange sun at perpetual high noon, there was a red sun setting brilliantly, marred only by an occasional arcover which left the smell of ozone in the air. 12. [151] There was also a gigantic moon. 13. [152] It hid a huge area of sky, and it sang. 14. [153] The sun and moon both looked down upon a garden that was itself scintillant, composed largely of neon roses. 15. [154] Moonlight, he thought, and roses. 16. [155] Satisfactory. 17. [156] And cocktails for two. 18. [157] Blast, he'd never be able to figure that one out! 19. [158] He watched as the moon played, Oh, You Beautiful Doll and the neon roses flashed slowly from red to violet, then went back to the closet and turned on the scent. 20. [159] The house began to smell like an immensely concentrated rose as the moon shifted to People Will Say We're In Love. 21. [160] He rubbed his chin critically. 22. [161] It seemed all right. 23. [162] A dreamy sunset, an enchanted moon, flowers, scent. 24. [163] They were all purely speculative of course. 25. [164] He had no idea how a rose really smelled—or looked for that matter. 26. [165] Not to mention a moon. 27. [166] But then, neither did the widow. 28. [167] He'd have to be confident, assertive. 29. [168] Insist on it. 30. [169] I tell you, my dear, this is a genuine realistic romantic moon. 31. [170] Now, does it do anything to your pulse? 32. [171] Do you feel icy fingers marching up and down your spine? 33. [172] His own spine didn't seem to be affected. 34. [173] But then he hadn't read that book on ancient mores and courtship customs. 35. [174] How really odd the ancients were. 36. [175] Seduction seemed to be an incredibly long and drawn-out process, accompanied by a considerable amount of falsification. 37. [176] Communication seemed virtually impossible. 38. [177] "No" meant any number of things, depending on the tone of voice and the circumstances. 39. [178] It could mean yes, it could mean ask me again later on this evening. 40. [179] He went up the stairs to the bedroom closet and tried the rain-maker, thinking roguishly: Thou shalt not inundate. 41. [180] The risks he was taking! 42. [181] A shower fell gently on the garden and a male chorus began to chant Singing in the Rain. 43. [182] Undiminished, the yellow moon and the red sun continued to be brilliant, although the sun occasionally arced over and demolished several of the neon roses. 44. [183] The last wheel in the bedroom closet was a rather elegant steering wheel from an old 1995 Studebaker. 45. [184] This was on the bootleg pipe; he gingerly turned it. 46. [185] Far below in the cellar there was a rumble and then the soft whistle of winds came to him. 47. [186] He went downstairs to watch out the living room window. 48. [187] This was important; the window had a really fixed attitude about air currents. 49. [188] The neon roses bent and tinkled against each other as the wind rose and the moon shook a trifle as it whispered Cuddle Up a Little Closer. 50. [189] He watched with folded arms, considering how he would start. 51. [190] My dear Mrs. Deshazaway. 52. [191] Too formal. 53. [192] They'd be looking out at the romantic garden; time to be a bit forward. 54. [193] My very dear Mrs. Deshazaway. 55. [194] No. 56. [195] Contrived. 57. [196] How about a simple, Dear Mrs. Deshazaway. 58. [197] That might be it. 59. [198] I was wondering, seeing as how it's so late, if you wouldn't rather stay over instead of going home.... 60. [199] Preoccupied, he hadn't noticed the winds building up, didn't hear the shaking and rattling of the pipes. 61. [200] There were attic pipes connected to wall pipes and wall pipes connected to cellar pipes, and they made one gigantic skeleton that began to rattle its bones and dance as high-pressure air from the dome blower rushed in, slowly opening the Studebaker valve wider and wider.... 62. [201] The neon roses thrashed about, extinguishing each other. 63. [202] The red sun shot off a mass of sparks and then quickly sank out of sight. 64. [203] The moon fell on the garden and rolled ponderously along, crooning When the Blue of the Night Meets the Gold of the Day. 65. [204] The shaking house finally woke him up. 66. [205] He scrambled upstairs to the Studebaker wheel and shut it off. 67. [206] At the window again, he sighed. 68. [207] Repairs were in order. 69. [208] And it wasn't the first time the winds got out of line. 70. [209] Why didn't she marry him and save all this bother? 71. [210] He shut it all down and went out the front door, wondering about the rhyme of the months, about stately August and eccentric February and romantic April. 72. [211] April. 73. [212] Its days were thirty and it followed September. 74. [213] And all the rest have thirty-one. 75. [214] What a strange people, the ancients!

Who is Humphrey Fownes, and what are his characteristics?

[1] A FALL OF GLASS By STANLEY R. LEE Illustrated by DILLON [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Magazine October 1960. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] The weatherman was always right: Temperature, 59; humidity, 47%; occasional light showers—but of what? [4] The pockets of Mr. Humphrey Fownes were being picked outrageously. [5] It was a splendid day. [6] The temperature was a crisp 59 degrees, the humidity a mildly dessicated 47%. [7] The sun was a flaming orange ball in a cloudless blue sky. [8] His pockets were picked eleven times. [9] It should have been difficult. [10] Under the circumstances it was a masterpiece of pocket picking. [11] What made it possible was Humphrey Fownes' abstraction; he was an uncommonly preoccupied individual. [12] He was strolling along a quiet residential avenue: small private houses, one after another, a place of little traffic and minimum distractions. [13] But he was thinking about weather, which was an unusual subject to begin with for a person living in a domed city. [14] He was thinking so deeply about it that it never occurred to him that entirely too many people were bumping into him. [15] He was thinking about Optimum Dome Conditions (a crisp 59 degrees, a mildly dessicated 47%) when a bogus postman, who pretended to be reading a postal card, jostled him. [16] In the confusion of spilled letters and apologies from both sides, the postman rifled Fownes's handkerchief and inside jacket pockets. [17] He was still thinking about temperature and humidity when a pretty girl happened along with something in her eye. [18] They collided. [19] She got his right and left jacket pockets. [20] It was much too much for coincidence. [21] The sidewalk was wide enough to allow four people to pass at one time. [22] He should surely have become suspicious when two men engaged in a heated argument came along. [23] In the ensuing contretemps they emptied his rear pants pockets, got his wristwatch and restored the contents of the handkerchief pocket. [24] It all went off very smoothly, like a game of put and take—the sole difference being that Humphrey Fownes had no idea he was playing. [25] There was an occasional tinkle of falling glass. [26] It fell on the streets and houses, making small geysers of shiny mist, hitting with a gentle musical sound, like the ephemeral droppings of a celesta. [27] It was precipitation peculiar to a dome: feather-light fragments showering harmlessly on the city from time to time. [28] Dome weevils, their metal arms reaching out with molten glass, roamed the huge casserole, ceaselessly patching and repairing. [29] Humphrey Fownes strode through the puffs of falling glass still intrigued by a temperature that was always 59 degrees, by a humidity that was always 47%, by weather that was always Optimum. [30] It was this rather than skill that enabled the police to maintain such a tight surveillance on him, a surveillance that went to the extent of getting his fingerprints off the postman's bag, and which photographed, X-rayed and chemically analyzed the contents of his pockets before returning them. [31] Two blocks away from his home a careless housewife spilled a five-pound bag of flour as he was passing. [32] It was really plaster of Paris. [33] He left his shoe prints, stride measurement, height, weight and handedness behind. [34] By the time Fownes reached his front door an entire dossier complete with photographs had been prepared and was being read by two men in an orange patrol car parked down the street. [35] Lanfierre had undoubtedly been affected by his job. [36] Sitting behind the wheel of the orange car, he watched Humphrey Fownes approach with a distinct feeling of admiration, although it was an odd, objective kind of admiration, clinical in nature. [37] It was similar to that of a pathologist observing for the first time a new and particularly virulent strain of pneumococcus under his microscope. [38] Lanfierre's job was to ferret out aberration. [39] It couldn't be tolerated within the confines of a dome. [40] Conformity had become more than a social force; it was a physical necessity. [41] And, after years of working at it, Lanfierre had become an admirer of eccentricity. [42] He came to see that genuine quirks were rare and, as time went on, due partly to his own small efforts, rarer. [43] Fownes was a masterpiece of queerness. [44] He was utterly inexplicable. [45] Lanfierre was almost proud of Humphrey Fownes. [46] "Sometimes his house shakes ," Lanfierre said. [47] "House shakes," Lieutenant MacBride wrote in his notebook. [48] Then he stopped and frowned. [49] He reread what he'd just written. [50] "You heard right. [51] The house shakes ," Lanfierre said, savoring it. [52] MacBride looked at the Fownes house through the magnifying glass of the windshield. [53] "Like from ... side to side ?" [54] he asked in a somewhat patronizing tone of voice. [55] "And up and down." [56] MacBride returned the notebook to the breast pocket of his orange uniform. [57] "Go on," he said, amused. [58] "It sounds interesting." [59] He tossed the dossier carelessly on the back seat. [60] Lanfierre sat stiffly behind the wheel, affronted. [61] The cynical MacBride couldn't really appreciate fine aberrations. [62] In some ways MacBride was a barbarian. [63] Lanfierre had held out on Fownes for months. [64] He had even contrived to engage him in conversation once, a pleasantly absurd, irrational little chat that titillated him for weeks. [65] It was only with the greatest reluctance that he finally mentioned Fownes to MacBride. [66] After years of searching for differences Lanfierre had seen how extraordinarily repetitious people were, echoes really, dimly resounding echoes, each believing itself whole and separate. [67] They spoke in an incessant chatter of cliches, and their actions were unbelievably trite. [68] Then a fine robust freak came along and the others—the echoes—refused to believe it. [69] The lieutenant was probably on the point of suggesting a vacation. [70] "Why don't you take a vacation?" [71] Lieutenant MacBride suggested. [72] "It's like this, MacBride. [73] Do you know what a wind is? [74] A breeze? [75] A zephyr?" [76] "I've heard some." [77] "They say there are mountain-tops where winds blow all the time. [78] Strong winds, MacBride. [79] Winds like you and I can't imagine. [80] And if there was a house sitting on such a mountain and if winds did blow, it would shake exactly the way that one does. [81] Sometimes I get the feeling the whole place is going to slide off its foundation and go sailing down the avenue." [82] Lieutenant MacBride pursed his lips. [83] "I'll tell you something else," Lanfierre went on. [84] "The windows all close at the same time. [85] You'll be watching and all of a sudden every single window in the place will drop to its sill." [86] Lanfierre leaned back in the seat, his eyes still on the house. [87] "Sometimes I think there's a whole crowd of people in there waiting for a signal—as if they all had something important to say but had to close the windows first so no one could hear. [88] Why else close the windows in a domed city? [89] And then as soon as the place is buttoned up they all explode into conversation—and that's why the house shakes." [90] MacBride whistled. [91] "No, I don't need a vacation." [92] A falling piece of glass dissolved into a puff of gossamer against the windshield. [93] Lanfierre started and bumped his knee on the steering wheel. [94] "No, you don't need a rest," MacBride said. [95] "You're starting to see flying houses, hear loud babbling voices. [96] You've got winds in your brain, Lanfierre, breezes of fatigue, zephyrs of irrationality—" At that moment, all at once, every last window in the house slammed shut. [97] The street was deserted and quiet, not a movement, not a sound. [98] MacBride and Lanfierre both leaned forward, as if waiting for the ghostly babble of voices to commence. [99] The house began to shake. [100] It rocked from side to side, it pitched forward and back, it yawed and dipped and twisted, straining at the mooring of its foundation. [101] The house could have been preparing to take off and sail down the.... MacBride looked at Lanfierre and Lanfierre looked at MacBride and then they both looked back at the dancing house. [102] "And the water ," Lanfierre said. [103] "The water he uses! [104] He could be the thirstiest and cleanest man in the city. [105] He could have a whole family of thirsty and clean kids, and he still wouldn't need all that water." [106] The lieutenant had picked up the dossier. [107] He thumbed through the pages now in amazement. [108] "Where do you get a guy like this?" [109] he asked. [110] "Did you see what he carries in his pockets?" [111] "And compasses won't work on this street." [112] The lieutenant lit a cigarette and sighed. [113] He usually sighed when making the decision to raid a dwelling. [114] It expressed his weariness and distaste for people who went off and got neurotic when they could be enjoying a happy, normal existence. [115] There was something implacable about his sighs. [116] "He'll be coming out soon," Lanfierre said. [117] "He eats supper next door with a widow. [118] Then he goes to the library. [119] Always the same. [120] Supper at the widow's next door and then the library." [121] MacBride's eyebrows went up a fraction of an inch. [122] "The library?" [123] he said. [124] "Is he in with that bunch?" [125] Lanfierre nodded. [126] "Should be very interesting," MacBride said slowly. [127] "I can't wait to see what he's got in there," Lanfierre murmured, watching the house with a consuming interest. [128] They sat there smoking in silence and every now and then their eyes widened as the house danced a new step. [129] Fownes stopped on the porch to brush the plaster of paris off his shoes. [130] He hadn't seen the patrol car and this intense preoccupation of his was also responsible for the dancing house—he simply hadn't noticed. [131] There was a certain amount of vibration, of course. [132] He had a bootleg pipe connected into the dome blower system, and the high-pressure air caused some buffeting against the thin walls of the house. [133] At least, he called it buffeting; he'd never thought to watch from outside. [134] He went in and threw his jacket on the sofa, there being no room left in the closets. [135] Crossing the living room he stopped to twist a draw-pull. [136] Every window slammed shut. [137] "Tight as a kite," he thought, satisfied. [138] He continued on toward the closet at the foot of the stairs and then stopped again. [139] Was that right? [140] No, snug as a hug in a rug . [141] He went on, thinking: The old devils. [142] The downstairs closet was like a great watch case, a profusion of wheels surrounding the Master Mechanism, which was a miniature see-saw that went back and forth 365-1/4 times an hour. [143] The wheels had a curious stateliness about them. [144] They were all quite old, salvaged from grandfather's clocks and music boxes and they went around in graceful circles at the rate of 30 and 31 times an hour ... although there was one slightly eccentric cam that vacillated between 28 and 29. [145] He watched as they spun and flashed in the darkness, and then set them for seven o'clock in the evening, April seventh, any year. [146] Outside, the domed city vanished. [147] It was replaced by an illusion. [148] Or, as Fownes hoped it might appear, the illusion of the domed city vanished and was replaced by a more satisfactory, and, for his specific purpose, more functional, illusion. [149] Looking through the window he saw only a garden. [150] Instead of an orange sun at perpetual high noon, there was a red sun setting brilliantly, marred only by an occasional arcover which left the smell of ozone in the air. [151] There was also a gigantic moon. [152] It hid a huge area of sky, and it sang. [153] The sun and moon both looked down upon a garden that was itself scintillant, composed largely of neon roses. [154] Moonlight, he thought, and roses. [155] Satisfactory. [156] And cocktails for two. [157] Blast, he'd never be able to figure that one out! [158] He watched as the moon played, Oh, You Beautiful Doll and the neon roses flashed slowly from red to violet, then went back to the closet and turned on the scent. [159] The house began to smell like an immensely concentrated rose as the moon shifted to People Will Say We're In Love . [160] He rubbed his chin critically. [161] It seemed all right. [162] A dreamy sunset, an enchanted moon, flowers, scent. [163] They were all purely speculative of course. [164] He had no idea how a rose really smelled—or looked for that matter. [165] Not to mention a moon. [166] But then, neither did the widow. [167] He'd have to be confident, assertive. [168] Insist on it. [169] I tell you, my dear, this is a genuine realistic romantic moon. [170] Now, does it do anything to your pulse? [171] Do you feel icy fingers marching up and down your spine? [172] His own spine didn't seem to be affected. [173] But then he hadn't read that book on ancient mores and courtship customs. [174] How really odd the ancients were. [175] Seduction seemed to be an incredibly long and drawn-out process, accompanied by a considerable amount of falsification. [176] Communication seemed virtually impossible. [177] "No" meant any number of things, depending on the tone of voice and the circumstances. [178] It could mean yes, it could mean ask me again later on this evening. [179] He went up the stairs to the bedroom closet and tried the rain-maker, thinking roguishly: Thou shalt not inundate. [180] The risks he was taking! [181] A shower fell gently on the garden and a male chorus began to chant Singing in the Rain . [182] Undiminished, the yellow moon and the red sun continued to be brilliant, although the sun occasionally arced over and demolished several of the neon roses. [183] The last wheel in the bedroom closet was a rather elegant steering wheel from an old 1995 Studebaker. [184] This was on the bootleg pipe; he gingerly turned it. [185] Far below in the cellar there was a rumble and then the soft whistle of winds came to him. [186] He went downstairs to watch out the living room window. [187] This was important; the window had a really fixed attitude about air currents. [188] The neon roses bent and tinkled against each other as the wind rose and the moon shook a trifle as it whispered Cuddle Up a Little Closer . [189] He watched with folded arms, considering how he would start. [190] My dear Mrs. Deshazaway. [191] Too formal. [192] They'd be looking out at the romantic garden; time to be a bit forward. [193] My very dear Mrs. Deshazaway. [194] No. [195] Contrived. [196] How about a simple, Dear Mrs. Deshazaway . [197] That might be it. [198] I was wondering, seeing as how it's so late, if you wouldn't rather stay over instead of going home.... [199] Preoccupied, he hadn't noticed the winds building up, didn't hear the shaking and rattling of the pipes. [200] There were attic pipes connected to wall pipes and wall pipes connected to cellar pipes, and they made one gigantic skeleton that began to rattle its bones and dance as high-pressure air from the dome blower rushed in, slowly opening the Studebaker valve wider and wider.... [201] The neon roses thrashed about, extinguishing each other. [202] The red sun shot off a mass of sparks and then quickly sank out of sight. [203] The moon fell on the garden and rolled ponderously along, crooning When the Blue of the Night Meets the Gold of the Day . [204] The shaking house finally woke him up. [205] He scrambled upstairs to the Studebaker wheel and shut it off. [206] At the window again, he sighed. [207] Repairs were in order. [208] And it wasn't the first time the winds got out of line. [209] Why didn't she marry him and save all this bother? [210] He shut it all down and went out the front door, wondering about the rhyme of the months, about stately August and eccentric February and romantic April. [211] April. [212] Its days were thirty and it followed September. [213] And all the rest have thirty-one. [214] What a strange people, the ancients! [215] He still didn't see the orange car parked down the street. [216] "Men are too perishable," Mrs. Deshazaway said over dinner. [217] "For all practical purposes I'm never going to marry again. [218] All my husbands die." [219] "Would you pass the beets, please?" [220] Humphrey Fownes said. [221] She handed him a platter of steaming red beets. [222] "And don't look at me that way," she said. [223] "I'm not going to marry you and if you want reasons I'll give you four of them. [224] Andrew. [225] Curt. [226] Norman. [227] And Alphonse." [228] The widow was a passionate woman. [229] She did everything passionately—talking, cooking, dressing. [230] Her beets were passionately red. [231] Her clothes rustled and her high heels clicked and her jewelry tinkled. [232] She was possessed by an uncontrollable dynamism. [233] Fownes had never known anyone like her. [234] "You forgot to put salt on the potatoes," she said passionately, then went on as calmly as it was possible for her to be, to explain why she couldn't marry him. [235] "Do you have any idea what people are saying? [236] They're all saying I'm a cannibal! [237] I rob my husbands of their life force and when they're empty I carry their bodies outside on my way to the justice of the peace." [238] "As long as there are people," he said philosophically, "there'll be talk." [239] "But it's the air! [240] Why don't they talk about that? [241] The air is stale, I'm positive. [242] It's not nourishing. [243] The air is stale and Andrew, Curt, Norman and Alphonse couldn't stand it. [244] Poor Alphonse. [245] He was never so healthy as on the day he was born. [246] From then on things got steadily worse for him." [247] "I don't seem to mind the air." [248] She threw up her hands. [249] "You'd be the worst of the lot!" [250] She left the table, rustling and tinkling about the room. [251] "I can just hear them. [252] Try some of the asparagus. [253] Five. [254] That's what they'd say. [255] That woman did it again. [256] And the plain fact is I don't want you on my record." [257] "Really," Fownes protested. [258] "I feel splendid. [259] Never better." [260] He could hear her moving about and then felt her hands on his shoulders. [261] "And what about those very elaborate plans you've been making to seduce me?" [262] Fownes froze with three asparagus hanging from his fork. [263] "Don't you think they'll find out? [264] I found out and you can bet they will. [265] It's my fault, I guess. [266] I talk too much. [267] And I don't always tell the truth. [268] To be completely honest with you, Mr. Fownes, it wasn't the old customs at all standing between us, it was air. [269] I can't have another man die on me, it's bad for my self-esteem. [270] And now you've gone and done something good and criminal, something peculiar." [271] Fownes put his fork down. [272] "Dear Mrs. Deshazaway," he started to say. [273] "And of course when they do find out and they ask you why, Mr. Fownes, you'll tell them. [274] No, no heroics, please! [275] When they ask a man a question he always answers and you will too. [276] You'll tell them I wanted to be courted and when they hear that they'll be around to ask me a few questions. [277] You see, we're both a bit queer." [278] "I hadn't thought of that," Fownes said quietly. [279] "Oh, it doesn't really matter. [280] I'll join Andrew, Curt, Norman—" "That won't be necessary," Fownes said with unusual force. [281] "With all due respect to Andrew, Curt, Norman and Alphonse, I might as well state here and now I have other plans for you, Mrs. [282] Deshazaway." [283] "But my dear Mr. Fownes," she said, leaning across the table. [284] "We're lost, you and I." [285] "Not if we could leave the dome," Fownes said quietly. [286] "That's impossible! [287] How?" [288] In no hurry, now that he had the widow's complete attention, Fownes leaned across the table and whispered: "Fresh air, Mrs. Deshazaway? [289] Space? [290] Miles and miles of space where the real-estate monopoly has no control whatever? [291] Where the wind blows across prairies ; or is it the other way around? [292] No matter. [293] How would you like that , Mrs. [294] Deshazaway?" [295] Breathing somewhat faster than usual, the widow rested her chin on her two hands. [296] "Pray continue," she said. [297] "Endless vistas of moonlight and roses? [298] April showers, Mrs. Deshazaway. [299] And June, which as you may know follows directly upon April and is supposed to be the month of brides, of marrying. [300] June also lies beyond the dome." [301] "I see." [302] " And ," Mr. Fownes added, his voice a honeyed whisper, "they say that somewhere out in the space and the roses and the moonlight, the sleeping equinox yawns and rises because on a certain day it's vernal and that's when it roams the Open Country where geigers no longer scintillate." [303] " My. " [304] Mrs. Deshazaway rose, paced slowly to the window and then came back to the table, standing directly over Fownes. [305] "If you can get us outside the dome," she said, "out where a man stays warm long enough for his wife to get to know him ... if you can do that, Mr. Fownes ... you may call me Agnes." [306] When Humphrey Fownes stepped out of the widow's house, there was a look of such intense abstraction on his features that Lanfierre felt a wistful desire to get out of the car and walk along with the man. [307] It would be such a deliciously insane experience. [308] ("April has thirty days," Fownes mumbled, passing them, "because thirty is the largest number such that all smaller numbers not having a common divisor with it are primes ." [309] MacBride frowned and added it to the dossier. [310] Lanfierre sighed.) [311] Pinning his hopes on the Movement, Fownes went straight to the library several blocks away, a shattered depressing place given over to government publications and censored old books with holes in them. [312] It was used so infrequently that the Movement was able to meet there undisturbed. [313] The librarian was a yellowed, dog-eared woman of eighty. [314] She spent her days reading ancient library cards and, like the books around her, had been rendered by time's own censor into near unintelligibility. [315] "Here's one," she said to him as he entered. " [316] Gulliver's Travels. [317] Loaned to John Wesley Davidson on March 14, 1979 for five days. [318] What do you make of it?" [319] In the litter of books and cards and dried out ink pads that surrounded the librarian, Fownes noticed a torn dust jacket with a curious illustration. [320] "What's that?" [321] he said. [322] "A twister," she replied quickly. [323] "Now listen to this . [324] Seven years later on March 21, 1986, Ella Marshall Davidson took out the same book. [325] What do you make of that ?" [326] "I'd say," Humphrey Fownes said, "that he ... that he recommended it to her, that one day they met in the street and he told her about this book and then they ... they went to the library together and she borrowed it and eventually, why eventually they got married." [327] "Hah! [328] They were brother and sister!" [329] the librarian shouted in her parched voice, her old buckram eyes laughing with cunning. [330] Fownes smiled weakly and looked again at the dust jacket. [331] The twister was unquestionably a meteorological phenomenon. [332] It spun ominously, like a malevolent top, and coursed the countryside destructively, carrying a Dorothy to an Oz. [333] He couldn't help wondering if twisters did anything to feminine pulses, if they could possibly be a part of a moonlit night, with cocktails and roses. [334] He absently stuffed the dust jacket in his pocket and went on into the other rooms, the librarian mumbling after him: "Edna Murdoch Featherstone, April 21, 1991," as though reading inscriptions on a tombstone. [335] The Movement met in what had been the children's room, where unpaid ladies of the afternoon had once upon a time read stories to other people's offspring. [336] The members sat around at the miniature tables looking oddly like giants fled from their fairy tales, protesting. [337] "Where did the old society fail?" [338] the leader was demanding of them. [339] He stood in the center of the room, leaning on a heavy knobbed cane. [340] He glanced around at the group almost complacently, and waited as Humphrey Fownes squeezed into an empty chair. [341] "We live in a dome," the leader said, "for lack of something. [342] An invention! [343] What is the one thing that the great technological societies before ours could not invent, notwithstanding their various giant brains, electronic and otherwise?" [344] Fownes was the kind of man who never answered a rhetorical question. [345] He waited, uncomfortable in the tight chair, while the others struggled with this problem in revolutionary dialectics. " [346] A sound foreign policy ," the leader said, aware that no one else had obtained the insight. [347] "If a sound foreign policy can't be created the only alternative is not to have any foreign policy at all. [348] Thus the movement into domes began— by common consent of the governments . [349] This is known as self-containment." [350] Dialectically out in left field, Humphrey Fownes waited for a lull in the ensuing discussion and then politely inquired how it might be arranged for him to get out. [351] "Out?" [352] the leader said, frowning. [353] "Out? [354] Out where?" [355] "Outside the dome." [356] "Oh. [357] All in good time, my friend. [358] One day we shall all pick up and leave." [359] "And that day I'll await impatiently," Fownes replied with marvelous tact, "because it will be lonely out there for the two of us. [360] My future wife and I have to leave now ." [361] "Nonsense. [362] Ridiculous! [363] You have to be prepared for the Open Country. [364] You can't just up and leave, it would be suicide, Fownes. [365] And dialectically very poor." [366] "Then you have discussed preparations, the practical necessities of life in the Open Country. [367] Food, clothing, a weapon perhaps? [368] What else? [369] Have I left anything out?" [370] The leader sighed. [371] "The gentleman wants to know if he's left anything out," he said to the group. [372] Fownes looked around at them, at some dozen pained expressions. [373] "Tell the man what he's forgotten," the leader said, walking to the far window and turning his back quite pointedly on them. [374] Everyone spoke at the same moment. " [375] A sound foreign policy ," they all said, it being almost too obvious for words. [376] On his way out the librarian shouted at him: " A Tale of a Tub , thirty-five years overdue!" [377] She was calculating the fine as he closed the door. [378] Humphrey Fownes' preoccupation finally came to an end when he was one block away from his house. [379] It was then that he realized something unusual must have occurred. [380] An orange patrol car of the security police was parked at his front door. [381] And something else was happening too. [382] His house was dancing. [383] It was disconcerting, and at the same time enchanting, to watch one's residence frisking about on its foundation. [384] It was such a strange sight that for the moment he didn't give a thought to what might be causing it. [385] But when he stepped gingerly onto the porch, which was doing its own independent gavotte, he reached for the doorknob with an immense curiosity. [386] The door flung itself open and knocked him back off the porch. [387] From a prone position on his miniscule front lawn, Fownes watched as his favorite easy chair sailed out of the living room on a blast of cold air and went pinwheeling down the avenue in the bright sunshine. [388] A wild wind and a thick fog poured out of the house. [389] It brought chairs, suits, small tables, lamps trailing their cords, ashtrays, sofa cushions. [390] The house was emptying itself fiercely, as if disgorging an old, spoiled meal. [391] From deep inside he could hear the rumble of his ancient upright piano as it rolled ponderously from room to room. [392] He stood up; a wet wind swept over him, whipping at his face, toying with his hair. [393] It was a whistling in his ears, and a tingle on his cheeks. [394] He got hit by a shoe. [395] As he forced his way back to the doorway needles of rain played over his face and he heard a voice cry out from somewhere in the living room. [396] "Help!" [397] Lieutenant MacBride called. [398] Standing in the doorway with his wet hair plastered down on his dripping scalp, the wind roaring about him, the piano rumbling in the distance like thunder, Humphrey Fownes suddenly saw it all very clearly. " [399] Winds ," he said in a whisper. [400] "What's happening?" [401] MacBride yelled, crouching behind the sofa. " [402] March winds," he said. [403] "What?!" [404] "April showers!" [405] The winds roared for a moment and then MacBride's lost voice emerged from the blackness of the living room. [406] "These are not Optimum Dome Conditions!" [407] the voice wailed. [408] "The temperature is not 59 degrees. [409] The humidity is not 47%!" [410] Fownes held his face up to let the rain fall on it. [411] "Moonlight!" [412] he shouted. [413] "Roses! [414] My soul for a cocktail for two!" [415] He grasped the doorway to keep from being blown out of the house. [416] "Are you going to make it stop or aren't you!" [417] MacBride yelled. [418] "You'll have to tell me what you did first!" [419] "I told him not to touch that wheel! [420] Lanfierre. [421] He's in the upstairs bedroom!" [422] When he heard this Fownes plunged into the house and fought his way up the stairs. [423] He found Lanfierre standing outside the bedroom with a wheel in his hand. [424] "What have I done?" [425] Lanfierre asked in the monotone of shock. [426] Fownes took the wheel. [427] It was off a 1995 Studebaker. [428] "I'm not sure what's going to come of this," he said to Lanfierre with an astonishing amount of objectivity, "but the entire dome air supply is now coming through my bedroom." [429] The wind screamed. [430] "Is there something I can turn?" [431] Lanfierre asked. [432] "Not any more there isn't." [433] They started down the stairs carefully, but the wind caught them and they quickly reached the bottom in a wet heap. [434] Recruiting Lieutenant MacBride from behind his sofa, the men carefully edged out of the house and forced the front door shut. [435] The wind died. [436] The fog dispersed. [437] They stood dripping in the Optimum Dome Conditions of the bright avenue. [438] "I never figured on this ," Lanfierre said, shaking his head. [439] With the front door closed the wind quickly built up inside the house. [440] They could see the furnishing whirl past the windows. [441] The house did a wild, elated jig. [442] "What kind of a place is this?" [443] MacBride said, his courage beginning to return. [444] He took out his notebook but it was a soggy mess. [445] He tossed it away. [446] "Sure, he was different ," Lanfierre murmured. [447] "I knew that much." [448] When the roof blew off they weren't really surprised. [449] With a certain amount of equanimity they watched it lift off almost gracefully, standing on end for a moment before toppling to the ground. [450] It was strangely slow motion, as was the black twirling cloud that now rose out of the master bedroom, spewing shorts and socks and cases every which way. " [451] Now what?" [452] MacBride said, thoroughly exasperated, as this strange black cloud began to accelerate, whirling about like some malevolent top.... Humphrey Fownes took out the dust jacket he'd found in the library. [453] He held it up and carefully compared the spinning cloud in his bedroom with the illustration. [454] The cloud rose and spun, assuming the identical shape of the illustration. [455] "It's a twister," he said softly. [456] "A Kansas twister!" [457] "What," MacBride asked, his bravado slipping away again, "what ... is a twister?" [458] The twister roared and moved out of the bedroom, out over the rear of the house toward the side of the dome. [459] "It says here," Fownes shouted over the roaring, "that Dorothy traveled from Kansas to Oz in a twister and that ... and that Oz is a wonderful and mysterious land beyond the confines of everyday living ." [460] MacBride's eyes and mouth were great zeros. [461] "Is there something I can turn?" [462] Lanfierre asked. [463] Huge chunks of glass began to fall around them. [464] "Fownes!" [465] MacBride shouted. [466] "This is a direct order! [467] Make it go back!" [468] But Fownes had already begun to run on toward the next house, dodging mountainous puffs of glass as he went. [469] "Mrs. [470] Deshazaway!" [471] he shouted. [472] "Yoo-hoo, Mrs. [473] Deshazaway!" [474] The dome weevils were going berserk trying to keep up with the precipitation. [475] They whirred back and forth at frightful speed, then, emptied of molten glass, rushed to the Trough which they quickly emptied and then rushed about empty-handed. [476] "Yoo-hoo!" [477] he yelled, running. [478] The artificial sun vanished behind the mushrooming twister. [479] Optimum temperature collapsed. [480] "Mrs. Deshazaway! [481] Agnes , will you marry me? [482] Yoo-hoo!" [483] Lanfierre and Lieutenant MacBride leaned against their car and waited, dazed. [484] There was quite a large fall of glass.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences in order of importance for answering the question "Who is Humphrey Fownes, and what are his characteristics?": 1. [43] Fownes was a masterpiece of queerness. 2. [44] He was utterly inexplicable. 3. [233] Fownes had never known anyone like her. 4. [306] When Humphrey Fownes stepped out of the widow's house, there was a look of such intense abstraction on his features that Lanfierre felt a wistful desire to get out of the car and walk along with the man. 5. [307] ("April has thirty days," Fownes mumbled, passing them, "because thirty is the largest number such that all smaller numbers not having a common divisor with it are primes.") 6. [11] What made it possible was Humphrey Fownes' abstraction; he was an uncommonly preoccupied individual. 7. [12] He was strolling along a quiet residential avenue: small private houses, one after another, a place of little traffic and minimum distractions. 8. [13] But he was thinking about weather, which was an unusual subject to begin with for a person living in a domed city. 9. [14] He was thinking so deeply about it that it never occurred to him that entirely too many people were bumping into him. 10. [29] Humphrey Fownes strode through the puffs of falling glass still intrigued by a temperature that was always 59 degrees, by a humidity that was always 47%, by weather that was always Optimum. 11. [30] It was this rather than skill that enabled the police to maintain such a tight surveillance on him, a surveillance that went to the extent of getting his fingerprints off the postman's bag, and which photographed, X-rayed and chemically analyzed the contents of his pockets before returning them. 12. [31] Two blocks away from his home a careless housewife spilled a five-pound bag of flour as he was passing. 13. [32] It was really plaster of Paris. 14. [33] He left his shoe prints, stride measurement, height, weight and handedness behind. 15. [34] By the time Fownes reached his front door an entire dossier complete with photographs had been prepared and was being read by two men in an orange patrol car parked down the street. 16. [36] Sitting behind the wheel of the orange car, he watched Humphrey Fownes approach with a distinct feeling of admiration, although it was an odd, objective kind of admiration, clinical in nature. 17. [37] It was similar to that of a pathologist observing for the first time a new and particularly virulent strain of pneumococcus under his microscope. 18. [38] Lanfierre's job was to ferret out aberration. 19. [39] It couldn't be tolerated within the confines of a dome. 20. [40] Conformity had become more than a social force; it was a physical necessity. 21. [41] And, after years of working at it, Lanfierre had become an admirer of eccentricity. 22. [42] He came to see that genuine quirks were rare and, as time went on, due partly to his own small efforts, rarer. 23. [45] Lanfierre was almost proud of Humphrey Fownes. 24. [46] "Sometimes his house shakes," Lanfierre said. 25. [50] "You heard right. The house shakes," Lanfierre said, savoring it. 26. [55] "And up and down." 27. [61] The cynical MacBride couldn't really appreciate fine aberrations. 28. [62] In some ways MacBride was a barbarian. 29. [63] Lanfierre had held out on Fownes for months. 30. [64] He had even contrived to engage him in conversation once, a pleasantly absurd, irrational little chat that titillated him for weeks. 31. [65] It was only with the greatest reluctance that he finally mentioned Fownes to MacBride. 32. [66] After years of searching for differences Lanfierre had seen how extraordinarily repetitious people were, echoes really, dimly resounding echoes, each believing itself whole and separate. 33. [67] They spoke in an incessant chatter of cliches, and their actions were unbelievably trite. 34. [68] Then a fine robust freak came along and the others—the echoes—refused to believe it. 35. [72] "Why don't you take a vacation?" Lieutenant MacBride suggested. 36. [73] "It's like this, MacBride. Do you know what a wind is? A breeze? A zephyr?" 37. [77] "They say there are mountain-tops where winds blow all the time. Strong winds, MacBride. Winds like you and I can't imagine." 38. [78] "And if there was a house sitting on such a mountain and if winds did blow, it would shake exactly the way that one does." 39. [79] "Sometimes I get the feeling the whole place is going to slide off its foundation and go sailing down the avenue." 40. [84] "You'll be watching and all of a sudden every single window in the place will drop to its sill." 41. [87] "Sometimes I think there's a whole crowd of people in there waiting for a signal—as if they all had something important to say but had to close the windows first so no one could hear." 42. [88] "Why else close the windows in a domed city?" 43. [89] "And then as soon as the place is buttoned up they all explode into conversation—and that's why the house shakes." 44. [102] "The water he uses! He could be the thirstiest and cleanest man in the city." 45. [103] "He could have a whole family of thirsty and clean kids, and he still wouldn't need all that water." 46. [110] "Did you see what he carries in his pockets?" 47. [111] "And compasses won't work on this street." 48. [129] Fownes stopped on the porch to brush the plaster of paris off his shoes. 49. [130] He hadn't seen the patrol car and this intense preoccupation of his was also responsible for the dancing house—he simply hadn't noticed. 50. [131] There was a certain amount of vibration, of course. 51. [132] He had a bootleg pipe connected into the dome blower system, and the high-pressure air caused some buffeting against the thin walls of the house. 52. [133] At least, he called it buffeting; he'd never thought to watch from outside. 53. [135] Crossing the living room he stopped to twist a draw-pull. 54. [136] Every window slammed shut. 55. [137] "Tight as a kite," he thought, satisfied. 56. [138] He continued on toward the closet at the foot of the stairs and then stopped again. 57. [139] Was that right? 58. [140] No, snug as a hug in a rug. 59. [141] He went on, thinking: The old devils. 60. [142] The downstairs closet was like a great watch case, a profusion of wheels surrounding the Master Mechanism, which was a miniature see-saw that went back and forth 365-1/4 times an hour. 61. [143] The wheels had a curious stateliness about them. 62. [144] They were all quite old, salvaged from grandfather's clocks and music boxes and they went around in graceful circles at the rate of 30 and 31 times an hour ... although there was one slightly eccentric cam that vacillated between 28 and 29. 63. [145] He watched as they spun and flashed in the darkness, and then set them for seven o'clock in the evening, April seventh, any year. 64. [146] Outside, the domed city vanished. 65. [147] It was replaced by an illusion. 66. [148] Or, as Fownes hoped it might appear, the illusion of the domed city vanished and was replaced by a more satisfactory, and, for his specific purpose, more functional, illusion. 67. [156] Blast, he'd never be able to figure that one out! 68. [162] It seemed all right. 69. [163] A dreamy sunset, an enchanted moon, flowers, scent. 70. [164] They were all purely speculative of course. 71. [165] He had no idea how a rose really smelled—or looked for that matter. 72. [166] Not to mention a moon. 73. [167] But then, neither did the widow. 74. [168] He'd have to be confident, assertive. 75. [169] Insist on it. 76. [170] I tell you, my dear, this is a genuine realistic romantic moon. 77. [171] Now, does it do anything to your pulse? 78. [172] Do you feel icy fingers marching up and down your spine? 79. [173] His own spine didn't seem to be affected. 80. [174] But then he hadn't read that book on ancient mores and courtship customs. 81. [175] How really odd the ancients were. 82. [176] Seduction seemed to be an incredibly long and drawn-out process, accompanied by a considerable amount of falsification. 83. [177] Communication seemed virtually impossible. 84. [178] "No" meant any number of things, depending on the tone of voice and the circumstances. 85. [179] It could mean yes, it could mean ask me again later on this evening. 86. [180] He went up the stairs to the bedroom closet and tried the rain-maker, thinking roguishly: Thou shalt not inundate. 87. [181] The risks he was taking! 88. [182] A shower fell gently on the garden and a male chorus began to chant Singing in the Rain. 89. [183] The last wheel in the bedroom closet was a rather elegant steering wheel from an old 1995 Studebaker. 90. [184] This was on the bootleg pipe; he gingerly turned it. 91. [185] Far below in the cellar there was a rumble and then the soft whistle of winds came to him. 92. [186] He went downstairs to watch out the living room window. 93. [187] This was important; the window had a really fixed attitude about air currents. 94. [188] The neon roses bent and tinkled against each other as the wind rose and the moon shook a trifle as it whispered Cuddle Up a Little Closer. 95. [189] He watched with folded arms, considering how he would start. 96. [190] My dear Mrs. Deshazaway. 97. [191] Too formal. 98. [192] They'd be looking out at the romantic garden; time to be a bit forward. 99. [193] My very dear Mrs. Deshazaway. 100. [194] No. 101. [195] Contrived. 102. [196] How about a simple, Dear Mrs. Deshazaway. 103. [197] That might be it. 104. [198] I was wondering, seeing as how it's so late, if you wouldn't rather stay over instead of going home.... 105. [199] Preoccupied, he hadn't noticed the winds building up, didn't hear the shaking and rattling of the pipes. 106. [200] There were attic pipes connected to wall pipes and wall pipes connected to cellar pipes, and they made one gigantic skeleton that began to rattle its bones and dance as high-pressure air from the dome blower rushed in, slowly opening the Studebaker valve wider and wider.... 107. [201] The neon roses thrashed about, extinguishing each other. 108. [202] The red sun shot off a mass of sparks and then quickly sank out of sight. 109. [203] The moon fell on the garden and rolled ponderously along, crooning When the Blue of the Night Meets the Gold of the Day. 110. [204] The shaking house finally woke him up. 111. [205] He scrambled upstairs to the Studebaker wheel and shut it off. 112. [206] At the window again, he sighed. 113. [207] Repairs were in order. 114. [208] And it wasn't the first time the winds got out of line. 115. [209] Why didn't she marry him and save all this bother? 116. [210] He shut it all down and went out the front door, wondering about the rhyme of the months, about stately August and eccentric February and romantic April. 117. [211] April. 118. [212] Its days were thirty and it followed September. 119. [213] And all the rest have thirty-one. 120. [214] What a strange people, the ancients! 121. [215] He still didn't see the orange car parked down the street. 122. [216] "Men are too perishable," Mrs. Deshazaway said over dinner. 123. [217] "For all practical purposes I'm never going to marry again. All my husbands die." 124. [218] "Would you pass the beets, please?" Humphrey Fownes said. 125. [219] She handed him a platter of steaming red beets. 126. [220] "And don't look at me that way," she said. 127. [221] "I'm not going to marry you and if you want reasons I'll give you four of them. 128. [222] Andrew. 129. [223] Curt. 130. [224] Norman. 131. [225] And Alphonse." 132. [226] The widow was a passionate woman. 133. [227] She did everything passionately—talking, cooking, dressing. 134. [228] Her beets were passionately red. 135. [229] Her clothes rustled and her high heels clicked and her jewelry tinkled. 136. [230] She was possessed by an uncontrollable dynamism. 137. [231] Fownes had never known anyone like her. 138. [232] "You forgot to put salt on the potatoes," she said passionately, then went on as calmly as it was possible for her to be, to explain why she couldn't marry him. 139. [235] "Do you have any idea what people are saying? 140. [236] They're all saying I'm a cannibal! 141. [237] I rob my husbands of their life force and when they're empty I carry their bodies outside on my way to the justice of the peace." 142. [238] "As long as there are people," he said philosophically, "there'll be talk." 143. [239] "But it's the air! 144. [240] Why don't they talk about that? 145. [241] The air is stale, I'm positive. 146. [242] It's not nourishing. 147. [243] The air is stale and Andrew, Curt, Norman and Alphonse couldn't stand it. 148. [244] Poor Alphonse. 149. [245] He was never so healthy as on the day he was born. 150. [246] From then on things got steadily worse for him." 151. [247] "I don't seem to mind the air." 152. [248] She threw up her hands. 153. [249] "You'd be the worst of the lot!" 154. [250] She left the table, rustling and tinkling about the room. 155. [251] "I can just hear them. 156. [252] Try some of the asparagus. 157. [253] Five. 158. [254] That's what they'd say. 159. [255] That woman did it again. 160. [256] And the plain fact is I don't want you on my record." 161. [257] "Really," Fownes protested. 162. [258] "I feel splendid. 163. [259] Never better." 164. [260] He could hear her moving about and then felt her hands on his shoulders. 165. [261] "And what about those very elaborate plans you've been making to seduce me?" 166. [262] Fownes froze with three asparagus hanging from his fork. 167. [263] "Don't you think they'll find out? 168. [264] I found out and you can bet they will. 169. [265] It's my fault, I guess. 170. [266] I talk too much. 171. [267] And I don't always tell the truth. 172. [268] To be completely honest with you, Mr. Fownes, it wasn't the old customs at all standing between us, it was air. 173. [269] I can't have another man die on me, it's bad for my self-esteem. 174. [270] And now you've gone and done something good and criminal, something peculiar." 175. [271] Fownes put his fork down. 176. [272] "Dear Mrs. Deshazaway," he started to say. 177. [273]

What are the features and significance of the Master Mechanism in the downstairs closet that Fownes owns?

[1] A FALL OF GLASS By STANLEY R. LEE Illustrated by DILLON [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Magazine October 1960. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] The weatherman was always right: Temperature, 59; humidity, 47%; occasional light showers—but of what? [4] The pockets of Mr. Humphrey Fownes were being picked outrageously. [5] It was a splendid day. [6] The temperature was a crisp 59 degrees, the humidity a mildly dessicated 47%. [7] The sun was a flaming orange ball in a cloudless blue sky. [8] His pockets were picked eleven times. [9] It should have been difficult. [10] Under the circumstances it was a masterpiece of pocket picking. [11] What made it possible was Humphrey Fownes' abstraction; he was an uncommonly preoccupied individual. [12] He was strolling along a quiet residential avenue: small private houses, one after another, a place of little traffic and minimum distractions. [13] But he was thinking about weather, which was an unusual subject to begin with for a person living in a domed city. [14] He was thinking so deeply about it that it never occurred to him that entirely too many people were bumping into him. [15] He was thinking about Optimum Dome Conditions (a crisp 59 degrees, a mildly dessicated 47%) when a bogus postman, who pretended to be reading a postal card, jostled him. [16] In the confusion of spilled letters and apologies from both sides, the postman rifled Fownes's handkerchief and inside jacket pockets. [17] He was still thinking about temperature and humidity when a pretty girl happened along with something in her eye. [18] They collided. [19] She got his right and left jacket pockets. [20] It was much too much for coincidence. [21] The sidewalk was wide enough to allow four people to pass at one time. [22] He should surely have become suspicious when two men engaged in a heated argument came along. [23] In the ensuing contretemps they emptied his rear pants pockets, got his wristwatch and restored the contents of the handkerchief pocket. [24] It all went off very smoothly, like a game of put and take—the sole difference being that Humphrey Fownes had no idea he was playing. [25] There was an occasional tinkle of falling glass. [26] It fell on the streets and houses, making small geysers of shiny mist, hitting with a gentle musical sound, like the ephemeral droppings of a celesta. [27] It was precipitation peculiar to a dome: feather-light fragments showering harmlessly on the city from time to time. [28] Dome weevils, their metal arms reaching out with molten glass, roamed the huge casserole, ceaselessly patching and repairing. [29] Humphrey Fownes strode through the puffs of falling glass still intrigued by a temperature that was always 59 degrees, by a humidity that was always 47%, by weather that was always Optimum. [30] It was this rather than skill that enabled the police to maintain such a tight surveillance on him, a surveillance that went to the extent of getting his fingerprints off the postman's bag, and which photographed, X-rayed and chemically analyzed the contents of his pockets before returning them. [31] Two blocks away from his home a careless housewife spilled a five-pound bag of flour as he was passing. [32] It was really plaster of Paris. [33] He left his shoe prints, stride measurement, height, weight and handedness behind. [34] By the time Fownes reached his front door an entire dossier complete with photographs had been prepared and was being read by two men in an orange patrol car parked down the street. [35] Lanfierre had undoubtedly been affected by his job. [36] Sitting behind the wheel of the orange car, he watched Humphrey Fownes approach with a distinct feeling of admiration, although it was an odd, objective kind of admiration, clinical in nature. [37] It was similar to that of a pathologist observing for the first time a new and particularly virulent strain of pneumococcus under his microscope. [38] Lanfierre's job was to ferret out aberration. [39] It couldn't be tolerated within the confines of a dome. [40] Conformity had become more than a social force; it was a physical necessity. [41] And, after years of working at it, Lanfierre had become an admirer of eccentricity. [42] He came to see that genuine quirks were rare and, as time went on, due partly to his own small efforts, rarer. [43] Fownes was a masterpiece of queerness. [44] He was utterly inexplicable. [45] Lanfierre was almost proud of Humphrey Fownes. [46] "Sometimes his house shakes ," Lanfierre said. [47] "House shakes," Lieutenant MacBride wrote in his notebook. [48] Then he stopped and frowned. [49] He reread what he'd just written. [50] "You heard right. [51] The house shakes ," Lanfierre said, savoring it. [52] MacBride looked at the Fownes house through the magnifying glass of the windshield. [53] "Like from ... side to side ?" [54] he asked in a somewhat patronizing tone of voice. [55] "And up and down." [56] MacBride returned the notebook to the breast pocket of his orange uniform. [57] "Go on," he said, amused. [58] "It sounds interesting." [59] He tossed the dossier carelessly on the back seat. [60] Lanfierre sat stiffly behind the wheel, affronted. [61] The cynical MacBride couldn't really appreciate fine aberrations. [62] In some ways MacBride was a barbarian. [63] Lanfierre had held out on Fownes for months. [64] He had even contrived to engage him in conversation once, a pleasantly absurd, irrational little chat that titillated him for weeks. [65] It was only with the greatest reluctance that he finally mentioned Fownes to MacBride. [66] After years of searching for differences Lanfierre had seen how extraordinarily repetitious people were, echoes really, dimly resounding echoes, each believing itself whole and separate. [67] They spoke in an incessant chatter of cliches, and their actions were unbelievably trite. [68] Then a fine robust freak came along and the others—the echoes—refused to believe it. [69] The lieutenant was probably on the point of suggesting a vacation. [70] "Why don't you take a vacation?" [71] Lieutenant MacBride suggested. [72] "It's like this, MacBride. [73] Do you know what a wind is? [74] A breeze? [75] A zephyr?" [76] "I've heard some." [77] "They say there are mountain-tops where winds blow all the time. [78] Strong winds, MacBride. [79] Winds like you and I can't imagine. [80] And if there was a house sitting on such a mountain and if winds did blow, it would shake exactly the way that one does. [81] Sometimes I get the feeling the whole place is going to slide off its foundation and go sailing down the avenue." [82] Lieutenant MacBride pursed his lips. [83] "I'll tell you something else," Lanfierre went on. [84] "The windows all close at the same time. [85] You'll be watching and all of a sudden every single window in the place will drop to its sill." [86] Lanfierre leaned back in the seat, his eyes still on the house. [87] "Sometimes I think there's a whole crowd of people in there waiting for a signal—as if they all had something important to say but had to close the windows first so no one could hear. [88] Why else close the windows in a domed city? [89] And then as soon as the place is buttoned up they all explode into conversation—and that's why the house shakes." [90] MacBride whistled. [91] "No, I don't need a vacation." [92] A falling piece of glass dissolved into a puff of gossamer against the windshield. [93] Lanfierre started and bumped his knee on the steering wheel. [94] "No, you don't need a rest," MacBride said. [95] "You're starting to see flying houses, hear loud babbling voices. [96] You've got winds in your brain, Lanfierre, breezes of fatigue, zephyrs of irrationality—" At that moment, all at once, every last window in the house slammed shut. [97] The street was deserted and quiet, not a movement, not a sound. [98] MacBride and Lanfierre both leaned forward, as if waiting for the ghostly babble of voices to commence. [99] The house began to shake. [100] It rocked from side to side, it pitched forward and back, it yawed and dipped and twisted, straining at the mooring of its foundation. [101] The house could have been preparing to take off and sail down the.... MacBride looked at Lanfierre and Lanfierre looked at MacBride and then they both looked back at the dancing house. [102] "And the water ," Lanfierre said. [103] "The water he uses! [104] He could be the thirstiest and cleanest man in the city. [105] He could have a whole family of thirsty and clean kids, and he still wouldn't need all that water." [106] The lieutenant had picked up the dossier. [107] He thumbed through the pages now in amazement. [108] "Where do you get a guy like this?" [109] he asked. [110] "Did you see what he carries in his pockets?" [111] "And compasses won't work on this street." [112] The lieutenant lit a cigarette and sighed. [113] He usually sighed when making the decision to raid a dwelling. [114] It expressed his weariness and distaste for people who went off and got neurotic when they could be enjoying a happy, normal existence. [115] There was something implacable about his sighs. [116] "He'll be coming out soon," Lanfierre said. [117] "He eats supper next door with a widow. [118] Then he goes to the library. [119] Always the same. [120] Supper at the widow's next door and then the library." [121] MacBride's eyebrows went up a fraction of an inch. [122] "The library?" [123] he said. [124] "Is he in with that bunch?" [125] Lanfierre nodded. [126] "Should be very interesting," MacBride said slowly. [127] "I can't wait to see what he's got in there," Lanfierre murmured, watching the house with a consuming interest. [128] They sat there smoking in silence and every now and then their eyes widened as the house danced a new step. [129] Fownes stopped on the porch to brush the plaster of paris off his shoes. [130] He hadn't seen the patrol car and this intense preoccupation of his was also responsible for the dancing house—he simply hadn't noticed. [131] There was a certain amount of vibration, of course. [132] He had a bootleg pipe connected into the dome blower system, and the high-pressure air caused some buffeting against the thin walls of the house. [133] At least, he called it buffeting; he'd never thought to watch from outside. [134] He went in and threw his jacket on the sofa, there being no room left in the closets. [135] Crossing the living room he stopped to twist a draw-pull. [136] Every window slammed shut. [137] "Tight as a kite," he thought, satisfied. [138] He continued on toward the closet at the foot of the stairs and then stopped again. [139] Was that right? [140] No, snug as a hug in a rug . [141] He went on, thinking: The old devils. [142] The downstairs closet was like a great watch case, a profusion of wheels surrounding the Master Mechanism, which was a miniature see-saw that went back and forth 365-1/4 times an hour. [143] The wheels had a curious stateliness about them. [144] They were all quite old, salvaged from grandfather's clocks and music boxes and they went around in graceful circles at the rate of 30 and 31 times an hour ... although there was one slightly eccentric cam that vacillated between 28 and 29. [145] He watched as they spun and flashed in the darkness, and then set them for seven o'clock in the evening, April seventh, any year. [146] Outside, the domed city vanished. [147] It was replaced by an illusion. [148] Or, as Fownes hoped it might appear, the illusion of the domed city vanished and was replaced by a more satisfactory, and, for his specific purpose, more functional, illusion. [149] Looking through the window he saw only a garden. [150] Instead of an orange sun at perpetual high noon, there was a red sun setting brilliantly, marred only by an occasional arcover which left the smell of ozone in the air. [151] There was also a gigantic moon. [152] It hid a huge area of sky, and it sang. [153] The sun and moon both looked down upon a garden that was itself scintillant, composed largely of neon roses. [154] Moonlight, he thought, and roses. [155] Satisfactory. [156] And cocktails for two. [157] Blast, he'd never be able to figure that one out! [158] He watched as the moon played, Oh, You Beautiful Doll and the neon roses flashed slowly from red to violet, then went back to the closet and turned on the scent. [159] The house began to smell like an immensely concentrated rose as the moon shifted to People Will Say We're In Love . [160] He rubbed his chin critically. [161] It seemed all right. [162] A dreamy sunset, an enchanted moon, flowers, scent. [163] They were all purely speculative of course. [164] He had no idea how a rose really smelled—or looked for that matter. [165] Not to mention a moon. [166] But then, neither did the widow. [167] He'd have to be confident, assertive. [168] Insist on it. [169] I tell you, my dear, this is a genuine realistic romantic moon. [170] Now, does it do anything to your pulse? [171] Do you feel icy fingers marching up and down your spine? [172] His own spine didn't seem to be affected. [173] But then he hadn't read that book on ancient mores and courtship customs. [174] How really odd the ancients were. [175] Seduction seemed to be an incredibly long and drawn-out process, accompanied by a considerable amount of falsification. [176] Communication seemed virtually impossible. [177] "No" meant any number of things, depending on the tone of voice and the circumstances. [178] It could mean yes, it could mean ask me again later on this evening. [179] He went up the stairs to the bedroom closet and tried the rain-maker, thinking roguishly: Thou shalt not inundate. [180] The risks he was taking! [181] A shower fell gently on the garden and a male chorus began to chant Singing in the Rain . [182] Undiminished, the yellow moon and the red sun continued to be brilliant, although the sun occasionally arced over and demolished several of the neon roses. [183] The last wheel in the bedroom closet was a rather elegant steering wheel from an old 1995 Studebaker. [184] This was on the bootleg pipe; he gingerly turned it. [185] Far below in the cellar there was a rumble and then the soft whistle of winds came to him. [186] He went downstairs to watch out the living room window. [187] This was important; the window had a really fixed attitude about air currents. [188] The neon roses bent and tinkled against each other as the wind rose and the moon shook a trifle as it whispered Cuddle Up a Little Closer . [189] He watched with folded arms, considering how he would start. [190] My dear Mrs. Deshazaway. [191] Too formal. [192] They'd be looking out at the romantic garden; time to be a bit forward. [193] My very dear Mrs. Deshazaway. [194] No. [195] Contrived. [196] How about a simple, Dear Mrs. Deshazaway . [197] That might be it. [198] I was wondering, seeing as how it's so late, if you wouldn't rather stay over instead of going home.... [199] Preoccupied, he hadn't noticed the winds building up, didn't hear the shaking and rattling of the pipes. [200] There were attic pipes connected to wall pipes and wall pipes connected to cellar pipes, and they made one gigantic skeleton that began to rattle its bones and dance as high-pressure air from the dome blower rushed in, slowly opening the Studebaker valve wider and wider.... [201] The neon roses thrashed about, extinguishing each other. [202] The red sun shot off a mass of sparks and then quickly sank out of sight. [203] The moon fell on the garden and rolled ponderously along, crooning When the Blue of the Night Meets the Gold of the Day . [204] The shaking house finally woke him up. [205] He scrambled upstairs to the Studebaker wheel and shut it off. [206] At the window again, he sighed. [207] Repairs were in order. [208] And it wasn't the first time the winds got out of line. [209] Why didn't she marry him and save all this bother? [210] He shut it all down and went out the front door, wondering about the rhyme of the months, about stately August and eccentric February and romantic April. [211] April. [212] Its days were thirty and it followed September. [213] And all the rest have thirty-one. [214] What a strange people, the ancients! [215] He still didn't see the orange car parked down the street. [216] "Men are too perishable," Mrs. Deshazaway said over dinner. [217] "For all practical purposes I'm never going to marry again. [218] All my husbands die." [219] "Would you pass the beets, please?" [220] Humphrey Fownes said. [221] She handed him a platter of steaming red beets. [222] "And don't look at me that way," she said. [223] "I'm not going to marry you and if you want reasons I'll give you four of them. [224] Andrew. [225] Curt. [226] Norman. [227] And Alphonse." [228] The widow was a passionate woman. [229] She did everything passionately—talking, cooking, dressing. [230] Her beets were passionately red. [231] Her clothes rustled and her high heels clicked and her jewelry tinkled. [232] She was possessed by an uncontrollable dynamism. [233] Fownes had never known anyone like her. [234] "You forgot to put salt on the potatoes," she said passionately, then went on as calmly as it was possible for her to be, to explain why she couldn't marry him. [235] "Do you have any idea what people are saying? [236] They're all saying I'm a cannibal! [237] I rob my husbands of their life force and when they're empty I carry their bodies outside on my way to the justice of the peace." [238] "As long as there are people," he said philosophically, "there'll be talk." [239] "But it's the air! [240] Why don't they talk about that? [241] The air is stale, I'm positive. [242] It's not nourishing. [243] The air is stale and Andrew, Curt, Norman and Alphonse couldn't stand it. [244] Poor Alphonse. [245] He was never so healthy as on the day he was born. [246] From then on things got steadily worse for him." [247] "I don't seem to mind the air." [248] She threw up her hands. [249] "You'd be the worst of the lot!" [250] She left the table, rustling and tinkling about the room. [251] "I can just hear them. [252] Try some of the asparagus. [253] Five. [254] That's what they'd say. [255] That woman did it again. [256] And the plain fact is I don't want you on my record." [257] "Really," Fownes protested. [258] "I feel splendid. [259] Never better." [260] He could hear her moving about and then felt her hands on his shoulders. [261] "And what about those very elaborate plans you've been making to seduce me?" [262] Fownes froze with three asparagus hanging from his fork. [263] "Don't you think they'll find out? [264] I found out and you can bet they will. [265] It's my fault, I guess. [266] I talk too much. [267] And I don't always tell the truth. [268] To be completely honest with you, Mr. Fownes, it wasn't the old customs at all standing between us, it was air. [269] I can't have another man die on me, it's bad for my self-esteem. [270] And now you've gone and done something good and criminal, something peculiar." [271] Fownes put his fork down. [272] "Dear Mrs. Deshazaway," he started to say. [273] "And of course when they do find out and they ask you why, Mr. Fownes, you'll tell them. [274] No, no heroics, please! [275] When they ask a man a question he always answers and you will too. [276] You'll tell them I wanted to be courted and when they hear that they'll be around to ask me a few questions. [277] You see, we're both a bit queer." [278] "I hadn't thought of that," Fownes said quietly. [279] "Oh, it doesn't really matter. [280] I'll join Andrew, Curt, Norman—" "That won't be necessary," Fownes said with unusual force. [281] "With all due respect to Andrew, Curt, Norman and Alphonse, I might as well state here and now I have other plans for you, Mrs. [282] Deshazaway." [283] "But my dear Mr. Fownes," she said, leaning across the table. [284] "We're lost, you and I." [285] "Not if we could leave the dome," Fownes said quietly. [286] "That's impossible! [287] How?" [288] In no hurry, now that he had the widow's complete attention, Fownes leaned across the table and whispered: "Fresh air, Mrs. Deshazaway? [289] Space? [290] Miles and miles of space where the real-estate monopoly has no control whatever? [291] Where the wind blows across prairies ; or is it the other way around? [292] No matter. [293] How would you like that , Mrs. [294] Deshazaway?" [295] Breathing somewhat faster than usual, the widow rested her chin on her two hands. [296] "Pray continue," she said. [297] "Endless vistas of moonlight and roses? [298] April showers, Mrs. Deshazaway. [299] And June, which as you may know follows directly upon April and is supposed to be the month of brides, of marrying. [300] June also lies beyond the dome." [301] "I see." [302] " And ," Mr. Fownes added, his voice a honeyed whisper, "they say that somewhere out in the space and the roses and the moonlight, the sleeping equinox yawns and rises because on a certain day it's vernal and that's when it roams the Open Country where geigers no longer scintillate." [303] " My. " [304] Mrs. Deshazaway rose, paced slowly to the window and then came back to the table, standing directly over Fownes. [305] "If you can get us outside the dome," she said, "out where a man stays warm long enough for his wife to get to know him ... if you can do that, Mr. Fownes ... you may call me Agnes." [306] When Humphrey Fownes stepped out of the widow's house, there was a look of such intense abstraction on his features that Lanfierre felt a wistful desire to get out of the car and walk along with the man. [307] It would be such a deliciously insane experience. [308] ("April has thirty days," Fownes mumbled, passing them, "because thirty is the largest number such that all smaller numbers not having a common divisor with it are primes ." [309] MacBride frowned and added it to the dossier. [310] Lanfierre sighed.) [311] Pinning his hopes on the Movement, Fownes went straight to the library several blocks away, a shattered depressing place given over to government publications and censored old books with holes in them. [312] It was used so infrequently that the Movement was able to meet there undisturbed. [313] The librarian was a yellowed, dog-eared woman of eighty. [314] She spent her days reading ancient library cards and, like the books around her, had been rendered by time's own censor into near unintelligibility. [315] "Here's one," she said to him as he entered. " [316] Gulliver's Travels. [317] Loaned to John Wesley Davidson on March 14, 1979 for five days. [318] What do you make of it?" [319] In the litter of books and cards and dried out ink pads that surrounded the librarian, Fownes noticed a torn dust jacket with a curious illustration. [320] "What's that?" [321] he said. [322] "A twister," she replied quickly. [323] "Now listen to this . [324] Seven years later on March 21, 1986, Ella Marshall Davidson took out the same book. [325] What do you make of that ?" [326] "I'd say," Humphrey Fownes said, "that he ... that he recommended it to her, that one day they met in the street and he told her about this book and then they ... they went to the library together and she borrowed it and eventually, why eventually they got married." [327] "Hah! [328] They were brother and sister!" [329] the librarian shouted in her parched voice, her old buckram eyes laughing with cunning. [330] Fownes smiled weakly and looked again at the dust jacket. [331] The twister was unquestionably a meteorological phenomenon. [332] It spun ominously, like a malevolent top, and coursed the countryside destructively, carrying a Dorothy to an Oz. [333] He couldn't help wondering if twisters did anything to feminine pulses, if they could possibly be a part of a moonlit night, with cocktails and roses. [334] He absently stuffed the dust jacket in his pocket and went on into the other rooms, the librarian mumbling after him: "Edna Murdoch Featherstone, April 21, 1991," as though reading inscriptions on a tombstone. [335] The Movement met in what had been the children's room, where unpaid ladies of the afternoon had once upon a time read stories to other people's offspring. [336] The members sat around at the miniature tables looking oddly like giants fled from their fairy tales, protesting. [337] "Where did the old society fail?" [338] the leader was demanding of them. [339] He stood in the center of the room, leaning on a heavy knobbed cane. [340] He glanced around at the group almost complacently, and waited as Humphrey Fownes squeezed into an empty chair. [341] "We live in a dome," the leader said, "for lack of something. [342] An invention! [343] What is the one thing that the great technological societies before ours could not invent, notwithstanding their various giant brains, electronic and otherwise?" [344] Fownes was the kind of man who never answered a rhetorical question. [345] He waited, uncomfortable in the tight chair, while the others struggled with this problem in revolutionary dialectics. " [346] A sound foreign policy ," the leader said, aware that no one else had obtained the insight. [347] "If a sound foreign policy can't be created the only alternative is not to have any foreign policy at all. [348] Thus the movement into domes began— by common consent of the governments . [349] This is known as self-containment." [350] Dialectically out in left field, Humphrey Fownes waited for a lull in the ensuing discussion and then politely inquired how it might be arranged for him to get out. [351] "Out?" [352] the leader said, frowning. [353] "Out? [354] Out where?" [355] "Outside the dome." [356] "Oh. [357] All in good time, my friend. [358] One day we shall all pick up and leave." [359] "And that day I'll await impatiently," Fownes replied with marvelous tact, "because it will be lonely out there for the two of us. [360] My future wife and I have to leave now ." [361] "Nonsense. [362] Ridiculous! [363] You have to be prepared for the Open Country. [364] You can't just up and leave, it would be suicide, Fownes. [365] And dialectically very poor." [366] "Then you have discussed preparations, the practical necessities of life in the Open Country. [367] Food, clothing, a weapon perhaps? [368] What else? [369] Have I left anything out?" [370] The leader sighed. [371] "The gentleman wants to know if he's left anything out," he said to the group. [372] Fownes looked around at them, at some dozen pained expressions. [373] "Tell the man what he's forgotten," the leader said, walking to the far window and turning his back quite pointedly on them. [374] Everyone spoke at the same moment. " [375] A sound foreign policy ," they all said, it being almost too obvious for words. [376] On his way out the librarian shouted at him: " A Tale of a Tub , thirty-five years overdue!" [377] She was calculating the fine as he closed the door. [378] Humphrey Fownes' preoccupation finally came to an end when he was one block away from his house. [379] It was then that he realized something unusual must have occurred. [380] An orange patrol car of the security police was parked at his front door. [381] And something else was happening too. [382] His house was dancing. [383] It was disconcerting, and at the same time enchanting, to watch one's residence frisking about on its foundation. [384] It was such a strange sight that for the moment he didn't give a thought to what might be causing it. [385] But when he stepped gingerly onto the porch, which was doing its own independent gavotte, he reached for the doorknob with an immense curiosity. [386] The door flung itself open and knocked him back off the porch. [387] From a prone position on his miniscule front lawn, Fownes watched as his favorite easy chair sailed out of the living room on a blast of cold air and went pinwheeling down the avenue in the bright sunshine. [388] A wild wind and a thick fog poured out of the house. [389] It brought chairs, suits, small tables, lamps trailing their cords, ashtrays, sofa cushions. [390] The house was emptying itself fiercely, as if disgorging an old, spoiled meal. [391] From deep inside he could hear the rumble of his ancient upright piano as it rolled ponderously from room to room. [392] He stood up; a wet wind swept over him, whipping at his face, toying with his hair. [393] It was a whistling in his ears, and a tingle on his cheeks. [394] He got hit by a shoe. [395] As he forced his way back to the doorway needles of rain played over his face and he heard a voice cry out from somewhere in the living room. [396] "Help!" [397] Lieutenant MacBride called. [398] Standing in the doorway with his wet hair plastered down on his dripping scalp, the wind roaring about him, the piano rumbling in the distance like thunder, Humphrey Fownes suddenly saw it all very clearly. " [399] Winds ," he said in a whisper. [400] "What's happening?" [401] MacBride yelled, crouching behind the sofa. " [402] March winds," he said. [403] "What?!" [404] "April showers!" [405] The winds roared for a moment and then MacBride's lost voice emerged from the blackness of the living room. [406] "These are not Optimum Dome Conditions!" [407] the voice wailed. [408] "The temperature is not 59 degrees. [409] The humidity is not 47%!" [410] Fownes held his face up to let the rain fall on it. [411] "Moonlight!" [412] he shouted. [413] "Roses! [414] My soul for a cocktail for two!" [415] He grasped the doorway to keep from being blown out of the house. [416] "Are you going to make it stop or aren't you!" [417] MacBride yelled. [418] "You'll have to tell me what you did first!" [419] "I told him not to touch that wheel! [420] Lanfierre. [421] He's in the upstairs bedroom!" [422] When he heard this Fownes plunged into the house and fought his way up the stairs. [423] He found Lanfierre standing outside the bedroom with a wheel in his hand. [424] "What have I done?" [425] Lanfierre asked in the monotone of shock. [426] Fownes took the wheel. [427] It was off a 1995 Studebaker. [428] "I'm not sure what's going to come of this," he said to Lanfierre with an astonishing amount of objectivity, "but the entire dome air supply is now coming through my bedroom." [429] The wind screamed. [430] "Is there something I can turn?" [431] Lanfierre asked. [432] "Not any more there isn't." [433] They started down the stairs carefully, but the wind caught them and they quickly reached the bottom in a wet heap. [434] Recruiting Lieutenant MacBride from behind his sofa, the men carefully edged out of the house and forced the front door shut. [435] The wind died. [436] The fog dispersed. [437] They stood dripping in the Optimum Dome Conditions of the bright avenue. [438] "I never figured on this ," Lanfierre said, shaking his head. [439] With the front door closed the wind quickly built up inside the house. [440] They could see the furnishing whirl past the windows. [441] The house did a wild, elated jig. [442] "What kind of a place is this?" [443] MacBride said, his courage beginning to return. [444] He took out his notebook but it was a soggy mess. [445] He tossed it away. [446] "Sure, he was different ," Lanfierre murmured. [447] "I knew that much." [448] When the roof blew off they weren't really surprised. [449] With a certain amount of equanimity they watched it lift off almost gracefully, standing on end for a moment before toppling to the ground. [450] It was strangely slow motion, as was the black twirling cloud that now rose out of the master bedroom, spewing shorts and socks and cases every which way. " [451] Now what?" [452] MacBride said, thoroughly exasperated, as this strange black cloud began to accelerate, whirling about like some malevolent top.... Humphrey Fownes took out the dust jacket he'd found in the library. [453] He held it up and carefully compared the spinning cloud in his bedroom with the illustration. [454] The cloud rose and spun, assuming the identical shape of the illustration. [455] "It's a twister," he said softly. [456] "A Kansas twister!" [457] "What," MacBride asked, his bravado slipping away again, "what ... is a twister?" [458] The twister roared and moved out of the bedroom, out over the rear of the house toward the side of the dome. [459] "It says here," Fownes shouted over the roaring, "that Dorothy traveled from Kansas to Oz in a twister and that ... and that Oz is a wonderful and mysterious land beyond the confines of everyday living ." [460] MacBride's eyes and mouth were great zeros. [461] "Is there something I can turn?" [462] Lanfierre asked. [463] Huge chunks of glass began to fall around them. [464] "Fownes!" [465] MacBride shouted. [466] "This is a direct order! [467] Make it go back!" [468] But Fownes had already begun to run on toward the next house, dodging mountainous puffs of glass as he went. [469] "Mrs. [470] Deshazaway!" [471] he shouted. [472] "Yoo-hoo, Mrs. [473] Deshazaway!" [474] The dome weevils were going berserk trying to keep up with the precipitation. [475] They whirred back and forth at frightful speed, then, emptied of molten glass, rushed to the Trough which they quickly emptied and then rushed about empty-handed. [476] "Yoo-hoo!" [477] he yelled, running. [478] The artificial sun vanished behind the mushrooming twister. [479] Optimum temperature collapsed. [480] "Mrs. Deshazaway! [481] Agnes , will you marry me? [482] Yoo-hoo!" [483] Lanfierre and Lieutenant MacBride leaned against their car and waited, dazed. [484] There was quite a large fall of glass.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences in order of importance for answering the question: 1. [142] The downstairs closet was like a great watch case, a profusion of wheels surrounding the Master Mechanism, which was a miniature see-saw that went back and forth 365-1/4 times an hour. 2. [143] The wheels had a curious stateliness about them. 3. [144] They were all quite old, salvaged from grandfather's clocks and music boxes and they went around in graceful circles at the rate of 30 and 31 times an hour ... although there was one slightly eccentric cam that vacillated between 28 and 29. 4. [145] He watched as they spun and flashed in the darkness, and then set them for seven o'clock in the evening, April seventh, any year. 5. [146] Outside, the domed city vanished. 6. [147] It was replaced by an illusion. 7. [148] Or, as Fownes hoped it might appear, the illusion of the domed city vanished and was replaced by a more satisfactory, and, for his specific purpose, more functional, illusion. 8. [149] Looking through the window he saw only a garden. 9. [150] Instead of an orange sun at perpetual high noon, there was a red sun setting brilliantly, marred only by an occasional arcover which left the smell of ozone in the air. 10. [151] There was also a gigantic moon. 11. [152] It hid a huge area of sky, and it sang. 12. [153] The sun and moon both looked down upon a garden that was itself scintillant, composed largely of neon roses. 13. [154] Moonlight, he thought, and roses. 14. [155] Satisfactory. 15. [156] And cocktails for two. 16. [157] Blast, he'd never be able to figure that one out! 17. [158] He watched as the moon played, Oh, You Beautiful Doll and the neon roses flashed slowly from red to violet, then went back to the closet and turned on the scent. 18. [159] The house began to smell like an immensely concentrated rose as the moon shifted to People Will Say We're In Love . 19. [160] He rubbed his chin critically. 20. [161] It seemed all right. 21. [162] A dreamy sunset, an enchanted moon, flowers, scent. 22. [163] They were all purely speculative of course. 23. [164] He had no idea how a rose really smelled—or looked for that matter. 24. [165] Not to mention a moon. 25. [166] But then, neither did the widow. 26. [167] He'd have to be confident, assertive. 27. [168] Insist on it. 28. [169] I tell you, my dear, this is a genuine realistic romantic moon. 29. [170] Now, does it do anything to your pulse? 30. [171] Do you feel icy fingers marching up and down your spine? 31. [172] His own spine didn't seem to be affected. 32. [173] But then he hadn't read that book on ancient mores and courtship customs. 33. [174] How really odd the ancients were. 34. [175] Seduction seemed to be an incredibly long and drawn-out process, accompanied by a considerable amount of falsification. 35. [176] Communication seemed virtually impossible. 36. [177] "No" meant any number of things, depending on the tone of voice and the circumstances. 37. [178] It could mean yes, it could mean ask me again later on this evening. 38. [179] He went up the stairs to the bedroom closet and tried the rain-maker, thinking roguishly: Thou shalt not inundate. 39. [180] The risks he was taking! 40. [181] A shower fell gently on the garden and a male chorus began to chant Singing in the Rain . 41. [182] Undiminished, the yellow moon and the red sun continued to be brilliant, although the sun occasionally arced over and demolished several of the neon roses. 42. [183] The last wheel in the bedroom closet was a rather elegant steering wheel from an old 1995 Studebaker. 43. [184] This was on the bootleg pipe; he gingerly turned it. 44. [185] Far below in the cellar there was a rumble and then the soft whistle of winds came to him. 45. [186] He went downstairs to watch out the living room window. 46. [187] This was important; the window had a really fixed attitude about air currents. 47. [188] The neon roses bent and tinkled against each other as the wind rose and the moon shook a trifle as it whispered Cuddle Up a Little Closer . 48. [189] He watched with folded arms, considering how he would start. 49. [190] My dear Mrs. Deshazaway. 50. [191] Too formal. 51. [192] They'd be looking out at the romantic garden; time to be a bit forward. 52. [193] My very dear Mrs. Deshazaway. 53. [194] No. 54. [195] Contrived. 55. [196] How about a simple, Dear Mrs. Deshazaway . 56. [197] That might be it. 57. [198] I was wondering, seeing as how it's so late, if you wouldn't rather stay over instead of going home.... 58. [199] Preoccupied, he hadn't noticed the winds building up, didn't hear the shaking and rattling of the pipes. 59. [200] There were attic pipes connected to wall pipes and wall pipes connected to cellar pipes, and they made one gigantic skeleton that began to rattle its bones and dance as high-pressure air from the dome blower rushed in, slowly opening the Studebaker valve wider and wider.... 60. [201] The neon roses thrashed about, extinguishing each other. 61. [202] The red sun shot off a mass of sparks and then quickly sank out of sight. 62. [203] The moon fell on the garden and rolled ponderously along, crooning When the Blue of the Night Meets the Gold of the Day . 63. [204] The shaking house finally woke him up. 64. [205] He scrambled upstairs to the Studebaker wheel and shut it off. 65. [206] At the window again, he sighed. 66. [207] Repairs were in order. 67. [208] And it wasn't the first time the winds got out of line. 68. [209] Why didn't she marry him and save all this bother? 69. [210] He shut it all down and went out the front door, wondering about the rhyme of the months, about stately August and eccentric February and romantic April. 70. [211] April. 71. [212] Its days were thirty and it followed September. 72. [213] And all the rest have thirty-one. 73. [214] What a strange people, the ancients!

What is the plot of the story?

[1] SURVIVAL TACTICS By AL SEVCIK ILLUSTRATOR NOVICK The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way. [2] Then the robots figured out an additional service—putting Man out of his misery. [3] There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away. [4] Then another. [5] Alan stopped, puzzled. [6] Two more blasts, quickly together, and the sound of a scream faintly. [7] Frowning, worrying about the sounds, Alan momentarily forgot to watch his step until his foot suddenly plunged into an ant hill, throwing him to the jungle floor. [8] "Damn!" [9] He cursed again, for the tenth time, and stood uncertainly in the dimness. [10] From tall, moss-shrouded trees, wrist-thick vines hung quietly, scraping the spongy ground like the tentacles of some monstrous tree-bound octopus. [11] Fitful little plants grew straggly in the shadows of the mossy trunks, forming a dense underbrush that made walking difficult. [12] At midday some few of the blue sun's rays filtered through to the jungle floor, but now, late afternoon on the planet, the shadows were long and gloomy. [13] Alan peered around him at the vine-draped shadows, listening to the soft rustlings and faint twig-snappings of life in the jungle. [14] Two short, popping sounds echoed across the stillness, drowned out almost immediately and silenced by an explosive crash. [15] Alan started, "Blaster fighting! [16] But it can't be!" [17] Suddenly anxious, he slashed a hurried X in one of the trees to mark his position then turned to follow a line of similar marks back through the jungle. [18] He tried to run, but vines blocked his way and woody shrubs caught at his legs, tripping him and holding him back. [19] Then, through the trees he saw the clearing of the camp site, the temporary home for the scout ship and the eleven men who, with Alan, were the only humans on the jungle planet, Waiamea. [20] Stepping through the low shrubbery at the edge of the site, he looked across the open area to the two temporary structures, the camp headquarters where the power supplies and the computer were; and the sleeping quarters. [21] Beyond, nose high, stood the silver scout ship that had brought the advance exploratory party of scientists and technicians to Waiamea three days before. [22] Except for a few of the killer robots rolling slowly around the camp site on their quiet treads, there was no one about. [23] "So, they've finally got those things working." [24] Alan smiled slightly. [25] "Guess that means I owe Pete a bourbon-and-soda for sure. [26] Anybody who can build a robot that hunts by homing in on animals' mind impulses ..." He stepped forward just as a roar of blue flame dissolved the branches of a tree, barely above his head. [27] Without pausing to think, Alan leaped back, and fell sprawling over a bush just as one of the robots rolled silently up from the right, lowering its blaster barrel to aim directly at his head. [28] Alan froze. [29] "My God, Pete built those things wrong!" [30] Suddenly a screeching whirlwind of claws and teeth hurled itself from the smoldering branches and crashed against the robot, clawing insanely at the antenna and blaster barrel. [31] With an awkward jerk the robot swung around and fired its blaster, completely dissolving the lower half of the cat creature which had clung across the barrel. [32] But the back pressure of the cat's body overloaded the discharge circuits. [33] The robot started to shake, then clicked sharply as an overload relay snapped and shorted the blaster cells. [34] The killer turned and rolled back towards the camp, leaving Alan alone. [35] Shakily, Alan crawled a few feet back into the undergrowth where he could lie and watch the camp, but not himself be seen. [36] Though visibility didn't make any difference to the robots, he felt safer, somehow, hidden. [37] He knew now what the shooting sounds had been and why there hadn't been anyone around the camp site. [38] A charred blob lying in the grass of the clearing confirmed his hypothesis. [39] His stomach felt sick. [40] "I suppose," he muttered to himself, "that Pete assembled these robots in a batch and then activated them all at once, probably never living to realize that they're tuned to pick up human brain waves, too. [41] Damn! [42] Damn!" [43] His eyes blurred and he slammed his fist into the soft earth. [44] When he raised his eyes again the jungle was perceptibly darker. [45] Stealthy rustlings in the shadows grew louder with the setting sun. [46] Branches snapped unaccountably in the trees overhead and every now and then leaves or a twig fell softly to the ground, close to where he lay. [47] Reaching into his jacket, Alan fingered his pocket blaster. [48] He pulled it out and held it in his right hand. [49] "This pop gun wouldn't even singe a robot, but it just might stop one of those pumas." [50] They said the blast with your name on it would find you anywhere. [51] This looked like Alan's blast. [52] Slowly Alan looked around, sizing up his situation. [53] Behind him the dark jungle rustled forbiddingly. [54] He shuddered. [55] "Not a very healthy spot to spend the night. [56] On the other hand, I certainly can't get to the camp with a pack of mind-activated mechanical killers running around. [57] If I can just hold out until morning, when the big ship arrives ... [58] The big ship! [59] Good Lord, Peggy!" [60] He turned white; oily sweat punctuated his forehead. [61] Peggy, arriving tomorrow with the other colonists, the wives and kids! [62] The metal killers, tuned to blast any living flesh, would murder them the instant they stepped from the ship! [63] A pretty girl, Peggy, the girl he'd married just three weeks ago. [64] He still couldn't believe it. [65] It was crazy, he supposed, to marry a girl and then take off for an unknown planet, with her to follow, to try to create a home in a jungle clearing. [66] Crazy maybe, but Peggy and her green eyes that changed color with the light, with her soft brown hair, and her happy smile, had ended thirty years of loneliness and had, at last, given him a reason for living. [67] "Not to be killed!" [68] Alan unclenched his fists and wiped his palms, bloody where his fingernails had dug into the flesh. [69] There was a slight creak above him like the protesting of a branch too heavily laden. [70] Blaster ready, Alan rolled over onto his back. [71] In the movement, his elbow struck the top of a small earthy mound and he was instantly engulfed in a swarm of locust-like insects that beat disgustingly against his eyes and mouth. [72] "Fagh!" [73] Waving his arms before his face he jumped up and backwards, away from the bugs. [74] As he did so, a dark shapeless thing plopped from the trees onto the spot where he had been lying stretched out. [75] Then, like an ambient fungus, it slithered off into the jungle undergrowth. [76] For a split second the jungle stood frozen in a brilliant blue flash, followed by the sharp report of a blaster. [77] Then another. [78] Alan whirled, startled. [79] The planet's double moon had risen and he could see a robot rolling slowly across the clearing in his general direction, blasting indiscriminately at whatever mind impulses came within its pickup range, birds, insects, anything. [80] Six or seven others also left the camp headquarters area and headed for the jungle, each to a slightly different spot. [81] Apparently the robot hadn't sensed him yet, but Alan didn't know what the effective range of its pickup devices was. [82] He began to slide back into the jungle. [83] Minutes later, looking back he saw that the machine, though several hundred yards away, had altered its course and was now headed directly for him. [84] His stomach tightened. [85] Panic. [86] The dank, musty smell of the jungle seemed for an instant to thicken and choke in his throat. [87] Then he thought of the big ship landing in the morning, settling down slowly after a lonely two-week voyage. [88] He thought of a brown-haired girl crowding with the others to the gangway, eager to embrace the new planet, and the next instant a charred nothing, unrecognizable, the victim of a design error or a misplaced wire in a machine. [89] "I have to try," he said aloud. [90] "I have to try." [91] He moved into the blackness. [92] Powerful as a small tank, the killer robot was equipped to crush, slash, and burn its way through undergrowth. [93] Nevertheless, it was slowed by the larger trees and the thick, clinging vines, and Alan found that he could manage to keep ahead of it, barely out of blaster range. [94] Only, the robot didn't get tired. [95] Alan did. [96] The twin moons cast pale, deceptive shadows that wavered and danced across the jungle floor, hiding debris that tripped him and often sent him sprawling into the dark. [97] Sharp-edged growths tore at his face and clothes, and insects attracted by the blood matted against his pants and shirt. [98] Behind, the robot crashed imperturbably after him, lighting the night with fitful blaster flashes as some winged or legged life came within its range. [99] There was movement also, in the darkness beside him, scrapings and rustlings and an occasional low, throaty sound like an angry cat. [100] Alan's fingers tensed on his pocket blaster. [101] Swift shadowy forms moved quickly in the shrubs and the growling became suddenly louder. [102] He fired twice, blindly, into the undergrowth. [103] Sharp screams punctuated the electric blue discharge as a pack of small feline creatures leaped snarling and clawing back into the night. [104] Mentally, Alan tried to figure the charge remaining in his blaster. [105] There wouldn't be much. [106] "Enough for a few more shots, maybe. [107] Why the devil didn't I load in fresh cells this morning!" [108] The robot crashed on, louder now, gaining on the tired human. [109] Legs aching and bruised, stinging from insect bites, Alan tried to force himself to run holding his hands in front of him like a child in the dark. [110] His foot tripped on a barely visible insect hill and a winged swarm exploded around him. [111] Startled, Alan jerked sideways, crashing his head against a tree. [112] He clutched at the bark for a second, dazed, then his knees buckled. [113] His blaster fell into the shadows. [114] The robot crashed loudly behind him now. [115] Without stopping to think, Alan fumbled along the ground after his gun, straining his eyes in the darkness. [116] He found it just a couple of feet to one side, against the base of a small bush. [117] Just as his fingers closed upon the barrel his other hand slipped into something sticky that splashed over his forearm. [118] He screamed in pain and leaped back, trying frantically to wipe the clinging, burning blackness off his arm. [119] Patches of black scraped off onto branches and vines, but the rest spread slowly over his arm as agonizing as hot acid, or as flesh being ripped away layer by layer. [120] Almost blinded by pain, whimpering, Alan stumbled forward. [121] Sharp muscle spasms shot from his shoulder across his back and chest. [122] Tears streamed across his cheeks. [123] A blue arc slashed at the trees a mere hundred yards behind. [124] He screamed at the blast. [125] "Damn you, Pete! [126] Damn your robots! [127] Damn, damn ... Oh, Peggy!" [128] He stepped into emptiness. [129] Coolness. [130] Wet. [131] Slowly, washed by the water, the pain began to fall away. [132] He wanted to lie there forever in the dark, cool, wetness. [133] For ever, and ever, and ... [134] The air thundered. [135] In the dim light he could see the banks of the stream, higher than a man, muddy and loose. [136] Growing right to the edge of the banks, the jungle reached out with hairy, disjointed arms as if to snag even the dirty little stream that passed so timidly through its domain. [137] Alan, lying in the mud of the stream bed, felt the earth shake as the heavy little robot rolled slowly and inexorably towards him. [138] "The Lord High Executioner," he thought, "in battle dress." [139] He tried to stand but his legs were almost too weak and his arm felt numb. [140] "I'll drown him," he said aloud. [141] "I'll drown the Lord High Executioner." [142] He laughed. [143] Then his mind cleared. [144] He remembered where he was. [145] Alan trembled. [146] For the first time in his life he understood what it was to live, because for the first time he realized that he would sometime die. [147] In other times and circumstances he might put it off for a while, for months or years, but eventually, as now, he would have to watch, still and helpless, while death came creeping. [148] Then, at thirty, Alan became a man. [149] "Dammit, no law says I have to flame-out now !" [150] He forced himself to rise, forced his legs to stand, struggling painfully in the shin-deep ooze. [151] He worked his way to the bank and began to dig frenziedly, chest high, about two feet below the edge. [152] His arm where the black thing had been was swollen and tender, but he forced his hands to dig, dig, dig, cursing and crying to hide the pain, and biting his lips, ignoring the salty taste of blood. [153] The soft earth crumbled under his hands until he had a small cave about three feet deep in the bank. [154] Beyond that the soil was held too tightly by the roots from above and he had to stop. [155] The air crackled blue and a tree crashed heavily past Alan into the stream. [156] Above him on the bank, silhouetting against the moons, the killer robot stopped and its blaster swivelled slowly down. [157] Frantically, Alan hugged the bank as a shaft of pure electricity arced over him, sliced into the water, and exploded in a cloud of steam. [158] The robot shook for a second, its blaster muzzle lifted erratically and for an instant it seemed almost out of control, then it quieted and the muzzle again pointed down. [159] Pressing with all his might, Alan slid slowly along the bank inches at a time, away from the machine above. [160] Its muzzle turned to follow him but the edge of the bank blocked its aim. [161] Grinding forward a couple of feet, slightly overhanging the bank, the robot fired again. [162] For a split second Alan seemed engulfed in flame; the heat of hell singed his head and back, and mud boiled in the bank by his arm. [163] Again the robot trembled. [164] It jerked forward a foot and its blaster swung slightly away. [165] But only for a moment. [166] Then the gun swung back again. [167] Suddenly, as if sensing something wrong, its tracks slammed into reverse. [168] It stood poised for a second, its treads spinning crazily as the earth collapsed underneath it, where Alan had dug, then it fell with a heavy splash into the mud, ten feet from where Alan stood. [169] Without hesitation Alan threw himself across the blaster housing, frantically locking his arms around the barrel as the robot's treads churned furiously in the sticky mud, causing it to buck and plunge like a Brahma bull. [170] The treads stopped and the blaster jerked upwards wrenching Alan's arms, then slammed down. [171] Then the whole housing whirled around and around, tilting alternately up and down like a steel-skinned water monster trying to dislodge a tenacious crab, while Alan, arms and legs wrapped tightly around the blaster barrel and housing, pressed fiercely against the robot's metal skin. [172] Slowly, trying to anticipate and shift his weight with the spinning plunges, Alan worked his hand down to his right hip. [173] He fumbled for the sheath clipped to his belt, found it, and extracted a stubby hunting knife. [174] Sweat and blood in his eyes, hardly able to move on the wildly swinging turret, he felt down the sides to the thin crack between the revolving housing and the stationary portion of the robot. [175] With a quick prayer he jammed in the knife blade—and was whipped headlong into the mud as the turret literally snapped to a stop. [176] The earth, jungle and moons spun in a pinwheeled blur, slowed, and settled to their proper places. [177] Standing in the sticky, sweet-smelling ooze, Alan eyed the robot apprehensively. [178] Half buried in mud, it stood quiet in the shadowy light except for an occasional, almost spasmodic jerk of its blaster barrel. [179] For the first time that night Alan allowed himself a slight smile. [180] "A blade in the old gear box, eh? [181] How does that feel, boy?" [182] He turned. [183] "Well, I'd better get out of here before the knife slips or the monster cooks up some more tricks with whatever it's got for a brain." [184] Digging little footholds in the soft bank, he climbed up and stood once again in the rustling jungle darkness. [185] "I wonder," he thought, "how Pete could cram enough brain into one of those things to make it hunt and track so perfectly." [186] He tried to visualize the computing circuits needed for the operation of its tracking mechanism alone. [187] "There just isn't room for the electronics. [188] You'd need a computer as big as the one at camp headquarters." [189] In the distance the sky blazed as a blaster roared in the jungle. [190] Then Alan heard the approaching robot, crunching and snapping its way through the undergrowth like an onrushing forest fire. [191] He froze. [192] "Good Lord! [193] They communicate with each other! [194] The one I jammed must be calling others to help." [195] He began to move along the bank, away from the crashing sounds. [196] Suddenly he stopped, his eyes widened. [197] "Of course! [198] Radio! [199] I'll bet anything they're automatically controlled by the camp computer. [200] That's where their brain is!" [201] He paused. [202] "Then, if that were put out of commission ..." He jerked away from the bank and half ran, half pulled himself through the undergrowth towards the camp. [203] Trees exploded to his left as another robot fired in his direction, too far away to be effective but churning towards him through the blackness. [204] Alan changed direction slightly to follow a line between the two robots coming up from either side, behind him. [205] His eyes were well accustomed to the dark now, and he managed to dodge most of the shadowy vines and branches before they could snag or trip him. [206] Even so, he stumbled in the wiry underbrush and his legs were a mass of stinging slashes from ankle to thigh. [207] The crashing rumble of the killer robots shook the night behind him, nearer sometimes, then falling slightly back, but following constantly, more unshakable than bloodhounds because a man can sometimes cover a scent, but no man can stop his thoughts. [208] Intermittently, like photographers' strobes, blue flashes would light the jungle about him. [209] Then, for seconds afterwards his eyes would see dancing streaks of yellow and sharp multi-colored pinwheels that alternately shrunk and expanded as if in a surrealist's nightmare. [210] Alan would have to pause and squeeze his eyelids tight shut before he could see again, and the robots would move a little closer. [211] To his right the trees silhouetted briefly against brilliance as a third robot slowly moved up in the distance. [212] Without thinking, Alan turned slightly to the left, then froze in momentary panic. [213] "I should be at the camp now. [214] Damn, what direction am I going?" [215] He tried to think back, to visualize the twists and turns he'd taken in the jungle. [216] "All I need is to get lost." [217] He pictured the camp computer with no one to stop it, automatically sending its robots in wider and wider forays, slowly wiping every trace of life from the planet. [218] Technologically advanced machines doing the job for which they were built, completely, thoroughly, without feeling, and without human masters to separate sense from futility. [219] Finally parts would wear out, circuits would short, and one by one the killers would crunch to a halt. [220] A few birds would still fly then, but a unique animal life, rare in the universe, would exist no more. [221] And the bones of children, eager girls, and their men would also lie, beside a rusty hulk, beneath the alien sun. [222] "Peggy!" [223] As if in answer, a tree beside him breathed fire, then exploded. [224] In the brief flash of the blaster shot, Alan saw the steel glint of a robot only a hundred yards away, much nearer than he had thought. [225] "Thank heaven for trees!" [226] He stepped back, felt his foot catch in something, clutched futilely at some leaves and fell heavily. [227] Pain danced up his leg as he grabbed his ankle. [228] Quickly he felt the throbbing flesh. [229] "Damn the rotten luck, anyway!" [230] He blinked the pain tears from his eyes and looked up—into a robot's blaster, jutting out of the foliage, thirty yards away. [231] Instinctively, in one motion Alan grabbed his pocket blaster and fired. [232] To his amazement the robot jerked back, its gun wobbled and started to tilt away. [233] Then, getting itself under control, it swung back again to face Alan. [234] He fired again, and again the robot reacted. [235] It seemed familiar somehow. [236] Then he remembered the robot on the river bank, jiggling and swaying for seconds after each shot. [237] "Of course!" [238] He cursed himself for missing the obvious. [239] "The blaster static blanks out radio transmission from the computer for a few seconds. [240] They even do it to themselves!" [241] Firing intermittently, he pulled himself upright and hobbled ahead through the bush. [242] The robot shook spasmodically with each shot, its gun tilted upward at an awkward angle. [243] Then, unexpectedly, Alan saw stars, real stars brilliant in the night sky, and half dragging his swelling leg he stumbled out of the jungle into the camp clearing. [244] Ahead, across fifty yards of grass stood the headquarters building, housing the robot-controlling computer. [245] Still firing at short intervals he started across the clearing, gritting his teeth at every step. [246] Straining every muscle in spite of the agonizing pain, Alan forced himself to a limping run across the uneven ground, carefully avoiding the insect hills that jutted up through the grass. [247] From the corner of his eye he saw another of the robots standing shakily in the dark edge of the jungle waiting, it seemed, for his small blaster to run dry. [248] "Be damned! [249] You can't win now!" [250] Alan yelled between blaster shots, almost irrational from the pain that ripped jaggedly through his leg. [251] Then it happened. [252] A few feet from the building's door his blaster quit. [253] A click. [254] A faint hiss when he frantically jerked the trigger again and again, and the spent cells released themselves from the device, falling in the grass at his feet. [255] He dropped the useless gun. [256] "No!" [257] He threw himself on the ground as a new robot suddenly appeared around the edge of the building a few feet away, aimed, and fired. [258] Air burned over Alan's back and ozone tingled in his nostrils. [259] Blinding itself for a few seconds with its own blaster static, the robot paused momentarily, jiggling in place. [260] In this instant, Alan jammed his hands into an insect hill and hurled the pile of dirt and insects directly at the robot's antenna. [261] In a flash, hundreds of the winged things erupted angrily from the hole in a swarming cloud, each part of which was a speck of life transmitting mental energy to the robot's pickup devices. [262] Confused by the sudden dispersion of mind impulses, the robot fired erratically as Alan crouched and raced painfully for the door. [263] It fired again, closer, as he fumbled with the lock release. [264] Jagged bits of plastic and stone ripped past him, torn loose by the blast. [265] Frantically, Alan slammed open the door as the robot, sensing him strongly now, aimed point blank. [266] He saw nothing, his mind thought of nothing but the red-clad safety switch mounted beside the computer. [267] Time stopped. [268] There was nothing else in the world. [269] He half-jumped, half-fell towards it, slowly, in tenths of seconds that seemed measured out in years. [270] The universe went black. [271] Later. [272] Brilliance pressed upon his eyes. [273] Then pain returned, a multi-hurting thing that crawled through his body and dragged ragged tentacles across his brain. [274] He moaned. [275] A voice spoke hollowly in the distance. [276] "He's waking. [277] Call his wife." [278] Alan opened his eyes in a white room; a white light hung over his head. [279] Beside him, looking down with a rueful smile, stood a young man wearing space medical insignia. [280] "Yes," he acknowledged the question in Alan's eyes, "you hit the switch. [281] That was three days ago. [282] When you're up again we'd all like to thank you." [283] Suddenly a sobbing-laughing green-eyed girl was pressed tightly against him. [284] Neither of them spoke. [285] They couldn't. [286] There was too much to say. [287] THE END

Here is the ranking of the context sentences in order of importance for answering the question "What is the plot of the story?": 1. [269] Time stopped. 2. [268] There was nothing else in the world. 3. [267] He half-jumped, half-fell towards it, slowly, in tenths of seconds that seemed measured out in years. 4. [266] He saw nothing, his mind thought of nothing but the red-clad safety switch mounted beside the computer. 5. [265] Frantically, Alan slammed open the door as the robot, sensing him strongly now, aimed point blank. 6. [264] Jagged bits of plastic and stone ripped past him, torn loose by the blast. 7. [263] It fired again, closer, as he fumbled with the lock release. 8. [262] Confused by the sudden dispersion of mind impulses, the robot fired erratically as Alan crouched and raced painfully for the door. 9. [261] In a flash, hundreds of the winged things erupted angrily from the hole in a swarming cloud, each part of which was a speck of life transmitting mental energy to the robot's pickup devices. 10. [260] In this instant, Alan jammed his hands into an insect hill and hurled the pile of dirt and insects directly at the robot's antenna. 11. [259] Blinding itself for a few seconds with its own blaster static, the robot paused momentarily, jiggling in place. 12. [258] Air burned over Alan's back and ozone tingled in his nostrils. 13. [257] He threw himself on the ground as a new robot suddenly appeared around the edge of the building a few feet away, aimed, and fired. 14. [256] "No!" 15. [255] He dropped the useless gun. 16. [254] A click. 17. [253] A faint hiss when he frantically jerked the trigger again and again, and the spent cells released themselves from the device, falling in the grass at his feet. 18. [252] Then it happened. 19. [251] "Be damned! 20. [250] Alan yelled between blaster shots, almost irrational from the pain that ripped jaggedly through his leg. 21. [249] You can't win now!" 22. [248] "Be damned! 23. [247] From the corner of his eye he saw another of the robots standing shakily in the dark edge of the jungle waiting, it seemed, for his small blaster to run dry. 24. [246] Straining every muscle in spite of the agonizing pain, Alan forced himself to a limping run across the uneven ground, carefully avoiding the insect hills that jutted up through the grass. 25. [245] Ahead, across fifty yards of grass stood the headquarters building, housing the robot-controlling computer. 26. [244] Ahead, across fifty yards of grass stood the headquarters building, housing the robot-controlling computer. 27. [243] Then, unexpectedly, Alan saw stars, real stars brilliant in the night sky, and half dragging his swelling leg he stumbled out of the jungle into the camp clearing. 28. [242] The robot shook spasmodically with each shot, its gun tilted upward at an awkward angle. 29. [241] Firing intermittently, he pulled himself upright and hobbled ahead through the bush. 30. [240] They even do it to themselves!" 31. [239] "Of course!" 32. [238] He cursed himself for missing the obvious. 33. [237] "The blaster static blanks out radio transmission from the computer for a few seconds. 34. [236] Then he remembered the robot on the river bank, jiggling and swaying for seconds after each shot. 35. [235] It seemed familiar somehow. 36. [234] He fired again, and again the robot reacted. 37. [233] Then, getting itself under control, it swung back again to face Alan. 38. [232] To his amazement the robot jerked back, its gun wobbled and started to tilt away. 39. [231] Instinctively, in one motion Alan grabbed his pocket blaster and fired. 40. [230] He blinked the pain tears from his eyes and looked up—into a robot's blaster, jutting out of the foliage, thirty yards away. 41. [229] "Damn the rotten luck, anyway!" 42. [228] Quickly he felt the throbbing flesh. 43. [227] Pain danced up his leg as he grabbed his ankle. 44. [226] He stepped back, felt his foot catch in something, clutched futilely at some leaves and fell heavily. 45. [225] "Thank heaven for trees!" 46. [224] In the brief flash of the blaster shot, Alan saw the steel glint of a robot only a hundred yards away, much nearer than he had thought. 47. [223] As if in answer, a tree beside him breathed fire, then exploded. 48. [222] "Peggy!" 49. [221] And the bones of children, eager girls, and their men would also lie, beside a rusty hulk, beneath the alien sun. 50. [220] Finally parts would wear out, circuits would short, and one by one the killers would crunch to a halt. 51. [219] A few birds would still fly then, but a unique animal life, rare in the universe, would exist no more. 52. [218] Technologically advanced machines doing the job for which they were built, completely, thoroughly, without feeling, and without human masters to separate sense from futility. 53. [217] He pictured the camp computer with no one to stop it, automatically sending its robots in wider and wider forays, slowly wiping every trace of life from the planet. 54. [216] "All I need is to get lost." 55. [215] He tried to think back, to visualize the twists and turns he'd taken in the jungle. 56. [214] "Damn, what direction am I going?" 57. [213] "I should be at the camp now. 58. [212] Without thinking, Alan turned slightly to the left, then froze in momentary panic. 59. [211] To his right the trees silhouetted briefly against brilliance as a third robot slowly moved up in the distance. 60. [210] Intermittently, like photographers' strobes, blue flashes would light the jungle about him. 61. [209] Then, for seconds afterwards his eyes would see dancing streaks of yellow and sharp multi-colored pinwheels that alternately shrunk and expanded as if in a surrealist's nightmare. 62. [208] Intermittently, like photographers' strobes, blue flashes would light the jungle about him. 63. [207] The crashing rumble of the killer robots shook the night behind him, nearer sometimes, then falling slightly back, but following constantly, more unshakable than bloodhounds because a man can sometimes cover a scent, but no man can stop his thoughts. 64. [206] Even so, he stumbled in the wiry underbrush and his legs were a mass of stinging slashes from ankle to thigh. 65. [205] His eyes were well accustomed to the dark now, and he managed to dodge most of the shadowy vines and branches before they could snag or trip him. 66. [204] Alan changed direction slightly to follow a line between the two robots coming up from either side, behind him. 67. [203] Trees exploded to his left as another robot fired in his direction, too far away to be effective but churning towards him through the blackness. 68. [202] "Then, if that were put out of commission ..." He jerked away from the bank and half ran, half pulled himself through the undergrowth towards the camp. 69. [201] He paused. 70. [200] That's where their brain is!" 71. [199] Radio! 72. [198] "Of course! 73. [197] "Good Lord! 74. [196] Suddenly he stopped, his eyes widened. 75. [195] He began to move along the bank, away from the crashing sounds. 76. [194] They communicate with each other! 77. [193] The one I jammed must be calling others to help." 78. [192] "Good Lord! 79. [191] He froze. 80. [190] Then Alan heard the approaching robot, crunching and snapping its way through the undergrowth like an onrushing forest fire. 81. [189] In the distance the sky blazed as a blaster roared in the jungle. 82. [188] You'd need a computer as big as the one at camp headquarters." 83. [187] "There just isn't room for the electronics. 84. [186] He tried to visualize the computing circuits needed for the operation of its tracking mechanism alone. 85. [185] "I wonder," he thought, "how Pete could cram enough brain into one of those things to make it hunt and track so perfectly." 86. [184] Digging little footholds in the soft bank, he climbed up and stood once again in the rustling jungle darkness. 87. [183] "Well, I'd better get out of here before the knife slips or the monster cooks up some more tricks with whatever it's got for a brain." 88. [182] He turned. 89. [181] How does that feel, boy?" 90. [180] "A blade in the old gear box, eh? 91. [179] For the first time that night Alan allowed himself a slight smile. 92. [178] Half buried in mud, it stood quiet in the shadowy light except for an occasional, almost spasmodic jerk of its blaster barrel. 93. [177] Standing in the sticky, sweet-smelling ooze, Alan eyed the robot apprehensively. 94. [176] The earth, jungle and moons spun in a pinwheeled blur, slowed, and settled to their proper places. 95. [175] With a quick prayer he jammed in the knife blade—and was whipped headlong into the mud as the turret literally snapped to a stop. 96. [174] Sweat and blood in his eyes, hardly able to move on the wildly swinging turret, he felt down the sides to the thin crack between the revolving housing and the stationary portion of the robot. 97. [173] He fumbled for the sheath clipped to his belt, found it, and extracted a stubby hunting knife. 98. [172] Slowly, trying to anticipate and shift his weight with the spinning plunges, Alan worked his hand down to his right hip. 99. [171] Slowly, trying to anticipate and shift his weight with the spinning plunges, Alan worked his hand down to his right hip. 100. [170] The treads stopped and the blaster jerked upwards wrenching Alan's arms, then slammed down. 101. [169] Without hesitation Alan threw himself across the blaster housing, frantically locking his arms around the barrel as the robot's treads churned furiously in the sticky mud, causing it to buck and plunge like a Brahma bull. 102. [168] Suddenly, as if sensing something wrong, its tracks slammed into reverse. 103. [167] Then the gun swung back again. 104. [166] Then the robot trembled. 105. [165] But only for a moment. 106. [164] Then the gun swung back again. 107. [163] Again the robot trembled. 108. [162] For a split second Alan seemed engulfed in flame; the heat of hell singed his head and back, and mud boiled in the bank by his arm. 109. [161] Grinding forward a couple of feet, slightly overhanging the bank, the robot fired again. 110. [160] Its muzzle turned to follow him but the edge of the bank blocked its aim. 111. [159] Pressing with all his might, Alan slid slowly along the bank inches at a time, away from the machine above. 112. [158] Frantically, Alan hugged the bank as a shaft of pure electricity arced over him, sliced into the water, and exploded in a cloud of steam. 113. [157] Above him on the bank, silhouetting against the moons, the killer robot stopped and its blaster swivelled slowly down. 114. [156] Beyond that the soil was held too tightly by the roots from above and he had to stop. 115. [155] The soft earth crumbled under his hands until he had a small cave about three feet deep in the bank. 116. [154] Beyond that the soil was held too tightly by the roots from above and he had to stop. 117. [153] The soft earth crumbled under his hands until he had a small cave about three feet deep in the bank. 118. [152] He forced himself to rise, forced his legs to stand, struggling painfully in the shin-deep ooze. 119. [151] He worked his way to the bank and began to dig frenziedly, chest high, about two feet below the edge. 120. [150] He forced himself to rise, forced his legs to stand, struggling painfully in the shin-deep ooze. 121. [149] "Dammit, no law says I have to flame-out now !" 122. [148] Then, at thirty, Alan became a man. 123. [147] In other times and circumstances he might put it off for a while, for months or years, but eventually, as now, he would have to watch, still and helpless, while death came creeping. 124. [146] For the first time in his life he understood what it was to live, because for the first time he realized that he would sometime die. 125. [145] Alan trembled. 126. [144] He remembered where he was. 127. [143] Then his mind cleared. 128. [142] He laughed. 129. [141] "I'll drown the Lord High Executioner." 130. [140] "I'll drown him," he said aloud. 131. [139] He tried to stand but his legs were almost too weak and his arm felt numb. 132. [138] "The Lord High Executioner," he thought, "in battle dress." 133. [137] Alan, lying in the mud of the stream bed, felt the earth shake as the heavy little robot rolled slowly and inexorably towards him. 134. [136] Growing right to the edge of the banks, the jungle reached out with hairy, disjointed arms as if to snag even the dirty little stream that passed so timidly through its domain. 135. [135] In the dim light he could see the banks of the stream, higher than a man, muddy and loose. 136. [134] The air thundered. 137. [133] For ever, and ever, and ... 138. [132] He wanted to lie there forever in the dark, cool, wetness. 139. [131] Slowly, washed by the water, the pain began to fall away. 140. [130] Wet. 141. [129] Coolness. 142. [128] He stepped into emptiness. 143. [127] Damn, damn ... Oh, Peggy!" 144. [126] Damn your robots! 145. [125] "Damn you, Pete! 146. [124] He screamed at the blast. 147. [123] A blue arc slashed at the trees a mere hundred yards behind. 148. [122] Almost blinded by pain, whimpering, Alan stumbled forward. 149. [121] Sharp muscle spasms shot from his shoulder across his back and chest. 150. [120] Almost blinded by pain, whimpering, Alan stumbled forward. 151. [119] Patches of black scraped off onto branches and vines, but the rest spread slowly over his arm as agonizing as hot acid, or as flesh being ripped away layer by layer. 152. [118] He screamed in pain and leaped back, trying frantically to wipe the clinging, burning blackness off his arm. 153. [117] Just as his fingers closed upon the barrel his other hand slipped into something sticky that splashed over his forearm. 154. [116] He found it just a couple of feet to one side, against the base of a small bush. 155. [115] Without stopping to think, Alan fumbled along the ground after his gun, straining his eyes in the darkness. 156. [114] His blaster fell into the shadows. 157. [113] His knees buckled. 158. [112] He clutched at the bark for a second, dazed, then his knees buckled. 159. [111] Startled, Alan jerked sideways, crashing his head against a tree. 160. [110] His foot tripped on a barely visible insect hill and a winged swarm exploded around him. 161. [109] Legs aching and bruised, stinging from insect bites, Alan tried to force himself to run holding his hands in front of him like a child in the dark. 162. [108] The robot crashed on, louder now, gaining on the tired human. 163. [107] Why the devil didn't I load in fresh cells this morning!" 164. [106] "Enough for a few more shots, maybe. 165. [105] Mentally, Alan tried to figure the charge remaining in his blaster. 166. [104] Mentally

Who is Alan, and what are his traits?

[1] SURVIVAL TACTICS By AL SEVCIK ILLUSTRATOR NOVICK The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way. [2] Then the robots figured out an additional service—putting Man out of his misery. [3] There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away. [4] Then another. [5] Alan stopped, puzzled. [6] Two more blasts, quickly together, and the sound of a scream faintly. [7] Frowning, worrying about the sounds, Alan momentarily forgot to watch his step until his foot suddenly plunged into an ant hill, throwing him to the jungle floor. [8] "Damn!" [9] He cursed again, for the tenth time, and stood uncertainly in the dimness. [10] From tall, moss-shrouded trees, wrist-thick vines hung quietly, scraping the spongy ground like the tentacles of some monstrous tree-bound octopus. [11] Fitful little plants grew straggly in the shadows of the mossy trunks, forming a dense underbrush that made walking difficult. [12] At midday some few of the blue sun's rays filtered through to the jungle floor, but now, late afternoon on the planet, the shadows were long and gloomy. [13] Alan peered around him at the vine-draped shadows, listening to the soft rustlings and faint twig-snappings of life in the jungle. [14] Two short, popping sounds echoed across the stillness, drowned out almost immediately and silenced by an explosive crash. [15] Alan started, "Blaster fighting! [16] But it can't be!" [17] Suddenly anxious, he slashed a hurried X in one of the trees to mark his position then turned to follow a line of similar marks back through the jungle. [18] He tried to run, but vines blocked his way and woody shrubs caught at his legs, tripping him and holding him back. [19] Then, through the trees he saw the clearing of the camp site, the temporary home for the scout ship and the eleven men who, with Alan, were the only humans on the jungle planet, Waiamea. [20] Stepping through the low shrubbery at the edge of the site, he looked across the open area to the two temporary structures, the camp headquarters where the power supplies and the computer were; and the sleeping quarters. [21] Beyond, nose high, stood the silver scout ship that had brought the advance exploratory party of scientists and technicians to Waiamea three days before. [22] Except for a few of the killer robots rolling slowly around the camp site on their quiet treads, there was no one about. [23] "So, they've finally got those things working." [24] Alan smiled slightly. [25] "Guess that means I owe Pete a bourbon-and-soda for sure. [26] Anybody who can build a robot that hunts by homing in on animals' mind impulses ..." He stepped forward just as a roar of blue flame dissolved the branches of a tree, barely above his head. [27] Without pausing to think, Alan leaped back, and fell sprawling over a bush just as one of the robots rolled silently up from the right, lowering its blaster barrel to aim directly at his head. [28] Alan froze. [29] "My God, Pete built those things wrong!" [30] Suddenly a screeching whirlwind of claws and teeth hurled itself from the smoldering branches and crashed against the robot, clawing insanely at the antenna and blaster barrel. [31] With an awkward jerk the robot swung around and fired its blaster, completely dissolving the lower half of the cat creature which had clung across the barrel. [32] But the back pressure of the cat's body overloaded the discharge circuits. [33] The robot started to shake, then clicked sharply as an overload relay snapped and shorted the blaster cells. [34] The killer turned and rolled back towards the camp, leaving Alan alone. [35] Shakily, Alan crawled a few feet back into the undergrowth where he could lie and watch the camp, but not himself be seen. [36] Though visibility didn't make any difference to the robots, he felt safer, somehow, hidden. [37] He knew now what the shooting sounds had been and why there hadn't been anyone around the camp site. [38] A charred blob lying in the grass of the clearing confirmed his hypothesis. [39] His stomach felt sick. [40] "I suppose," he muttered to himself, "that Pete assembled these robots in a batch and then activated them all at once, probably never living to realize that they're tuned to pick up human brain waves, too. [41] Damn! [42] Damn!" [43] His eyes blurred and he slammed his fist into the soft earth. [44] When he raised his eyes again the jungle was perceptibly darker. [45] Stealthy rustlings in the shadows grew louder with the setting sun. [46] Branches snapped unaccountably in the trees overhead and every now and then leaves or a twig fell softly to the ground, close to where he lay. [47] Reaching into his jacket, Alan fingered his pocket blaster. [48] He pulled it out and held it in his right hand. [49] "This pop gun wouldn't even singe a robot, but it just might stop one of those pumas." [50] They said the blast with your name on it would find you anywhere. [51] This looked like Alan's blast. [52] Slowly Alan looked around, sizing up his situation. [53] Behind him the dark jungle rustled forbiddingly. [54] He shuddered. [55] "Not a very healthy spot to spend the night. [56] On the other hand, I certainly can't get to the camp with a pack of mind-activated mechanical killers running around. [57] If I can just hold out until morning, when the big ship arrives ... [58] The big ship! [59] Good Lord, Peggy!" [60] He turned white; oily sweat punctuated his forehead. [61] Peggy, arriving tomorrow with the other colonists, the wives and kids! [62] The metal killers, tuned to blast any living flesh, would murder them the instant they stepped from the ship! [63] A pretty girl, Peggy, the girl he'd married just three weeks ago. [64] He still couldn't believe it. [65] It was crazy, he supposed, to marry a girl and then take off for an unknown planet, with her to follow, to try to create a home in a jungle clearing. [66] Crazy maybe, but Peggy and her green eyes that changed color with the light, with her soft brown hair, and her happy smile, had ended thirty years of loneliness and had, at last, given him a reason for living. [67] "Not to be killed!" [68] Alan unclenched his fists and wiped his palms, bloody where his fingernails had dug into the flesh. [69] There was a slight creak above him like the protesting of a branch too heavily laden. [70] Blaster ready, Alan rolled over onto his back. [71] In the movement, his elbow struck the top of a small earthy mound and he was instantly engulfed in a swarm of locust-like insects that beat disgustingly against his eyes and mouth. [72] "Fagh!" [73] Waving his arms before his face he jumped up and backwards, away from the bugs. [74] As he did so, a dark shapeless thing plopped from the trees onto the spot where he had been lying stretched out. [75] Then, like an ambient fungus, it slithered off into the jungle undergrowth. [76] For a split second the jungle stood frozen in a brilliant blue flash, followed by the sharp report of a blaster. [77] Then another. [78] Alan whirled, startled. [79] The planet's double moon had risen and he could see a robot rolling slowly across the clearing in his general direction, blasting indiscriminately at whatever mind impulses came within its pickup range, birds, insects, anything. [80] Six or seven others also left the camp headquarters area and headed for the jungle, each to a slightly different spot. [81] Apparently the robot hadn't sensed him yet, but Alan didn't know what the effective range of its pickup devices was. [82] He began to slide back into the jungle. [83] Minutes later, looking back he saw that the machine, though several hundred yards away, had altered its course and was now headed directly for him. [84] His stomach tightened. [85] Panic. [86] The dank, musty smell of the jungle seemed for an instant to thicken and choke in his throat. [87] Then he thought of the big ship landing in the morning, settling down slowly after a lonely two-week voyage. [88] He thought of a brown-haired girl crowding with the others to the gangway, eager to embrace the new planet, and the next instant a charred nothing, unrecognizable, the victim of a design error or a misplaced wire in a machine. [89] "I have to try," he said aloud. [90] "I have to try." [91] He moved into the blackness. [92] Powerful as a small tank, the killer robot was equipped to crush, slash, and burn its way through undergrowth. [93] Nevertheless, it was slowed by the larger trees and the thick, clinging vines, and Alan found that he could manage to keep ahead of it, barely out of blaster range. [94] Only, the robot didn't get tired. [95] Alan did. [96] The twin moons cast pale, deceptive shadows that wavered and danced across the jungle floor, hiding debris that tripped him and often sent him sprawling into the dark. [97] Sharp-edged growths tore at his face and clothes, and insects attracted by the blood matted against his pants and shirt. [98] Behind, the robot crashed imperturbably after him, lighting the night with fitful blaster flashes as some winged or legged life came within its range. [99] There was movement also, in the darkness beside him, scrapings and rustlings and an occasional low, throaty sound like an angry cat. [100] Alan's fingers tensed on his pocket blaster. [101] Swift shadowy forms moved quickly in the shrubs and the growling became suddenly louder. [102] He fired twice, blindly, into the undergrowth. [103] Sharp screams punctuated the electric blue discharge as a pack of small feline creatures leaped snarling and clawing back into the night. [104] Mentally, Alan tried to figure the charge remaining in his blaster. [105] There wouldn't be much. [106] "Enough for a few more shots, maybe. [107] Why the devil didn't I load in fresh cells this morning!" [108] The robot crashed on, louder now, gaining on the tired human. [109] Legs aching and bruised, stinging from insect bites, Alan tried to force himself to run holding his hands in front of him like a child in the dark. [110] His foot tripped on a barely visible insect hill and a winged swarm exploded around him. [111] Startled, Alan jerked sideways, crashing his head against a tree. [112] He clutched at the bark for a second, dazed, then his knees buckled. [113] His blaster fell into the shadows. [114] The robot crashed loudly behind him now. [115] Without stopping to think, Alan fumbled along the ground after his gun, straining his eyes in the darkness. [116] He found it just a couple of feet to one side, against the base of a small bush. [117] Just as his fingers closed upon the barrel his other hand slipped into something sticky that splashed over his forearm. [118] He screamed in pain and leaped back, trying frantically to wipe the clinging, burning blackness off his arm. [119] Patches of black scraped off onto branches and vines, but the rest spread slowly over his arm as agonizing as hot acid, or as flesh being ripped away layer by layer. [120] Almost blinded by pain, whimpering, Alan stumbled forward. [121] Sharp muscle spasms shot from his shoulder across his back and chest. [122] Tears streamed across his cheeks. [123] A blue arc slashed at the trees a mere hundred yards behind. [124] He screamed at the blast. [125] "Damn you, Pete! [126] Damn your robots! [127] Damn, damn ... Oh, Peggy!" [128] He stepped into emptiness. [129] Coolness. [130] Wet. [131] Slowly, washed by the water, the pain began to fall away. [132] He wanted to lie there forever in the dark, cool, wetness. [133] For ever, and ever, and ... [134] The air thundered. [135] In the dim light he could see the banks of the stream, higher than a man, muddy and loose. [136] Growing right to the edge of the banks, the jungle reached out with hairy, disjointed arms as if to snag even the dirty little stream that passed so timidly through its domain. [137] Alan, lying in the mud of the stream bed, felt the earth shake as the heavy little robot rolled slowly and inexorably towards him. [138] "The Lord High Executioner," he thought, "in battle dress." [139] He tried to stand but his legs were almost too weak and his arm felt numb. [140] "I'll drown him," he said aloud. [141] "I'll drown the Lord High Executioner." [142] He laughed. [143] Then his mind cleared. [144] He remembered where he was. [145] Alan trembled. [146] For the first time in his life he understood what it was to live, because for the first time he realized that he would sometime die. [147] In other times and circumstances he might put it off for a while, for months or years, but eventually, as now, he would have to watch, still and helpless, while death came creeping. [148] Then, at thirty, Alan became a man. [149] "Dammit, no law says I have to flame-out now !" [150] He forced himself to rise, forced his legs to stand, struggling painfully in the shin-deep ooze. [151] He worked his way to the bank and began to dig frenziedly, chest high, about two feet below the edge. [152] His arm where the black thing had been was swollen and tender, but he forced his hands to dig, dig, dig, cursing and crying to hide the pain, and biting his lips, ignoring the salty taste of blood. [153] The soft earth crumbled under his hands until he had a small cave about three feet deep in the bank. [154] Beyond that the soil was held too tightly by the roots from above and he had to stop. [155] The air crackled blue and a tree crashed heavily past Alan into the stream. [156] Above him on the bank, silhouetting against the moons, the killer robot stopped and its blaster swivelled slowly down. [157] Frantically, Alan hugged the bank as a shaft of pure electricity arced over him, sliced into the water, and exploded in a cloud of steam. [158] The robot shook for a second, its blaster muzzle lifted erratically and for an instant it seemed almost out of control, then it quieted and the muzzle again pointed down. [159] Pressing with all his might, Alan slid slowly along the bank inches at a time, away from the machine above. [160] Its muzzle turned to follow him but the edge of the bank blocked its aim. [161] Grinding forward a couple of feet, slightly overhanging the bank, the robot fired again. [162] For a split second Alan seemed engulfed in flame; the heat of hell singed his head and back, and mud boiled in the bank by his arm. [163] Again the robot trembled. [164] It jerked forward a foot and its blaster swung slightly away. [165] But only for a moment. [166] Then the gun swung back again. [167] Suddenly, as if sensing something wrong, its tracks slammed into reverse. [168] It stood poised for a second, its treads spinning crazily as the earth collapsed underneath it, where Alan had dug, then it fell with a heavy splash into the mud, ten feet from where Alan stood. [169] Without hesitation Alan threw himself across the blaster housing, frantically locking his arms around the barrel as the robot's treads churned furiously in the sticky mud, causing it to buck and plunge like a Brahma bull. [170] The treads stopped and the blaster jerked upwards wrenching Alan's arms, then slammed down. [171] Then the whole housing whirled around and around, tilting alternately up and down like a steel-skinned water monster trying to dislodge a tenacious crab, while Alan, arms and legs wrapped tightly around the blaster barrel and housing, pressed fiercely against the robot's metal skin. [172] Slowly, trying to anticipate and shift his weight with the spinning plunges, Alan worked his hand down to his right hip. [173] He fumbled for the sheath clipped to his belt, found it, and extracted a stubby hunting knife. [174] Sweat and blood in his eyes, hardly able to move on the wildly swinging turret, he felt down the sides to the thin crack between the revolving housing and the stationary portion of the robot. [175] With a quick prayer he jammed in the knife blade—and was whipped headlong into the mud as the turret literally snapped to a stop. [176] The earth, jungle and moons spun in a pinwheeled blur, slowed, and settled to their proper places. [177] Standing in the sticky, sweet-smelling ooze, Alan eyed the robot apprehensively. [178] Half buried in mud, it stood quiet in the shadowy light except for an occasional, almost spasmodic jerk of its blaster barrel. [179] For the first time that night Alan allowed himself a slight smile. [180] "A blade in the old gear box, eh? [181] How does that feel, boy?" [182] He turned. [183] "Well, I'd better get out of here before the knife slips or the monster cooks up some more tricks with whatever it's got for a brain." [184] Digging little footholds in the soft bank, he climbed up and stood once again in the rustling jungle darkness. [185] "I wonder," he thought, "how Pete could cram enough brain into one of those things to make it hunt and track so perfectly." [186] He tried to visualize the computing circuits needed for the operation of its tracking mechanism alone. [187] "There just isn't room for the electronics. [188] You'd need a computer as big as the one at camp headquarters." [189] In the distance the sky blazed as a blaster roared in the jungle. [190] Then Alan heard the approaching robot, crunching and snapping its way through the undergrowth like an onrushing forest fire. [191] He froze. [192] "Good Lord! [193] They communicate with each other! [194] The one I jammed must be calling others to help." [195] He began to move along the bank, away from the crashing sounds. [196] Suddenly he stopped, his eyes widened. [197] "Of course! [198] Radio! [199] I'll bet anything they're automatically controlled by the camp computer. [200] That's where their brain is!" [201] He paused. [202] "Then, if that were put out of commission ..." He jerked away from the bank and half ran, half pulled himself through the undergrowth towards the camp. [203] Trees exploded to his left as another robot fired in his direction, too far away to be effective but churning towards him through the blackness. [204] Alan changed direction slightly to follow a line between the two robots coming up from either side, behind him. [205] His eyes were well accustomed to the dark now, and he managed to dodge most of the shadowy vines and branches before they could snag or trip him. [206] Even so, he stumbled in the wiry underbrush and his legs were a mass of stinging slashes from ankle to thigh. [207] The crashing rumble of the killer robots shook the night behind him, nearer sometimes, then falling slightly back, but following constantly, more unshakable than bloodhounds because a man can sometimes cover a scent, but no man can stop his thoughts. [208] Intermittently, like photographers' strobes, blue flashes would light the jungle about him. [209] Then, for seconds afterwards his eyes would see dancing streaks of yellow and sharp multi-colored pinwheels that alternately shrunk and expanded as if in a surrealist's nightmare. [210] Alan would have to pause and squeeze his eyelids tight shut before he could see again, and the robots would move a little closer. [211] To his right the trees silhouetted briefly against brilliance as a third robot slowly moved up in the distance. [212] Without thinking, Alan turned slightly to the left, then froze in momentary panic. [213] "I should be at the camp now. [214] Damn, what direction am I going?" [215] He tried to think back, to visualize the twists and turns he'd taken in the jungle. [216] "All I need is to get lost." [217] He pictured the camp computer with no one to stop it, automatically sending its robots in wider and wider forays, slowly wiping every trace of life from the planet. [218] Technologically advanced machines doing the job for which they were built, completely, thoroughly, without feeling, and without human masters to separate sense from futility. [219] Finally parts would wear out, circuits would short, and one by one the killers would crunch to a halt. [220] A few birds would still fly then, but a unique animal life, rare in the universe, would exist no more. [221] And the bones of children, eager girls, and their men would also lie, beside a rusty hulk, beneath the alien sun. [222] "Peggy!" [223] As if in answer, a tree beside him breathed fire, then exploded. [224] In the brief flash of the blaster shot, Alan saw the steel glint of a robot only a hundred yards away, much nearer than he had thought. [225] "Thank heaven for trees!" [226] He stepped back, felt his foot catch in something, clutched futilely at some leaves and fell heavily. [227] Pain danced up his leg as he grabbed his ankle. [228] Quickly he felt the throbbing flesh. [229] "Damn the rotten luck, anyway!" [230] He blinked the pain tears from his eyes and looked up—into a robot's blaster, jutting out of the foliage, thirty yards away. [231] Instinctively, in one motion Alan grabbed his pocket blaster and fired. [232] To his amazement the robot jerked back, its gun wobbled and started to tilt away. [233] Then, getting itself under control, it swung back again to face Alan. [234] He fired again, and again the robot reacted. [235] It seemed familiar somehow. [236] Then he remembered the robot on the river bank, jiggling and swaying for seconds after each shot. [237] "Of course!" [238] He cursed himself for missing the obvious. [239] "The blaster static blanks out radio transmission from the computer for a few seconds. [240] They even do it to themselves!" [241] Firing intermittently, he pulled himself upright and hobbled ahead through the bush. [242] The robot shook spasmodically with each shot, its gun tilted upward at an awkward angle. [243] Then, unexpectedly, Alan saw stars, real stars brilliant in the night sky, and half dragging his swelling leg he stumbled out of the jungle into the camp clearing. [244] Ahead, across fifty yards of grass stood the headquarters building, housing the robot-controlling computer. [245] Still firing at short intervals he started across the clearing, gritting his teeth at every step. [246] Straining every muscle in spite of the agonizing pain, Alan forced himself to a limping run across the uneven ground, carefully avoiding the insect hills that jutted up through the grass. [247] From the corner of his eye he saw another of the robots standing shakily in the dark edge of the jungle waiting, it seemed, for his small blaster to run dry. [248] "Be damned! [249] You can't win now!" [250] Alan yelled between blaster shots, almost irrational from the pain that ripped jaggedly through his leg. [251] Then it happened. [252] A few feet from the building's door his blaster quit. [253] A click. [254] A faint hiss when he frantically jerked the trigger again and again, and the spent cells released themselves from the device, falling in the grass at his feet. [255] He dropped the useless gun. [256] "No!" [257] He threw himself on the ground as a new robot suddenly appeared around the edge of the building a few feet away, aimed, and fired. [258] Air burned over Alan's back and ozone tingled in his nostrils. [259] Blinding itself for a few seconds with its own blaster static, the robot paused momentarily, jiggling in place. [260] In this instant, Alan jammed his hands into an insect hill and hurled the pile of dirt and insects directly at the robot's antenna. [261] In a flash, hundreds of the winged things erupted angrily from the hole in a swarming cloud, each part of which was a speck of life transmitting mental energy to the robot's pickup devices. [262] Confused by the sudden dispersion of mind impulses, the robot fired erratically as Alan crouched and raced painfully for the door. [263] It fired again, closer, as he fumbled with the lock release. [264] Jagged bits of plastic and stone ripped past him, torn loose by the blast. [265] Frantically, Alan slammed open the door as the robot, sensing him strongly now, aimed point blank. [266] He saw nothing, his mind thought of nothing but the red-clad safety switch mounted beside the computer. [267] Time stopped. [268] There was nothing else in the world. [269] He half-jumped, half-fell towards it, slowly, in tenths of seconds that seemed measured out in years. [270] The universe went black. [271] Later. [272] Brilliance pressed upon his eyes. [273] Then pain returned, a multi-hurting thing that crawled through his body and dragged ragged tentacles across his brain. [274] He moaned. [275] A voice spoke hollowly in the distance. [276] "He's waking. [277] Call his wife." [278] Alan opened his eyes in a white room; a white light hung over his head. [279] Beside him, looking down with a rueful smile, stood a young man wearing space medical insignia. [280] "Yes," he acknowledged the question in Alan's eyes, "you hit the switch. [281] That was three days ago. [282] When you're up again we'd all like to thank you." [283] Suddenly a sobbing-laughing green-eyed girl was pressed tightly against him. [284] Neither of them spoke. [285] They couldn't. [286] There was too much to say. [287] THE END

Here is the ranking of the context sentences in order of importance for answering the question "Who is Alan, and what are his traits?": 1. [66] Crazy maybe, but Peggy and her green eyes that changed color with the light, with her soft brown hair, and her happy smile, had ended thirty years of loneliness and had, at last, given him a reason for living. 2. [148] Then, at thirty, Alan became a man. 3. [146] For the first time in his life he understood what it was to live, because for the first time he realized that he would sometime die. 4. [5] Alan stopped, puzzled. 5. [35] Shakily, Alan crawled a few feet back into the undergrowth where he could lie and watch the camp, but not himself be seen. 6. [59] Good Lord, Peggy! 7. [63] A pretty girl, Peggy, the girl he'd married just three weeks ago. 8. [65] It was crazy, he supposed, to marry a girl and then take off for an unknown planet, with her to follow, to try to create a home in a jungle clearing. 9. [24] Alan smiled slightly. 10. [29] "My God, Pete built those things wrong!" 11. [40] "I suppose," he muttered to himself, "that Pete assembled these robots in a batch and then activated them all at once, probably never living to realize that they're tuned to pick up human brain waves, too. 12. [67] "Not to be killed!" 13. [89] "I have to try," he said aloud. 14. [125] "Damn you, Pete! 15. [126] Damn your robots! 16. [127] Damn, damn ... Oh, Peggy!" 17. [149] "Dammit, no law says I have to flame-out now !" 18. [180] "A blade in the old gear box, eh? 19. [181] How does that feel, boy?" 20. [185] "I wonder," he thought, "how Pete could cram enough brain into one of those things to make it hunt and track so perfectly." 21. [186] "There just isn't room for the electronics. 22. [187] You'd need a computer as big as the one at camp headquarters." 23. [192] "Good Lord! 24. [193] They communicate with each other! 25. [194] The one I jammed must be calling others to help." 26. [197] "Of course! 27. [198] Radio! 28. [199] I'll bet anything they're automatically controlled by the camp computer. 29. [200] That's where their brain is!" 30. [222] "Peggy!"

What are the features of the killer robots?

[1] SURVIVAL TACTICS By AL SEVCIK ILLUSTRATOR NOVICK The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way. [2] Then the robots figured out an additional service—putting Man out of his misery. [3] There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away. [4] Then another. [5] Alan stopped, puzzled. [6] Two more blasts, quickly together, and the sound of a scream faintly. [7] Frowning, worrying about the sounds, Alan momentarily forgot to watch his step until his foot suddenly plunged into an ant hill, throwing him to the jungle floor. [8] "Damn!" [9] He cursed again, for the tenth time, and stood uncertainly in the dimness. [10] From tall, moss-shrouded trees, wrist-thick vines hung quietly, scraping the spongy ground like the tentacles of some monstrous tree-bound octopus. [11] Fitful little plants grew straggly in the shadows of the mossy trunks, forming a dense underbrush that made walking difficult. [12] At midday some few of the blue sun's rays filtered through to the jungle floor, but now, late afternoon on the planet, the shadows were long and gloomy. [13] Alan peered around him at the vine-draped shadows, listening to the soft rustlings and faint twig-snappings of life in the jungle. [14] Two short, popping sounds echoed across the stillness, drowned out almost immediately and silenced by an explosive crash. [15] Alan started, "Blaster fighting! [16] But it can't be!" [17] Suddenly anxious, he slashed a hurried X in one of the trees to mark his position then turned to follow a line of similar marks back through the jungle. [18] He tried to run, but vines blocked his way and woody shrubs caught at his legs, tripping him and holding him back. [19] Then, through the trees he saw the clearing of the camp site, the temporary home for the scout ship and the eleven men who, with Alan, were the only humans on the jungle planet, Waiamea. [20] Stepping through the low shrubbery at the edge of the site, he looked across the open area to the two temporary structures, the camp headquarters where the power supplies and the computer were; and the sleeping quarters. [21] Beyond, nose high, stood the silver scout ship that had brought the advance exploratory party of scientists and technicians to Waiamea three days before. [22] Except for a few of the killer robots rolling slowly around the camp site on their quiet treads, there was no one about. [23] "So, they've finally got those things working." [24] Alan smiled slightly. [25] "Guess that means I owe Pete a bourbon-and-soda for sure. [26] Anybody who can build a robot that hunts by homing in on animals' mind impulses ..." He stepped forward just as a roar of blue flame dissolved the branches of a tree, barely above his head. [27] Without pausing to think, Alan leaped back, and fell sprawling over a bush just as one of the robots rolled silently up from the right, lowering its blaster barrel to aim directly at his head. [28] Alan froze. [29] "My God, Pete built those things wrong!" [30] Suddenly a screeching whirlwind of claws and teeth hurled itself from the smoldering branches and crashed against the robot, clawing insanely at the antenna and blaster barrel. [31] With an awkward jerk the robot swung around and fired its blaster, completely dissolving the lower half of the cat creature which had clung across the barrel. [32] But the back pressure of the cat's body overloaded the discharge circuits. [33] The robot started to shake, then clicked sharply as an overload relay snapped and shorted the blaster cells. [34] The killer turned and rolled back towards the camp, leaving Alan alone. [35] Shakily, Alan crawled a few feet back into the undergrowth where he could lie and watch the camp, but not himself be seen. [36] Though visibility didn't make any difference to the robots, he felt safer, somehow, hidden. [37] He knew now what the shooting sounds had been and why there hadn't been anyone around the camp site. [38] A charred blob lying in the grass of the clearing confirmed his hypothesis. [39] His stomach felt sick. [40] "I suppose," he muttered to himself, "that Pete assembled these robots in a batch and then activated them all at once, probably never living to realize that they're tuned to pick up human brain waves, too. [41] Damn! [42] Damn!" [43] His eyes blurred and he slammed his fist into the soft earth. [44] When he raised his eyes again the jungle was perceptibly darker. [45] Stealthy rustlings in the shadows grew louder with the setting sun. [46] Branches snapped unaccountably in the trees overhead and every now and then leaves or a twig fell softly to the ground, close to where he lay. [47] Reaching into his jacket, Alan fingered his pocket blaster. [48] He pulled it out and held it in his right hand. [49] "This pop gun wouldn't even singe a robot, but it just might stop one of those pumas." [50] They said the blast with your name on it would find you anywhere. [51] This looked like Alan's blast. [52] Slowly Alan looked around, sizing up his situation. [53] Behind him the dark jungle rustled forbiddingly. [54] He shuddered. [55] "Not a very healthy spot to spend the night. [56] On the other hand, I certainly can't get to the camp with a pack of mind-activated mechanical killers running around. [57] If I can just hold out until morning, when the big ship arrives ... [58] The big ship! [59] Good Lord, Peggy!" [60] He turned white; oily sweat punctuated his forehead. [61] Peggy, arriving tomorrow with the other colonists, the wives and kids! [62] The metal killers, tuned to blast any living flesh, would murder them the instant they stepped from the ship! [63] A pretty girl, Peggy, the girl he'd married just three weeks ago. [64] He still couldn't believe it. [65] It was crazy, he supposed, to marry a girl and then take off for an unknown planet, with her to follow, to try to create a home in a jungle clearing. [66] Crazy maybe, but Peggy and her green eyes that changed color with the light, with her soft brown hair, and her happy smile, had ended thirty years of loneliness and had, at last, given him a reason for living. [67] "Not to be killed!" [68] Alan unclenched his fists and wiped his palms, bloody where his fingernails had dug into the flesh. [69] There was a slight creak above him like the protesting of a branch too heavily laden. [70] Blaster ready, Alan rolled over onto his back. [71] In the movement, his elbow struck the top of a small earthy mound and he was instantly engulfed in a swarm of locust-like insects that beat disgustingly against his eyes and mouth. [72] "Fagh!" [73] Waving his arms before his face he jumped up and backwards, away from the bugs. [74] As he did so, a dark shapeless thing plopped from the trees onto the spot where he had been lying stretched out. [75] Then, like an ambient fungus, it slithered off into the jungle undergrowth. [76] For a split second the jungle stood frozen in a brilliant blue flash, followed by the sharp report of a blaster. [77] Then another. [78] Alan whirled, startled. [79] The planet's double moon had risen and he could see a robot rolling slowly across the clearing in his general direction, blasting indiscriminately at whatever mind impulses came within its pickup range, birds, insects, anything. [80] Six or seven others also left the camp headquarters area and headed for the jungle, each to a slightly different spot. [81] Apparently the robot hadn't sensed him yet, but Alan didn't know what the effective range of its pickup devices was. [82] He began to slide back into the jungle. [83] Minutes later, looking back he saw that the machine, though several hundred yards away, had altered its course and was now headed directly for him. [84] His stomach tightened. [85] Panic. [86] The dank, musty smell of the jungle seemed for an instant to thicken and choke in his throat. [87] Then he thought of the big ship landing in the morning, settling down slowly after a lonely two-week voyage. [88] He thought of a brown-haired girl crowding with the others to the gangway, eager to embrace the new planet, and the next instant a charred nothing, unrecognizable, the victim of a design error or a misplaced wire in a machine. [89] "I have to try," he said aloud. [90] "I have to try." [91] He moved into the blackness. [92] Powerful as a small tank, the killer robot was equipped to crush, slash, and burn its way through undergrowth. [93] Nevertheless, it was slowed by the larger trees and the thick, clinging vines, and Alan found that he could manage to keep ahead of it, barely out of blaster range. [94] Only, the robot didn't get tired. [95] Alan did. [96] The twin moons cast pale, deceptive shadows that wavered and danced across the jungle floor, hiding debris that tripped him and often sent him sprawling into the dark. [97] Sharp-edged growths tore at his face and clothes, and insects attracted by the blood matted against his pants and shirt. [98] Behind, the robot crashed imperturbably after him, lighting the night with fitful blaster flashes as some winged or legged life came within its range. [99] There was movement also, in the darkness beside him, scrapings and rustlings and an occasional low, throaty sound like an angry cat. [100] Alan's fingers tensed on his pocket blaster. [101] Swift shadowy forms moved quickly in the shrubs and the growling became suddenly louder. [102] He fired twice, blindly, into the undergrowth. [103] Sharp screams punctuated the electric blue discharge as a pack of small feline creatures leaped snarling and clawing back into the night. [104] Mentally, Alan tried to figure the charge remaining in his blaster. [105] There wouldn't be much. [106] "Enough for a few more shots, maybe. [107] Why the devil didn't I load in fresh cells this morning!" [108] The robot crashed on, louder now, gaining on the tired human. [109] Legs aching and bruised, stinging from insect bites, Alan tried to force himself to run holding his hands in front of him like a child in the dark. [110] His foot tripped on a barely visible insect hill and a winged swarm exploded around him. [111] Startled, Alan jerked sideways, crashing his head against a tree. [112] He clutched at the bark for a second, dazed, then his knees buckled. [113] His blaster fell into the shadows. [114] The robot crashed loudly behind him now. [115] Without stopping to think, Alan fumbled along the ground after his gun, straining his eyes in the darkness. [116] He found it just a couple of feet to one side, against the base of a small bush. [117] Just as his fingers closed upon the barrel his other hand slipped into something sticky that splashed over his forearm. [118] He screamed in pain and leaped back, trying frantically to wipe the clinging, burning blackness off his arm. [119] Patches of black scraped off onto branches and vines, but the rest spread slowly over his arm as agonizing as hot acid, or as flesh being ripped away layer by layer. [120] Almost blinded by pain, whimpering, Alan stumbled forward. [121] Sharp muscle spasms shot from his shoulder across his back and chest. [122] Tears streamed across his cheeks. [123] A blue arc slashed at the trees a mere hundred yards behind. [124] He screamed at the blast. [125] "Damn you, Pete! [126] Damn your robots! [127] Damn, damn ... Oh, Peggy!" [128] He stepped into emptiness. [129] Coolness. [130] Wet. [131] Slowly, washed by the water, the pain began to fall away. [132] He wanted to lie there forever in the dark, cool, wetness. [133] For ever, and ever, and ... [134] The air thundered. [135] In the dim light he could see the banks of the stream, higher than a man, muddy and loose. [136] Growing right to the edge of the banks, the jungle reached out with hairy, disjointed arms as if to snag even the dirty little stream that passed so timidly through its domain. [137] Alan, lying in the mud of the stream bed, felt the earth shake as the heavy little robot rolled slowly and inexorably towards him. [138] "The Lord High Executioner," he thought, "in battle dress." [139] He tried to stand but his legs were almost too weak and his arm felt numb. [140] "I'll drown him," he said aloud. [141] "I'll drown the Lord High Executioner." [142] He laughed. [143] Then his mind cleared. [144] He remembered where he was. [145] Alan trembled. [146] For the first time in his life he understood what it was to live, because for the first time he realized that he would sometime die. [147] In other times and circumstances he might put it off for a while, for months or years, but eventually, as now, he would have to watch, still and helpless, while death came creeping. [148] Then, at thirty, Alan became a man. [149] "Dammit, no law says I have to flame-out now !" [150] He forced himself to rise, forced his legs to stand, struggling painfully in the shin-deep ooze. [151] He worked his way to the bank and began to dig frenziedly, chest high, about two feet below the edge. [152] His arm where the black thing had been was swollen and tender, but he forced his hands to dig, dig, dig, cursing and crying to hide the pain, and biting his lips, ignoring the salty taste of blood. [153] The soft earth crumbled under his hands until he had a small cave about three feet deep in the bank. [154] Beyond that the soil was held too tightly by the roots from above and he had to stop. [155] The air crackled blue and a tree crashed heavily past Alan into the stream. [156] Above him on the bank, silhouetting against the moons, the killer robot stopped and its blaster swivelled slowly down. [157] Frantically, Alan hugged the bank as a shaft of pure electricity arced over him, sliced into the water, and exploded in a cloud of steam. [158] The robot shook for a second, its blaster muzzle lifted erratically and for an instant it seemed almost out of control, then it quieted and the muzzle again pointed down. [159] Pressing with all his might, Alan slid slowly along the bank inches at a time, away from the machine above. [160] Its muzzle turned to follow him but the edge of the bank blocked its aim. [161] Grinding forward a couple of feet, slightly overhanging the bank, the robot fired again. [162] For a split second Alan seemed engulfed in flame; the heat of hell singed his head and back, and mud boiled in the bank by his arm. [163] Again the robot trembled. [164] It jerked forward a foot and its blaster swung slightly away. [165] But only for a moment. [166] Then the gun swung back again. [167] Suddenly, as if sensing something wrong, its tracks slammed into reverse. [168] It stood poised for a second, its treads spinning crazily as the earth collapsed underneath it, where Alan had dug, then it fell with a heavy splash into the mud, ten feet from where Alan stood. [169] Without hesitation Alan threw himself across the blaster housing, frantically locking his arms around the barrel as the robot's treads churned furiously in the sticky mud, causing it to buck and plunge like a Brahma bull. [170] The treads stopped and the blaster jerked upwards wrenching Alan's arms, then slammed down. [171] Then the whole housing whirled around and around, tilting alternately up and down like a steel-skinned water monster trying to dislodge a tenacious crab, while Alan, arms and legs wrapped tightly around the blaster barrel and housing, pressed fiercely against the robot's metal skin. [172] Slowly, trying to anticipate and shift his weight with the spinning plunges, Alan worked his hand down to his right hip. [173] He fumbled for the sheath clipped to his belt, found it, and extracted a stubby hunting knife. [174] Sweat and blood in his eyes, hardly able to move on the wildly swinging turret, he felt down the sides to the thin crack between the revolving housing and the stationary portion of the robot. [175] With a quick prayer he jammed in the knife blade—and was whipped headlong into the mud as the turret literally snapped to a stop. [176] The earth, jungle and moons spun in a pinwheeled blur, slowed, and settled to their proper places. [177] Standing in the sticky, sweet-smelling ooze, Alan eyed the robot apprehensively. [178] Half buried in mud, it stood quiet in the shadowy light except for an occasional, almost spasmodic jerk of its blaster barrel. [179] For the first time that night Alan allowed himself a slight smile. [180] "A blade in the old gear box, eh? [181] How does that feel, boy?" [182] He turned. [183] "Well, I'd better get out of here before the knife slips or the monster cooks up some more tricks with whatever it's got for a brain." [184] Digging little footholds in the soft bank, he climbed up and stood once again in the rustling jungle darkness. [185] "I wonder," he thought, "how Pete could cram enough brain into one of those things to make it hunt and track so perfectly." [186] He tried to visualize the computing circuits needed for the operation of its tracking mechanism alone. [187] "There just isn't room for the electronics. [188] You'd need a computer as big as the one at camp headquarters." [189] In the distance the sky blazed as a blaster roared in the jungle. [190] Then Alan heard the approaching robot, crunching and snapping its way through the undergrowth like an onrushing forest fire. [191] He froze. [192] "Good Lord! [193] They communicate with each other! [194] The one I jammed must be calling others to help." [195] He began to move along the bank, away from the crashing sounds. [196] Suddenly he stopped, his eyes widened. [197] "Of course! [198] Radio! [199] I'll bet anything they're automatically controlled by the camp computer. [200] That's where their brain is!" [201] He paused. [202] "Then, if that were put out of commission ..." He jerked away from the bank and half ran, half pulled himself through the undergrowth towards the camp. [203] Trees exploded to his left as another robot fired in his direction, too far away to be effective but churning towards him through the blackness. [204] Alan changed direction slightly to follow a line between the two robots coming up from either side, behind him. [205] His eyes were well accustomed to the dark now, and he managed to dodge most of the shadowy vines and branches before they could snag or trip him. [206] Even so, he stumbled in the wiry underbrush and his legs were a mass of stinging slashes from ankle to thigh. [207] The crashing rumble of the killer robots shook the night behind him, nearer sometimes, then falling slightly back, but following constantly, more unshakable than bloodhounds because a man can sometimes cover a scent, but no man can stop his thoughts. [208] Intermittently, like photographers' strobes, blue flashes would light the jungle about him. [209] Then, for seconds afterwards his eyes would see dancing streaks of yellow and sharp multi-colored pinwheels that alternately shrunk and expanded as if in a surrealist's nightmare. [210] Alan would have to pause and squeeze his eyelids tight shut before he could see again, and the robots would move a little closer. [211] To his right the trees silhouetted briefly against brilliance as a third robot slowly moved up in the distance. [212] Without thinking, Alan turned slightly to the left, then froze in momentary panic. [213] "I should be at the camp now. [214] Damn, what direction am I going?" [215] He tried to think back, to visualize the twists and turns he'd taken in the jungle. [216] "All I need is to get lost." [217] He pictured the camp computer with no one to stop it, automatically sending its robots in wider and wider forays, slowly wiping every trace of life from the planet. [218] Technologically advanced machines doing the job for which they were built, completely, thoroughly, without feeling, and without human masters to separate sense from futility. [219] Finally parts would wear out, circuits would short, and one by one the killers would crunch to a halt. [220] A few birds would still fly then, but a unique animal life, rare in the universe, would exist no more. [221] And the bones of children, eager girls, and their men would also lie, beside a rusty hulk, beneath the alien sun. [222] "Peggy!" [223] As if in answer, a tree beside him breathed fire, then exploded. [224] In the brief flash of the blaster shot, Alan saw the steel glint of a robot only a hundred yards away, much nearer than he had thought. [225] "Thank heaven for trees!" [226] He stepped back, felt his foot catch in something, clutched futilely at some leaves and fell heavily. [227] Pain danced up his leg as he grabbed his ankle. [228] Quickly he felt the throbbing flesh. [229] "Damn the rotten luck, anyway!" [230] He blinked the pain tears from his eyes and looked up—into a robot's blaster, jutting out of the foliage, thirty yards away. [231] Instinctively, in one motion Alan grabbed his pocket blaster and fired. [232] To his amazement the robot jerked back, its gun wobbled and started to tilt away. [233] Then, getting itself under control, it swung back again to face Alan. [234] He fired again, and again the robot reacted. [235] It seemed familiar somehow. [236] Then he remembered the robot on the river bank, jiggling and swaying for seconds after each shot. [237] "Of course!" [238] He cursed himself for missing the obvious. [239] "The blaster static blanks out radio transmission from the computer for a few seconds. [240] They even do it to themselves!" [241] Firing intermittently, he pulled himself upright and hobbled ahead through the bush. [242] The robot shook spasmodically with each shot, its gun tilted upward at an awkward angle. [243] Then, unexpectedly, Alan saw stars, real stars brilliant in the night sky, and half dragging his swelling leg he stumbled out of the jungle into the camp clearing. [244] Ahead, across fifty yards of grass stood the headquarters building, housing the robot-controlling computer. [245] Still firing at short intervals he started across the clearing, gritting his teeth at every step. [246] Straining every muscle in spite of the agonizing pain, Alan forced himself to a limping run across the uneven ground, carefully avoiding the insect hills that jutted up through the grass. [247] From the corner of his eye he saw another of the robots standing shakily in the dark edge of the jungle waiting, it seemed, for his small blaster to run dry. [248] "Be damned! [249] You can't win now!" [250] Alan yelled between blaster shots, almost irrational from the pain that ripped jaggedly through his leg. [251] Then it happened. [252] A few feet from the building's door his blaster quit. [253] A click. [254] A faint hiss when he frantically jerked the trigger again and again, and the spent cells released themselves from the device, falling in the grass at his feet. [255] He dropped the useless gun. [256] "No!" [257] He threw himself on the ground as a new robot suddenly appeared around the edge of the building a few feet away, aimed, and fired. [258] Air burned over Alan's back and ozone tingled in his nostrils. [259] Blinding itself for a few seconds with its own blaster static, the robot paused momentarily, jiggling in place. [260] In this instant, Alan jammed his hands into an insect hill and hurled the pile of dirt and insects directly at the robot's antenna. [261] In a flash, hundreds of the winged things erupted angrily from the hole in a swarming cloud, each part of which was a speck of life transmitting mental energy to the robot's pickup devices. [262] Confused by the sudden dispersion of mind impulses, the robot fired erratically as Alan crouched and raced painfully for the door. [263] It fired again, closer, as he fumbled with the lock release. [264] Jagged bits of plastic and stone ripped past him, torn loose by the blast. [265] Frantically, Alan slammed open the door as the robot, sensing him strongly now, aimed point blank. [266] He saw nothing, his mind thought of nothing but the red-clad safety switch mounted beside the computer. [267] Time stopped. [268] There was nothing else in the world. [269] He half-jumped, half-fell towards it, slowly, in tenths of seconds that seemed measured out in years. [270] The universe went black. [271] Later. [272] Brilliance pressed upon his eyes. [273] Then pain returned, a multi-hurting thing that crawled through his body and dragged ragged tentacles across his brain. [274] He moaned. [275] A voice spoke hollowly in the distance. [276] "He's waking. [277] Call his wife." [278] Alan opened his eyes in a white room; a white light hung over his head. [279] Beside him, looking down with a rueful smile, stood a young man wearing space medical insignia. [280] "Yes," he acknowledged the question in Alan's eyes, "you hit the switch. [281] That was three days ago. [282] When you're up again we'd all like to thank you." [283] Suddenly a sobbing-laughing green-eyed girl was pressed tightly against him. [284] Neither of them spoke. [285] They couldn't. [286] There was too much to say. [287] THE END

Here is the ranking of the context sentences in order of importance for answering the question "What are the features of the killer robots?": 1. [92] Powerful as a small tank, the killer robot was equipped to crush, slash, and burn its way through undergrowth. 2. [22] Except for a few of the killer robots rolling slowly around the camp site on their quiet treads, there was no one about. 3. [29] "My God, Pete built those things wrong!" 4. [40] "I suppose," he muttered to himself, "that Pete assembled these robots in a batch and then activated them all at once, probably never living to realize that they're tuned to pick up human brain waves, too. 5. [185] "I wonder," he thought, "how Pete could cram enough brain into one of those things to make it hunt and track so perfectly." 6. [187] "There just isn't room for the electronics. You'd need a computer as big as the one at camp headquarters." 7. [198] "Radio! I'll bet anything they're automatically controlled by the camp computer. That's where their brain is!" 8. [92] Powerful as a small tank, the killer robot was equipped to crush, slash, and burn its way through undergrowth. 9. [22] Except for a few of the killer robots rolling slowly around the camp site on their quiet treads, there was no one about. 10. [29] "My God, Pete built those things wrong!" 11. [40] "I suppose," he muttered to himself, "that Pete assembled these robots in a batch and then activated them all at once, probably never living to realize that they're tuned to pick up human brain waves, too. 12. [185] "I wonder," he thought, "how Pete could cram enough brain into one of those things to make it hunt and track so perfectly." 13. [187] "There just isn't room for the electronics. You'd need a computer as big as the one at camp headquarters." 14. [198] "Radio! I'll bet anything they're automatically controlled by the camp computer. That's where their brain is!" 15. [3] There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away. 16. [6] Two more blasts, quickly together, and the sound of a scream faintly. 17. [14] Two short, popping sounds echoed across the stillness, drowned out almost immediately and silenced by an explosive crash. 18. [26] Anybody who can build a robot that hunts by homing in on animals' mind impulses ..." 19. [30] Suddenly a screeching whirlwind of claws and teeth hurled itself from the smoldering branches and crashed against the robot, clawing insanely at the antenna and blaster barrel. 20. [92] Powerful as a small tank, the killer robot was equipped to crush, slash, and burn its way through undergrowth. 21. [1] The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way. 22. [2] Then the robots figured out an additional service—putting Man out of his misery. 23. [3] There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away. 24. [6] Two more blasts, quickly together, and the sound of a scream faintly. 25. [14] Two short, popping sounds echoed across the stillness, drowned out almost immediately and silenced by an explosive crash. 26. [26] Anybody who can build a robot that hunts by homing in on animals' mind impulses ..." 27. [30] Suddenly a screeching whirlwind of claws and teeth hurled itself from the smoldering branches and crashed against the robot, clawing insanely at the antenna and blaster barrel. 28. [7] Frowning, worrying about the sounds, Alan momentarily forgot to watch his step until his foot suddenly plunged into an ant hill, throwing him to the jungle floor. 29. [10] From tall, moss-shrouded trees, wrist-thick vines hung quietly, scraping the spongy ground like the tentacles of some monstrous tree-bound octopus. 30. [11] Fitful little plants grew straggly in the shadows of the mossy trunks, forming a dense underbrush that made walking difficult.

Describe the setting of the story.

[1] SURVIVAL TACTICS By AL SEVCIK ILLUSTRATOR NOVICK The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way. [2] Then the robots figured out an additional service—putting Man out of his misery. [3] There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away. [4] Then another. [5] Alan stopped, puzzled. [6] Two more blasts, quickly together, and the sound of a scream faintly. [7] Frowning, worrying about the sounds, Alan momentarily forgot to watch his step until his foot suddenly plunged into an ant hill, throwing him to the jungle floor. [8] "Damn!" [9] He cursed again, for the tenth time, and stood uncertainly in the dimness. [10] From tall, moss-shrouded trees, wrist-thick vines hung quietly, scraping the spongy ground like the tentacles of some monstrous tree-bound octopus. [11] Fitful little plants grew straggly in the shadows of the mossy trunks, forming a dense underbrush that made walking difficult. [12] At midday some few of the blue sun's rays filtered through to the jungle floor, but now, late afternoon on the planet, the shadows were long and gloomy. [13] Alan peered around him at the vine-draped shadows, listening to the soft rustlings and faint twig-snappings of life in the jungle. [14] Two short, popping sounds echoed across the stillness, drowned out almost immediately and silenced by an explosive crash. [15] Alan started, "Blaster fighting! [16] But it can't be!" [17] Suddenly anxious, he slashed a hurried X in one of the trees to mark his position then turned to follow a line of similar marks back through the jungle. [18] He tried to run, but vines blocked his way and woody shrubs caught at his legs, tripping him and holding him back. [19] Then, through the trees he saw the clearing of the camp site, the temporary home for the scout ship and the eleven men who, with Alan, were the only humans on the jungle planet, Waiamea. [20] Stepping through the low shrubbery at the edge of the site, he looked across the open area to the two temporary structures, the camp headquarters where the power supplies and the computer were; and the sleeping quarters. [21] Beyond, nose high, stood the silver scout ship that had brought the advance exploratory party of scientists and technicians to Waiamea three days before. [22] Except for a few of the killer robots rolling slowly around the camp site on their quiet treads, there was no one about. [23] "So, they've finally got those things working." [24] Alan smiled slightly. [25] "Guess that means I owe Pete a bourbon-and-soda for sure. [26] Anybody who can build a robot that hunts by homing in on animals' mind impulses ..." He stepped forward just as a roar of blue flame dissolved the branches of a tree, barely above his head. [27] Without pausing to think, Alan leaped back, and fell sprawling over a bush just as one of the robots rolled silently up from the right, lowering its blaster barrel to aim directly at his head. [28] Alan froze. [29] "My God, Pete built those things wrong!" [30] Suddenly a screeching whirlwind of claws and teeth hurled itself from the smoldering branches and crashed against the robot, clawing insanely at the antenna and blaster barrel. [31] With an awkward jerk the robot swung around and fired its blaster, completely dissolving the lower half of the cat creature which had clung across the barrel. [32] But the back pressure of the cat's body overloaded the discharge circuits. [33] The robot started to shake, then clicked sharply as an overload relay snapped and shorted the blaster cells. [34] The killer turned and rolled back towards the camp, leaving Alan alone. [35] Shakily, Alan crawled a few feet back into the undergrowth where he could lie and watch the camp, but not himself be seen. [36] Though visibility didn't make any difference to the robots, he felt safer, somehow, hidden. [37] He knew now what the shooting sounds had been and why there hadn't been anyone around the camp site. [38] A charred blob lying in the grass of the clearing confirmed his hypothesis. [39] His stomach felt sick. [40] "I suppose," he muttered to himself, "that Pete assembled these robots in a batch and then activated them all at once, probably never living to realize that they're tuned to pick up human brain waves, too. [41] Damn! [42] Damn!" [43] His eyes blurred and he slammed his fist into the soft earth. [44] When he raised his eyes again the jungle was perceptibly darker. [45] Stealthy rustlings in the shadows grew louder with the setting sun. [46] Branches snapped unaccountably in the trees overhead and every now and then leaves or a twig fell softly to the ground, close to where he lay. [47] Reaching into his jacket, Alan fingered his pocket blaster. [48] He pulled it out and held it in his right hand. [49] "This pop gun wouldn't even singe a robot, but it just might stop one of those pumas." [50] They said the blast with your name on it would find you anywhere. [51] This looked like Alan's blast. [52] Slowly Alan looked around, sizing up his situation. [53] Behind him the dark jungle rustled forbiddingly. [54] He shuddered. [55] "Not a very healthy spot to spend the night. [56] On the other hand, I certainly can't get to the camp with a pack of mind-activated mechanical killers running around. [57] If I can just hold out until morning, when the big ship arrives ... [58] The big ship! [59] Good Lord, Peggy!" [60] He turned white; oily sweat punctuated his forehead. [61] Peggy, arriving tomorrow with the other colonists, the wives and kids! [62] The metal killers, tuned to blast any living flesh, would murder them the instant they stepped from the ship! [63] A pretty girl, Peggy, the girl he'd married just three weeks ago. [64] He still couldn't believe it. [65] It was crazy, he supposed, to marry a girl and then take off for an unknown planet, with her to follow, to try to create a home in a jungle clearing. [66] Crazy maybe, but Peggy and her green eyes that changed color with the light, with her soft brown hair, and her happy smile, had ended thirty years of loneliness and had, at last, given him a reason for living. [67] "Not to be killed!" [68] Alan unclenched his fists and wiped his palms, bloody where his fingernails had dug into the flesh. [69] There was a slight creak above him like the protesting of a branch too heavily laden. [70] Blaster ready, Alan rolled over onto his back. [71] In the movement, his elbow struck the top of a small earthy mound and he was instantly engulfed in a swarm of locust-like insects that beat disgustingly against his eyes and mouth. [72] "Fagh!" [73] Waving his arms before his face he jumped up and backwards, away from the bugs. [74] As he did so, a dark shapeless thing plopped from the trees onto the spot where he had been lying stretched out. [75] Then, like an ambient fungus, it slithered off into the jungle undergrowth. [76] For a split second the jungle stood frozen in a brilliant blue flash, followed by the sharp report of a blaster. [77] Then another. [78] Alan whirled, startled. [79] The planet's double moon had risen and he could see a robot rolling slowly across the clearing in his general direction, blasting indiscriminately at whatever mind impulses came within its pickup range, birds, insects, anything. [80] Six or seven others also left the camp headquarters area and headed for the jungle, each to a slightly different spot. [81] Apparently the robot hadn't sensed him yet, but Alan didn't know what the effective range of its pickup devices was. [82] He began to slide back into the jungle. [83] Minutes later, looking back he saw that the machine, though several hundred yards away, had altered its course and was now headed directly for him. [84] His stomach tightened. [85] Panic. [86] The dank, musty smell of the jungle seemed for an instant to thicken and choke in his throat. [87] Then he thought of the big ship landing in the morning, settling down slowly after a lonely two-week voyage. [88] He thought of a brown-haired girl crowding with the others to the gangway, eager to embrace the new planet, and the next instant a charred nothing, unrecognizable, the victim of a design error or a misplaced wire in a machine. [89] "I have to try," he said aloud. [90] "I have to try." [91] He moved into the blackness. [92] Powerful as a small tank, the killer robot was equipped to crush, slash, and burn its way through undergrowth. [93] Nevertheless, it was slowed by the larger trees and the thick, clinging vines, and Alan found that he could manage to keep ahead of it, barely out of blaster range. [94] Only, the robot didn't get tired. [95] Alan did. [96] The twin moons cast pale, deceptive shadows that wavered and danced across the jungle floor, hiding debris that tripped him and often sent him sprawling into the dark. [97] Sharp-edged growths tore at his face and clothes, and insects attracted by the blood matted against his pants and shirt. [98] Behind, the robot crashed imperturbably after him, lighting the night with fitful blaster flashes as some winged or legged life came within its range. [99] There was movement also, in the darkness beside him, scrapings and rustlings and an occasional low, throaty sound like an angry cat. [100] Alan's fingers tensed on his pocket blaster. [101] Swift shadowy forms moved quickly in the shrubs and the growling became suddenly louder. [102] He fired twice, blindly, into the undergrowth. [103] Sharp screams punctuated the electric blue discharge as a pack of small feline creatures leaped snarling and clawing back into the night. [104] Mentally, Alan tried to figure the charge remaining in his blaster. [105] There wouldn't be much. [106] "Enough for a few more shots, maybe. [107] Why the devil didn't I load in fresh cells this morning!" [108] The robot crashed on, louder now, gaining on the tired human. [109] Legs aching and bruised, stinging from insect bites, Alan tried to force himself to run holding his hands in front of him like a child in the dark. [110] His foot tripped on a barely visible insect hill and a winged swarm exploded around him. [111] Startled, Alan jerked sideways, crashing his head against a tree. [112] He clutched at the bark for a second, dazed, then his knees buckled. [113] His blaster fell into the shadows. [114] The robot crashed loudly behind him now. [115] Without stopping to think, Alan fumbled along the ground after his gun, straining his eyes in the darkness. [116] He found it just a couple of feet to one side, against the base of a small bush. [117] Just as his fingers closed upon the barrel his other hand slipped into something sticky that splashed over his forearm. [118] He screamed in pain and leaped back, trying frantically to wipe the clinging, burning blackness off his arm. [119] Patches of black scraped off onto branches and vines, but the rest spread slowly over his arm as agonizing as hot acid, or as flesh being ripped away layer by layer. [120] Almost blinded by pain, whimpering, Alan stumbled forward. [121] Sharp muscle spasms shot from his shoulder across his back and chest. [122] Tears streamed across his cheeks. [123] A blue arc slashed at the trees a mere hundred yards behind. [124] He screamed at the blast. [125] "Damn you, Pete! [126] Damn your robots! [127] Damn, damn ... Oh, Peggy!" [128] He stepped into emptiness. [129] Coolness. [130] Wet. [131] Slowly, washed by the water, the pain began to fall away. [132] He wanted to lie there forever in the dark, cool, wetness. [133] For ever, and ever, and ... [134] The air thundered. [135] In the dim light he could see the banks of the stream, higher than a man, muddy and loose. [136] Growing right to the edge of the banks, the jungle reached out with hairy, disjointed arms as if to snag even the dirty little stream that passed so timidly through its domain. [137] Alan, lying in the mud of the stream bed, felt the earth shake as the heavy little robot rolled slowly and inexorably towards him. [138] "The Lord High Executioner," he thought, "in battle dress." [139] He tried to stand but his legs were almost too weak and his arm felt numb. [140] "I'll drown him," he said aloud. [141] "I'll drown the Lord High Executioner." [142] He laughed. [143] Then his mind cleared. [144] He remembered where he was. [145] Alan trembled. [146] For the first time in his life he understood what it was to live, because for the first time he realized that he would sometime die. [147] In other times and circumstances he might put it off for a while, for months or years, but eventually, as now, he would have to watch, still and helpless, while death came creeping. [148] Then, at thirty, Alan became a man. [149] "Dammit, no law says I have to flame-out now !" [150] He forced himself to rise, forced his legs to stand, struggling painfully in the shin-deep ooze. [151] He worked his way to the bank and began to dig frenziedly, chest high, about two feet below the edge. [152] His arm where the black thing had been was swollen and tender, but he forced his hands to dig, dig, dig, cursing and crying to hide the pain, and biting his lips, ignoring the salty taste of blood. [153] The soft earth crumbled under his hands until he had a small cave about three feet deep in the bank. [154] Beyond that the soil was held too tightly by the roots from above and he had to stop. [155] The air crackled blue and a tree crashed heavily past Alan into the stream. [156] Above him on the bank, silhouetting against the moons, the killer robot stopped and its blaster swivelled slowly down. [157] Frantically, Alan hugged the bank as a shaft of pure electricity arced over him, sliced into the water, and exploded in a cloud of steam. [158] The robot shook for a second, its blaster muzzle lifted erratically and for an instant it seemed almost out of control, then it quieted and the muzzle again pointed down. [159] Pressing with all his might, Alan slid slowly along the bank inches at a time, away from the machine above. [160] Its muzzle turned to follow him but the edge of the bank blocked its aim. [161] Grinding forward a couple of feet, slightly overhanging the bank, the robot fired again. [162] For a split second Alan seemed engulfed in flame; the heat of hell singed his head and back, and mud boiled in the bank by his arm. [163] Again the robot trembled. [164] It jerked forward a foot and its blaster swung slightly away. [165] But only for a moment. [166] Then the gun swung back again. [167] Suddenly, as if sensing something wrong, its tracks slammed into reverse. [168] It stood poised for a second, its treads spinning crazily as the earth collapsed underneath it, where Alan had dug, then it fell with a heavy splash into the mud, ten feet from where Alan stood. [169] Without hesitation Alan threw himself across the blaster housing, frantically locking his arms around the barrel as the robot's treads churned furiously in the sticky mud, causing it to buck and plunge like a Brahma bull. [170] The treads stopped and the blaster jerked upwards wrenching Alan's arms, then slammed down. [171] Then the whole housing whirled around and around, tilting alternately up and down like a steel-skinned water monster trying to dislodge a tenacious crab, while Alan, arms and legs wrapped tightly around the blaster barrel and housing, pressed fiercely against the robot's metal skin. [172] Slowly, trying to anticipate and shift his weight with the spinning plunges, Alan worked his hand down to his right hip. [173] He fumbled for the sheath clipped to his belt, found it, and extracted a stubby hunting knife. [174] Sweat and blood in his eyes, hardly able to move on the wildly swinging turret, he felt down the sides to the thin crack between the revolving housing and the stationary portion of the robot. [175] With a quick prayer he jammed in the knife blade—and was whipped headlong into the mud as the turret literally snapped to a stop. [176] The earth, jungle and moons spun in a pinwheeled blur, slowed, and settled to their proper places. [177] Standing in the sticky, sweet-smelling ooze, Alan eyed the robot apprehensively. [178] Half buried in mud, it stood quiet in the shadowy light except for an occasional, almost spasmodic jerk of its blaster barrel. [179] For the first time that night Alan allowed himself a slight smile. [180] "A blade in the old gear box, eh? [181] How does that feel, boy?" [182] He turned. [183] "Well, I'd better get out of here before the knife slips or the monster cooks up some more tricks with whatever it's got for a brain." [184] Digging little footholds in the soft bank, he climbed up and stood once again in the rustling jungle darkness. [185] "I wonder," he thought, "how Pete could cram enough brain into one of those things to make it hunt and track so perfectly." [186] He tried to visualize the computing circuits needed for the operation of its tracking mechanism alone. [187] "There just isn't room for the electronics. [188] You'd need a computer as big as the one at camp headquarters." [189] In the distance the sky blazed as a blaster roared in the jungle. [190] Then Alan heard the approaching robot, crunching and snapping its way through the undergrowth like an onrushing forest fire. [191] He froze. [192] "Good Lord! [193] They communicate with each other! [194] The one I jammed must be calling others to help." [195] He began to move along the bank, away from the crashing sounds. [196] Suddenly he stopped, his eyes widened. [197] "Of course! [198] Radio! [199] I'll bet anything they're automatically controlled by the camp computer. [200] That's where their brain is!" [201] He paused. [202] "Then, if that were put out of commission ..." He jerked away from the bank and half ran, half pulled himself through the undergrowth towards the camp. [203] Trees exploded to his left as another robot fired in his direction, too far away to be effective but churning towards him through the blackness. [204] Alan changed direction slightly to follow a line between the two robots coming up from either side, behind him. [205] His eyes were well accustomed to the dark now, and he managed to dodge most of the shadowy vines and branches before they could snag or trip him. [206] Even so, he stumbled in the wiry underbrush and his legs were a mass of stinging slashes from ankle to thigh. [207] The crashing rumble of the killer robots shook the night behind him, nearer sometimes, then falling slightly back, but following constantly, more unshakable than bloodhounds because a man can sometimes cover a scent, but no man can stop his thoughts. [208] Intermittently, like photographers' strobes, blue flashes would light the jungle about him. [209] Then, for seconds afterwards his eyes would see dancing streaks of yellow and sharp multi-colored pinwheels that alternately shrunk and expanded as if in a surrealist's nightmare. [210] Alan would have to pause and squeeze his eyelids tight shut before he could see again, and the robots would move a little closer. [211] To his right the trees silhouetted briefly against brilliance as a third robot slowly moved up in the distance. [212] Without thinking, Alan turned slightly to the left, then froze in momentary panic. [213] "I should be at the camp now. [214] Damn, what direction am I going?" [215] He tried to think back, to visualize the twists and turns he'd taken in the jungle. [216] "All I need is to get lost." [217] He pictured the camp computer with no one to stop it, automatically sending its robots in wider and wider forays, slowly wiping every trace of life from the planet. [218] Technologically advanced machines doing the job for which they were built, completely, thoroughly, without feeling, and without human masters to separate sense from futility. [219] Finally parts would wear out, circuits would short, and one by one the killers would crunch to a halt. [220] A few birds would still fly then, but a unique animal life, rare in the universe, would exist no more. [221] And the bones of children, eager girls, and their men would also lie, beside a rusty hulk, beneath the alien sun. [222] "Peggy!" [223] As if in answer, a tree beside him breathed fire, then exploded. [224] In the brief flash of the blaster shot, Alan saw the steel glint of a robot only a hundred yards away, much nearer than he had thought. [225] "Thank heaven for trees!" [226] He stepped back, felt his foot catch in something, clutched futilely at some leaves and fell heavily. [227] Pain danced up his leg as he grabbed his ankle. [228] Quickly he felt the throbbing flesh. [229] "Damn the rotten luck, anyway!" [230] He blinked the pain tears from his eyes and looked up—into a robot's blaster, jutting out of the foliage, thirty yards away. [231] Instinctively, in one motion Alan grabbed his pocket blaster and fired. [232] To his amazement the robot jerked back, its gun wobbled and started to tilt away. [233] Then, getting itself under control, it swung back again to face Alan. [234] He fired again, and again the robot reacted. [235] It seemed familiar somehow. [236] Then he remembered the robot on the river bank, jiggling and swaying for seconds after each shot. [237] "Of course!" [238] He cursed himself for missing the obvious. [239] "The blaster static blanks out radio transmission from the computer for a few seconds. [240] They even do it to themselves!" [241] Firing intermittently, he pulled himself upright and hobbled ahead through the bush. [242] The robot shook spasmodically with each shot, its gun tilted upward at an awkward angle. [243] Then, unexpectedly, Alan saw stars, real stars brilliant in the night sky, and half dragging his swelling leg he stumbled out of the jungle into the camp clearing. [244] Ahead, across fifty yards of grass stood the headquarters building, housing the robot-controlling computer. [245] Still firing at short intervals he started across the clearing, gritting his teeth at every step. [246] Straining every muscle in spite of the agonizing pain, Alan forced himself to a limping run across the uneven ground, carefully avoiding the insect hills that jutted up through the grass. [247] From the corner of his eye he saw another of the robots standing shakily in the dark edge of the jungle waiting, it seemed, for his small blaster to run dry. [248] "Be damned! [249] You can't win now!" [250] Alan yelled between blaster shots, almost irrational from the pain that ripped jaggedly through his leg. [251] Then it happened. [252] A few feet from the building's door his blaster quit. [253] A click. [254] A faint hiss when he frantically jerked the trigger again and again, and the spent cells released themselves from the device, falling in the grass at his feet. [255] He dropped the useless gun. [256] "No!" [257] He threw himself on the ground as a new robot suddenly appeared around the edge of the building a few feet away, aimed, and fired. [258] Air burned over Alan's back and ozone tingled in his nostrils. [259] Blinding itself for a few seconds with its own blaster static, the robot paused momentarily, jiggling in place. [260] In this instant, Alan jammed his hands into an insect hill and hurled the pile of dirt and insects directly at the robot's antenna. [261] In a flash, hundreds of the winged things erupted angrily from the hole in a swarming cloud, each part of which was a speck of life transmitting mental energy to the robot's pickup devices. [262] Confused by the sudden dispersion of mind impulses, the robot fired erratically as Alan crouched and raced painfully for the door. [263] It fired again, closer, as he fumbled with the lock release. [264] Jagged bits of plastic and stone ripped past him, torn loose by the blast. [265] Frantically, Alan slammed open the door as the robot, sensing him strongly now, aimed point blank. [266] He saw nothing, his mind thought of nothing but the red-clad safety switch mounted beside the computer. [267] Time stopped. [268] There was nothing else in the world. [269] He half-jumped, half-fell towards it, slowly, in tenths of seconds that seemed measured out in years. [270] The universe went black. [271] Later. [272] Brilliance pressed upon his eyes. [273] Then pain returned, a multi-hurting thing that crawled through his body and dragged ragged tentacles across his brain. [274] He moaned. [275] A voice spoke hollowly in the distance. [276] "He's waking. [277] Call his wife." [278] Alan opened his eyes in a white room; a white light hung over his head. [279] Beside him, looking down with a rueful smile, stood a young man wearing space medical insignia. [280] "Yes," he acknowledged the question in Alan's eyes, "you hit the switch. [281] That was three days ago. [282] When you're up again we'd all like to thank you." [283] Suddenly a sobbing-laughing green-eyed girl was pressed tightly against him. [284] Neither of them spoke. [285] They couldn't. [286] There was too much to say. [287] THE END

Here is the ranking of the context sentences in order of importance for answering the question "Describe the setting of the story": 1. [10] From tall, moss-shrouded trees, wrist-thick vines hung quietly, scraping the spongy ground like the tentacles of some monstrous tree-bound octopus. 2. [11] Fitful little plants grew straggly in the shadows of the mossy trunks, forming a dense underbrush that made walking difficult. 3. [12] At midday some few of the blue sun's rays filtered through to the jungle floor, but now, late afternoon on the planet, the shadows were long and gloomy. 4. [13] Alan peered around him at the vine-draped shadows, listening to the soft rustlings and faint twig-snappings of life in the jungle. 5. [19] Then, through the trees he saw the clearing of the camp site, the temporary home for the scout ship and the eleven men who, with Alan, were the only humans on the jungle planet, Waiamea. 6. [20] Stepping through the low shrubbery at the edge of the site, he looked across the open area to the two temporary structures, the camp headquarters where the power supplies and the computer were; and the sleeping quarters. 7. [21] Beyond, nose high, stood the silver scout ship that had brought the advance exploratory party of scientists and technicians to Waiamea three days before. 8. [135] In the dim light he could see the banks of the stream, higher than a man, muddy and loose. 9. [136] Growing right to the edge of the banks, the jungle reached out with hairy, disjointed arms as if to snag even the dirty little stream that passed so timidly through its domain. 10. [243] Then, unexpectedly, Alan saw stars, real stars brilliant in the night sky, and half dragging his swelling leg he stumbled out of the jungle into the camp clearing. 11. [244] Ahead, across fifty yards of grass stood the headquarters building, housing the robot-controlling computer. 12. [1] The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way. 13. [2] Then the robots figured out an additional service—putting Man out of his misery. 14. [3] There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away. 15. [4] Then another. 16. [5] Alan stopped, puzzled. 17. [6] Two more blasts, quickly together, and the sound of a scream faintly. 18. [7] Frowning, worrying about the sounds, Alan momentarily forgot to watch his step until his foot suddenly plunged into an ant hill, throwing him to the jungle floor. 19. [8] "Damn!" 20. [9] He cursed again, for the tenth time, and stood uncertainly in the dimness. 21. [14] Two short, popping sounds echoed across the stillness, drowned out almost immediately and silenced by an explosive crash. 22. [15] Alan started, "Blaster fighting! 23. [16] But it can't be!" 24. [22] Except for a few of the killer robots rolling slowly around the camp site on their quiet treads, there was no one about. 25. [26] Anybody who can build a robot that hunts by homing in on animals' mind impulses ..." He stepped forward just as a roar of blue flame dissolved the branches of a tree, barely above his head. 26. [44] When he raised his eyes again the jungle was perceptibly darker. 27. [45] Stealthy rustlings in the shadows grew louder with the setting sun. 28. [46] Branches snapped unaccountably in the trees overhead and every now and then leaves or a twig fell softly to the ground, close to where he lay. 29. [53] Behind him the dark jungle rustled forbiddingly. 30. [54] He shuddered. 31. [55] "Not a very healthy spot to spend the night. 32. [96] The twin moons cast pale, deceptive shadows that wavered and danced across the jungle floor, hiding debris that tripped him and often sent him sprawling into the dark. 33. [97] Sharp-edged growths tore at his face and clothes, and insects attracted by the blood matted against his pants and shirt. 34. [99] There was movement also, in the darkness beside him, scrapings and rustlings and an occasional low, throaty sound like an angry cat. 35. [135] In the dim light he could see the banks of the stream, higher than a man, muddy and loose. 36. [189] In the distance the sky blazed as a blaster roared in the jungle. 37. [208] Intermittently, like photographers' strobes, blue flashes would light the jungle about him. 38. [209] Then, for seconds afterwards his eyes would see dancing streaks of yellow and sharp multi-colored pinwheels that alternately shrunk and expanded as if in a surrealist's nightmare. 39. [243] Then, unexpectedly, Alan saw stars, real stars brilliant in the night sky, and half dragging his swelling leg he stumbled out of the jungle into the camp clearing.

What is the significance of Alan’s realization that he must continue to live?

[1] SURVIVAL TACTICS By AL SEVCIK ILLUSTRATOR NOVICK The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way. [2] Then the robots figured out an additional service—putting Man out of his misery. [3] There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away. [4] Then another. [5] Alan stopped, puzzled. [6] Two more blasts, quickly together, and the sound of a scream faintly. [7] Frowning, worrying about the sounds, Alan momentarily forgot to watch his step until his foot suddenly plunged into an ant hill, throwing him to the jungle floor. [8] "Damn!" [9] He cursed again, for the tenth time, and stood uncertainly in the dimness. [10] From tall, moss-shrouded trees, wrist-thick vines hung quietly, scraping the spongy ground like the tentacles of some monstrous tree-bound octopus. [11] Fitful little plants grew straggly in the shadows of the mossy trunks, forming a dense underbrush that made walking difficult. [12] At midday some few of the blue sun's rays filtered through to the jungle floor, but now, late afternoon on the planet, the shadows were long and gloomy. [13] Alan peered around him at the vine-draped shadows, listening to the soft rustlings and faint twig-snappings of life in the jungle. [14] Two short, popping sounds echoed across the stillness, drowned out almost immediately and silenced by an explosive crash. [15] Alan started, "Blaster fighting! [16] But it can't be!" [17] Suddenly anxious, he slashed a hurried X in one of the trees to mark his position then turned to follow a line of similar marks back through the jungle. [18] He tried to run, but vines blocked his way and woody shrubs caught at his legs, tripping him and holding him back. [19] Then, through the trees he saw the clearing of the camp site, the temporary home for the scout ship and the eleven men who, with Alan, were the only humans on the jungle planet, Waiamea. [20] Stepping through the low shrubbery at the edge of the site, he looked across the open area to the two temporary structures, the camp headquarters where the power supplies and the computer were; and the sleeping quarters. [21] Beyond, nose high, stood the silver scout ship that had brought the advance exploratory party of scientists and technicians to Waiamea three days before. [22] Except for a few of the killer robots rolling slowly around the camp site on their quiet treads, there was no one about. [23] "So, they've finally got those things working." [24] Alan smiled slightly. [25] "Guess that means I owe Pete a bourbon-and-soda for sure. [26] Anybody who can build a robot that hunts by homing in on animals' mind impulses ..." He stepped forward just as a roar of blue flame dissolved the branches of a tree, barely above his head. [27] Without pausing to think, Alan leaped back, and fell sprawling over a bush just as one of the robots rolled silently up from the right, lowering its blaster barrel to aim directly at his head. [28] Alan froze. [29] "My God, Pete built those things wrong!" [30] Suddenly a screeching whirlwind of claws and teeth hurled itself from the smoldering branches and crashed against the robot, clawing insanely at the antenna and blaster barrel. [31] With an awkward jerk the robot swung around and fired its blaster, completely dissolving the lower half of the cat creature which had clung across the barrel. [32] But the back pressure of the cat's body overloaded the discharge circuits. [33] The robot started to shake, then clicked sharply as an overload relay snapped and shorted the blaster cells. [34] The killer turned and rolled back towards the camp, leaving Alan alone. [35] Shakily, Alan crawled a few feet back into the undergrowth where he could lie and watch the camp, but not himself be seen. [36] Though visibility didn't make any difference to the robots, he felt safer, somehow, hidden. [37] He knew now what the shooting sounds had been and why there hadn't been anyone around the camp site. [38] A charred blob lying in the grass of the clearing confirmed his hypothesis. [39] His stomach felt sick. [40] "I suppose," he muttered to himself, "that Pete assembled these robots in a batch and then activated them all at once, probably never living to realize that they're tuned to pick up human brain waves, too. [41] Damn! [42] Damn!" [43] His eyes blurred and he slammed his fist into the soft earth. [44] When he raised his eyes again the jungle was perceptibly darker. [45] Stealthy rustlings in the shadows grew louder with the setting sun. [46] Branches snapped unaccountably in the trees overhead and every now and then leaves or a twig fell softly to the ground, close to where he lay. [47] Reaching into his jacket, Alan fingered his pocket blaster. [48] He pulled it out and held it in his right hand. [49] "This pop gun wouldn't even singe a robot, but it just might stop one of those pumas." [50] They said the blast with your name on it would find you anywhere. [51] This looked like Alan's blast. [52] Slowly Alan looked around, sizing up his situation. [53] Behind him the dark jungle rustled forbiddingly. [54] He shuddered. [55] "Not a very healthy spot to spend the night. [56] On the other hand, I certainly can't get to the camp with a pack of mind-activated mechanical killers running around. [57] If I can just hold out until morning, when the big ship arrives ... [58] The big ship! [59] Good Lord, Peggy!" [60] He turned white; oily sweat punctuated his forehead. [61] Peggy, arriving tomorrow with the other colonists, the wives and kids! [62] The metal killers, tuned to blast any living flesh, would murder them the instant they stepped from the ship! [63] A pretty girl, Peggy, the girl he'd married just three weeks ago. [64] He still couldn't believe it. [65] It was crazy, he supposed, to marry a girl and then take off for an unknown planet, with her to follow, to try to create a home in a jungle clearing. [66] Crazy maybe, but Peggy and her green eyes that changed color with the light, with her soft brown hair, and her happy smile, had ended thirty years of loneliness and had, at last, given him a reason for living. [67] "Not to be killed!" [68] Alan unclenched his fists and wiped his palms, bloody where his fingernails had dug into the flesh. [69] There was a slight creak above him like the protesting of a branch too heavily laden. [70] Blaster ready, Alan rolled over onto his back. [71] In the movement, his elbow struck the top of a small earthy mound and he was instantly engulfed in a swarm of locust-like insects that beat disgustingly against his eyes and mouth. [72] "Fagh!" [73] Waving his arms before his face he jumped up and backwards, away from the bugs. [74] As he did so, a dark shapeless thing plopped from the trees onto the spot where he had been lying stretched out. [75] Then, like an ambient fungus, it slithered off into the jungle undergrowth. [76] For a split second the jungle stood frozen in a brilliant blue flash, followed by the sharp report of a blaster. [77] Then another. [78] Alan whirled, startled. [79] The planet's double moon had risen and he could see a robot rolling slowly across the clearing in his general direction, blasting indiscriminately at whatever mind impulses came within its pickup range, birds, insects, anything. [80] Six or seven others also left the camp headquarters area and headed for the jungle, each to a slightly different spot. [81] Apparently the robot hadn't sensed him yet, but Alan didn't know what the effective range of its pickup devices was. [82] He began to slide back into the jungle. [83] Minutes later, looking back he saw that the machine, though several hundred yards away, had altered its course and was now headed directly for him. [84] His stomach tightened. [85] Panic. [86] The dank, musty smell of the jungle seemed for an instant to thicken and choke in his throat. [87] Then he thought of the big ship landing in the morning, settling down slowly after a lonely two-week voyage. [88] He thought of a brown-haired girl crowding with the others to the gangway, eager to embrace the new planet, and the next instant a charred nothing, unrecognizable, the victim of a design error or a misplaced wire in a machine. [89] "I have to try," he said aloud. [90] "I have to try." [91] He moved into the blackness. [92] Powerful as a small tank, the killer robot was equipped to crush, slash, and burn its way through undergrowth. [93] Nevertheless, it was slowed by the larger trees and the thick, clinging vines, and Alan found that he could manage to keep ahead of it, barely out of blaster range. [94] Only, the robot didn't get tired. [95] Alan did. [96] The twin moons cast pale, deceptive shadows that wavered and danced across the jungle floor, hiding debris that tripped him and often sent him sprawling into the dark. [97] Sharp-edged growths tore at his face and clothes, and insects attracted by the blood matted against his pants and shirt. [98] Behind, the robot crashed imperturbably after him, lighting the night with fitful blaster flashes as some winged or legged life came within its range. [99] There was movement also, in the darkness beside him, scrapings and rustlings and an occasional low, throaty sound like an angry cat. [100] Alan's fingers tensed on his pocket blaster. [101] Swift shadowy forms moved quickly in the shrubs and the growling became suddenly louder. [102] He fired twice, blindly, into the undergrowth. [103] Sharp screams punctuated the electric blue discharge as a pack of small feline creatures leaped snarling and clawing back into the night. [104] Mentally, Alan tried to figure the charge remaining in his blaster. [105] There wouldn't be much. [106] "Enough for a few more shots, maybe. [107] Why the devil didn't I load in fresh cells this morning!" [108] The robot crashed on, louder now, gaining on the tired human. [109] Legs aching and bruised, stinging from insect bites, Alan tried to force himself to run holding his hands in front of him like a child in the dark. [110] His foot tripped on a barely visible insect hill and a winged swarm exploded around him. [111] Startled, Alan jerked sideways, crashing his head against a tree. [112] He clutched at the bark for a second, dazed, then his knees buckled. [113] His blaster fell into the shadows. [114] The robot crashed loudly behind him now. [115] Without stopping to think, Alan fumbled along the ground after his gun, straining his eyes in the darkness. [116] He found it just a couple of feet to one side, against the base of a small bush. [117] Just as his fingers closed upon the barrel his other hand slipped into something sticky that splashed over his forearm. [118] He screamed in pain and leaped back, trying frantically to wipe the clinging, burning blackness off his arm. [119] Patches of black scraped off onto branches and vines, but the rest spread slowly over his arm as agonizing as hot acid, or as flesh being ripped away layer by layer. [120] Almost blinded by pain, whimpering, Alan stumbled forward. [121] Sharp muscle spasms shot from his shoulder across his back and chest. [122] Tears streamed across his cheeks. [123] A blue arc slashed at the trees a mere hundred yards behind. [124] He screamed at the blast. [125] "Damn you, Pete! [126] Damn your robots! [127] Damn, damn ... Oh, Peggy!" [128] He stepped into emptiness. [129] Coolness. [130] Wet. [131] Slowly, washed by the water, the pain began to fall away. [132] He wanted to lie there forever in the dark, cool, wetness. [133] For ever, and ever, and ... [134] The air thundered. [135] In the dim light he could see the banks of the stream, higher than a man, muddy and loose. [136] Growing right to the edge of the banks, the jungle reached out with hairy, disjointed arms as if to snag even the dirty little stream that passed so timidly through its domain. [137] Alan, lying in the mud of the stream bed, felt the earth shake as the heavy little robot rolled slowly and inexorably towards him. [138] "The Lord High Executioner," he thought, "in battle dress." [139] He tried to stand but his legs were almost too weak and his arm felt numb. [140] "I'll drown him," he said aloud. [141] "I'll drown the Lord High Executioner." [142] He laughed. [143] Then his mind cleared. [144] He remembered where he was. [145] Alan trembled. [146] For the first time in his life he understood what it was to live, because for the first time he realized that he would sometime die. [147] In other times and circumstances he might put it off for a while, for months or years, but eventually, as now, he would have to watch, still and helpless, while death came creeping. [148] Then, at thirty, Alan became a man. [149] "Dammit, no law says I have to flame-out now !" [150] He forced himself to rise, forced his legs to stand, struggling painfully in the shin-deep ooze. [151] He worked his way to the bank and began to dig frenziedly, chest high, about two feet below the edge. [152] His arm where the black thing had been was swollen and tender, but he forced his hands to dig, dig, dig, cursing and crying to hide the pain, and biting his lips, ignoring the salty taste of blood. [153] The soft earth crumbled under his hands until he had a small cave about three feet deep in the bank. [154] Beyond that the soil was held too tightly by the roots from above and he had to stop. [155] The air crackled blue and a tree crashed heavily past Alan into the stream. [156] Above him on the bank, silhouetting against the moons, the killer robot stopped and its blaster swivelled slowly down. [157] Frantically, Alan hugged the bank as a shaft of pure electricity arced over him, sliced into the water, and exploded in a cloud of steam. [158] The robot shook for a second, its blaster muzzle lifted erratically and for an instant it seemed almost out of control, then it quieted and the muzzle again pointed down. [159] Pressing with all his might, Alan slid slowly along the bank inches at a time, away from the machine above. [160] Its muzzle turned to follow him but the edge of the bank blocked its aim. [161] Grinding forward a couple of feet, slightly overhanging the bank, the robot fired again. [162] For a split second Alan seemed engulfed in flame; the heat of hell singed his head and back, and mud boiled in the bank by his arm. [163] Again the robot trembled. [164] It jerked forward a foot and its blaster swung slightly away. [165] But only for a moment. [166] Then the gun swung back again. [167] Suddenly, as if sensing something wrong, its tracks slammed into reverse. [168] It stood poised for a second, its treads spinning crazily as the earth collapsed underneath it, where Alan had dug, then it fell with a heavy splash into the mud, ten feet from where Alan stood. [169] Without hesitation Alan threw himself across the blaster housing, frantically locking his arms around the barrel as the robot's treads churned furiously in the sticky mud, causing it to buck and plunge like a Brahma bull. [170] The treads stopped and the blaster jerked upwards wrenching Alan's arms, then slammed down. [171] Then the whole housing whirled around and around, tilting alternately up and down like a steel-skinned water monster trying to dislodge a tenacious crab, while Alan, arms and legs wrapped tightly around the blaster barrel and housing, pressed fiercely against the robot's metal skin. [172] Slowly, trying to anticipate and shift his weight with the spinning plunges, Alan worked his hand down to his right hip. [173] He fumbled for the sheath clipped to his belt, found it, and extracted a stubby hunting knife. [174] Sweat and blood in his eyes, hardly able to move on the wildly swinging turret, he felt down the sides to the thin crack between the revolving housing and the stationary portion of the robot. [175] With a quick prayer he jammed in the knife blade—and was whipped headlong into the mud as the turret literally snapped to a stop. [176] The earth, jungle and moons spun in a pinwheeled blur, slowed, and settled to their proper places. [177] Standing in the sticky, sweet-smelling ooze, Alan eyed the robot apprehensively. [178] Half buried in mud, it stood quiet in the shadowy light except for an occasional, almost spasmodic jerk of its blaster barrel. [179] For the first time that night Alan allowed himself a slight smile. [180] "A blade in the old gear box, eh? [181] How does that feel, boy?" [182] He turned. [183] "Well, I'd better get out of here before the knife slips or the monster cooks up some more tricks with whatever it's got for a brain." [184] Digging little footholds in the soft bank, he climbed up and stood once again in the rustling jungle darkness. [185] "I wonder," he thought, "how Pete could cram enough brain into one of those things to make it hunt and track so perfectly." [186] He tried to visualize the computing circuits needed for the operation of its tracking mechanism alone. [187] "There just isn't room for the electronics. [188] You'd need a computer as big as the one at camp headquarters." [189] In the distance the sky blazed as a blaster roared in the jungle. [190] Then Alan heard the approaching robot, crunching and snapping its way through the undergrowth like an onrushing forest fire. [191] He froze. [192] "Good Lord! [193] They communicate with each other! [194] The one I jammed must be calling others to help." [195] He began to move along the bank, away from the crashing sounds. [196] Suddenly he stopped, his eyes widened. [197] "Of course! [198] Radio! [199] I'll bet anything they're automatically controlled by the camp computer. [200] That's where their brain is!" [201] He paused. [202] "Then, if that were put out of commission ..." He jerked away from the bank and half ran, half pulled himself through the undergrowth towards the camp. [203] Trees exploded to his left as another robot fired in his direction, too far away to be effective but churning towards him through the blackness. [204] Alan changed direction slightly to follow a line between the two robots coming up from either side, behind him. [205] His eyes were well accustomed to the dark now, and he managed to dodge most of the shadowy vines and branches before they could snag or trip him. [206] Even so, he stumbled in the wiry underbrush and his legs were a mass of stinging slashes from ankle to thigh. [207] The crashing rumble of the killer robots shook the night behind him, nearer sometimes, then falling slightly back, but following constantly, more unshakable than bloodhounds because a man can sometimes cover a scent, but no man can stop his thoughts. [208] Intermittently, like photographers' strobes, blue flashes would light the jungle about him. [209] Then, for seconds afterwards his eyes would see dancing streaks of yellow and sharp multi-colored pinwheels that alternately shrunk and expanded as if in a surrealist's nightmare. [210] Alan would have to pause and squeeze his eyelids tight shut before he could see again, and the robots would move a little closer. [211] To his right the trees silhouetted briefly against brilliance as a third robot slowly moved up in the distance. [212] Without thinking, Alan turned slightly to the left, then froze in momentary panic. [213] "I should be at the camp now. [214] Damn, what direction am I going?" [215] He tried to think back, to visualize the twists and turns he'd taken in the jungle. [216] "All I need is to get lost." [217] He pictured the camp computer with no one to stop it, automatically sending its robots in wider and wider forays, slowly wiping every trace of life from the planet. [218] Technologically advanced machines doing the job for which they were built, completely, thoroughly, without feeling, and without human masters to separate sense from futility. [219] Finally parts would wear out, circuits would short, and one by one the killers would crunch to a halt. [220] A few birds would still fly then, but a unique animal life, rare in the universe, would exist no more. [221] And the bones of children, eager girls, and their men would also lie, beside a rusty hulk, beneath the alien sun. [222] "Peggy!" [223] As if in answer, a tree beside him breathed fire, then exploded. [224] In the brief flash of the blaster shot, Alan saw the steel glint of a robot only a hundred yards away, much nearer than he had thought. [225] "Thank heaven for trees!" [226] He stepped back, felt his foot catch in something, clutched futilely at some leaves and fell heavily. [227] Pain danced up his leg as he grabbed his ankle. [228] Quickly he felt the throbbing flesh. [229] "Damn the rotten luck, anyway!" [230] He blinked the pain tears from his eyes and looked up—into a robot's blaster, jutting out of the foliage, thirty yards away. [231] Instinctively, in one motion Alan grabbed his pocket blaster and fired. [232] To his amazement the robot jerked back, its gun wobbled and started to tilt away. [233] Then, getting itself under control, it swung back again to face Alan. [234] He fired again, and again the robot reacted. [235] It seemed familiar somehow. [236] Then he remembered the robot on the river bank, jiggling and swaying for seconds after each shot. [237] "Of course!" [238] He cursed himself for missing the obvious. [239] "The blaster static blanks out radio transmission from the computer for a few seconds. [240] They even do it to themselves!" [241] Firing intermittently, he pulled himself upright and hobbled ahead through the bush. [242] The robot shook spasmodically with each shot, its gun tilted upward at an awkward angle. [243] Then, unexpectedly, Alan saw stars, real stars brilliant in the night sky, and half dragging his swelling leg he stumbled out of the jungle into the camp clearing. [244] Ahead, across fifty yards of grass stood the headquarters building, housing the robot-controlling computer. [245] Still firing at short intervals he started across the clearing, gritting his teeth at every step. [246] Straining every muscle in spite of the agonizing pain, Alan forced himself to a limping run across the uneven ground, carefully avoiding the insect hills that jutted up through the grass. [247] From the corner of his eye he saw another of the robots standing shakily in the dark edge of the jungle waiting, it seemed, for his small blaster to run dry. [248] "Be damned! [249] You can't win now!" [250] Alan yelled between blaster shots, almost irrational from the pain that ripped jaggedly through his leg. [251] Then it happened. [252] A few feet from the building's door his blaster quit. [253] A click. [254] A faint hiss when he frantically jerked the trigger again and again, and the spent cells released themselves from the device, falling in the grass at his feet. [255] He dropped the useless gun. [256] "No!" [257] He threw himself on the ground as a new robot suddenly appeared around the edge of the building a few feet away, aimed, and fired. [258] Air burned over Alan's back and ozone tingled in his nostrils. [259] Blinding itself for a few seconds with its own blaster static, the robot paused momentarily, jiggling in place. [260] In this instant, Alan jammed his hands into an insect hill and hurled the pile of dirt and insects directly at the robot's antenna. [261] In a flash, hundreds of the winged things erupted angrily from the hole in a swarming cloud, each part of which was a speck of life transmitting mental energy to the robot's pickup devices. [262] Confused by the sudden dispersion of mind impulses, the robot fired erratically as Alan crouched and raced painfully for the door. [263] It fired again, closer, as he fumbled with the lock release. [264] Jagged bits of plastic and stone ripped past him, torn loose by the blast. [265] Frantically, Alan slammed open the door as the robot, sensing him strongly now, aimed point blank. [266] He saw nothing, his mind thought of nothing but the red-clad safety switch mounted beside the computer. [267] Time stopped. [268] There was nothing else in the world. [269] He half-jumped, half-fell towards it, slowly, in tenths of seconds that seemed measured out in years. [270] The universe went black. [271] Later. [272] Brilliance pressed upon his eyes. [273] Then pain returned, a multi-hurting thing that crawled through his body and dragged ragged tentacles across his brain. [274] He moaned. [275] A voice spoke hollowly in the distance. [276] "He's waking. [277] Call his wife." [278] Alan opened his eyes in a white room; a white light hung over his head. [279] Beside him, looking down with a rueful smile, stood a young man wearing space medical insignia. [280] "Yes," he acknowledged the question in Alan's eyes, "you hit the switch. [281] That was three days ago. [282] When you're up again we'd all like to thank you." [283] Suddenly a sobbing-laughing green-eyed girl was pressed tightly against him. [284] Neither of them spoke. [285] They couldn't. [286] There was too much to say. [287] THE END

Here is the ranking of the context sentences in order of importance for answering the question "What is the significance of Alan's realization that he must continue to live?": 1. [146] For the first time in his life he understood what it was to live, because for the first time he realized that he would sometime die. 2. [147] In other times and circumstances he might put it off for a while, for months or years, but eventually, as now, he would have to watch, still and helpless, while death came creeping. 3. [148] Then, at thirty, Alan became a man. 4. [149] "Dammit, no law says I have to flame-out now!" 5. [59] Good Lord, Peggy!" 6. [60] He turned white; oily sweat punctuated his forehead. 7. [61] Peggy, arriving tomorrow with the other colonists, the wives and kids! 8. [62] The metal killers, tuned to blast any living flesh, would murder them the instant they stepped from the ship! 9. [63] A pretty girl, Peggy, the girl he'd married just three weeks ago. 10. [64] He still couldn't believe it. 11. [65] It was crazy, he supposed, to marry a girl and then take off for an unknown planet, with her to follow, to try to create a home in a jungle clearing. 12. [66] Crazy maybe, but Peggy and her green eyes that changed color with the light, with her soft brown hair, and her happy smile, had ended thirty years of loneliness and had, at last, given him a reason for living. 13. [67] "Not to be killed!" 14. [87] Then he thought of the big ship landing in the morning, settling down slowly after a lonely two-week voyage. 15. [88] He thought of a brown-haired girl crowding with the others to the gangway, eager to embrace the new planet, and the next instant a charred nothing, unrecognizable, the victim of a design error or a misplaced wire in a machine. 16. [89] "I have to try," he said aloud. 17. [90] "I have to try." 18. [145] Alan trembled. 19. [222] "Peggy!"

What is the plot of the story?

[1] Nuts to wild talents! [2] Mine was no satisfaction, never earned me a penny—and now it had me fighting for my life in ... [3] THE LITTLE RED BAG By JERRY SOHL [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, January 1960. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [5] About an hour out of San Francisco on the flight to Los Angeles, I made the discovery. [6] I had finished reading the Chronicle , folded and put it beside me, turned and looked out the window, expecting to see the San Joaquin Valley but finding only a sea of clouds instead. [7] So I returned my attention to the inside of the plane, to the overstuffed gray-haired woman asleep beside me, to the backs of heads in seats before me, across the aisle to other heads, and down to the blonde. [8] I had seen her in the concourse and at the gate, a shapely thing. [9] Now she had crossed her legs and I was privileged to view a trim ankle and calf, and her profile as she stared moodily across the aisle and out a window where there was nothing to see. [10] I slid my eyes past her to others. [11] A crossword-puzzle worker, a togetherness-type-magazine reader. [12] Inventory completed, I went back to looking at the clouds, knowing I should be thinking about the printing order I was going to Los Angeles for, and not wanting to. [13] So I started going through the purse of the woman next to me. [14] Perhaps that sounds bad. [15] It wasn't. [16] I'd been doing it for years and nobody ever complained. [17] It started when I was a kid, this business of being able to explore the insides of things like purses and sealed boxes and locked drawers and—well, human beings. [18] But human beings aren't worth the trouble. [19] It's like swimming through spaghetti. [20] And I've got to stay away from electric wires. [21] They hurt. [22] Now don't ask me how they hurt. [23] Maybe you think it's fun. [24] For the most part, it really isn't. [25] I always knew what was in Christmas presents before I unwrapped them, and therefore Christmas was always spoiled for me as a kid. [26] I can't feel the color of anything, just its consistency. [27] An apple senses about the same as a potato, except for the core and the stem. [28] I can't even tell if there's writing on a piece of paper. [29] So you see it isn't much. [30] Just the feel of shapes, the hardnesses and softnesses. [31] But I've learned to become pretty good at guessing. [32] Like this woman next to me. [33] She had a short, cylindrical metal object in her purse with waxlike stuff inside it—a lipstick. [34] A round, hard object with dust inside—a compact. [35] Handkerchief, chewing gum, a small book, probably an address book, money in a change purse—a few bills and coins. [36] Not much else. [37] I was a little disappointed. [38] I've run across a gun or two in my time. [39] But I never say anything. [40] I learned the wisdom of keeping my mouth shut in the fourth grade when Miss Winters, a stern, white-haired disciplinarian, ordered me to eat my sack lunch in the classroom with her instead of outside with some of the other kids. [41] This was the punishment for some minor infraction. [42] Lunchtime was nearly over and we'd both finished eating; she said she'd be gone for a few moments and that I was to erase the blackboard during her absence, which I dutifully did. [43] Class had hardly resumed when she started looking around the desk for her favorite mechanical pencil, asking if any of us had seen it, and looking straight at me. [44] I didn't want her to think I had taken it while she was out of the room, so I probed the contents of her purse, which she always kept in the upper right drawer of her desk. [45] "It's in your purse," I blurted out. [46] I was sent home with a stinging note. [47] Since then I've kept quiet. [48] At one time I assumed everybody was able to sense. [49] I've known better for years. [50] Still, I wonder how many other people are as close-mouthed about their special gift as I am about mine. [51] I used to think that some day I'd make a lot of money out of it, but how? [52] I can't read thoughts. [53] I can't even be sure what some of the things I sense in probing really are. [54] But I've learned to move things. [55] Ever so little. [56] A piece of paper. [57] A feather. [58] Once I stopped one of those little glass-enclosed light or heat-powered devices with vanes you see now and then in a jeweler's window. [59] And I can stop clocks. [60] Take this morning, for example. [61] I had set my alarm for five-thirty because I had to catch the seven o'clock plane at San Francisco International Airport. [62] This being earlier than I usually get up, it seems all I did during the night was feel my way past the escapement and balance wheel to see where the notch for the alarm was. [63] The last time I did it there was just the merest fraction of an inch between the pawl and the notch. [64] So I sighed and moved to the balance wheel and its delicate ribbon of spiraling steel. [65] I hung onto the wheel, exerting influence to decrease the restoring torque. [66] The wheel slowed down until there was no more ticking. [67] It took quite a bit of effort, as it always does, but I did it, as I usually do. [68] I can't stand the alarm. [69] When I first learned to do this, I thought I had it made. [70] I even went to Las Vegas to try my hand, so to speak, with the ratchets and pawls and cams and springs on the slot machines. [71] But there's nothing delicate about a slot machine, and the spring tensions are too strong. [72] I dropped quite a lot of nickels before I finally gave up. [73] So I'm stuck with a talent I've found little real use for. [74] Except that it amuses me. [75] Sometimes. [76] Not like this time on the plane. [77] The woman beside me stirred, sat up suddenly and looked across me out the window. [78] "Where are we?" [79] she asked in a surprised voice. [80] I told her we were probably a little north of Bakersfield. [81] She said, "Oh," glanced at her wristwatch and sank back again. [82] Soon the stewardesses would bring coffee and doughnuts around, so I contented myself with looking at the clouds and trying to think about Amos Magaffey, who was purchasing agent for a Los Angeles amusement chain, and how I was going to convince him our printing prices were maybe a little higher but the quality and service were better. [83] My mind wandered below where I was sitting, idly moving from one piece of luggage to another, looking for my beat-up suitcase. [84] I went through slips and slippers, lingerie and laundry, a jig saw puzzle and a ukulele. [85] I never did find my suitcase because I found the bomb first. [86] The bomb was in a small bag—a woman's bag judging by the soft, flimsy things you'd never find in a man's—and I didn't know it was a bomb right away. [87] I thought it was just a clock, one of those small, quiet alarms. [88] I was going to pass it by and go on, but what held me was that something was taped to it. [89] By the feel, I knew it must be electrician's tape. [90] Interested and curious, I explored the clock more closely, found two wires. [91] One went to a battery and the other to hard round cylinders taped together. [92] The hairs stood up at the base of my neck when I suddenly realized what it was. [93] The clock's balance wheel was rocking merrily. [94] Quickly I went up past the train of gears to the alarm wheel. [95] If this was anything like my own alarm clock, this one had something like ten minutes to go. [96] It was forty minutes to Burbank and Lockheed Air Terminal. [97] My mind was churning when I turned from the window to look around at the unconcerned passengers, the woman at my side asleep again. [98] I thought: Which one of these.... No, none of them would know it was there. [99] I glanced out the window again; clouds were still in the way. [100] We'd be leaving the valley for the mountain range north of Los Angeles soon, if we hadn't left it already. [101] No place to land the plane there. [102] But of course that had been the plan! [103] My heart was beating in jackhammer rhythm; my mouth was dry and my mind was numb. [104] Tell somebody about the bomb before it's too late! [105] No, they'd think I put it there. [106] Besides, what good would it do? [107] There would be panic and they'd never get the plane down in time—if they believed me. [108] "Sir." [109] My head jerked around. [110] The stewardess stood in the aisle, smiling, extending a tray to me, a brown plastic tray bearing a small paper cup of tomato juice, a cup of coffee, a cellophane-wrapped doughnut, paper spoon, sugar and dehydrated cream envelopes, and a napkin. [111] I goggled at her, managed to croak, "No, thanks." [112] She gave me an odd look and moved along. [113] My seatmate had accepted hers and was tearing at the cellophane. [114] I couldn't bear to watch her. [115] I closed my eyes, forced my mind back to the luggage compartment, spent a frantic moment before I found the bag again. [116] I had to stop that balance wheel, just as I stopped my alarm clock every morning. [117] I tried to close everything off—the throb of engines, the rush of air, the woman sipping coffee noisily beside me—and I went into the clock and surrounded the seesawing wheel. [118] When it went forward, I pulled it back; when it went back, I pulled it forward. [119] I struggled with it, and it was like trying to work with greasy hands, and I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to stop it. [120] Then, little by little, it started to slow its beat. [121] But I could not afford to relax. [122] I pushed and pulled and didn't dare release my hold until it came to a dead stop. [123] "Anything the matter?" [124] My eyelids flew open and I looked into the eyes of the woman next to me. [125] There was sugar from the doughnut around her mouth and she was still chewing. [126] "No," I said, letting out my breath. [127] "I'm all right." [128] "You were moaning, it sounded like. [129] And you kept moving your head back and forth." [130] "Must have been dreaming," I said as I rang for the stewardess. [131] When she came I told her I'd take some of that coffee now. [132] No, nothing else, just coffee. [133] I didn't tell her how much I needed it. [134] I sat there clammy with sweat until she returned. [135] Coffee never tasted so good. [136] All right, so I had stopped the bomb's timer. [137] My mind raced ahead to the landing. [138] When they unloaded the luggage, the balance wheel would start again. [139] I wouldn't be able to stay with it, keeping it still. [140] I considered telling the authorities as soon as we landed, or maybe calling in ahead, but wouldn't that just bring suspicion, questions. [141] Maybe I could convince them I could stop a clock—but not before the bomb exploded. [142] And then what? [143] My secret would be out and my life would be changed. [144] I'd be a man not to be trusted, a prying man, a man literally with gimlet eyes. [145] Mountain crags jutted through the clouds. [146] We were in the range north of the city. [147] Here and there were clear spots and I could see roads below, but there were also clouds far above us. [148] It was very beautiful, but it was also very bumpy, and we started to slip and slide. [149] To my horror I found that the balance wheel was rocking again. [150] Closing my eyes and gritting my teeth, I forced my senses to the wheel, tugging and pulling and shoving and pushing until it finally stopped. [151] A jab in the shoulder. [152] I jumped, startled. [153] "Your cup," my seat partner said, pointing. [154] I looked down at the coffee cup I had crushed in my hands. [155] Then I looked up into the eyes of the stewardess. [156] I handed it to her. [157] She took it without a word and went away. [158] "Were you really asleep that time?" [159] "Not really," I said. [160] I was tempted to tell the woman I was subject to fits, but I didn't. [161] It was only a few minutes to landing, but they became the longest minutes of my life as time after time I stopped the rocking wheel when the plane dipped and bumped to a landing. [162] Leaving the apron with the other passengers, I tried to walk as unconcernedly as they through the exit gate. [163] I would have liked walking through the terminal and out the entrance and away, but I could not. [164] I had my suitcase to get, for one thing. [165] The damned bomb was the other. [166] So I strolled out into the concourse again to look at the plane and watch the baggagemen at work, transferring the luggage to two airfield carts. [167] They weren't as careful as I would have been. [168] It was impossible to tell from this distance just which bag contained the bomb; I could hardly identify my own scarred suitcase. [169] The assortment of bags—a strange conglomeration of sizes and colors—was packed in some places six deep, and it rolled toward the gate where I was standing. [170] I didn't know whether to stay or run, imagining the balance wheel now happily rocking again. [171] The load went past me down a ramp to the front of the air terminal where the luggage was unloaded and placed in a long rack. [172] I went with it. [173] There was a flurry of ticket matching, hands grabbing for suitcases, and a general exodus on the part of my fellow passengers, too fast to determine who had got the one with the bomb. [174] Now all that was left was the attendant and I had two bags—my own battered veteran of years, and a fine new red overnight case, small enough to be the one. [175] I lit a cigarette, reached out. [176] Inside were a woman's things and—a clock. [177] The escapement was clicking vigorously. [178] I didn't moan this time. [179] I just closed my eyes, stretched toward and grabbed the balance wheel I was getting to know like my own. [180] I entered into a union with it so strong that after I had reduced it to immobility, it was like waking when I opened my eyes. [181] The baggage claim attendant was staring at me. [182] For only a moment I stared back. [183] Then I quickly reached for my baggage check and presented it to him. [184] His hand hovered over the handle of the little red bag and I was ready to yell at him. [185] But then, matching numbers on the tags with his eyes, his hand grasped the handle of my own suitcase and pushed it toward me. [186] "Thanks," I said, taking it. [187] I glanced ever so casually toward the remaining bag. [188] "One left over, eh?" [189] "Yeah." [190] He was so bored I was tempted to tell him what was in it. [191] But he was eying me with a "well-why-don't-you-get-along?" [192] look. [193] I said, "What happens if nobody claims it?" [194] "Take it inside. [195] Why?" [196] He was getting too curious. [197] "Oh, I just wondered, that's all." [198] I stepped on my cigarette and walked toward the air terminal entrance and put my suitcase on the stone steps there. [199] A redcap came hurrying over. [200] "Cab?" [201] I shook my head. [202] "Just waiting." [203] Just waiting for somebody to pick up a bomb. [204] I lit another cigarette and glanced now and then toward the baggage claim area. [205] The red bag was still there. [206] All sorts of theories ran through my head as to why it should still be there, and none satisfied me. [207] I should not have been there, that much I knew; I should be with a man named Amos Magaffey on Sixth Street at ten o'clock, discussing something very mundane, the matter of a printing order. [208] But what could I do? [209] If I left the airport, the attendant would eventually take the bag inside and there would be an explosion, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself. [210] No. [211] I had to stay to keep the balance wheel stationary until—until what? [212] A man in tan gabardine, wearing a police cap and badge, walked out of the entrance to stand on the stone steps beside me while he put on a pair of dark glasses. [213] A member of the airport police detail. [214] I could tell him. [215] I could take him down to the little red bag and explain the whole thing. [216] Then it would be his baby and I would be off on my own business. [217] But he moved on down the steps, nodded at the redcap, and started across the street to the parking area. [218] I could have called to him, "Hey, officer, let me tell you about a bomb in a little red bag." [219] But I didn't. [220] I didn't because I caught a movement at the baggage claim counter out of the side of my eye. [221] The attendant had picked up the bag and was walking with it up the ramp to the rear of the air terminal. [222] Picking up my own suitcase, I went inside in time to see him enter through a side door and deposit the bag on the scales at the airline desk and say something to the clerk. [223] The clerk nodded and moved the bag to the rear room. [224] I could visualize the balance wheel once again rocking like crazy. [225] How many minutes—or seconds—were left? [226] I was sweating when I moved to the counter, and it wasn't because of the sunshine I'd been soaking in. [227] I had to get as close to the bag as I could if I was going to stop the clock again. [228] "Can I help you?" [229] the clerk asked. [230] "No. [231] I'm waiting for someone." [232] I turned my back to him, put down my suitcase, leaned against the counter and reached out for the wheel. [233] I found I could reach the device, but it was far away. [234] When I tried to dampen it, the wheel escaped my grasp. [235] "Do you have my suitcase?" [236] I blinked my eyes open and looked around. [237] The blonde in the plane stood there looking very fresh and bright and unconcerned. [238] In her right hand she had a green baggage claim check. [239] The clerk took it, nodded, and in a moment brought out the overnight case and set it on the scales. [240] The girl thanked him, picked it up, glanced at me indifferently, and then started for the entrance with it. [241] "Just a moment," I found myself saying, grabbing my bag and hurrying after her. [242] At her side and a little ahead of her, I said, "Listen to me." [243] She looked annoyed and increased her stride toward the door. [244] "It's a matter of life or death," I said. [245] I wanted to wrest the bag from her and hurl it out through the doorway into the street, but I restrained myself. [246] She stopped and stared. [247] I noticed a short, fat man in a rumpled suitcoat and unpressed pants staring, too. [248] Ignoring him, I said, "Please put the bag down. [249] Over there." [250] I indicated a spot beside a telephone booth where it would be out of the way. [251] She didn't move. [252] She just said, "Why?" [253] "For God's sake!" [254] I took the case. [255] She offered no resistance. [256] I put her bag and mine next to the booth. [257] When I turned around she was standing there looking at me as if I had gone out of my mind. [258] Her eyes were blue and brown-flecked, very pretty eyes, and my thought at the moment was, I'm glad the bomb didn't go off; these eyes wouldn't be looking at me or anything else right now if it had. [259] "I've got to talk to you. [260] It's very important." [261] The girl said, "Why?" [262] I was beginning to think it was the only word she knew. [263] At the same time I was wondering why anyone would want to kill someone so lovely. [264] "I'll explain in a moment. [265] Please stand right here while I make a telephone call." [266] I moved toward the phone booth, paused and said, "And don't ask me why." [267] She gave me a speculative look. [268] I must not have seemed a complete idiot because she said, "All right, but—" I didn't listen for the rest. [269] I went into the booth, closed the door, pretended to drop a coin and dial a number. [270] But all the time I was in there, I was reaching out through the glass for the clock. [271] At this range it wasn't difficult to stop the balance wheel. [272] Just the same, when I came out I was wringing wet. [273] "Now will you please tell me what this is all about?" [274] she said stiffly. [275] "Gladly. [276] Let me buy you a cup of coffee and I'll explain." [277] She glanced at the bags. [278] I told her they'd be all right. [279] We followed the short, fat man into the coffee shop. [280] Over coffee I explained it all to her, how I had this extrasensory ability, how she was the first person I had ever revealed it to, and how I had discovered what was in her overnight bag. [281] During the telling, her untouched coffee grew a skin, her face grew pale, her eyes grew less curious and more troubled. [282] There were tears there when I finished. [283] I asked her who put the bomb in her bag. [284] "Joe did," she said in a toneless voice, not looking at me any more but staring vacantly across the room. [285] "Joe put it there." [286] Behind her eyes she was reliving some recent scene. [287] "Who is Joe?" [288] "My husband." [289] I thought she was going to really bawl, but she got control again. [290] "This trip was his idea, my coming down here to visit my sister." [291] Her smile was bleak. [292] "I see now why he wanted to put in those books. [293] I'd finished packing and was in the bathroom. [294] He said he'd put in some books we'd both finished reading—for my sister. [295] That's when he must have put the—put it in there." [296] I said gently, "Why would he want to do a thing like that?" [297] "I don't know." [298] She shook her head. [299] "I just don't know." [300] And she was close to bawling again. [301] Then she recovered and said, "I'm not sure I want to know." [302] I admired her for saying it. [303] Joe must have been crazy. [304] "It's all right now?" [305] she asked. [306] I nodded. [307] "As long as we don't move it." [308] I told her I didn't know how much more time there was, that I'd been thinking it over and that the only way out seemed to be to tell the airport policeman. [309] After I explained it to her, the girl—she said her name was Julia Claremont—agreed to tell him she thought there was a bomb in her bag, that she had noticed a ticking and had become worried because she knew she hadn't packed a clock. [310] It wasn't good, but it would have to do. [311] "We've got to get it deactivated," I said, watching the fat man pay for his coffee and leave. [312] "The sooner the better." [313] I finished my coffee in one gulp and went to pay the bill with her. [314] I asked her why she didn't claim the bag at the same time the other people had. [315] She said she had called her sister and the phone was busy for a long while. [316] "She was supposed to meet me, and when she wasn't here, I got worried. [317] She said she isn't feeling well and asked me to take a cab." [318] She smiled a little. [319] It was a bright, cheery thing. [320] I had the feeling it was all for me. [321] "That's where I was going when you caught up with me." [322] It had become a very nice day. [323] But the bottom dropped out of it again when we reached the lobby. [324] The two bags weren't there. [325] I ran to the entrance and nearly collided with the redcap. [326] "See anybody go out of here with a little red bag and an old battered suitcase?" [327] "Bag? [328] Suitcase?" [329] he mumbled. [330] Then he became excited. [331] "Why, a man just stepped out of here—" He turned to look down the street. [332] "That's him." [333] The dumpy man I'd seen was walking off; Julia's bag in his right hand, mine in his left. [334] He seemed in no hurry. [335] "Hey!" [336] I shouted, starting toward him. [337] The man turned, took one look at me, and started to run. [338] He came abreast an old gray, mud-spattered coupe, ran around, opened the door and threw both bags into the rear seat as he got in. [339] The car was a hundred feet away and gathering speed by the time I reached where it had been parked. [340] I watched it for a moment, then walked back to the entranceway where Julia was standing with the redcap, who said, "That man steal them suitcases?" [341] "That he did," I said. [342] Just then the airport policeman started across the street from the parking lot. [343] Redcap said, "Better tell him about it." [344] The policeman was sympathetic and concerned. [345] He said, "We'd better get over to the office." [346] But we never left the spot because an explosion some blocks distant shattered the air. [347] Julia's hand grasped my arm. [348] Hard. [349] "Jets," the redcap said, eying the sky. [350] "I don't know," the policeman said. [351] "Didn't sound much like a jet to me." [352] We stood there. [353] I could visualize the wreckage of an old gray coupe in the middle of a street, but I couldn't visualize the driver. [354] That was all right. [355] I didn't want to see him. [356] I didn't know what Julia was thinking. [357] She said, "About those bags," and looked at me. [358] The officer said, "Yes, miss?" [359] "I—I don't care about mine. [360] I didn't have much of anything in it." [361] "I feel the same way," I said. [362] "Would it be all right if we didn't bother to report it?" [363] "Well," the policeman said, "I can't make you report it." [364] "I'd rather not then," Julia said. [365] She turned to me. [366] "I'd like some air. [367] Can't we walk a little?" [368] "Sure," I said. [369] We started down the street, her arm in mine, as the air began to fill with the distant sounds of sirens.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "What is the plot of the story?": 1. [85] I never did find my suitcase because I found the bomb first. 2. [86] The bomb was in a small bag—a woman's bag judging by the soft, flimsy things you'd never find in a man's—and I didn't know it was a bomb right away. 3. [87] I thought it was just a clock, one of those small, quiet alarms. 4. [88] I was going to pass it by and go on, but what held me was that something was taped to it. 5. [89] By the feel, I knew it must be electrician's tape. 6. [90] Interested and curious, I explored the clock more closely, found two wires. 7. [91] One went to a battery and the other to hard round cylinders taped together. 8. [92] The hairs stood up at the base of my neck when I suddenly realized what it was. 9. [93] The clock's balance wheel was rocking merrily. 10. [94] Quickly I went up past the train of gears to the alarm wheel. 11. [95] If this was anything like my own alarm clock, this one had something like ten minutes to go. 12. [96] It was forty minutes to Burbank and Lockheed Air Terminal. 13. [97] My mind was churning when I turned from the window to look around at the unconcerned passengers, the woman at my side asleep again. 14. [98] I thought: Which one of these.... No, none of them would know it was there. 15. [99] I glanced out the window again; clouds were still in the way. 16. [100] We'd be leaving the valley for the mountain range north of Los Angeles soon, if we hadn't left it already. 17. [101] No place to land the plane there. 18. [102] But of course that had been the plan! 19. [103] My heart was beating in jackhammer rhythm; my mouth was dry and my mind was numb. 20. [104] Tell somebody about the bomb before it's too late! 21. [105] No, they'd think I put it there. 22. [106] Besides, what good would it do? 23. [107] There would be panic and they'd never get the plane down in time—if they believed me. 24. [116] I tried to close everything off—the throb of engines, the rush of air, the woman sipping coffee noisily beside me—and I went into the clock and surrounded the seesawing wheel. 25. [117] When it went forward, I pulled it back; when it went back, I pulled it forward. 26. [118] I struggled with it, and it was like trying to work with greasy hands, and I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to stop it. 27. [119] Then, little by little, it started to slow its beat. 28. [120] But I could not afford to relax. 29. [121] I pushed and pulled and didn't dare release my hold until it came to a dead stop. 30. [136] All right, so I had stopped the bomb's timer. 31. [137] My mind raced ahead to the landing. 32. [138] When they unloaded the luggage, the balance wheel would start again. 33. [139] I wouldn't be able to stay with it, keeping it still. 34. [140] I considered telling the authorities as soon as we landed, or maybe calling in ahead, but wouldn't that just bring suspicion, questions. 35. [141] Maybe I could convince them I could stop a clock—but not before the bomb exploded. 36. [142] And then what? 37. [143] My secret would be out and my life would be changed. 38. [144] I'd be a man not to be trusted, a prying man, a man literally with gimlet eyes. 39. [148] To my horror I found that the balance wheel was rocking again. 40. [149] Closing my eyes and gritting my teeth, I forced my senses to the wheel, tugging and pulling and shoving and pushing until it finally stopped. 41. [178] I didn't moan this time. 42. [179] I just closed my eyes, stretched toward and grabbed the balance wheel I was getting to know like my own. 43. [180] I entered into a union with it so strong that after I had reduced it to immobility, it was like waking when I opened my eyes. 44. [203] Just waiting for somebody to pick up a bomb. 45. [220] I didn't because I caught a movement at the baggage claim counter out of the side of my eye. 46. [221] The attendant had picked up the bag and was walking with it up the ramp to the rear of the air terminal. 47. [222] Picking up my own suitcase, I went inside in time to see him enter through a side door and deposit the bag on the scales at the airline desk and say something to the clerk. 48. [223] The clerk nodded and moved the bag to the rear room. 49. [224] I could visualize the balance wheel once again rocking like crazy. 50. [225] How many minutes—or seconds—were left? 51. [232] I found I could reach the device, but it was far away. 52. [233] When I tried to dampen it, the wheel escaped my grasp. 53. [240] The girl thanked him, picked it up, glanced at me indifferently, and then started for the entrance with it. 54. [241] "Just a moment," I found myself saying, grabbing my bag and hurrying after her. 55. [242] At her side and a little ahead of her, I said, "Listen to me." 56. [243] She looked annoyed and increased her stride toward the door. 57. [244] "It's a matter of life or death," I said. 58. [245] I wanted to wrest the bag from her and hurl it out through the doorway into the street, but I restrained myself. 59. [246] She stopped and stared. 60. [247] I noticed a short, fat man in a rumpled suitcoat and unpressed pants staring, too. 61. [248] Ignoring him, I said, "Please put the bag down. 62. [249] Over there." 63. [250] I indicated a spot beside a telephone booth where it would be out of the way. 64. [251] She didn't move. 65. [252] She just said, "Why?" 66. [253] "For God's sake!" 67. [254] I took the case. 68. [255] She offered no resistance. 69. [256] I put her bag and mine next to the booth. 70. [257] When I turned around she was standing there looking at me as if I had gone out of my mind. 71. [258] Her eyes were blue and brown-flecked, very pretty eyes, and my thought at the moment was, I'm glad the bomb didn't go off; these eyes wouldn't be looking at me or anything else right now if it had. 72. [259] "I've got to talk to you. 73. [260] It's very important." 74. [261] The girl said, "Why?" 75. [262] I was beginning to think it was the only word she knew. 76. [263] At the same time I was wondering why anyone would want to kill someone so lovely. 77. [264] "I'll explain in a moment. 78. [265] Please stand right here while I make a telephone call." 79. [266] I moved toward the phone booth, paused and said, "And don't ask me why." 80. [267] She gave me a speculative look. 81. [268] I must not have seemed a complete idiot because she said, "All right, but—" I didn't listen for the rest. 82. [269] I went into the booth, closed the door, pretended to drop a coin and dial a number. 83. [270] But all the time I was in there, I was reaching out through the glass for the clock. 84. [271] At this range it wasn't difficult to stop the balance wheel. 85. [272] Just the same, when I came out I was wringing wet. 86. [273] "Now will you please tell me what this is all about?" 87. [274] she said stiffly. 88. [275] "Gladly. 89. [276] Let me buy you a cup of coffee and I'll explain." 90. [277] She glanced at the bags. 91. [278] I told her they'd be all right. 92. [279] We followed the short, fat man into the coffee shop. 93. [280] Over coffee I explained it all to her, how I had this extrasensory ability, how she was the first person I had ever revealed it to, and how I had discovered what was in her overnight bag. 94. [281] During the telling, her untouched coffee grew a skin, her face grew pale, her eyes grew less curious and more troubled. 95. [282] There were tears there when I finished. 96. [283] I asked her who put the bomb in her bag. 97. [284] "Joe did," she said in a toneless voice, not looking at me any more but staring vacantly across the room. 98. [285] "Joe put it there." 99. [286] Behind her eyes she was reliving some recent scene. 100. [287] "Who is Joe?" 101. [288] "My husband." 102. [289] I thought she was going to really bawl, but she got control again. 103. [290] "This trip was his idea, my coming down here to visit my sister." 104. [291] Her smile was bleak. 105. [292] "I see now why he wanted to put in those books. 106. [293] I'd finished packing and was in the bathroom. 107. [294] He said he'd put in some books we'd both finished reading—for my sister. 108. [295] That's when he must have put the—put it in there." 109. [296] I said gently, "Why would he want to do a thing like that?" 110. [297] "I don't know." 111. [298] She shook her head. 112. [299] "I just don't know." 113. [300] And she was close to bawling again. 114. [301] Then she recovered and said, "I'm not sure I want to know." 115. [302] I admired her for saying it. 116. [303] Joe must have been crazy. 117. [304] "It's all right now?" 118. [305] she asked. 119. [306] I nodded. 120. [307] "As long as we don't move it." 121. [308] I told her I didn't know how much more time there was, that I'd been thinking it over and that the only way out seemed to be to tell the airport policeman. 122. [309] After I explained it to her, the girl—she said her name was Julia Claremont—agreed to tell him she thought there was a bomb in her bag, that she had noticed a ticking and had become worried because she knew she hadn't packed a clock. 123. [310] It wasn't good, but it would have to do. 124. [311] "We've got to get it deactivated," I said, watching the fat man pay for his coffee and leave. 125. [312] "The sooner the better." 126. [313] I finished my coffee in one gulp and went to pay the bill with her. 127. [314] I asked her why she didn't claim the bag at the same time the other people had. 128. [315] She said she had called her sister and the phone was busy for a long while. 129. [316] "She was supposed to meet me, and when she wasn't here, I got worried. 130. [317] She said she isn't feeling well and asked me to take a cab." 131. [318] She smiled a little. 132. [319] It was a bright, cheery thing. 133. [320] I had the feeling it was all for me. 134. [321] "That's where I was going when you caught up with me." 135. [324] The two bags weren't there. 136. [325] I ran to the entrance and nearly collided with the redcap. 137. [326] "See anybody go out of here with a little red bag and an old battered suitcase?" 138. [327] "Bag? 139. [328] Suitcase?" 140. [329] he mumbled. 141. [330] Then he became excited. 142. [331] "Why, a man just stepped out of here—" He turned to look down the street. 143. [332] "That's him." 144. [333] The dumpy man I'd seen was walking off; Julia's bag in his right hand, mine in his left. 145. [334] He seemed in no hurry. 146. [335] "Hey!" 147. [336] I shouted, starting toward him. 148. [337] The man turned, took one look at me, and started to run. 149. [338] He came abreast an old gray, mud-spattered coupe, ran around, opened the door and threw both bags into the rear seat as he got in. 150. [339] The car was a hundred feet away and gathering speed by the time I reached where it had been parked. 151. [340] I watched it for a moment, then walked back to the entranceway where Julia was standing with the redcap, who said, "That man steal them suitcases?" 152. [341] "That he did," I said. 153. [342] Just then the airport policeman started across the street from the parking lot. 154. [343] Redcap said, "Better tell him about it." 155. [344] The policeman was sympathetic and concerned. 156. [345] He said, "We'd better get over to the office." 157. [346] But we never left the spot because an explosion some blocks distant shattered the air. 158. [347] Julia's hand grasped my arm. 159. [348] Hard. 160. [349] "Jets," the redcap said, eying the sky. 161. [350] "I don't know," the policeman said. 162. [351] "Didn't sound much like a jet to me." 163. [352] We stood there. 164. [353] I could visualize the wreckage of an old gray coupe in the middle of a street, but I couldn't visualize the driver. 165. [354] That was all right. 166. [355] I didn't want to see him. 167. [356] I didn't know what Julia was thinking. 168. [357] She said, "About those bags," and looked at me. 169. [358] The officer said, "Yes, miss?" 170. [359] "I—I don't care about mine. 171. [360] I didn't have much of anything in it." 172. [361] "I feel the same way," I said. 173. [362] "Would it be all right if we didn't bother to report it?" 174. [363] "Well," the policeman said, "I can't make you report it." 175. [364] "I'd rather not then," Julia said. 176. [365] She turned to me. 177. [366] "I'd like some air. 178. [367] Can't we walk a little?" 179. [368] "Sure," I said. 180. [369] We started down the street, her arm in mine, as the air began to fill with the distant sounds of sirens.

Who is Julia Claremont and what happens to her in the story?

[1] Nuts to wild talents! [2] Mine was no satisfaction, never earned me a penny—and now it had me fighting for my life in ... [3] THE LITTLE RED BAG By JERRY SOHL [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, January 1960. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [5] About an hour out of San Francisco on the flight to Los Angeles, I made the discovery. [6] I had finished reading the Chronicle , folded and put it beside me, turned and looked out the window, expecting to see the San Joaquin Valley but finding only a sea of clouds instead. [7] So I returned my attention to the inside of the plane, to the overstuffed gray-haired woman asleep beside me, to the backs of heads in seats before me, across the aisle to other heads, and down to the blonde. [8] I had seen her in the concourse and at the gate, a shapely thing. [9] Now she had crossed her legs and I was privileged to view a trim ankle and calf, and her profile as she stared moodily across the aisle and out a window where there was nothing to see. [10] I slid my eyes past her to others. [11] A crossword-puzzle worker, a togetherness-type-magazine reader. [12] Inventory completed, I went back to looking at the clouds, knowing I should be thinking about the printing order I was going to Los Angeles for, and not wanting to. [13] So I started going through the purse of the woman next to me. [14] Perhaps that sounds bad. [15] It wasn't. [16] I'd been doing it for years and nobody ever complained. [17] It started when I was a kid, this business of being able to explore the insides of things like purses and sealed boxes and locked drawers and—well, human beings. [18] But human beings aren't worth the trouble. [19] It's like swimming through spaghetti. [20] And I've got to stay away from electric wires. [21] They hurt. [22] Now don't ask me how they hurt. [23] Maybe you think it's fun. [24] For the most part, it really isn't. [25] I always knew what was in Christmas presents before I unwrapped them, and therefore Christmas was always spoiled for me as a kid. [26] I can't feel the color of anything, just its consistency. [27] An apple senses about the same as a potato, except for the core and the stem. [28] I can't even tell if there's writing on a piece of paper. [29] So you see it isn't much. [30] Just the feel of shapes, the hardnesses and softnesses. [31] But I've learned to become pretty good at guessing. [32] Like this woman next to me. [33] She had a short, cylindrical metal object in her purse with waxlike stuff inside it—a lipstick. [34] A round, hard object with dust inside—a compact. [35] Handkerchief, chewing gum, a small book, probably an address book, money in a change purse—a few bills and coins. [36] Not much else. [37] I was a little disappointed. [38] I've run across a gun or two in my time. [39] But I never say anything. [40] I learned the wisdom of keeping my mouth shut in the fourth grade when Miss Winters, a stern, white-haired disciplinarian, ordered me to eat my sack lunch in the classroom with her instead of outside with some of the other kids. [41] This was the punishment for some minor infraction. [42] Lunchtime was nearly over and we'd both finished eating; she said she'd be gone for a few moments and that I was to erase the blackboard during her absence, which I dutifully did. [43] Class had hardly resumed when she started looking around the desk for her favorite mechanical pencil, asking if any of us had seen it, and looking straight at me. [44] I didn't want her to think I had taken it while she was out of the room, so I probed the contents of her purse, which she always kept in the upper right drawer of her desk. [45] "It's in your purse," I blurted out. [46] I was sent home with a stinging note. [47] Since then I've kept quiet. [48] At one time I assumed everybody was able to sense. [49] I've known better for years. [50] Still, I wonder how many other people are as close-mouthed about their special gift as I am about mine. [51] I used to think that some day I'd make a lot of money out of it, but how? [52] I can't read thoughts. [53] I can't even be sure what some of the things I sense in probing really are. [54] But I've learned to move things. [55] Ever so little. [56] A piece of paper. [57] A feather. [58] Once I stopped one of those little glass-enclosed light or heat-powered devices with vanes you see now and then in a jeweler's window. [59] And I can stop clocks. [60] Take this morning, for example. [61] I had set my alarm for five-thirty because I had to catch the seven o'clock plane at San Francisco International Airport. [62] This being earlier than I usually get up, it seems all I did during the night was feel my way past the escapement and balance wheel to see where the notch for the alarm was. [63] The last time I did it there was just the merest fraction of an inch between the pawl and the notch. [64] So I sighed and moved to the balance wheel and its delicate ribbon of spiraling steel. [65] I hung onto the wheel, exerting influence to decrease the restoring torque. [66] The wheel slowed down until there was no more ticking. [67] It took quite a bit of effort, as it always does, but I did it, as I usually do. [68] I can't stand the alarm. [69] When I first learned to do this, I thought I had it made. [70] I even went to Las Vegas to try my hand, so to speak, with the ratchets and pawls and cams and springs on the slot machines. [71] But there's nothing delicate about a slot machine, and the spring tensions are too strong. [72] I dropped quite a lot of nickels before I finally gave up. [73] So I'm stuck with a talent I've found little real use for. [74] Except that it amuses me. [75] Sometimes. [76] Not like this time on the plane. [77] The woman beside me stirred, sat up suddenly and looked across me out the window. [78] "Where are we?" [79] she asked in a surprised voice. [80] I told her we were probably a little north of Bakersfield. [81] She said, "Oh," glanced at her wristwatch and sank back again. [82] Soon the stewardesses would bring coffee and doughnuts around, so I contented myself with looking at the clouds and trying to think about Amos Magaffey, who was purchasing agent for a Los Angeles amusement chain, and how I was going to convince him our printing prices were maybe a little higher but the quality and service were better. [83] My mind wandered below where I was sitting, idly moving from one piece of luggage to another, looking for my beat-up suitcase. [84] I went through slips and slippers, lingerie and laundry, a jig saw puzzle and a ukulele. [85] I never did find my suitcase because I found the bomb first. [86] The bomb was in a small bag—a woman's bag judging by the soft, flimsy things you'd never find in a man's—and I didn't know it was a bomb right away. [87] I thought it was just a clock, one of those small, quiet alarms. [88] I was going to pass it by and go on, but what held me was that something was taped to it. [89] By the feel, I knew it must be electrician's tape. [90] Interested and curious, I explored the clock more closely, found two wires. [91] One went to a battery and the other to hard round cylinders taped together. [92] The hairs stood up at the base of my neck when I suddenly realized what it was. [93] The clock's balance wheel was rocking merrily. [94] Quickly I went up past the train of gears to the alarm wheel. [95] If this was anything like my own alarm clock, this one had something like ten minutes to go. [96] It was forty minutes to Burbank and Lockheed Air Terminal. [97] My mind was churning when I turned from the window to look around at the unconcerned passengers, the woman at my side asleep again. [98] I thought: Which one of these.... No, none of them would know it was there. [99] I glanced out the window again; clouds were still in the way. [100] We'd be leaving the valley for the mountain range north of Los Angeles soon, if we hadn't left it already. [101] No place to land the plane there. [102] But of course that had been the plan! [103] My heart was beating in jackhammer rhythm; my mouth was dry and my mind was numb. [104] Tell somebody about the bomb before it's too late! [105] No, they'd think I put it there. [106] Besides, what good would it do? [107] There would be panic and they'd never get the plane down in time—if they believed me. [108] "Sir." [109] My head jerked around. [110] The stewardess stood in the aisle, smiling, extending a tray to me, a brown plastic tray bearing a small paper cup of tomato juice, a cup of coffee, a cellophane-wrapped doughnut, paper spoon, sugar and dehydrated cream envelopes, and a napkin. [111] I goggled at her, managed to croak, "No, thanks." [112] She gave me an odd look and moved along. [113] My seatmate had accepted hers and was tearing at the cellophane. [114] I couldn't bear to watch her. [115] I closed my eyes, forced my mind back to the luggage compartment, spent a frantic moment before I found the bag again. [116] I had to stop that balance wheel, just as I stopped my alarm clock every morning. [117] I tried to close everything off—the throb of engines, the rush of air, the woman sipping coffee noisily beside me—and I went into the clock and surrounded the seesawing wheel. [118] When it went forward, I pulled it back; when it went back, I pulled it forward. [119] I struggled with it, and it was like trying to work with greasy hands, and I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to stop it. [120] Then, little by little, it started to slow its beat. [121] But I could not afford to relax. [122] I pushed and pulled and didn't dare release my hold until it came to a dead stop. [123] "Anything the matter?" [124] My eyelids flew open and I looked into the eyes of the woman next to me. [125] There was sugar from the doughnut around her mouth and she was still chewing. [126] "No," I said, letting out my breath. [127] "I'm all right." [128] "You were moaning, it sounded like. [129] And you kept moving your head back and forth." [130] "Must have been dreaming," I said as I rang for the stewardess. [131] When she came I told her I'd take some of that coffee now. [132] No, nothing else, just coffee. [133] I didn't tell her how much I needed it. [134] I sat there clammy with sweat until she returned. [135] Coffee never tasted so good. [136] All right, so I had stopped the bomb's timer. [137] My mind raced ahead to the landing. [138] When they unloaded the luggage, the balance wheel would start again. [139] I wouldn't be able to stay with it, keeping it still. [140] I considered telling the authorities as soon as we landed, or maybe calling in ahead, but wouldn't that just bring suspicion, questions. [141] Maybe I could convince them I could stop a clock—but not before the bomb exploded. [142] And then what? [143] My secret would be out and my life would be changed. [144] I'd be a man not to be trusted, a prying man, a man literally with gimlet eyes. [145] Mountain crags jutted through the clouds. [146] We were in the range north of the city. [147] Here and there were clear spots and I could see roads below, but there were also clouds far above us. [148] It was very beautiful, but it was also very bumpy, and we started to slip and slide. [149] To my horror I found that the balance wheel was rocking again. [150] Closing my eyes and gritting my teeth, I forced my senses to the wheel, tugging and pulling and shoving and pushing until it finally stopped. [151] A jab in the shoulder. [152] I jumped, startled. [153] "Your cup," my seat partner said, pointing. [154] I looked down at the coffee cup I had crushed in my hands. [155] Then I looked up into the eyes of the stewardess. [156] I handed it to her. [157] She took it without a word and went away. [158] "Were you really asleep that time?" [159] "Not really," I said. [160] I was tempted to tell the woman I was subject to fits, but I didn't. [161] It was only a few minutes to landing, but they became the longest minutes of my life as time after time I stopped the rocking wheel when the plane dipped and bumped to a landing. [162] Leaving the apron with the other passengers, I tried to walk as unconcernedly as they through the exit gate. [163] I would have liked walking through the terminal and out the entrance and away, but I could not. [164] I had my suitcase to get, for one thing. [165] The damned bomb was the other. [166] So I strolled out into the concourse again to look at the plane and watch the baggagemen at work, transferring the luggage to two airfield carts. [167] They weren't as careful as I would have been. [168] It was impossible to tell from this distance just which bag contained the bomb; I could hardly identify my own scarred suitcase. [169] The assortment of bags—a strange conglomeration of sizes and colors—was packed in some places six deep, and it rolled toward the gate where I was standing. [170] I didn't know whether to stay or run, imagining the balance wheel now happily rocking again. [171] The load went past me down a ramp to the front of the air terminal where the luggage was unloaded and placed in a long rack. [172] I went with it. [173] There was a flurry of ticket matching, hands grabbing for suitcases, and a general exodus on the part of my fellow passengers, too fast to determine who had got the one with the bomb. [174] Now all that was left was the attendant and I had two bags—my own battered veteran of years, and a fine new red overnight case, small enough to be the one. [175] I lit a cigarette, reached out. [176] Inside were a woman's things and—a clock. [177] The escapement was clicking vigorously. [178] I didn't moan this time. [179] I just closed my eyes, stretched toward and grabbed the balance wheel I was getting to know like my own. [180] I entered into a union with it so strong that after I had reduced it to immobility, it was like waking when I opened my eyes. [181] The baggage claim attendant was staring at me. [182] For only a moment I stared back. [183] Then I quickly reached for my baggage check and presented it to him. [184] His hand hovered over the handle of the little red bag and I was ready to yell at him. [185] But then, matching numbers on the tags with his eyes, his hand grasped the handle of my own suitcase and pushed it toward me. [186] "Thanks," I said, taking it. [187] I glanced ever so casually toward the remaining bag. [188] "One left over, eh?" [189] "Yeah." [190] He was so bored I was tempted to tell him what was in it. [191] But he was eying me with a "well-why-don't-you-get-along?" [192] look. [193] I said, "What happens if nobody claims it?" [194] "Take it inside. [195] Why?" [196] He was getting too curious. [197] "Oh, I just wondered, that's all." [198] I stepped on my cigarette and walked toward the air terminal entrance and put my suitcase on the stone steps there. [199] A redcap came hurrying over. [200] "Cab?" [201] I shook my head. [202] "Just waiting." [203] Just waiting for somebody to pick up a bomb. [204] I lit another cigarette and glanced now and then toward the baggage claim area. [205] The red bag was still there. [206] All sorts of theories ran through my head as to why it should still be there, and none satisfied me. [207] I should not have been there, that much I knew; I should be with a man named Amos Magaffey on Sixth Street at ten o'clock, discussing something very mundane, the matter of a printing order. [208] But what could I do? [209] If I left the airport, the attendant would eventually take the bag inside and there would be an explosion, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself. [210] No. [211] I had to stay to keep the balance wheel stationary until—until what? [212] A man in tan gabardine, wearing a police cap and badge, walked out of the entrance to stand on the stone steps beside me while he put on a pair of dark glasses. [213] A member of the airport police detail. [214] I could tell him. [215] I could take him down to the little red bag and explain the whole thing. [216] Then it would be his baby and I would be off on my own business. [217] But he moved on down the steps, nodded at the redcap, and started across the street to the parking area. [218] I could have called to him, "Hey, officer, let me tell you about a bomb in a little red bag." [219] But I didn't. [220] I didn't because I caught a movement at the baggage claim counter out of the side of my eye. [221] The attendant had picked up the bag and was walking with it up the ramp to the rear of the air terminal. [222] Picking up my own suitcase, I went inside in time to see him enter through a side door and deposit the bag on the scales at the airline desk and say something to the clerk. [223] The clerk nodded and moved the bag to the rear room. [224] I could visualize the balance wheel once again rocking like crazy. [225] How many minutes—or seconds—were left? [226] I was sweating when I moved to the counter, and it wasn't because of the sunshine I'd been soaking in. [227] I had to get as close to the bag as I could if I was going to stop the clock again. [228] "Can I help you?" [229] the clerk asked. [230] "No. [231] I'm waiting for someone." [232] I turned my back to him, put down my suitcase, leaned against the counter and reached out for the wheel. [233] I found I could reach the device, but it was far away. [234] When I tried to dampen it, the wheel escaped my grasp. [235] "Do you have my suitcase?" [236] I blinked my eyes open and looked around. [237] The blonde in the plane stood there looking very fresh and bright and unconcerned. [238] In her right hand she had a green baggage claim check. [239] The clerk took it, nodded, and in a moment brought out the overnight case and set it on the scales. [240] The girl thanked him, picked it up, glanced at me indifferently, and then started for the entrance with it. [241] "Just a moment," I found myself saying, grabbing my bag and hurrying after her. [242] At her side and a little ahead of her, I said, "Listen to me." [243] She looked annoyed and increased her stride toward the door. [244] "It's a matter of life or death," I said. [245] I wanted to wrest the bag from her and hurl it out through the doorway into the street, but I restrained myself. [246] She stopped and stared. [247] I noticed a short, fat man in a rumpled suitcoat and unpressed pants staring, too. [248] Ignoring him, I said, "Please put the bag down. [249] Over there." [250] I indicated a spot beside a telephone booth where it would be out of the way. [251] She didn't move. [252] She just said, "Why?" [253] "For God's sake!" [254] I took the case. [255] She offered no resistance. [256] I put her bag and mine next to the booth. [257] When I turned around she was standing there looking at me as if I had gone out of my mind. [258] Her eyes were blue and brown-flecked, very pretty eyes, and my thought at the moment was, I'm glad the bomb didn't go off; these eyes wouldn't be looking at me or anything else right now if it had. [259] "I've got to talk to you. [260] It's very important." [261] The girl said, "Why?" [262] I was beginning to think it was the only word she knew. [263] At the same time I was wondering why anyone would want to kill someone so lovely. [264] "I'll explain in a moment. [265] Please stand right here while I make a telephone call." [266] I moved toward the phone booth, paused and said, "And don't ask me why." [267] She gave me a speculative look. [268] I must not have seemed a complete idiot because she said, "All right, but—" I didn't listen for the rest. [269] I went into the booth, closed the door, pretended to drop a coin and dial a number. [270] But all the time I was in there, I was reaching out through the glass for the clock. [271] At this range it wasn't difficult to stop the balance wheel. [272] Just the same, when I came out I was wringing wet. [273] "Now will you please tell me what this is all about?" [274] she said stiffly. [275] "Gladly. [276] Let me buy you a cup of coffee and I'll explain." [277] She glanced at the bags. [278] I told her they'd be all right. [279] We followed the short, fat man into the coffee shop. [280] Over coffee I explained it all to her, how I had this extrasensory ability, how she was the first person I had ever revealed it to, and how I had discovered what was in her overnight bag. [281] During the telling, her untouched coffee grew a skin, her face grew pale, her eyes grew less curious and more troubled. [282] There were tears there when I finished. [283] I asked her who put the bomb in her bag. [284] "Joe did," she said in a toneless voice, not looking at me any more but staring vacantly across the room. [285] "Joe put it there." [286] Behind her eyes she was reliving some recent scene. [287] "Who is Joe?" [288] "My husband." [289] I thought she was going to really bawl, but she got control again. [290] "This trip was his idea, my coming down here to visit my sister." [291] Her smile was bleak. [292] "I see now why he wanted to put in those books. [293] I'd finished packing and was in the bathroom. [294] He said he'd put in some books we'd both finished reading—for my sister. [295] That's when he must have put the—put it in there." [296] I said gently, "Why would he want to do a thing like that?" [297] "I don't know." [298] She shook her head. [299] "I just don't know." [300] And she was close to bawling again. [301] Then she recovered and said, "I'm not sure I want to know." [302] I admired her for saying it. [303] Joe must have been crazy. [304] "It's all right now?" [305] she asked. [306] I nodded. [307] "As long as we don't move it." [308] I told her I didn't know how much more time there was, that I'd been thinking it over and that the only way out seemed to be to tell the airport policeman. [309] After I explained it to her, the girl—she said her name was Julia Claremont—agreed to tell him she thought there was a bomb in her bag, that she had noticed a ticking and had become worried because she knew she hadn't packed a clock. [310] It wasn't good, but it would have to do. [311] "We've got to get it deactivated," I said, watching the fat man pay for his coffee and leave. [312] "The sooner the better." [313] I finished my coffee in one gulp and went to pay the bill with her. [314] I asked her why she didn't claim the bag at the same time the other people had. [315] She said she had called her sister and the phone was busy for a long while. [316] "She was supposed to meet me, and when she wasn't here, I got worried. [317] She said she isn't feeling well and asked me to take a cab." [318] She smiled a little. [319] It was a bright, cheery thing. [320] I had the feeling it was all for me. [321] "That's where I was going when you caught up with me." [322] It had become a very nice day. [323] But the bottom dropped out of it again when we reached the lobby. [324] The two bags weren't there. [325] I ran to the entrance and nearly collided with the redcap. [326] "See anybody go out of here with a little red bag and an old battered suitcase?" [327] "Bag? [328] Suitcase?" [329] he mumbled. [330] Then he became excited. [331] "Why, a man just stepped out of here—" He turned to look down the street. [332] "That's him." [333] The dumpy man I'd seen was walking off; Julia's bag in his right hand, mine in his left. [334] He seemed in no hurry. [335] "Hey!" [336] I shouted, starting toward him. [337] The man turned, took one look at me, and started to run. [338] He came abreast an old gray, mud-spattered coupe, ran around, opened the door and threw both bags into the rear seat as he got in. [339] The car was a hundred feet away and gathering speed by the time I reached where it had been parked. [340] I watched it for a moment, then walked back to the entranceway where Julia was standing with the redcap, who said, "That man steal them suitcases?" [341] "That he did," I said. [342] Just then the airport policeman started across the street from the parking lot. [343] Redcap said, "Better tell him about it." [344] The policeman was sympathetic and concerned. [345] He said, "We'd better get over to the office." [346] But we never left the spot because an explosion some blocks distant shattered the air. [347] Julia's hand grasped my arm. [348] Hard. [349] "Jets," the redcap said, eying the sky. [350] "I don't know," the policeman said. [351] "Didn't sound much like a jet to me." [352] We stood there. [353] I could visualize the wreckage of an old gray coupe in the middle of a street, but I couldn't visualize the driver. [354] That was all right. [355] I didn't want to see him. [356] I didn't know what Julia was thinking. [357] She said, "About those bags," and looked at me. [358] The officer said, "Yes, miss?" [359] "I—I don't care about mine. [360] I didn't have much of anything in it." [361] "I feel the same way," I said. [362] "Would it be all right if we didn't bother to report it?" [363] "Well," the policeman said, "I can't make you report it." [364] "I'd rather not then," Julia said. [365] She turned to me. [366] "I'd like some air. [367] Can't we walk a little?" [368] "Sure," I said. [369] We started down the street, her arm in mine, as the air began to fill with the distant sounds of sirens.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "Who is Julia Claremont and what happens to her in the story?": 1. [287] "Who is Joe?" 2. [288] "My husband." 3. [289] "This trip was his idea, my coming down here to visit my sister." 4. [290] "I see now why he wanted to put in those books." 5. [291] "I'd finished packing and was in the bathroom. He said he'd put in some books we'd both finished reading—for my sister. That's when he must have put the—put it in there." 6. [292] "I don't know. I just don't know." 7. [293] "I'm not sure I want to know." 8. [294] "It's all right now?" 9. [295] "As long as we don't move it." 10. [296] "We've got to get it deactivated. The sooner the better." 11. [297] "She said she had called her sister and the phone was busy for a long while. 'She was supposed to meet me, and when she wasn't here, I got worried. She said she isn't feeling well and asked me to take a cab.'" 12. [298] "That's where I was going when you caught up with me." 13. [299] "Julia's hand grasped my arm. Hard." 14. [300] "About those bags," and looked at me. 15. [301] "I—I don't care about mine. I didn't have much of anything in it." 16. [302] "I'd rather not then," Julia said. She turned to me. "I'd like some air. Can't we walk a little?" 17. [1] "Nuts to wild talents!" 18. [2] "Mine was no satisfaction, never earned me a penny—and now it had me fighting for my life in ..." 19. [3] "THE LITTLE RED BAG By JERRY SOHL [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, January 1960." 20. [4] "Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]" 21. [5] "About an hour out of San Francisco on the flight to Los Angeles, I made the discovery." 22. [6] "I had finished reading the Chronicle , folded and put it beside me, turned and looked out the window, expecting to see the San Joaquin Valley but finding only a sea of clouds instead." 23. [7] "So I returned my attention to the inside of the plane, to the overstuffed gray-haired woman asleep beside me, to the backs of heads in seats before me, across the aisle to other heads, and down to the blonde." 24. [8] "I had seen her in the concourse and at the gate, a shapely thing." 25. [9] "Now she had crossed her legs and I was privileged to view a trim ankle and calf, and her profile as she stared moodily across the aisle and out a window where there was nothing to see." 26. [10] "I slid my eyes past her to others." 27. [11] "A crossword-puzzle worker, a togetherness-type-magazine reader." 28. [12] "Inventory completed, I went back to looking at the clouds, knowing I should be thinking about the printing order I was going to Los Angeles for, and not wanting to." 29. [13] "So I started going through the purse of the woman next to me." 30. [14] "Perhaps that sounds bad." 31. [15] "It wasn't." 32. [16] "I'd been doing it for years and nobody ever complained." 33. [17] "It started when I was a kid, this business of being able to explore the insides of things like purses and sealed boxes and locked drawers and—well, human beings." 34. [18] "But human beings aren't worth the trouble." 35. [19] "It's like swimming through spaghetti." 36. [20] "And I've got to stay away from electric wires." 37. [21] "They hurt." 38. [22] "Now don't ask me how they hurt." 39. [23] "Maybe you think it's fun." 40. [24] "For the most part, it really isn't." 41. [25] "I always knew what was in Christmas presents before I unwrapped them, and therefore Christmas was always spoiled for me as a kid." 42. [26] "I can't feel the color of anything, just its consistency." 43. [27] "An apple senses about the same as a potato, except for the core and the stem." 44. [28] "I can't even tell if there's writing on a piece of paper." 45. [29] "So you see it isn't much." 46. [30] "Just the feel of shapes, the hardnesses and softnesses." 47. [31] "But I've learned to become pretty good at guessing." 48. [32] "Like this woman next to me." 49. [33] "She had a short, cylindrical metal object in her purse with waxlike stuff inside it—a lipstick." 50. [34] "A round, hard object with dust inside—a compact." 51. [35] "Handkerchief, chewing gum, a small book, probably an address book, money in a change purse—a few bills and coins." 52. [36] "Not much else." 53. [37] "I was a little disappointed." 54. [38] "I've run across a gun or two in my time." 55. [39] "But I never say anything." 56. [40] "I learned the wisdom of keeping my mouth shut in the fourth grade when Miss Winters, a stern, white-haired disciplinarian, ordered me to eat my sack lunch in the classroom with her instead of outside with some of the other kids." 57. [41] "This was the punishment for some minor infraction." 58. [42] "Lunchtime was nearly over and we'd both finished eating; she said she'd be gone for a few moments and that I was to erase the blackboard during her absence, which I dutifully did." 59. [43] "Class had hardly resumed when she started looking around the desk for her favorite mechanical pencil, asking if any of us had seen it, and looking straight at me." 60. [44] "I didn't want her to think I had taken it while she was out of the room, so I probed the contents of her purse, which she always kept in the upper right drawer of her desk." 61. [45] "'It's in your purse,' I blurted out." 62. [46] "I was sent home with a stinging note." 63. [47] "Since then I've kept quiet." 64. [48] "At one time I assumed everybody was able to sense." 65. [49] "I've known better for years." 66. [50] "Still, I wonder how many other people are as close-mouthed about their special gift as I am about mine." 67. [51] "I used to think that some day I'd make a lot of money out of it, but how?" 68. [52] "I can't read thoughts." 69. [53] "I can't even be sure what some of the things I sense in probing really are." 70. [54] "But I've learned to move things." 71. [55] "Ever so little." 72. [56] "A piece of paper." 73. [57] "A feather." 74. [58] "Once I stopped one of those little glass-enclosed light or heat-powered devices with vanes you see now and then in a jeweler's window." 75. [59] "And I can stop clocks." 76. [60] "Take this morning, for example." 77. [61] "I had set my alarm for five-thirty because I had to catch the seven o'clock plane at San Francisco International Airport." 78. [62] "This being earlier than I usually get up, it seems all I did during the night was feel my way past the escapement and balance wheel to see where the notch for the alarm was." 79. [63] "The last time I did it there was just the merest fraction of an inch between the pawl and the notch." 80. [64] "So I sighed and moved to the balance wheel and its delicate ribbon of spiraling steel." 81. [65] "I hung onto the wheel, exerting influence to decrease the restoring torque." 82. [66] "The wheel slowed down until there was no more ticking." 83. [67] "It took quite a bit of effort, as it always does, but I did it, as I usually do." 84. [68] "I can't stand the alarm." 85. [69] "When I first learned to do this, I thought I had it made." 86. [70] "I even went to Las Vegas to try my hand, so to speak, with the ratchets and pawls and cams and springs on the slot machines." 87. [71] "But there's nothing delicate about a slot machine, and the spring tensions are too strong." 88. [72] "I dropped quite a lot of nickels before I finally gave up." 89. [73] "So I'm stuck with a talent I've found little real use for." 90. [74] "Except that it amuses me." 91. [75] "Sometimes." 92. [76] "Not like this time on the plane." 93. [77] "The woman beside me stirred, sat up suddenly and looked across me out the window." 94. [78] "'Where are we?'" 95. [79] "she asked in a surprised voice." 96. [80] "I told her we were probably a little north of Bakersfield." 97. [81] "She said, 'Oh,' glanced at her wristwatch and sank back again." 98. [82] "Soon the stewardesses would bring coffee and doughnuts around, so I contented myself with looking at the clouds and trying to think about Amos Magaffey, who was purchasing agent for a Los Angeles amusement chain, and how I was going to convince him our printing prices were maybe a little higher but the quality and service were better." 99. [83] "My mind wandered below where I was sitting, idly moving from one piece of luggage to another, looking for my beat-up suitcase." 100. [84] "I went through slips and slippers, lingerie and laundry, a jig saw puzzle and a ukulele." 101. [85] "I never did find my suitcase because I found the bomb first." 102. [86] "The bomb was in a small bag—a woman's bag judging by the soft, flimsy things you'd never find in a man's—and I didn't know it was a bomb right away." 103. [87] "I thought it was just a clock, one of those small, quiet alarms." 104. [88] "I was going to pass it by and go on, but what held me was that something was taped to it." 105. [89] "By the feel, I knew it must be electrician's tape." 106. [90] "Interested and curious, I explored the clock more closely, found two wires." 107. [91] "One went to a battery and the other to hard round cylinders taped together." 108. [92] "The hairs stood up at the base of my neck when I suddenly realized what it was." 109. [93] "The clock's balance wheel was rocking merrily." 110. [94] "Quickly I went up past the train of gears to the alarm wheel." 111. [95] "If this was anything like my own alarm clock, this one had something like ten minutes to go." 112. [96] "It was forty minutes to Burbank and Lockheed Air Terminal." 113. [97] "My mind was churning when I turned from the window to look around at the unconcerned passengers, the woman at my side asleep again." 114. [98] "I thought: Which one of these.... No, none of them would know it was there." 115. [99] "I glanced out the window again; clouds were still in the way." 116. [100] "We'd be leaving the valley for the mountain range north of Los Angeles soon, if we hadn't left it already." 117. [101] "No place to land the plane there." 118. [102] "But of course that had been the plan!" 119. [103] "My heart was beating in jackhammer rhythm; my mouth was dry and my mind was numb." 120. [104] "Tell somebody about the bomb before it's too late!" 121. [105] "No, they'd think I put it there." 122. [106] "Besides, what good would it do?" 123. [107] "There would be panic and they'd never get the plane down in time—if they believed me." 124. [108] "'Sir.'" 125. [109] "My head jerked around." 126. [110] "The stewardess stood in the aisle, smiling, extending a tray to me, a brown plastic tray bearing a small paper cup of tomato juice, a cup of coffee, a cellophane-wrapped doughnut, paper spoon, sugar and dehydrated cream envelopes, and a napkin." 127. [111] "I goggled at her, managed to croak, 'No, thanks.'" 128. [112] "She gave me an odd look and moved along." 129. [113] "My seatmate had accepted hers and was tearing at the cellophane." 130. [114] "I couldn't bear to watch her." 131. [115] "I closed my eyes, forced my mind back to the luggage compartment, spent a frantic moment before I found the bag again." 132. [116] "I had to stop that balance wheel, just as I stopped my alarm clock every morning." 133. [117] "I tried to close everything off—the throb of engines, the rush of air, the woman sipping coffee noisily beside me—and I went into the clock and surrounded the seesawing wheel." 134. [118] "When it went forward, I pulled it back; when it went back, I pulled it forward." 135. [119] "I struggled with it, and it was like trying to work with greasy hands, and I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to stop it." 136. [120] "Then, little by little, it started to slow its beat." 137. [121] "But I could not afford to relax." 138. [122] "I pushed and pulled and didn't dare release my hold until it came to a dead stop." 139. [123] "'Anything the matter?'" 140. [124] "My eyelids flew open and I looked into the eyes of the woman next to me." 141. [125] "There was sugar from the doughnut around her mouth and she was still chewing." 142. [126] "'No,' I said, letting out my breath." 143. [127] "'I'm all right.'" 144. [128] "'You were moaning, it sounded like.'" 145. [129] "And you kept moving your head back and forth.'" 146. [130] "'Must have been dreaming,' I said as I rang for the stewardess." 147. [131] "When she came I told her I'd take some of that coffee now." 148. [132] "No, nothing else, just coffee." 149. [133] "I didn't tell her how much I needed it." 150. [134] "I sat there clammy with sweat until she returned." 151. [135] "Coffee never tasted so good." 152. [136] "All right, so I had stopped the bomb's timer." 153. [137] "My mind raced ahead to the landing." 154. [138] "When they unloaded the luggage, the balance wheel would start again." 155. [139] "I wouldn't be able to stay with it, keeping it still." 156. [140] "I considered telling the authorities as soon as we landed, or maybe calling in ahead, but wouldn't that just bring suspicion, questions." 157. [141] "Maybe I could convince them I could stop a clock—but not before the bomb exploded." 158. [142] "And then what?" 159. [143] "My secret would be out and my life would be changed." 160. [144] "I'd be a man not to be trusted, a prying man, a man literally with gimlet eyes." 161. [145] "Mountain crags jutted through the clouds." 162. [146] "We were in the range north of the city." 163. [147] "Here and there were clear spots and I could see roads below, but there were also clouds far above us." 164. [148] "It was very beautiful, but it was also very bumpy, and we started to slip and slide." 165. [149] "To my horror I found that the balance wheel was rocking again." 166. [150] "Closing my eyes and gritting my teeth, I forced my senses to the wheel, tugging and pulling and shoving and

Q3. Why is the protagonist reluctant to reveal his extraordinary ability?

[1] Nuts to wild talents! [2] Mine was no satisfaction, never earned me a penny—and now it had me fighting for my life in ... [3] THE LITTLE RED BAG By JERRY SOHL [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, January 1960. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [5] About an hour out of San Francisco on the flight to Los Angeles, I made the discovery. [6] I had finished reading the Chronicle , folded and put it beside me, turned and looked out the window, expecting to see the San Joaquin Valley but finding only a sea of clouds instead. [7] So I returned my attention to the inside of the plane, to the overstuffed gray-haired woman asleep beside me, to the backs of heads in seats before me, across the aisle to other heads, and down to the blonde. [8] I had seen her in the concourse and at the gate, a shapely thing. [9] Now she had crossed her legs and I was privileged to view a trim ankle and calf, and her profile as she stared moodily across the aisle and out a window where there was nothing to see. [10] I slid my eyes past her to others. [11] A crossword-puzzle worker, a togetherness-type-magazine reader. [12] Inventory completed, I went back to looking at the clouds, knowing I should be thinking about the printing order I was going to Los Angeles for, and not wanting to. [13] So I started going through the purse of the woman next to me. [14] Perhaps that sounds bad. [15] It wasn't. [16] I'd been doing it for years and nobody ever complained. [17] It started when I was a kid, this business of being able to explore the insides of things like purses and sealed boxes and locked drawers and—well, human beings. [18] But human beings aren't worth the trouble. [19] It's like swimming through spaghetti. [20] And I've got to stay away from electric wires. [21] They hurt. [22] Now don't ask me how they hurt. [23] Maybe you think it's fun. [24] For the most part, it really isn't. [25] I always knew what was in Christmas presents before I unwrapped them, and therefore Christmas was always spoiled for me as a kid. [26] I can't feel the color of anything, just its consistency. [27] An apple senses about the same as a potato, except for the core and the stem. [28] I can't even tell if there's writing on a piece of paper. [29] So you see it isn't much. [30] Just the feel of shapes, the hardnesses and softnesses. [31] But I've learned to become pretty good at guessing. [32] Like this woman next to me. [33] She had a short, cylindrical metal object in her purse with waxlike stuff inside it—a lipstick. [34] A round, hard object with dust inside—a compact. [35] Handkerchief, chewing gum, a small book, probably an address book, money in a change purse—a few bills and coins. [36] Not much else. [37] I was a little disappointed. [38] I've run across a gun or two in my time. [39] But I never say anything. [40] I learned the wisdom of keeping my mouth shut in the fourth grade when Miss Winters, a stern, white-haired disciplinarian, ordered me to eat my sack lunch in the classroom with her instead of outside with some of the other kids. [41] This was the punishment for some minor infraction. [42] Lunchtime was nearly over and we'd both finished eating; she said she'd be gone for a few moments and that I was to erase the blackboard during her absence, which I dutifully did. [43] Class had hardly resumed when she started looking around the desk for her favorite mechanical pencil, asking if any of us had seen it, and looking straight at me. [44] I didn't want her to think I had taken it while she was out of the room, so I probed the contents of her purse, which she always kept in the upper right drawer of her desk. [45] "It's in your purse," I blurted out. [46] I was sent home with a stinging note. [47] Since then I've kept quiet. [48] At one time I assumed everybody was able to sense. [49] I've known better for years. [50] Still, I wonder how many other people are as close-mouthed about their special gift as I am about mine. [51] I used to think that some day I'd make a lot of money out of it, but how? [52] I can't read thoughts. [53] I can't even be sure what some of the things I sense in probing really are. [54] But I've learned to move things. [55] Ever so little. [56] A piece of paper. [57] A feather. [58] Once I stopped one of those little glass-enclosed light or heat-powered devices with vanes you see now and then in a jeweler's window. [59] And I can stop clocks. [60] Take this morning, for example. [61] I had set my alarm for five-thirty because I had to catch the seven o'clock plane at San Francisco International Airport. [62] This being earlier than I usually get up, it seems all I did during the night was feel my way past the escapement and balance wheel to see where the notch for the alarm was. [63] The last time I did it there was just the merest fraction of an inch between the pawl and the notch. [64] So I sighed and moved to the balance wheel and its delicate ribbon of spiraling steel. [65] I hung onto the wheel, exerting influence to decrease the restoring torque. [66] The wheel slowed down until there was no more ticking. [67] It took quite a bit of effort, as it always does, but I did it, as I usually do. [68] I can't stand the alarm. [69] When I first learned to do this, I thought I had it made. [70] I even went to Las Vegas to try my hand, so to speak, with the ratchets and pawls and cams and springs on the slot machines. [71] But there's nothing delicate about a slot machine, and the spring tensions are too strong. [72] I dropped quite a lot of nickels before I finally gave up. [73] So I'm stuck with a talent I've found little real use for. [74] Except that it amuses me. [75] Sometimes. [76] Not like this time on the plane. [77] The woman beside me stirred, sat up suddenly and looked across me out the window. [78] "Where are we?" [79] she asked in a surprised voice. [80] I told her we were probably a little north of Bakersfield. [81] She said, "Oh," glanced at her wristwatch and sank back again. [82] Soon the stewardesses would bring coffee and doughnuts around, so I contented myself with looking at the clouds and trying to think about Amos Magaffey, who was purchasing agent for a Los Angeles amusement chain, and how I was going to convince him our printing prices were maybe a little higher but the quality and service were better. [83] My mind wandered below where I was sitting, idly moving from one piece of luggage to another, looking for my beat-up suitcase. [84] I went through slips and slippers, lingerie and laundry, a jig saw puzzle and a ukulele. [85] I never did find my suitcase because I found the bomb first. [86] The bomb was in a small bag—a woman's bag judging by the soft, flimsy things you'd never find in a man's—and I didn't know it was a bomb right away. [87] I thought it was just a clock, one of those small, quiet alarms. [88] I was going to pass it by and go on, but what held me was that something was taped to it. [89] By the feel, I knew it must be electrician's tape. [90] Interested and curious, I explored the clock more closely, found two wires. [91] One went to a battery and the other to hard round cylinders taped together. [92] The hairs stood up at the base of my neck when I suddenly realized what it was. [93] The clock's balance wheel was rocking merrily. [94] Quickly I went up past the train of gears to the alarm wheel. [95] If this was anything like my own alarm clock, this one had something like ten minutes to go. [96] It was forty minutes to Burbank and Lockheed Air Terminal. [97] My mind was churning when I turned from the window to look around at the unconcerned passengers, the woman at my side asleep again. [98] I thought: Which one of these.... No, none of them would know it was there. [99] I glanced out the window again; clouds were still in the way. [100] We'd be leaving the valley for the mountain range north of Los Angeles soon, if we hadn't left it already. [101] No place to land the plane there. [102] But of course that had been the plan! [103] My heart was beating in jackhammer rhythm; my mouth was dry and my mind was numb. [104] Tell somebody about the bomb before it's too late! [105] No, they'd think I put it there. [106] Besides, what good would it do? [107] There would be panic and they'd never get the plane down in time—if they believed me. [108] "Sir." [109] My head jerked around. [110] The stewardess stood in the aisle, smiling, extending a tray to me, a brown plastic tray bearing a small paper cup of tomato juice, a cup of coffee, a cellophane-wrapped doughnut, paper spoon, sugar and dehydrated cream envelopes, and a napkin. [111] I goggled at her, managed to croak, "No, thanks." [112] She gave me an odd look and moved along. [113] My seatmate had accepted hers and was tearing at the cellophane. [114] I couldn't bear to watch her. [115] I closed my eyes, forced my mind back to the luggage compartment, spent a frantic moment before I found the bag again. [116] I had to stop that balance wheel, just as I stopped my alarm clock every morning. [117] I tried to close everything off—the throb of engines, the rush of air, the woman sipping coffee noisily beside me—and I went into the clock and surrounded the seesawing wheel. [118] When it went forward, I pulled it back; when it went back, I pulled it forward. [119] I struggled with it, and it was like trying to work with greasy hands, and I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to stop it. [120] Then, little by little, it started to slow its beat. [121] But I could not afford to relax. [122] I pushed and pulled and didn't dare release my hold until it came to a dead stop. [123] "Anything the matter?" [124] My eyelids flew open and I looked into the eyes of the woman next to me. [125] There was sugar from the doughnut around her mouth and she was still chewing. [126] "No," I said, letting out my breath. [127] "I'm all right." [128] "You were moaning, it sounded like. [129] And you kept moving your head back and forth." [130] "Must have been dreaming," I said as I rang for the stewardess. [131] When she came I told her I'd take some of that coffee now. [132] No, nothing else, just coffee. [133] I didn't tell her how much I needed it. [134] I sat there clammy with sweat until she returned. [135] Coffee never tasted so good. [136] All right, so I had stopped the bomb's timer. [137] My mind raced ahead to the landing. [138] When they unloaded the luggage, the balance wheel would start again. [139] I wouldn't be able to stay with it, keeping it still. [140] I considered telling the authorities as soon as we landed, or maybe calling in ahead, but wouldn't that just bring suspicion, questions. [141] Maybe I could convince them I could stop a clock—but not before the bomb exploded. [142] And then what? [143] My secret would be out and my life would be changed. [144] I'd be a man not to be trusted, a prying man, a man literally with gimlet eyes. [145] Mountain crags jutted through the clouds. [146] We were in the range north of the city. [147] Here and there were clear spots and I could see roads below, but there were also clouds far above us. [148] It was very beautiful, but it was also very bumpy, and we started to slip and slide. [149] To my horror I found that the balance wheel was rocking again. [150] Closing my eyes and gritting my teeth, I forced my senses to the wheel, tugging and pulling and shoving and pushing until it finally stopped. [151] A jab in the shoulder. [152] I jumped, startled. [153] "Your cup," my seat partner said, pointing. [154] I looked down at the coffee cup I had crushed in my hands. [155] Then I looked up into the eyes of the stewardess. [156] I handed it to her. [157] She took it without a word and went away. [158] "Were you really asleep that time?" [159] "Not really," I said. [160] I was tempted to tell the woman I was subject to fits, but I didn't. [161] It was only a few minutes to landing, but they became the longest minutes of my life as time after time I stopped the rocking wheel when the plane dipped and bumped to a landing. [162] Leaving the apron with the other passengers, I tried to walk as unconcernedly as they through the exit gate. [163] I would have liked walking through the terminal and out the entrance and away, but I could not. [164] I had my suitcase to get, for one thing. [165] The damned bomb was the other. [166] So I strolled out into the concourse again to look at the plane and watch the baggagemen at work, transferring the luggage to two airfield carts. [167] They weren't as careful as I would have been. [168] It was impossible to tell from this distance just which bag contained the bomb; I could hardly identify my own scarred suitcase. [169] The assortment of bags—a strange conglomeration of sizes and colors—was packed in some places six deep, and it rolled toward the gate where I was standing. [170] I didn't know whether to stay or run, imagining the balance wheel now happily rocking again. [171] The load went past me down a ramp to the front of the air terminal where the luggage was unloaded and placed in a long rack. [172] I went with it. [173] There was a flurry of ticket matching, hands grabbing for suitcases, and a general exodus on the part of my fellow passengers, too fast to determine who had got the one with the bomb. [174] Now all that was left was the attendant and I had two bags—my own battered veteran of years, and a fine new red overnight case, small enough to be the one. [175] I lit a cigarette, reached out. [176] Inside were a woman's things and—a clock. [177] The escapement was clicking vigorously. [178] I didn't moan this time. [179] I just closed my eyes, stretched toward and grabbed the balance wheel I was getting to know like my own. [180] I entered into a union with it so strong that after I had reduced it to immobility, it was like waking when I opened my eyes. [181] The baggage claim attendant was staring at me. [182] For only a moment I stared back. [183] Then I quickly reached for my baggage check and presented it to him. [184] His hand hovered over the handle of the little red bag and I was ready to yell at him. [185] But then, matching numbers on the tags with his eyes, his hand grasped the handle of my own suitcase and pushed it toward me. [186] "Thanks," I said, taking it. [187] I glanced ever so casually toward the remaining bag. [188] "One left over, eh?" [189] "Yeah." [190] He was so bored I was tempted to tell him what was in it. [191] But he was eying me with a "well-why-don't-you-get-along?" [192] look. [193] I said, "What happens if nobody claims it?" [194] "Take it inside. [195] Why?" [196] He was getting too curious. [197] "Oh, I just wondered, that's all." [198] I stepped on my cigarette and walked toward the air terminal entrance and put my suitcase on the stone steps there. [199] A redcap came hurrying over. [200] "Cab?" [201] I shook my head. [202] "Just waiting." [203] Just waiting for somebody to pick up a bomb. [204] I lit another cigarette and glanced now and then toward the baggage claim area. [205] The red bag was still there. [206] All sorts of theories ran through my head as to why it should still be there, and none satisfied me. [207] I should not have been there, that much I knew; I should be with a man named Amos Magaffey on Sixth Street at ten o'clock, discussing something very mundane, the matter of a printing order. [208] But what could I do? [209] If I left the airport, the attendant would eventually take the bag inside and there would be an explosion, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself. [210] No. [211] I had to stay to keep the balance wheel stationary until—until what? [212] A man in tan gabardine, wearing a police cap and badge, walked out of the entrance to stand on the stone steps beside me while he put on a pair of dark glasses. [213] A member of the airport police detail. [214] I could tell him. [215] I could take him down to the little red bag and explain the whole thing. [216] Then it would be his baby and I would be off on my own business. [217] But he moved on down the steps, nodded at the redcap, and started across the street to the parking area. [218] I could have called to him, "Hey, officer, let me tell you about a bomb in a little red bag." [219] But I didn't. [220] I didn't because I caught a movement at the baggage claim counter out of the side of my eye. [221] The attendant had picked up the bag and was walking with it up the ramp to the rear of the air terminal. [222] Picking up my own suitcase, I went inside in time to see him enter through a side door and deposit the bag on the scales at the airline desk and say something to the clerk. [223] The clerk nodded and moved the bag to the rear room. [224] I could visualize the balance wheel once again rocking like crazy. [225] How many minutes—or seconds—were left? [226] I was sweating when I moved to the counter, and it wasn't because of the sunshine I'd been soaking in. [227] I had to get as close to the bag as I could if I was going to stop the clock again. [228] "Can I help you?" [229] the clerk asked. [230] "No. [231] I'm waiting for someone." [232] I turned my back to him, put down my suitcase, leaned against the counter and reached out for the wheel. [233] I found I could reach the device, but it was far away. [234] When I tried to dampen it, the wheel escaped my grasp. [235] "Do you have my suitcase?" [236] I blinked my eyes open and looked around. [237] The blonde in the plane stood there looking very fresh and bright and unconcerned. [238] In her right hand she had a green baggage claim check. [239] The clerk took it, nodded, and in a moment brought out the overnight case and set it on the scales. [240] The girl thanked him, picked it up, glanced at me indifferently, and then started for the entrance with it. [241] "Just a moment," I found myself saying, grabbing my bag and hurrying after her. [242] At her side and a little ahead of her, I said, "Listen to me." [243] She looked annoyed and increased her stride toward the door. [244] "It's a matter of life or death," I said. [245] I wanted to wrest the bag from her and hurl it out through the doorway into the street, but I restrained myself. [246] She stopped and stared. [247] I noticed a short, fat man in a rumpled suitcoat and unpressed pants staring, too. [248] Ignoring him, I said, "Please put the bag down. [249] Over there." [250] I indicated a spot beside a telephone booth where it would be out of the way. [251] She didn't move. [252] She just said, "Why?" [253] "For God's sake!" [254] I took the case. [255] She offered no resistance. [256] I put her bag and mine next to the booth. [257] When I turned around she was standing there looking at me as if I had gone out of my mind. [258] Her eyes were blue and brown-flecked, very pretty eyes, and my thought at the moment was, I'm glad the bomb didn't go off; these eyes wouldn't be looking at me or anything else right now if it had. [259] "I've got to talk to you. [260] It's very important." [261] The girl said, "Why?" [262] I was beginning to think it was the only word she knew. [263] At the same time I was wondering why anyone would want to kill someone so lovely. [264] "I'll explain in a moment. [265] Please stand right here while I make a telephone call." [266] I moved toward the phone booth, paused and said, "And don't ask me why." [267] She gave me a speculative look. [268] I must not have seemed a complete idiot because she said, "All right, but—" I didn't listen for the rest. [269] I went into the booth, closed the door, pretended to drop a coin and dial a number. [270] But all the time I was in there, I was reaching out through the glass for the clock. [271] At this range it wasn't difficult to stop the balance wheel. [272] Just the same, when I came out I was wringing wet. [273] "Now will you please tell me what this is all about?" [274] she said stiffly. [275] "Gladly. [276] Let me buy you a cup of coffee and I'll explain." [277] She glanced at the bags. [278] I told her they'd be all right. [279] We followed the short, fat man into the coffee shop. [280] Over coffee I explained it all to her, how I had this extrasensory ability, how she was the first person I had ever revealed it to, and how I had discovered what was in her overnight bag. [281] During the telling, her untouched coffee grew a skin, her face grew pale, her eyes grew less curious and more troubled. [282] There were tears there when I finished. [283] I asked her who put the bomb in her bag. [284] "Joe did," she said in a toneless voice, not looking at me any more but staring vacantly across the room. [285] "Joe put it there." [286] Behind her eyes she was reliving some recent scene. [287] "Who is Joe?" [288] "My husband." [289] I thought she was going to really bawl, but she got control again. [290] "This trip was his idea, my coming down here to visit my sister." [291] Her smile was bleak. [292] "I see now why he wanted to put in those books. [293] I'd finished packing and was in the bathroom. [294] He said he'd put in some books we'd both finished reading—for my sister. [295] That's when he must have put the—put it in there." [296] I said gently, "Why would he want to do a thing like that?" [297] "I don't know." [298] She shook her head. [299] "I just don't know." [300] And she was close to bawling again. [301] Then she recovered and said, "I'm not sure I want to know." [302] I admired her for saying it. [303] Joe must have been crazy. [304] "It's all right now?" [305] she asked. [306] I nodded. [307] "As long as we don't move it." [308] I told her I didn't know how much more time there was, that I'd been thinking it over and that the only way out seemed to be to tell the airport policeman. [309] After I explained it to her, the girl—she said her name was Julia Claremont—agreed to tell him she thought there was a bomb in her bag, that she had noticed a ticking and had become worried because she knew she hadn't packed a clock. [310] It wasn't good, but it would have to do. [311] "We've got to get it deactivated," I said, watching the fat man pay for his coffee and leave. [312] "The sooner the better." [313] I finished my coffee in one gulp and went to pay the bill with her. [314] I asked her why she didn't claim the bag at the same time the other people had. [315] She said she had called her sister and the phone was busy for a long while. [316] "She was supposed to meet me, and when she wasn't here, I got worried. [317] She said she isn't feeling well and asked me to take a cab." [318] She smiled a little. [319] It was a bright, cheery thing. [320] I had the feeling it was all for me. [321] "That's where I was going when you caught up with me." [322] It had become a very nice day. [323] But the bottom dropped out of it again when we reached the lobby. [324] The two bags weren't there. [325] I ran to the entrance and nearly collided with the redcap. [326] "See anybody go out of here with a little red bag and an old battered suitcase?" [327] "Bag? [328] Suitcase?" [329] he mumbled. [330] Then he became excited. [331] "Why, a man just stepped out of here—" He turned to look down the street. [332] "That's him." [333] The dumpy man I'd seen was walking off; Julia's bag in his right hand, mine in his left. [334] He seemed in no hurry. [335] "Hey!" [336] I shouted, starting toward him. [337] The man turned, took one look at me, and started to run. [338] He came abreast an old gray, mud-spattered coupe, ran around, opened the door and threw both bags into the rear seat as he got in. [339] The car was a hundred feet away and gathering speed by the time I reached where it had been parked. [340] I watched it for a moment, then walked back to the entranceway where Julia was standing with the redcap, who said, "That man steal them suitcases?" [341] "That he did," I said. [342] Just then the airport policeman started across the street from the parking lot. [343] Redcap said, "Better tell him about it." [344] The policeman was sympathetic and concerned. [345] He said, "We'd better get over to the office." [346] But we never left the spot because an explosion some blocks distant shattered the air. [347] Julia's hand grasped my arm. [348] Hard. [349] "Jets," the redcap said, eying the sky. [350] "I don't know," the policeman said. [351] "Didn't sound much like a jet to me." [352] We stood there. [353] I could visualize the wreckage of an old gray coupe in the middle of a street, but I couldn't visualize the driver. [354] That was all right. [355] I didn't want to see him. [356] I didn't know what Julia was thinking. [357] She said, "About those bags," and looked at me. [358] The officer said, "Yes, miss?" [359] "I—I don't care about mine. [360] I didn't have much of anything in it." [361] "I feel the same way," I said. [362] "Would it be all right if we didn't bother to report it?" [363] "Well," the policeman said, "I can't make you report it." [364] "I'd rather not then," Julia said. [365] She turned to me. [366] "I'd like some air. [367] Can't we walk a little?" [368] "Sure," I said. [369] We started down the street, her arm in mine, as the air began to fill with the distant sounds of sirens.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "Why is the protagonist reluctant to reveal his extraordinary ability?": 1. [40] I learned the wisdom of keeping my mouth shut in the fourth grade when Miss Winters, a stern, white-haired disciplinarian, ordered me to eat my sack lunch in the classroom with her instead of outside with some of the other kids. 2. [47] Since then I've kept quiet. 3. [48] At one time I assumed everybody was able to sense. 4. [49] I've known better for years. 5. [50] Still, I wonder how many other people are as close-mouthed about their special gift as I am about mine. 6. [141] Maybe I could convince them I could stop a clock—but not before the bomb exploded. 7. [142] And then what? 8. [143] My secret would be out and my life would be changed. 9. [144] I'd be a man not to be trusted, a prying man, a man literally with gimlet eyes. 10. [17] It started when I was a kid, this business of being able to explore the insides of things like purses and sealed boxes and locked drawers and—well, human beings. 11. [18] But human beings aren't worth the trouble. 12. [19] It's like swimming through spaghetti. 13. [25] I always knew what was in Christmas presents before I unwrapped them, and therefore Christmas was always spoiled for me as a kid. 14. [26] I can't feel the color of anything, just its consistency. 15. [27] An apple senses about the same as a potato, except for the core and the stem. 16. [28] I can't even tell if there's writing on a piece of paper. 17. [29] So you see it isn't much. 18. [30] Just the feel of shapes, the hardnesses and softnesses. 19. [31] But I've learned to become pretty good at guessing. 20. [51] I used to think that some day I'd make a lot of money out of it, but how? 21. [52] I can't read thoughts. 22. [53] I can't even be sure what some of the things I sense in probing really are. 23. [1] Nuts to wild talents! 24. [2] Mine was no satisfaction, never earned me a penny—and now it had me fighting for my life in ...

Q4. Describe the setting(s) of the story. Why is it important?

[1] Nuts to wild talents! [2] Mine was no satisfaction, never earned me a penny—and now it had me fighting for my life in ... [3] THE LITTLE RED BAG By JERRY SOHL [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, January 1960. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [5] About an hour out of San Francisco on the flight to Los Angeles, I made the discovery. [6] I had finished reading the Chronicle , folded and put it beside me, turned and looked out the window, expecting to see the San Joaquin Valley but finding only a sea of clouds instead. [7] So I returned my attention to the inside of the plane, to the overstuffed gray-haired woman asleep beside me, to the backs of heads in seats before me, across the aisle to other heads, and down to the blonde. [8] I had seen her in the concourse and at the gate, a shapely thing. [9] Now she had crossed her legs and I was privileged to view a trim ankle and calf, and her profile as she stared moodily across the aisle and out a window where there was nothing to see. [10] I slid my eyes past her to others. [11] A crossword-puzzle worker, a togetherness-type-magazine reader. [12] Inventory completed, I went back to looking at the clouds, knowing I should be thinking about the printing order I was going to Los Angeles for, and not wanting to. [13] So I started going through the purse of the woman next to me. [14] Perhaps that sounds bad. [15] It wasn't. [16] I'd been doing it for years and nobody ever complained. [17] It started when I was a kid, this business of being able to explore the insides of things like purses and sealed boxes and locked drawers and—well, human beings. [18] But human beings aren't worth the trouble. [19] It's like swimming through spaghetti. [20] And I've got to stay away from electric wires. [21] They hurt. [22] Now don't ask me how they hurt. [23] Maybe you think it's fun. [24] For the most part, it really isn't. [25] I always knew what was in Christmas presents before I unwrapped them, and therefore Christmas was always spoiled for me as a kid. [26] I can't feel the color of anything, just its consistency. [27] An apple senses about the same as a potato, except for the core and the stem. [28] I can't even tell if there's writing on a piece of paper. [29] So you see it isn't much. [30] Just the feel of shapes, the hardnesses and softnesses. [31] But I've learned to become pretty good at guessing. [32] Like this woman next to me. [33] She had a short, cylindrical metal object in her purse with waxlike stuff inside it—a lipstick. [34] A round, hard object with dust inside—a compact. [35] Handkerchief, chewing gum, a small book, probably an address book, money in a change purse—a few bills and coins. [36] Not much else. [37] I was a little disappointed. [38] I've run across a gun or two in my time. [39] But I never say anything. [40] I learned the wisdom of keeping my mouth shut in the fourth grade when Miss Winters, a stern, white-haired disciplinarian, ordered me to eat my sack lunch in the classroom with her instead of outside with some of the other kids. [41] This was the punishment for some minor infraction. [42] Lunchtime was nearly over and we'd both finished eating; she said she'd be gone for a few moments and that I was to erase the blackboard during her absence, which I dutifully did. [43] Class had hardly resumed when she started looking around the desk for her favorite mechanical pencil, asking if any of us had seen it, and looking straight at me. [44] I didn't want her to think I had taken it while she was out of the room, so I probed the contents of her purse, which she always kept in the upper right drawer of her desk. [45] "It's in your purse," I blurted out. [46] I was sent home with a stinging note. [47] Since then I've kept quiet. [48] At one time I assumed everybody was able to sense. [49] I've known better for years. [50] Still, I wonder how many other people are as close-mouthed about their special gift as I am about mine. [51] I used to think that some day I'd make a lot of money out of it, but how? [52] I can't read thoughts. [53] I can't even be sure what some of the things I sense in probing really are. [54] But I've learned to move things. [55] Ever so little. [56] A piece of paper. [57] A feather. [58] Once I stopped one of those little glass-enclosed light or heat-powered devices with vanes you see now and then in a jeweler's window. [59] And I can stop clocks. [60] Take this morning, for example. [61] I had set my alarm for five-thirty because I had to catch the seven o'clock plane at San Francisco International Airport. [62] This being earlier than I usually get up, it seems all I did during the night was feel my way past the escapement and balance wheel to see where the notch for the alarm was. [63] The last time I did it there was just the merest fraction of an inch between the pawl and the notch. [64] So I sighed and moved to the balance wheel and its delicate ribbon of spiraling steel. [65] I hung onto the wheel, exerting influence to decrease the restoring torque. [66] The wheel slowed down until there was no more ticking. [67] It took quite a bit of effort, as it always does, but I did it, as I usually do. [68] I can't stand the alarm. [69] When I first learned to do this, I thought I had it made. [70] I even went to Las Vegas to try my hand, so to speak, with the ratchets and pawls and cams and springs on the slot machines. [71] But there's nothing delicate about a slot machine, and the spring tensions are too strong. [72] I dropped quite a lot of nickels before I finally gave up. [73] So I'm stuck with a talent I've found little real use for. [74] Except that it amuses me. [75] Sometimes. [76] Not like this time on the plane. [77] The woman beside me stirred, sat up suddenly and looked across me out the window. [78] "Where are we?" [79] she asked in a surprised voice. [80] I told her we were probably a little north of Bakersfield. [81] She said, "Oh," glanced at her wristwatch and sank back again. [82] Soon the stewardesses would bring coffee and doughnuts around, so I contented myself with looking at the clouds and trying to think about Amos Magaffey, who was purchasing agent for a Los Angeles amusement chain, and how I was going to convince him our printing prices were maybe a little higher but the quality and service were better. [83] My mind wandered below where I was sitting, idly moving from one piece of luggage to another, looking for my beat-up suitcase. [84] I went through slips and slippers, lingerie and laundry, a jig saw puzzle and a ukulele. [85] I never did find my suitcase because I found the bomb first. [86] The bomb was in a small bag—a woman's bag judging by the soft, flimsy things you'd never find in a man's—and I didn't know it was a bomb right away. [87] I thought it was just a clock, one of those small, quiet alarms. [88] I was going to pass it by and go on, but what held me was that something was taped to it. [89] By the feel, I knew it must be electrician's tape. [90] Interested and curious, I explored the clock more closely, found two wires. [91] One went to a battery and the other to hard round cylinders taped together. [92] The hairs stood up at the base of my neck when I suddenly realized what it was. [93] The clock's balance wheel was rocking merrily. [94] Quickly I went up past the train of gears to the alarm wheel. [95] If this was anything like my own alarm clock, this one had something like ten minutes to go. [96] It was forty minutes to Burbank and Lockheed Air Terminal. [97] My mind was churning when I turned from the window to look around at the unconcerned passengers, the woman at my side asleep again. [98] I thought: Which one of these.... No, none of them would know it was there. [99] I glanced out the window again; clouds were still in the way. [100] We'd be leaving the valley for the mountain range north of Los Angeles soon, if we hadn't left it already. [101] No place to land the plane there. [102] But of course that had been the plan! [103] My heart was beating in jackhammer rhythm; my mouth was dry and my mind was numb. [104] Tell somebody about the bomb before it's too late! [105] No, they'd think I put it there. [106] Besides, what good would it do? [107] There would be panic and they'd never get the plane down in time—if they believed me. [108] "Sir." [109] My head jerked around. [110] The stewardess stood in the aisle, smiling, extending a tray to me, a brown plastic tray bearing a small paper cup of tomato juice, a cup of coffee, a cellophane-wrapped doughnut, paper spoon, sugar and dehydrated cream envelopes, and a napkin. [111] I goggled at her, managed to croak, "No, thanks." [112] She gave me an odd look and moved along. [113] My seatmate had accepted hers and was tearing at the cellophane. [114] I couldn't bear to watch her. [115] I closed my eyes, forced my mind back to the luggage compartment, spent a frantic moment before I found the bag again. [116] I had to stop that balance wheel, just as I stopped my alarm clock every morning. [117] I tried to close everything off—the throb of engines, the rush of air, the woman sipping coffee noisily beside me—and I went into the clock and surrounded the seesawing wheel. [118] When it went forward, I pulled it back; when it went back, I pulled it forward. [119] I struggled with it, and it was like trying to work with greasy hands, and I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to stop it. [120] Then, little by little, it started to slow its beat. [121] But I could not afford to relax. [122] I pushed and pulled and didn't dare release my hold until it came to a dead stop. [123] "Anything the matter?" [124] My eyelids flew open and I looked into the eyes of the woman next to me. [125] There was sugar from the doughnut around her mouth and she was still chewing. [126] "No," I said, letting out my breath. [127] "I'm all right." [128] "You were moaning, it sounded like. [129] And you kept moving your head back and forth." [130] "Must have been dreaming," I said as I rang for the stewardess. [131] When she came I told her I'd take some of that coffee now. [132] No, nothing else, just coffee. [133] I didn't tell her how much I needed it. [134] I sat there clammy with sweat until she returned. [135] Coffee never tasted so good. [136] All right, so I had stopped the bomb's timer. [137] My mind raced ahead to the landing. [138] When they unloaded the luggage, the balance wheel would start again. [139] I wouldn't be able to stay with it, keeping it still. [140] I considered telling the authorities as soon as we landed, or maybe calling in ahead, but wouldn't that just bring suspicion, questions. [141] Maybe I could convince them I could stop a clock—but not before the bomb exploded. [142] And then what? [143] My secret would be out and my life would be changed. [144] I'd be a man not to be trusted, a prying man, a man literally with gimlet eyes. [145] Mountain crags jutted through the clouds. [146] We were in the range north of the city. [147] Here and there were clear spots and I could see roads below, but there were also clouds far above us. [148] It was very beautiful, but it was also very bumpy, and we started to slip and slide. [149] To my horror I found that the balance wheel was rocking again. [150] Closing my eyes and gritting my teeth, I forced my senses to the wheel, tugging and pulling and shoving and pushing until it finally stopped. [151] A jab in the shoulder. [152] I jumped, startled. [153] "Your cup," my seat partner said, pointing. [154] I looked down at the coffee cup I had crushed in my hands. [155] Then I looked up into the eyes of the stewardess. [156] I handed it to her. [157] She took it without a word and went away. [158] "Were you really asleep that time?" [159] "Not really," I said. [160] I was tempted to tell the woman I was subject to fits, but I didn't. [161] It was only a few minutes to landing, but they became the longest minutes of my life as time after time I stopped the rocking wheel when the plane dipped and bumped to a landing. [162] Leaving the apron with the other passengers, I tried to walk as unconcernedly as they through the exit gate. [163] I would have liked walking through the terminal and out the entrance and away, but I could not. [164] I had my suitcase to get, for one thing. [165] The damned bomb was the other. [166] So I strolled out into the concourse again to look at the plane and watch the baggagemen at work, transferring the luggage to two airfield carts. [167] They weren't as careful as I would have been. [168] It was impossible to tell from this distance just which bag contained the bomb; I could hardly identify my own scarred suitcase. [169] The assortment of bags—a strange conglomeration of sizes and colors—was packed in some places six deep, and it rolled toward the gate where I was standing. [170] I didn't know whether to stay or run, imagining the balance wheel now happily rocking again. [171] The load went past me down a ramp to the front of the air terminal where the luggage was unloaded and placed in a long rack. [172] I went with it. [173] There was a flurry of ticket matching, hands grabbing for suitcases, and a general exodus on the part of my fellow passengers, too fast to determine who had got the one with the bomb. [174] Now all that was left was the attendant and I had two bags—my own battered veteran of years, and a fine new red overnight case, small enough to be the one. [175] I lit a cigarette, reached out. [176] Inside were a woman's things and—a clock. [177] The escapement was clicking vigorously. [178] I didn't moan this time. [179] I just closed my eyes, stretched toward and grabbed the balance wheel I was getting to know like my own. [180] I entered into a union with it so strong that after I had reduced it to immobility, it was like waking when I opened my eyes. [181] The baggage claim attendant was staring at me. [182] For only a moment I stared back. [183] Then I quickly reached for my baggage check and presented it to him. [184] His hand hovered over the handle of the little red bag and I was ready to yell at him. [185] But then, matching numbers on the tags with his eyes, his hand grasped the handle of my own suitcase and pushed it toward me. [186] "Thanks," I said, taking it. [187] I glanced ever so casually toward the remaining bag. [188] "One left over, eh?" [189] "Yeah." [190] He was so bored I was tempted to tell him what was in it. [191] But he was eying me with a "well-why-don't-you-get-along?" [192] look. [193] I said, "What happens if nobody claims it?" [194] "Take it inside. [195] Why?" [196] He was getting too curious. [197] "Oh, I just wondered, that's all." [198] I stepped on my cigarette and walked toward the air terminal entrance and put my suitcase on the stone steps there. [199] A redcap came hurrying over. [200] "Cab?" [201] I shook my head. [202] "Just waiting." [203] Just waiting for somebody to pick up a bomb. [204] I lit another cigarette and glanced now and then toward the baggage claim area. [205] The red bag was still there. [206] All sorts of theories ran through my head as to why it should still be there, and none satisfied me. [207] I should not have been there, that much I knew; I should be with a man named Amos Magaffey on Sixth Street at ten o'clock, discussing something very mundane, the matter of a printing order. [208] But what could I do? [209] If I left the airport, the attendant would eventually take the bag inside and there would be an explosion, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself. [210] No. [211] I had to stay to keep the balance wheel stationary until—until what? [212] A man in tan gabardine, wearing a police cap and badge, walked out of the entrance to stand on the stone steps beside me while he put on a pair of dark glasses. [213] A member of the airport police detail. [214] I could tell him. [215] I could take him down to the little red bag and explain the whole thing. [216] Then it would be his baby and I would be off on my own business. [217] But he moved on down the steps, nodded at the redcap, and started across the street to the parking area. [218] I could have called to him, "Hey, officer, let me tell you about a bomb in a little red bag." [219] But I didn't. [220] I didn't because I caught a movement at the baggage claim counter out of the side of my eye. [221] The attendant had picked up the bag and was walking with it up the ramp to the rear of the air terminal. [222] Picking up my own suitcase, I went inside in time to see him enter through a side door and deposit the bag on the scales at the airline desk and say something to the clerk. [223] The clerk nodded and moved the bag to the rear room. [224] I could visualize the balance wheel once again rocking like crazy. [225] How many minutes—or seconds—were left? [226] I was sweating when I moved to the counter, and it wasn't because of the sunshine I'd been soaking in. [227] I had to get as close to the bag as I could if I was going to stop the clock again. [228] "Can I help you?" [229] the clerk asked. [230] "No. [231] I'm waiting for someone." [232] I turned my back to him, put down my suitcase, leaned against the counter and reached out for the wheel. [233] I found I could reach the device, but it was far away. [234] When I tried to dampen it, the wheel escaped my grasp. [235] "Do you have my suitcase?" [236] I blinked my eyes open and looked around. [237] The blonde in the plane stood there looking very fresh and bright and unconcerned. [238] In her right hand she had a green baggage claim check. [239] The clerk took it, nodded, and in a moment brought out the overnight case and set it on the scales. [240] The girl thanked him, picked it up, glanced at me indifferently, and then started for the entrance with it. [241] "Just a moment," I found myself saying, grabbing my bag and hurrying after her. [242] At her side and a little ahead of her, I said, "Listen to me." [243] She looked annoyed and increased her stride toward the door. [244] "It's a matter of life or death," I said. [245] I wanted to wrest the bag from her and hurl it out through the doorway into the street, but I restrained myself. [246] She stopped and stared. [247] I noticed a short, fat man in a rumpled suitcoat and unpressed pants staring, too. [248] Ignoring him, I said, "Please put the bag down. [249] Over there." [250] I indicated a spot beside a telephone booth where it would be out of the way. [251] She didn't move. [252] She just said, "Why?" [253] "For God's sake!" [254] I took the case. [255] She offered no resistance. [256] I put her bag and mine next to the booth. [257] When I turned around she was standing there looking at me as if I had gone out of my mind. [258] Her eyes were blue and brown-flecked, very pretty eyes, and my thought at the moment was, I'm glad the bomb didn't go off; these eyes wouldn't be looking at me or anything else right now if it had. [259] "I've got to talk to you. [260] It's very important." [261] The girl said, "Why?" [262] I was beginning to think it was the only word she knew. [263] At the same time I was wondering why anyone would want to kill someone so lovely. [264] "I'll explain in a moment. [265] Please stand right here while I make a telephone call." [266] I moved toward the phone booth, paused and said, "And don't ask me why." [267] She gave me a speculative look. [268] I must not have seemed a complete idiot because she said, "All right, but—" I didn't listen for the rest. [269] I went into the booth, closed the door, pretended to drop a coin and dial a number. [270] But all the time I was in there, I was reaching out through the glass for the clock. [271] At this range it wasn't difficult to stop the balance wheel. [272] Just the same, when I came out I was wringing wet. [273] "Now will you please tell me what this is all about?" [274] she said stiffly. [275] "Gladly. [276] Let me buy you a cup of coffee and I'll explain." [277] She glanced at the bags. [278] I told her they'd be all right. [279] We followed the short, fat man into the coffee shop. [280] Over coffee I explained it all to her, how I had this extrasensory ability, how she was the first person I had ever revealed it to, and how I had discovered what was in her overnight bag. [281] During the telling, her untouched coffee grew a skin, her face grew pale, her eyes grew less curious and more troubled. [282] There were tears there when I finished. [283] I asked her who put the bomb in her bag. [284] "Joe did," she said in a toneless voice, not looking at me any more but staring vacantly across the room. [285] "Joe put it there." [286] Behind her eyes she was reliving some recent scene. [287] "Who is Joe?" [288] "My husband." [289] I thought she was going to really bawl, but she got control again. [290] "This trip was his idea, my coming down here to visit my sister." [291] Her smile was bleak. [292] "I see now why he wanted to put in those books. [293] I'd finished packing and was in the bathroom. [294] He said he'd put in some books we'd both finished reading—for my sister. [295] That's when he must have put the—put it in there." [296] I said gently, "Why would he want to do a thing like that?" [297] "I don't know." [298] She shook her head. [299] "I just don't know." [300] And she was close to bawling again. [301] Then she recovered and said, "I'm not sure I want to know." [302] I admired her for saying it. [303] Joe must have been crazy. [304] "It's all right now?" [305] she asked. [306] I nodded. [307] "As long as we don't move it." [308] I told her I didn't know how much more time there was, that I'd been thinking it over and that the only way out seemed to be to tell the airport policeman. [309] After I explained it to her, the girl—she said her name was Julia Claremont—agreed to tell him she thought there was a bomb in her bag, that she had noticed a ticking and had become worried because she knew she hadn't packed a clock. [310] It wasn't good, but it would have to do. [311] "We've got to get it deactivated," I said, watching the fat man pay for his coffee and leave. [312] "The sooner the better." [313] I finished my coffee in one gulp and went to pay the bill with her. [314] I asked her why she didn't claim the bag at the same time the other people had. [315] She said she had called her sister and the phone was busy for a long while. [316] "She was supposed to meet me, and when she wasn't here, I got worried. [317] She said she isn't feeling well and asked me to take a cab." [318] She smiled a little. [319] It was a bright, cheery thing. [320] I had the feeling it was all for me. [321] "That's where I was going when you caught up with me." [322] It had become a very nice day. [323] But the bottom dropped out of it again when we reached the lobby. [324] The two bags weren't there. [325] I ran to the entrance and nearly collided with the redcap. [326] "See anybody go out of here with a little red bag and an old battered suitcase?" [327] "Bag? [328] Suitcase?" [329] he mumbled. [330] Then he became excited. [331] "Why, a man just stepped out of here—" He turned to look down the street. [332] "That's him." [333] The dumpy man I'd seen was walking off; Julia's bag in his right hand, mine in his left. [334] He seemed in no hurry. [335] "Hey!" [336] I shouted, starting toward him. [337] The man turned, took one look at me, and started to run. [338] He came abreast an old gray, mud-spattered coupe, ran around, opened the door and threw both bags into the rear seat as he got in. [339] The car was a hundred feet away and gathering speed by the time I reached where it had been parked. [340] I watched it for a moment, then walked back to the entranceway where Julia was standing with the redcap, who said, "That man steal them suitcases?" [341] "That he did," I said. [342] Just then the airport policeman started across the street from the parking lot. [343] Redcap said, "Better tell him about it." [344] The policeman was sympathetic and concerned. [345] He said, "We'd better get over to the office." [346] But we never left the spot because an explosion some blocks distant shattered the air. [347] Julia's hand grasped my arm. [348] Hard. [349] "Jets," the redcap said, eying the sky. [350] "I don't know," the policeman said. [351] "Didn't sound much like a jet to me." [352] We stood there. [353] I could visualize the wreckage of an old gray coupe in the middle of a street, but I couldn't visualize the driver. [354] That was all right. [355] I didn't want to see him. [356] I didn't know what Julia was thinking. [357] She said, "About those bags," and looked at me. [358] The officer said, "Yes, miss?" [359] "I—I don't care about mine. [360] I didn't have much of anything in it." [361] "I feel the same way," I said. [362] "Would it be all right if we didn't bother to report it?" [363] "Well," the policeman said, "I can't make you report it." [364] "I'd rather not then," Julia said. [365] She turned to me. [366] "I'd like some air. [367] Can't we walk a little?" [368] "Sure," I said. [369] We started down the street, her arm in mine, as the air began to fill with the distant sounds of sirens.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "Describe the setting(s) of the story. Why is it important?": 1. [145] Mountain crags jutted through the clouds. 2. [146] We were in the range north of the city. 3. [147] Here and there were clear spots and I could see roads below, but there were also clouds far above us. 4. [148] It was very beautiful, but it was also very bumpy, and we started to slip and slide. 5. [5] About an hour out of San Francisco on the flight to Los Angeles, I made the discovery. 6. [6] I had finished reading the Chronicle , folded and put it beside me, turned and looked out the window, expecting to see the San Joaquin Valley but finding only a sea of clouds instead. 7. [100] We'd be leaving the valley for the mountain range north of Los Angeles soon, if we hadn't left it already. 8. [1] Nuts to wild talents! 9. [2] Mine was no satisfaction, never earned me a penny—and now it had me fighting for my life in ... 10. [3] THE LITTLE RED BAG By JERRY SOHL [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, January 1960. 11. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] 12. [7] So I returned my attention to the inside of the plane, to the overstuffed gray-haired woman asleep beside me, to the backs of heads in seats before me, across the aisle to other heads, and down to the blonde. 13. [8] I had seen her in the concourse and at the gate, a shapely thing. 14. [9] Now she had crossed her legs and I was privileged to view a trim ankle and calf, and her profile as she stared moodily across the aisle and out a window where there was nothing to see. 15. [10] I slid my eyes past her to others. 16. [11] A crossword-puzzle worker, a togetherness-type-magazine reader. 17. [12] Inventory completed, I went back to looking at the clouds, knowing I should be thinking about the printing order I was going to Los Angeles for, and not wanting to. The setting of the story is primarily on a plane flying from San Francisco to Los Angeles, with some additional details about the surrounding landscape and environment. This setting is important because it is where the main conflict and action of the story take place, as the protagonist discovers a bomb in a passenger's luggage and has to figure out how to stop it before the plane lands.

What is the relationship between the protagonist and authority figures like the airport policeman?

[1] Nuts to wild talents! [2] Mine was no satisfaction, never earned me a penny—and now it had me fighting for my life in ... [3] THE LITTLE RED BAG By JERRY SOHL [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, January 1960. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [5] About an hour out of San Francisco on the flight to Los Angeles, I made the discovery. [6] I had finished reading the Chronicle , folded and put it beside me, turned and looked out the window, expecting to see the San Joaquin Valley but finding only a sea of clouds instead. [7] So I returned my attention to the inside of the plane, to the overstuffed gray-haired woman asleep beside me, to the backs of heads in seats before me, across the aisle to other heads, and down to the blonde. [8] I had seen her in the concourse and at the gate, a shapely thing. [9] Now she had crossed her legs and I was privileged to view a trim ankle and calf, and her profile as she stared moodily across the aisle and out a window where there was nothing to see. [10] I slid my eyes past her to others. [11] A crossword-puzzle worker, a togetherness-type-magazine reader. [12] Inventory completed, I went back to looking at the clouds, knowing I should be thinking about the printing order I was going to Los Angeles for, and not wanting to. [13] So I started going through the purse of the woman next to me. [14] Perhaps that sounds bad. [15] It wasn't. [16] I'd been doing it for years and nobody ever complained. [17] It started when I was a kid, this business of being able to explore the insides of things like purses and sealed boxes and locked drawers and—well, human beings. [18] But human beings aren't worth the trouble. [19] It's like swimming through spaghetti. [20] And I've got to stay away from electric wires. [21] They hurt. [22] Now don't ask me how they hurt. [23] Maybe you think it's fun. [24] For the most part, it really isn't. [25] I always knew what was in Christmas presents before I unwrapped them, and therefore Christmas was always spoiled for me as a kid. [26] I can't feel the color of anything, just its consistency. [27] An apple senses about the same as a potato, except for the core and the stem. [28] I can't even tell if there's writing on a piece of paper. [29] So you see it isn't much. [30] Just the feel of shapes, the hardnesses and softnesses. [31] But I've learned to become pretty good at guessing. [32] Like this woman next to me. [33] She had a short, cylindrical metal object in her purse with waxlike stuff inside it—a lipstick. [34] A round, hard object with dust inside—a compact. [35] Handkerchief, chewing gum, a small book, probably an address book, money in a change purse—a few bills and coins. [36] Not much else. [37] I was a little disappointed. [38] I've run across a gun or two in my time. [39] But I never say anything. [40] I learned the wisdom of keeping my mouth shut in the fourth grade when Miss Winters, a stern, white-haired disciplinarian, ordered me to eat my sack lunch in the classroom with her instead of outside with some of the other kids. [41] This was the punishment for some minor infraction. [42] Lunchtime was nearly over and we'd both finished eating; she said she'd be gone for a few moments and that I was to erase the blackboard during her absence, which I dutifully did. [43] Class had hardly resumed when she started looking around the desk for her favorite mechanical pencil, asking if any of us had seen it, and looking straight at me. [44] I didn't want her to think I had taken it while she was out of the room, so I probed the contents of her purse, which she always kept in the upper right drawer of her desk. [45] "It's in your purse," I blurted out. [46] I was sent home with a stinging note. [47] Since then I've kept quiet. [48] At one time I assumed everybody was able to sense. [49] I've known better for years. [50] Still, I wonder how many other people are as close-mouthed about their special gift as I am about mine. [51] I used to think that some day I'd make a lot of money out of it, but how? [52] I can't read thoughts. [53] I can't even be sure what some of the things I sense in probing really are. [54] But I've learned to move things. [55] Ever so little. [56] A piece of paper. [57] A feather. [58] Once I stopped one of those little glass-enclosed light or heat-powered devices with vanes you see now and then in a jeweler's window. [59] And I can stop clocks. [60] Take this morning, for example. [61] I had set my alarm for five-thirty because I had to catch the seven o'clock plane at San Francisco International Airport. [62] This being earlier than I usually get up, it seems all I did during the night was feel my way past the escapement and balance wheel to see where the notch for the alarm was. [63] The last time I did it there was just the merest fraction of an inch between the pawl and the notch. [64] So I sighed and moved to the balance wheel and its delicate ribbon of spiraling steel. [65] I hung onto the wheel, exerting influence to decrease the restoring torque. [66] The wheel slowed down until there was no more ticking. [67] It took quite a bit of effort, as it always does, but I did it, as I usually do. [68] I can't stand the alarm. [69] When I first learned to do this, I thought I had it made. [70] I even went to Las Vegas to try my hand, so to speak, with the ratchets and pawls and cams and springs on the slot machines. [71] But there's nothing delicate about a slot machine, and the spring tensions are too strong. [72] I dropped quite a lot of nickels before I finally gave up. [73] So I'm stuck with a talent I've found little real use for. [74] Except that it amuses me. [75] Sometimes. [76] Not like this time on the plane. [77] The woman beside me stirred, sat up suddenly and looked across me out the window. [78] "Where are we?" [79] she asked in a surprised voice. [80] I told her we were probably a little north of Bakersfield. [81] She said, "Oh," glanced at her wristwatch and sank back again. [82] Soon the stewardesses would bring coffee and doughnuts around, so I contented myself with looking at the clouds and trying to think about Amos Magaffey, who was purchasing agent for a Los Angeles amusement chain, and how I was going to convince him our printing prices were maybe a little higher but the quality and service were better. [83] My mind wandered below where I was sitting, idly moving from one piece of luggage to another, looking for my beat-up suitcase. [84] I went through slips and slippers, lingerie and laundry, a jig saw puzzle and a ukulele. [85] I never did find my suitcase because I found the bomb first. [86] The bomb was in a small bag—a woman's bag judging by the soft, flimsy things you'd never find in a man's—and I didn't know it was a bomb right away. [87] I thought it was just a clock, one of those small, quiet alarms. [88] I was going to pass it by and go on, but what held me was that something was taped to it. [89] By the feel, I knew it must be electrician's tape. [90] Interested and curious, I explored the clock more closely, found two wires. [91] One went to a battery and the other to hard round cylinders taped together. [92] The hairs stood up at the base of my neck when I suddenly realized what it was. [93] The clock's balance wheel was rocking merrily. [94] Quickly I went up past the train of gears to the alarm wheel. [95] If this was anything like my own alarm clock, this one had something like ten minutes to go. [96] It was forty minutes to Burbank and Lockheed Air Terminal. [97] My mind was churning when I turned from the window to look around at the unconcerned passengers, the woman at my side asleep again. [98] I thought: Which one of these.... No, none of them would know it was there. [99] I glanced out the window again; clouds were still in the way. [100] We'd be leaving the valley for the mountain range north of Los Angeles soon, if we hadn't left it already. [101] No place to land the plane there. [102] But of course that had been the plan! [103] My heart was beating in jackhammer rhythm; my mouth was dry and my mind was numb. [104] Tell somebody about the bomb before it's too late! [105] No, they'd think I put it there. [106] Besides, what good would it do? [107] There would be panic and they'd never get the plane down in time—if they believed me. [108] "Sir." [109] My head jerked around. [110] The stewardess stood in the aisle, smiling, extending a tray to me, a brown plastic tray bearing a small paper cup of tomato juice, a cup of coffee, a cellophane-wrapped doughnut, paper spoon, sugar and dehydrated cream envelopes, and a napkin. [111] I goggled at her, managed to croak, "No, thanks." [112] She gave me an odd look and moved along. [113] My seatmate had accepted hers and was tearing at the cellophane. [114] I couldn't bear to watch her. [115] I closed my eyes, forced my mind back to the luggage compartment, spent a frantic moment before I found the bag again. [116] I had to stop that balance wheel, just as I stopped my alarm clock every morning. [117] I tried to close everything off—the throb of engines, the rush of air, the woman sipping coffee noisily beside me—and I went into the clock and surrounded the seesawing wheel. [118] When it went forward, I pulled it back; when it went back, I pulled it forward. [119] I struggled with it, and it was like trying to work with greasy hands, and I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to stop it. [120] Then, little by little, it started to slow its beat. [121] But I could not afford to relax. [122] I pushed and pulled and didn't dare release my hold until it came to a dead stop. [123] "Anything the matter?" [124] My eyelids flew open and I looked into the eyes of the woman next to me. [125] There was sugar from the doughnut around her mouth and she was still chewing. [126] "No," I said, letting out my breath. [127] "I'm all right." [128] "You were moaning, it sounded like. [129] And you kept moving your head back and forth." [130] "Must have been dreaming," I said as I rang for the stewardess. [131] When she came I told her I'd take some of that coffee now. [132] No, nothing else, just coffee. [133] I didn't tell her how much I needed it. [134] I sat there clammy with sweat until she returned. [135] Coffee never tasted so good. [136] All right, so I had stopped the bomb's timer. [137] My mind raced ahead to the landing. [138] When they unloaded the luggage, the balance wheel would start again. [139] I wouldn't be able to stay with it, keeping it still. [140] I considered telling the authorities as soon as we landed, or maybe calling in ahead, but wouldn't that just bring suspicion, questions. [141] Maybe I could convince them I could stop a clock—but not before the bomb exploded. [142] And then what? [143] My secret would be out and my life would be changed. [144] I'd be a man not to be trusted, a prying man, a man literally with gimlet eyes. [145] Mountain crags jutted through the clouds. [146] We were in the range north of the city. [147] Here and there were clear spots and I could see roads below, but there were also clouds far above us. [148] It was very beautiful, but it was also very bumpy, and we started to slip and slide. [149] To my horror I found that the balance wheel was rocking again. [150] Closing my eyes and gritting my teeth, I forced my senses to the wheel, tugging and pulling and shoving and pushing until it finally stopped. [151] A jab in the shoulder. [152] I jumped, startled. [153] "Your cup," my seat partner said, pointing. [154] I looked down at the coffee cup I had crushed in my hands. [155] Then I looked up into the eyes of the stewardess. [156] I handed it to her. [157] She took it without a word and went away. [158] "Were you really asleep that time?" [159] "Not really," I said. [160] I was tempted to tell the woman I was subject to fits, but I didn't. [161] It was only a few minutes to landing, but they became the longest minutes of my life as time after time I stopped the rocking wheel when the plane dipped and bumped to a landing. [162] Leaving the apron with the other passengers, I tried to walk as unconcernedly as they through the exit gate. [163] I would have liked walking through the terminal and out the entrance and away, but I could not. [164] I had my suitcase to get, for one thing. [165] The damned bomb was the other. [166] So I strolled out into the concourse again to look at the plane and watch the baggagemen at work, transferring the luggage to two airfield carts. [167] They weren't as careful as I would have been. [168] It was impossible to tell from this distance just which bag contained the bomb; I could hardly identify my own scarred suitcase. [169] The assortment of bags—a strange conglomeration of sizes and colors—was packed in some places six deep, and it rolled toward the gate where I was standing. [170] I didn't know whether to stay or run, imagining the balance wheel now happily rocking again. [171] The load went past me down a ramp to the front of the air terminal where the luggage was unloaded and placed in a long rack. [172] I went with it. [173] There was a flurry of ticket matching, hands grabbing for suitcases, and a general exodus on the part of my fellow passengers, too fast to determine who had got the one with the bomb. [174] Now all that was left was the attendant and I had two bags—my own battered veteran of years, and a fine new red overnight case, small enough to be the one. [175] I lit a cigarette, reached out. [176] Inside were a woman's things and—a clock. [177] The escapement was clicking vigorously. [178] I didn't moan this time. [179] I just closed my eyes, stretched toward and grabbed the balance wheel I was getting to know like my own. [180] I entered into a union with it so strong that after I had reduced it to immobility, it was like waking when I opened my eyes. [181] The baggage claim attendant was staring at me. [182] For only a moment I stared back. [183] Then I quickly reached for my baggage check and presented it to him. [184] His hand hovered over the handle of the little red bag and I was ready to yell at him. [185] But then, matching numbers on the tags with his eyes, his hand grasped the handle of my own suitcase and pushed it toward me. [186] "Thanks," I said, taking it. [187] I glanced ever so casually toward the remaining bag. [188] "One left over, eh?" [189] "Yeah." [190] He was so bored I was tempted to tell him what was in it. [191] But he was eying me with a "well-why-don't-you-get-along?" [192] look. [193] I said, "What happens if nobody claims it?" [194] "Take it inside. [195] Why?" [196] He was getting too curious. [197] "Oh, I just wondered, that's all." [198] I stepped on my cigarette and walked toward the air terminal entrance and put my suitcase on the stone steps there. [199] A redcap came hurrying over. [200] "Cab?" [201] I shook my head. [202] "Just waiting." [203] Just waiting for somebody to pick up a bomb. [204] I lit another cigarette and glanced now and then toward the baggage claim area. [205] The red bag was still there. [206] All sorts of theories ran through my head as to why it should still be there, and none satisfied me. [207] I should not have been there, that much I knew; I should be with a man named Amos Magaffey on Sixth Street at ten o'clock, discussing something very mundane, the matter of a printing order. [208] But what could I do? [209] If I left the airport, the attendant would eventually take the bag inside and there would be an explosion, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself. [210] No. [211] I had to stay to keep the balance wheel stationary until—until what? [212] A man in tan gabardine, wearing a police cap and badge, walked out of the entrance to stand on the stone steps beside me while he put on a pair of dark glasses. [213] A member of the airport police detail. [214] I could tell him. [215] I could take him down to the little red bag and explain the whole thing. [216] Then it would be his baby and I would be off on my own business. [217] But he moved on down the steps, nodded at the redcap, and started across the street to the parking area. [218] I could have called to him, "Hey, officer, let me tell you about a bomb in a little red bag." [219] But I didn't. [220] I didn't because I caught a movement at the baggage claim counter out of the side of my eye. [221] The attendant had picked up the bag and was walking with it up the ramp to the rear of the air terminal. [222] Picking up my own suitcase, I went inside in time to see him enter through a side door and deposit the bag on the scales at the airline desk and say something to the clerk. [223] The clerk nodded and moved the bag to the rear room. [224] I could visualize the balance wheel once again rocking like crazy. [225] How many minutes—or seconds—were left? [226] I was sweating when I moved to the counter, and it wasn't because of the sunshine I'd been soaking in. [227] I had to get as close to the bag as I could if I was going to stop the clock again. [228] "Can I help you?" [229] the clerk asked. [230] "No. [231] I'm waiting for someone." [232] I turned my back to him, put down my suitcase, leaned against the counter and reached out for the wheel. [233] I found I could reach the device, but it was far away. [234] When I tried to dampen it, the wheel escaped my grasp. [235] "Do you have my suitcase?" [236] I blinked my eyes open and looked around. [237] The blonde in the plane stood there looking very fresh and bright and unconcerned. [238] In her right hand she had a green baggage claim check. [239] The clerk took it, nodded, and in a moment brought out the overnight case and set it on the scales. [240] The girl thanked him, picked it up, glanced at me indifferently, and then started for the entrance with it. [241] "Just a moment," I found myself saying, grabbing my bag and hurrying after her. [242] At her side and a little ahead of her, I said, "Listen to me." [243] She looked annoyed and increased her stride toward the door. [244] "It's a matter of life or death," I said. [245] I wanted to wrest the bag from her and hurl it out through the doorway into the street, but I restrained myself. [246] She stopped and stared. [247] I noticed a short, fat man in a rumpled suitcoat and unpressed pants staring, too. [248] Ignoring him, I said, "Please put the bag down. [249] Over there." [250] I indicated a spot beside a telephone booth where it would be out of the way. [251] She didn't move. [252] She just said, "Why?" [253] "For God's sake!" [254] I took the case. [255] She offered no resistance. [256] I put her bag and mine next to the booth. [257] When I turned around she was standing there looking at me as if I had gone out of my mind. [258] Her eyes were blue and brown-flecked, very pretty eyes, and my thought at the moment was, I'm glad the bomb didn't go off; these eyes wouldn't be looking at me or anything else right now if it had. [259] "I've got to talk to you. [260] It's very important." [261] The girl said, "Why?" [262] I was beginning to think it was the only word she knew. [263] At the same time I was wondering why anyone would want to kill someone so lovely. [264] "I'll explain in a moment. [265] Please stand right here while I make a telephone call." [266] I moved toward the phone booth, paused and said, "And don't ask me why." [267] She gave me a speculative look. [268] I must not have seemed a complete idiot because she said, "All right, but—" I didn't listen for the rest. [269] I went into the booth, closed the door, pretended to drop a coin and dial a number. [270] But all the time I was in there, I was reaching out through the glass for the clock. [271] At this range it wasn't difficult to stop the balance wheel. [272] Just the same, when I came out I was wringing wet. [273] "Now will you please tell me what this is all about?" [274] she said stiffly. [275] "Gladly. [276] Let me buy you a cup of coffee and I'll explain." [277] She glanced at the bags. [278] I told her they'd be all right. [279] We followed the short, fat man into the coffee shop. [280] Over coffee I explained it all to her, how I had this extrasensory ability, how she was the first person I had ever revealed it to, and how I had discovered what was in her overnight bag. [281] During the telling, her untouched coffee grew a skin, her face grew pale, her eyes grew less curious and more troubled. [282] There were tears there when I finished. [283] I asked her who put the bomb in her bag. [284] "Joe did," she said in a toneless voice, not looking at me any more but staring vacantly across the room. [285] "Joe put it there." [286] Behind her eyes she was reliving some recent scene. [287] "Who is Joe?" [288] "My husband." [289] I thought she was going to really bawl, but she got control again. [290] "This trip was his idea, my coming down here to visit my sister." [291] Her smile was bleak. [292] "I see now why he wanted to put in those books. [293] I'd finished packing and was in the bathroom. [294] He said he'd put in some books we'd both finished reading—for my sister. [295] That's when he must have put the—put it in there." [296] I said gently, "Why would he want to do a thing like that?" [297] "I don't know." [298] She shook her head. [299] "I just don't know." [300] And she was close to bawling again. [301] Then she recovered and said, "I'm not sure I want to know." [302] I admired her for saying it. [303] Joe must have been crazy. [304] "It's all right now?" [305] she asked. [306] I nodded. [307] "As long as we don't move it." [308] I told her I didn't know how much more time there was, that I'd been thinking it over and that the only way out seemed to be to tell the airport policeman. [309] After I explained it to her, the girl—she said her name was Julia Claremont—agreed to tell him she thought there was a bomb in her bag, that she had noticed a ticking and had become worried because she knew she hadn't packed a clock. [310] It wasn't good, but it would have to do. [311] "We've got to get it deactivated," I said, watching the fat man pay for his coffee and leave. [312] "The sooner the better." [313] I finished my coffee in one gulp and went to pay the bill with her. [314] I asked her why she didn't claim the bag at the same time the other people had. [315] She said she had called her sister and the phone was busy for a long while. [316] "She was supposed to meet me, and when she wasn't here, I got worried. [317] She said she isn't feeling well and asked me to take a cab." [318] She smiled a little. [319] It was a bright, cheery thing. [320] I had the feeling it was all for me. [321] "That's where I was going when you caught up with me." [322] It had become a very nice day. [323] But the bottom dropped out of it again when we reached the lobby. [324] The two bags weren't there. [325] I ran to the entrance and nearly collided with the redcap. [326] "See anybody go out of here with a little red bag and an old battered suitcase?" [327] "Bag? [328] Suitcase?" [329] he mumbled. [330] Then he became excited. [331] "Why, a man just stepped out of here—" He turned to look down the street. [332] "That's him." [333] The dumpy man I'd seen was walking off; Julia's bag in his right hand, mine in his left. [334] He seemed in no hurry. [335] "Hey!" [336] I shouted, starting toward him. [337] The man turned, took one look at me, and started to run. [338] He came abreast an old gray, mud-spattered coupe, ran around, opened the door and threw both bags into the rear seat as he got in. [339] The car was a hundred feet away and gathering speed by the time I reached where it had been parked. [340] I watched it for a moment, then walked back to the entranceway where Julia was standing with the redcap, who said, "That man steal them suitcases?" [341] "That he did," I said. [342] Just then the airport policeman started across the street from the parking lot. [343] Redcap said, "Better tell him about it." [344] The policeman was sympathetic and concerned. [345] He said, "We'd better get over to the office." [346] But we never left the spot because an explosion some blocks distant shattered the air. [347] Julia's hand grasped my arm. [348] Hard. [349] "Jets," the redcap said, eying the sky. [350] "I don't know," the policeman said. [351] "Didn't sound much like a jet to me." [352] We stood there. [353] I could visualize the wreckage of an old gray coupe in the middle of a street, but I couldn't visualize the driver. [354] That was all right. [355] I didn't want to see him. [356] I didn't know what Julia was thinking. [357] She said, "About those bags," and looked at me. [358] The officer said, "Yes, miss?" [359] "I—I don't care about mine. [360] I didn't have much of anything in it." [361] "I feel the same way," I said. [362] "Would it be all right if we didn't bother to report it?" [363] "Well," the policeman said, "I can't make you report it." [364] "I'd rather not then," Julia said. [365] She turned to me. [366] "I'd like some air. [367] Can't we walk a little?" [368] "Sure," I said. [369] We started down the street, her arm in mine, as the air began to fill with the distant sounds of sirens.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "What is the relationship between the protagonist and authority figures like the airport policeman?": 1. [308] I told her I didn't know how much more time there was, that I'd been thinking it over and that the only way out seemed to be to tell the airport policeman. 2. [309] After I explained it to her, the girl—she said her name was Julia Claremont—agreed to tell him she thought there was a bomb in her bag, that she had noticed a ticking and had become worried because she knew she hadn't packed a clock. 3. [340] I watched it for a moment, then walked back to the entranceway where Julia was standing with the redcap, who said, "That man steal them suitcases?" 4. [341] "That he did," I said. 5. [342] Just then the airport policeman started across the street from the parking lot. 6. [343] Redcap said, "Better tell him about it." 7. [344] The policeman was sympathetic and concerned. 8. [345] He said, "We'd better get over to the office." 9. [358] "Yes, miss?" 10. [359] "I—I don't care about mine. I didn't have much of anything in it." 11. [360] "I feel the same way," I said. 12. [361] "Would it be all right if we didn't bother to report it?" 13. [362] "Well," the policeman said, "I can't make you report it." 14. [363] "I'd rather not then," Julia said. 15. [1] Nuts to wild talents! 16. [2] Mine was no satisfaction, never earned me a penny—and now it had me fighting for my life in ... 17. [3] THE LITTLE RED BAG By JERRY SOHL [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, January 1960. 18. [4] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] 19. [5] About an hour out of San Francisco on the flight to Los Angeles, I made the discovery. 20. [6] I had finished reading the Chronicle , folded and put it beside me, turned and looked out the window, expecting to see the San Joaquin Valley but finding only a sea of clouds instead. 21. [7] So I returned my attention to the inside of the plane, to the overstuffed gray-haired woman asleep beside me, to the backs of heads in seats before me, across the aisle to other heads, and down to the blonde. 22. [8] I had seen her in the concourse and at the gate, a shapely thing. 23. [9] Now she had crossed her legs and I was privileged to view a trim ankle and calf, and her profile as she stared moodily across the aisle and out a window where there was nothing to see. 24. [10] I slid my eyes past her to others. 25. [11] A crossword-puzzle worker, a togetherness-type-magazine reader. 26. [12] Inventory completed, I went back to looking at the clouds, knowing I should be thinking about the printing order I was going to Los Angeles for, and not wanting to. 27. [13] So I started going through the purse of the woman next to me. 28. [14] Perhaps that sounds bad. 29. [15] It wasn't. 30. [16] I'd been doing it for years and nobody ever complained. 31. [17] It started when I was a kid, this business of being able to explore the insides of things like purses and sealed boxes and locked drawers and—well, human beings. 32. [18] But human beings aren't worth the trouble. 33. [19] It's like swimming through spaghetti. 34. [20] And I've got to stay away from electric wires. 35. [21] They hurt. 36. [22] Now don't ask me how they hurt. 37. [23] Maybe you think it's fun. 38. [24] For the most part, it really isn't. 39. [25] I always knew what was in Christmas presents before I unwrapped them, and therefore Christmas was always spoiled for me as a kid. 40. [26] I can't feel the color of anything, just its consistency. 41. [27] An apple senses about the same as a potato, except for the core and the stem. 42. [28] I can't even tell if there's writing on a piece of paper. 43. [29] So you see it isn't much. 44. [30] Just the feel of shapes, the hardnesses and softnesses. 45. [31] But I've learned to become pretty good at guessing. 46. [32] Like this woman next to me. 47. [33] She had a short, cylindrical metal object in her purse with waxlike stuff inside it—a lipstick. 48. [34] A round, hard object with dust inside—a compact. 49. [35] Handkerchief, chewing gum, a small book, probably an address book, money in a change purse—a few bills and coins. 50. [36] Not much else. 51. [37] I was a little disappointed. 52. [38] I've run across a gun or two in my time. 53. [39] But I never say anything. 54. [40] I learned the wisdom of keeping my mouth shut in the fourth grade when Miss Winters, a stern, white-haired disciplinarian, ordered me to eat my sack lunch in the classroom with her instead of outside with some of the other kids. 55. [41] This was the punishment for some minor infraction. 56. [42] Lunchtime was nearly over and we'd both finished eating; she said she'd be gone for a few moments and that I was to erase the blackboard during her absence, which I dutifully did. 57. [43] Class had hardly resumed when she started looking around the desk for her favorite mechanical pencil, asking if any of us had seen it, and looking straight at me. 58. [44] I didn't want her to think I had taken it while she was out of the room, so I probed the contents of her purse, which she always kept in the upper right drawer of her desk. 59. [45] "It's in your purse," I blurted out. 60. [46] I was sent home with a stinging note. 61. [47] Since then I've kept quiet. 62. [48] At one time I assumed everybody was able to sense. 63. [49] I've known better for years. 64. [50] Still, I wonder how many other people are as close-mouthed about their special gift as I am about mine. 65. [51] I used to think that some day I'd make a lot of money out of it, but how? 66. [52] I can't read thoughts. 67. [53] I can't even be sure what some of the things I sense in probing really are. 68. [54] But I've learned to move things. 69. [55] Ever so little. 70. [56] A piece of paper. 71. [57] A feather. 72. [58] Once I stopped one of those little glass-enclosed light or heat-powered devices with vanes you see now and then in a jeweler's window. 73. [59] And I can stop clocks. 74. [60] Take this morning, for example. 75. [61] I had set my alarm for five-thirty because I had to catch the seven o'clock plane at San Francisco International Airport. 76. [62] This being earlier than I usually get up, it seems all I did during the night was feel my way past the escapement and balance wheel to see where the notch for the alarm was. 77. [63] The last time I did it there was just the merest fraction of an inch between the pawl and the notch. 78. [64] So I sighed and moved to the balance wheel and its delicate ribbon of spiraling steel. 79. [65] I hung onto the wheel, exerting influence to decrease the restoring torque. 80. [66] The wheel slowed down until there was no more ticking. 81. [67] It took quite a bit of effort, as it always does, but I did it, as I usually do. 82. [68] I can't stand the alarm. 83. [69] When I first learned to do this, I thought I had it made. 84. [70] I even went to Las Vegas to try my hand, so to speak, with the ratchets and pawls and cams and springs on the slot machines. 85. [71] But there's nothing delicate about a slot machine, and the spring tensions are too strong. 86. [72] I dropped quite a lot of nickels before I finally gave up. 87. [73] So I'm stuck with a talent I've found little real use for. 88. [74] Except that it amuses me. 89. [75] Sometimes. 90. [76] Not like this time on the plane. 91. [77] The woman beside me stirred, sat up suddenly and looked across me out the window. 92. [78] "Where are we?" 93. [79] she asked in a surprised voice. 94. [80] I told her we were probably a little north of Bakersfield. 95. [81] She said, "Oh," glanced at her wristwatch and sank back again. 96. [82] Soon the stewardesses would bring coffee and doughnuts around, so I contented myself with looking at the clouds and trying to think about Amos Magaffey, who was purchasing agent for a Los Angeles amusement chain, and how I was going to convince him our printing prices were maybe a little higher but the quality and service were better. 97. [83] My mind wandered below where I was sitting, idly moving from one piece of luggage to another, looking for my beat-up suitcase. 98. [84] I went through slips and slippers, lingerie and laundry, a jig saw puzzle and a ukulele. 99. [85] I never did find my suitcase because I found the bomb first. 100. [86] The bomb was in a small bag—a woman's bag judging by the soft, flimsy things you'd never find in a man's—and I didn't know it was a bomb right away. 101. [87] I thought it was just a clock, one of those small, quiet alarms. 102. [88] I was going to pass it by and go on, but what held me was that something was taped to it. 103. [89] By the feel, I knew it must be electrician's tape. 104. [90] Interested and curious, I explored the clock more closely, found two wires. 105. [91] One went to a battery and the other to hard round cylinders taped together. 106. [92] The hairs stood up at the base of my neck when I suddenly realized what it was. 107. [93] The clock's balance wheel was rocking merrily. 108. [94] Quickly I went up past the train of gears to the alarm wheel. 109. [95] If this was anything like my own alarm clock, this one had something like ten minutes to go. 110. [96] It was forty minutes to Burbank and Lockheed Air Terminal. 111. [97] My mind was churning when I turned from the window to look around at the unconcerned passengers, the woman at my side asleep again. 112. [98] I thought: Which one of these.... No, none of them would know it was there. 113. [99] I glanced out the window again; clouds were still in the way. 114. [100] We'd be leaving the valley for the mountain range north of Los Angeles soon, if we hadn't left it already. 115. [101] No place to land the plane there. 116. [102] But of course that had been the plan! 117. [103] My heart was beating in jackhammer rhythm; my mouth was dry and my mind was numb. 118. [104] Tell somebody about the bomb before it's too late! 119. [105] No, they'd think I put it there. 120. [106] Besides, what good would it do? 121. [107] There would be panic and they'd never get the plane down in time—if they believed me. 122. [108] "Sir." 123. [109] My head jerked around. 124. [110] The stewardess stood in the aisle, smiling, extending a tray to me, a brown plastic tray bearing a small paper cup of tomato juice, a cup of coffee, a cellophane-wrapped doughnut, paper spoon, sugar and dehydrated cream envelopes, and a napkin. 125. [111] I goggled at her, managed to croak, "No, thanks." 126. [112] She gave me an odd look and moved along. 127. [113] My seatmate had accepted hers and was tearing at the cellophane. 128. [114] I couldn't bear to watch her. 129. [115] I closed my eyes, forced my mind back to the luggage compartment, spent a frantic moment before I found the bag again. 130. [116] I had to stop that balance wheel, just as I stopped my alarm clock every morning. 131. [117] I tried to close everything off—the throb of engines, the rush of air, the woman sipping coffee noisily beside me—and I went into the clock and surrounded the seesawing wheel. 132. [118] When it went forward, I pulled it back; when it went back, I pulled it forward. 133. [119] I struggled with it, and it was like trying to work with greasy hands, and I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to stop it. 134. [120] Then, little by little, it started to slow its beat. 135. [121] But I could not afford to relax. 136. [122] I pushed and pulled and didn't dare release my hold until it came to a dead stop. 137. [123] "Anything the matter?" 138. [124] My eyelids flew open and I looked into the eyes of the woman next to me. 139. [125] There was sugar from the doughnut around her mouth and she was still chewing. 140. [126] "No," I said, letting out my breath. 141. [127] "I'm all right." 142. [128] "You were moaning, it sounded like. 143. [129] And you kept moving your head back and forth." 144. [130] "Must have been dreaming," I said as I rang for the stewardess. 145. [131] When she came I told her I'd take some of that coffee now. 146. [132] No, nothing else, just coffee. 147. [133] I didn't tell her how much I needed it. 148. [134] I sat there clammy with sweat until she returned. 149. [135] Coffee never tasted so good. 150. [136] All right, so I had stopped the bomb's timer. 151. [137] My mind raced ahead to the landing. 152. [138] When they unloaded the luggage, the balance wheel would start again. 153. [139] I wouldn't be able to stay with it, keeping it still. 154. [140] I considered telling the authorities as soon as we landed, or maybe calling in ahead, but wouldn't that just bring suspicion, questions. 155. [141] Maybe I could convince them I could stop a clock—but not before the bomb exploded. 156. [142] And then what? 157. [143] My secret would be out and my life would be changed. 158. [144] I'd be a man not to be trusted, a prying man, a man literally with gimlet eyes. 159. [145] Mountain crags jutted through the clouds. 160. [146] We were in the range north of the city. 161. [147] Here and there were clear spots and I could see roads below, but there were also clouds far above us. 162. [148] It was very beautiful, but it was also very bumpy, and we started to slip and slide. 163. [149] To my horror I found that the balance wheel was rocking again. 164. [150] Closing my eyes and gritting my teeth, I forced my senses to the wheel, tugging and pulling and shoving and pushing until it finally stopped. 165. [151] A jab in the shoulder. 166. [152] I jumped, startled. 167. [153] "Your cup," my seat partner said, pointing. 168. [154] I looked down at the coffee cup I had crushed in my hands. 169. [155] Then I looked up into the eyes of the stewardess. 170. [156] I handed it to her. 171. [157] She took it without a word and went away. 172. [158] "Were you really asleep that time?" 173. [159] "Not really," I said. 174. [160] I was tempted to tell the woman I was subject to fits, but I didn't. 175. [161]

What is the plot of the story?

[1] The Sense of Wonder By MILTON LESSER Illustrated by HARRY ROSENBAUM [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction September 1951. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] When nobody aboard ship remembers where it's going, how can they tell when it has arrived? [4] Every day for a week now, Rikud had come to the viewport to watch the great changeless sweep of space. [5] He could not quite explain the feelings within him; they were so alien, so unnatural. [6] But ever since the engines somewhere in the rear of the world had changed their tone, from the steady whining Rikud had heard all twenty-five years of his life, to the sullen roar that came to his ears now, the feelings had grown. [7] If anyone else had noticed the change, he failed to mention it. [8] This disturbed Rikud, although he could not tell why. [9] And, because he had realized this odd difference in himself, he kept it locked up inside him. [10] Today, space looked somehow different. [11] The stars—it was a meaningless concept to Rikud, but that was what everyone called the bright pinpoints of light on the black backdrop in the viewport—were not apparent in the speckled profusion Rikud had always known. [12] Instead, there was more of the blackness, and one very bright star set apart by itself in the middle of the viewport. [13] If he had understood the term, Rikud would have told himself this was odd. [14] His head ached with the half-born thought. [15] It was—it was—what was it? [16] Someone was clomping up the companionway behind Rikud. [17] He turned and greeted gray-haired old Chuls. [18] "In five more years," the older man chided, "you'll be ready to sire children. [19] And all you can do in the meantime is gaze out at the stars." [20] Rikud knew he should be exercising now, or bathing in the rays of the health-lamps. [21] It had never occurred to him that he didn't feel like it; he just didn't, without comprehending. [22] Chuls' reminder fostered uneasiness. [23] Often Rikud had dreamed of the time he would be thirty and a father. [24] Whom would the Calculator select as his mate? [25] The first time this idea had occurred to him, Rikud ignored it. [26] But it came again, and each time it left him with a feeling he could not explain. [27] Why should he think thoughts that no other man had? [28] Why should he think he was thinking such thoughts, when it always embroiled him in a hopeless, infinite confusion that left him with a headache? [29] Chuls said, "It is time for my bath in the health-rays. [30] I saw you here and knew it was your time, too...." His voice trailed off. [31] Rikud knew that something which he could not explain had entered the elder man's head for a moment, but it had departed almost before Chuls knew of its existence. [32] "I'll go with you," Rikud told him. [33] A hardly perceptible purple glow pervaded the air in the room of the health-rays. [34] Perhaps two score men lay about, naked, under the ray tubes. [35] Chuls stripped himself and selected the space under a vacant tube. [36] Rikud, for his part, wanted to get back to the viewport and watch the one new bright star. [37] He had the distinct notion it was growing larger every moment. [38] He turned to go, but the door clicked shut and a metallic voice said. [39] "Fifteen minutes under the tubes, please." [40] Rikud muttered to himself and undressed. [41] The world had begun to annoy him. [42] Now why shouldn't a man be permitted to do what he wanted, when he wanted to do it? [43] There was a strange thought, and Rikud's brain whirled once more down the tortuous course of half-formed questions and unsatisfactory answers. [44] He had even wondered what it was like to get hurt. [45] No one ever got hurt. [46] Once, here in this same ray room, he had had the impulse to hurl himself head-first against the wall, just to see what would happen. [47] But something soft had cushioned the impact—something which had come into being just for the moment and then abruptly passed into non-being again, something which was as impalpable as air. [48] Rikud had been stopped in this action, although there was no real authority to stop him. [49] This puzzled him, because somehow he felt that there should have been authority. [50] A long time ago the reading machine in the library had told him of the elders—a meaningless term—who had governed the world. [51] They told you to do something and you did it, but that was silly, because now no one told you to do anything. [52] You only listened to the buzzer. [53] And Rikud could remember the rest of what the reading machine had said. [54] There had been a revolt—again a term without any real meaning, a term that could have no reality outside of the reading machine—and the elders were overthrown. [55] Here Rikud had been lost utterly. [56] The people had decided that they did not know where they were going, or why, and that it was unfair that the elders alone had this authority. [57] They were born and they lived and they died as the elders directed, like little cogs in a great machine. [58] Much of this Rikud could not understand, but he knew enough to realize that the reading machine had sided with the people against the elders, and it said the people had won. [59] Now in the health room, Rikud felt a warmth in the rays. [60] Grudgingly, he had to admit to himself that it was not unpleasant. [61] He could see the look of easy contentment on Chuls' face as the rays fanned down upon him, bathing his old body in a forgotten magic which, many generations before Rikud's time, had negated the necessity for a knowledge of medicine. [62] But when, in another ten years, Chuls would perish of old age, the rays would no longer suffice. [63] Nothing would, for Chuls. [64] Rikud often thought of his own death, still seventy-five years in the future, not without a sense of alarm. [65] Yet old Chuls seemed heedless, with only a decade to go. [66] Under the tube at Rikud's left lay Crifer. [67] The man was short and heavy through the shoulders and chest, and he had a lame foot. [68] Every time Rikud looked at that foot, it was with a sense of satisfaction. [69] True, this was the only case of its kind, the exception to the rule, but it proved the world was not perfect. [70] Rikud was guiltily glad when he saw Crifer limp. [71] But, if anyone else saw it, he never said a word. [72] Not even Crifer. [73] Now Crifer said, "I've been reading again, Rikud." [74] "Yes?" [75] Almost no one read any more, and the library was heavy with the smell of dust. [76] Reading represented initiative on the part of Crifer; it meant that, in the two unoccupied hours before sleep, he went to the library and listened to the reading machine. [77] Everyone else simply sat about and talked. [78] That was the custom. [79] Everyone did it. [80] But if he wasn't reading himself, Rikud usually went to sleep. [81] All the people ever talked about was what they had done during the day, and it was always the same. [82] "Yes," said Crifer. [83] "I found a book about the stars. [84] They're also called astronomy, I think." [85] This was a new thought to Rikud, and he propped his head up on one elbow. [86] "What did you find out?" [87] "That's about all. [88] They're just called astronomy, I think." [89] "Well, where's the book?" [90] Rikud would read it tomorrow. [91] "I left it in the library. [92] You can find several of them under 'astronomy,' with a cross-reference under 'stars.' [93] They're synonymous terms." [94] "You know," Rikud said, sitting up now, "the stars in the viewport are changing." [95] "Changing?" [96] Crifer questioned the fuzzy concept as much as he questioned what it might mean in this particular case. [97] "Yes, there are less of them, and one is bigger and brighter than the others." [98] "Astronomy says some stars are variable," Crifer offered, but Rikud knew his lame-footed companion understood the word no better than he did. [99] Over on Rikud's right, Chuls began to dress. [100] "Variability," he told them, "is a contradictory term. [101] Nothing is variable. [102] It can't be." [103] "I'm only saying what I read in the book," Crifer protested mildly. [104] "Well, it's wrong. [105] Variability and change are two words without meaning." [106] "People grow old," Rikud suggested. [107] A buzzer signified that his fifteen minutes under the rays were up, and Chuls said, "It's almost time for me to eat." [108] Rikud frowned. [109] Chuls hadn't even seen the connection between the two concepts, yet it was so clear. [110] Or was it? [111] He had had it a moment ago, but now it faded, and change and old were just two words. [112] His own buzzer sounded a moment later, and it was with a strange feeling of elation that he dressed and made his way back to the viewport. [113] When he passed the door which led to the women's half of the world, however, he paused. [114] He wanted to open that door and see a woman. [115] He had been told about them and he had seen pictures, and he dimly remembered his childhood among women. [116] But his feelings had changed; this was different. [117] Again there were inexplicable feelings—strange channelings of Rikud's energy in new and confusing directions. [118] He shrugged and reserved the thought for later. [119] He wanted to see the stars again. [120] The view had changed, and the strangeness of it made Rikud's pulses leap with excitement. [121] All the stars were paler now than before, and where Rikud had seen the one bright central star, he now saw a globe of light, white with a tinge of blue in it, and so bright that it hurt his eyes to look. [122] Yes, hurt! [123] Rikud looked and looked until his eyes teared and he had to turn away. [124] Here was an unknown factor which the perfect world failed to control. [125] But how could a star change into a blinking blue-white globe—if, indeed, that was the star Rikud had seen earlier? [126] There was that word change again. [127] Didn't it have something to do with age? [128] Rikud couldn't remember, and he suddenly wished he could read Crifer's book on astronomy, which meant the same as stars. [129] Except that it was variable, which was like change, being tied up somehow with age. [130] Presently Rikud became aware that his eyes were not tearing any longer, and he turned to look at the viewport. [131] What he saw now was so new that he couldn't at first accept it. [132] Instead, he blinked and rubbed his eyes, sure that the ball of blue-white fire somehow had damaged them. [133] But the new view persisted. [134] Of stars there were few, and of the blackness, almost nothing. [135] Gone, too, was the burning globe. [136] Something loomed there in the port, so huge that it spread out over almost the entire surface. [137] Something big and round, all grays and greens and browns, and something for which Rikud had no name. [138] A few moments more, and Rikud no longer could see the sphere. [139] A section of it had expanded outward and assumed the rectangular shape of the viewport, and its size as well. [140] It seemed neatly sheered down the middle, so that on one side Rikud saw an expanse of brown and green, and on the other, blue. [141] Startled, Rikud leaped back. [142] The sullen roar in the rear of the world had ceased abruptly. [143] Instead an ominous silence, broken at regular intervals by a sharp booming. [144] Change— "Won't you eat, Rikud?" [145] Chuls called from somewhere down below. [146] "Damn the man," Rikud thought. [147] Then aloud: "Yes, I'll eat. [148] Later." [149] "It's time...." Chuls' voice trailed off again, impotently. [150] But Rikud forgot the old man completely. [151] A new idea occurred to him, and for a while he struggled with it. [152] What he saw—what he had always seen, except that now there was the added factor of change—perhaps did not exist in the viewport. [153] Maybe it existed through the viewport. [154] That was maddening. [155] Rikud turned again to the port, where he could see nothing but an obscuring cloud of white vapor, murky, swirling, more confusing than ever. [156] "Chuls," he called, remembering, "come here." [157] "I am here," said a voice at his elbow. [158] Rikud whirled on the little figure and pointed to the swirling cloud of vapor. [159] "What do you see?" [160] Chuls looked. [161] "The viewport, of course." [162] "What else?" [163] "Else? [164] Nothing." [165] Anger welled up inside Rikud. [166] "All right," he said, "listen. [167] What do you hear?" [168] "Broom, brroom, brrroom!" [169] Chuls imitated the intermittent blasting of the engines. [170] "I'm hungry, Rikud." [171] The old man turned and strode off down the corridor toward the dining room, and Rikud was glad to be alone once more. [172] Now the vapor had departed, except for a few tenuous whisps. [173] For a moment Rikud thought he could see the gardens rearward in the world. [174] But that was silly. [175] What were the gardens doing in the viewport? [176] And besides, Rikud had the distinct feeling that here was something far vaster than the gardens, although all of it existed in the viewport which was no wider than the length of his body. [177] The gardens, moreover, did not jump and dance before his eyes the way the viewport gardens did. [178] Nor did they spin. [179] Nor did the trees grow larger with every jolt. [180] Rikud sat down hard. [181] He blinked. [182] The world had come to rest on the garden of the viewport. [183] For a whole week that view did not change, and Rikud had come to accept it as fact. [184] There—through the viewport and in it—was a garden. [185] A garden larger than the entire world, a garden of plants which Rikud had never seen before, although he had always liked to stroll through the world's garden and he had come to know every plant well. [186] Nevertheless, it was a garden. [187] He told Chuls, but Chuls had responded, "It is the viewport." [188] Crifer, on the other hand, wasn't so sure. [189] "It looks like the garden," he admitted to Rikud. [190] "But why should the garden be in the viewport?" [191] Somehow, Rikud knew this question for a healthy sign. [192] But he could not tell them of his most amazing thought of all. [193] The change in the viewport could mean only one thing. [194] The world had been walking—the word seemed all wrong to Rikud, but he could think of no other, unless it were running. [195] The world had been walking somewhere. [196] That somewhere was the garden and the world had arrived. [197] "It is an old picture of the garden," Chuls suggested, "and the plants are different." [198] "Then they've changed?" [199] "No, merely different." [200] "Well, what about the viewport? [201] It changed. [202] Where are the stars? [203] Where are they, Chuls, if it did not change?" [204] "The stars come out at night." [205] "So there is a change from day to night!" [206] "I didn't say that. [207] The stars simply shine at night. [208] Why should they shine during the day when the world wants them to shine only at night?" [209] "Once they shone all the time." [210] "Naturally," said Crifer, becoming interested. [211] "They are variable." [212] Rikud regretted that he never had had the chance to read that book on astronomy. [213] He hadn't been reading too much lately. [214] The voice of the reading machine had begun to bore him. [215] He said, "Well, variable or not, our whole perspective has changed." [216] And when Chuls looked away in disinterest, Rikud became angry. [217] If only the man would realize! [218] If only anyone would realize! [219] It all seemed so obvious. [220] If he, Rikud, walked from one part of the world to another, it was with a purpose—to eat, or to sleep, or perhaps to bathe in the health-rays. [221] Now if the world had walked from—somewhere, through the vast star-speckled darkness and to the great garden outside, this also was purposeful. [222] The world had arrived at the garden for a reason. [223] But if everyone lived as if the world still stood in blackness, how could they find the nature of that purpose? [224] "I will eat," Chuls said, breaking Rikud's revery. [225] Damn the man, all he did was eat! [226] Yet he did have initiative after a sort. [227] He knew when to eat. [228] Because he was hungry. [229] And Rikud, too, was hungry. [230] Differently. [231] He had long wondered about the door in the back of the library, and now, as Crifer sat cross-legged on one of the dusty tables, reading machine and book on astronomy or stars in his lap, Rikud approached the door. [232] "What's in here?" [233] he demanded. [234] "It's a door, I think," said Crifer. [235] "I know, but what's beyond it?" [236] "Beyond it? [237] Oh, you mean through the door." [238] "Yes." [239] "Well," Crifer scratched his head, "I don't think anyone ever opened it. [240] It's only a door." [241] "I will," said Rikud. [242] "You will what?" [243] "Open it. [244] Open the door and look inside." [245] A long pause. [246] Then, "Can you do it?" [247] "I think so." [248] "You can't, probably. [249] How can anyone go where no one has been before? [250] There's nothing. [251] It just isn't. [252] It's only a door, Rikud." [253] "No—" Rikud began, but the words faded off into a sharp intake of breath. [254] Rikud had turned the knob and pushed. [255] The door opened silently, and Crifer said, "Doors are variable, too, I think." [256] Rikud saw a small room, perhaps half a dozen paces across, at the other end of which was another door, just like the first. [257] Halfway across, Rikud heard a voice not unlike that of the reading machine. [258] He missed the beginning, but then: —therefore, permit no unauthorized persons to go through this door. [259] The machinery in the next room is your protection against the rigors of space. [260] A thousand years from now, journey's end, you may have discarded it for something better—who knows? [261] But if you have not, then here is your protection. [262] As nearly as possible, this ship is a perfect, self-sustaining world. [263] It is more than that: it is human-sustaining as well. [264] Try to hurt yourself and the ship will not permit it—within limits, of course. [265] But you can damage the ship, and to avoid any possibility of that, no unauthorized persons are to be permitted through this door— Rikud gave the voice up as hopeless. [266] There were too many confusing words. [267] What in the world was an unauthorized person? [268] More interesting than that, however, was the second door. [269] Would it lead to another voice? [270] Rikud hoped that it wouldn't. [271] When he opened the door a strange new noise filled his ears, a gentle humming, punctuated by a throb-throb-throb which sounded not unlike the booming of the engines last week, except that this new sound didn't blast nearly so loudly against his eardrums. [272] And what met Rikud's eyes—he blinked and looked again, but it was still there—cogs and gears and wheels and nameless things all strange and beautiful because they shone with a luster unfamiliar to him. [273] "Odd," Rikud said aloud. [274] Then he thought, "Now there's a good word, but no one quite seems to know its meaning." [275] Odder still was the third door. [276] Rikud suddenly thought there might exist an endless succession of them, especially when the third one opened on a bare tunnel which led to yet another door. [277] Only this one was different. [278] In it Rikud saw the viewport. [279] But how? [280] The viewport stood on the other end of the world. [281] It did seem smaller, and, although it looked out on the garden, Rikud sensed that the topography was different. [282] Then the garden extended even farther than he had thought. [283] It was endless, extending all the way to a ridge of mounds way off in the distance. [284] And this door one could walk through, into the garden. [285] Rikud put his hand on the door, all the while watching the garden through the new viewport. [286] He began to turn the handle. [287] Then he trembled. [288] What would he do out in the garden? [289] He couldn't go alone. [290] He'd die of the strangeness. [291] It was a silly thought; no one ever died of anything until he was a hundred. [292] Rikud couldn't fathom the rapid thumping of his heart. [293] And Rikud's mouth felt dry; he wanted to swallow, but couldn't. [294] Slowly, he took his hand off the door lever. [295] He made his way back through the tunnel and then through the room of machinery and finally through the little room with the confusing voice to Crifer. [296] By the time he reached the lame-footed man, Rikud was running. [297] He did not dare once to look back. [298] He stood shaking at Crifer's side, and sweat covered him in a clammy film. [299] He never wanted to look at the garden again. [300] Not when he knew there was a door through which he could walk and then might find himself in the garden. [301] It was so big. [302] Three or four days passed before Rikud calmed himself enough to talk about his experience. [303] When he did, only Crifer seemed at all interested, yet the lame-footed man's mind was inadequate to cope with the situation. [304] He suggested that the viewport might also be variable and Rikud found himself wishing that his friend had never read that book on astronomy. [305] Chuls did not believe Rikud at all. [306] "There are not that many doors in the world," he said. [307] "The library has a door and there is a door to the women's quarters; in five years, the Calculator will send you through that. [308] But there are no others." [309] Chuls smiled an indulgent smile and Rikud came nearer to him. [310] "Now, by the world, there are two other doors!" [311] Rikud began to shout, and everyone looked at him queerly. [312] "What are you doing that for?" [313] demanded Wilm, who was shorter even than Crifer, but had no lame foot. [314] "Doing what?" [315] "Speaking so loudly when Chuls, who is close, obviously has no trouble hearing you." [316] "Maybe yelling will make him understand." [317] Crifer hobbled about on his good foot, doing a meaningless little jig. [318] "Why don't we go see?" [319] he suggested. [320] Then, confused, he frowned. [321] "Well, I won't go," Chuls replied. [322] "There's no reason to go. [323] If Rikud has been imagining things, why should I?" [324] "I imagined nothing. [325] I'll show you—" "You'll show me nothing because I won't go." [326] Rikud grabbed Chuls' blouse with his big fist. [327] Then, startled by what he did, his hands began to tremble. [328] But he held on, and he tugged at the blouse. [329] "Stop that," said the older man, mildly. [330] Crifer hopped up and down. [331] "Look what Rikud's doing! [332] I don't know what he's doing, but look. [333] He's holding Chuls' blouse." [334] "Stop that," repeated Chuls, his face reddening. [335] "Only if you'll go with me." [336] Rikud was panting. [337] Chuls tugged at his wrist. [338] By this time a crowd had gathered. [339] Some of them watched Crifer jump up and down, but most of them watched Rikud holding Chuls' blouse. [340] "I think I can do that," declared Wilm, clutching a fistful of Crifer's shirt. [341] Presently, the members of the crowd had pretty well paired off, each partner grabbing for his companion's blouse. [342] They giggled and laughed and some began to hop up and down as Crifer had done. [343] A buzzer sounded and automatically Rikud found himself releasing Chuls. [344] Chuls said, forgetting the incident completely, "Time to retire." [345] In a moment, the room was cleared. [346] Rikud stood alone. [347] He cleared his throat and listened to the sound, all by itself in the stillness. [348] What would have happened if they hadn't retired? [349] But they always did things punctually like that, whenever the buzzer sounded. [350] They ate with the buzzer, bathed in the health-rays with it, slept with it. [351] What would they do if the buzzer stopped buzzing? [352] This frightened Rikud, although he didn't know why. [353] He'd like it, though. [354] Maybe then he could take them outside with him to the big garden of the two viewports. [355] And then he wouldn't be afraid because he could huddle close to them and he wouldn't be alone. [356] Rikud heard the throbbing again as he stood in the room of the machinery. [357] For a long time he watched the wheels and cogs and gears spinning and humming. [358] He watched for he knew not how long. [359] And then he began to wonder. [360] If he destroyed the wheels and the cogs and the gears, would the buzzer stop? [361] It probably would, because, as Rikud saw it, he was clearly an "unauthorized person." [362] He had heard the voice again upon entering the room. [363] He found a metal rod, bright and shiny, three feet long and half as wide as his arm. [364] He tugged at it and it came loose from the wires that held it in place. [365] He hefted it carefully for a moment, and then he swung the bar into the mass of metal. [366] Each time he heard a grinding, crashing sound. [367] He looked as the gears and cogs and wheels crumbled under his blows, shattered by the strength of his arm. [368] Almost casually he strode about the room, but his blows were not casual. [369] Soon his easy strides had given way to frenzied running. [370] Rikud smashed everything in sight. [371] When the lights winked out, he stopped. [372] Anyway, by that time the room was a shambles of twisted, broken metal. [373] He laughed, softly at first, but presently he was roaring, and the sound doubled and redoubled in his ears because now the throbbing had stopped. [374] He opened the door and ran through the little corridor to the smaller viewport. [375] Outside he could see the stars, and, dimly, the terrain beneath them. [376] But everything was so dark that only the stars shone clearly. [377] All else was bathed in a shadow of unreality. [378] Rikud never wanted to do anything more than he wanted to open that door. [379] But his hands trembled too much when he touched it, and once, when he pressed his face close against the viewport, there in the darkness, something bright flashed briefly through the sky and was gone. [380] Whimpering, he fled. [381] All around Rikud were darkness and hunger and thirst. [382] The buzzer did not sound because Rikud had silenced it forever. [383] And no one went to eat or drink. [384] Rikud himself had fumbled through the blackness and the whimpering to the dining room, his tongue dry and swollen, but the smooth belt that flowed with water and with savory dishes did not run any more. [385] The machinery, Rikud realized, also was responsible for food. [386] Chuls said, over and over, "I'm hungry." [387] "We will eat and we will drink when the buzzer tells us," Wilm replied confidently. [388] "It won't any more," Rikud said. [389] "What won't?" [390] "The buzzer will never sound again. [391] I broke it." [392] Crifer growled. [393] "I know. [394] You shouldn't have done it. [395] That was a bad thing you did, Rikud." [396] "It was not bad. [397] The world has moved through the blackness and the stars and now we should go outside to live in the big garden there beyond the viewport." [398] "That's ridiculous," Chuls said. [399] Even Crifer now was angry at Rikud. [400] "He broke the buzzer and no one can eat. [401] I hate Rikud, I think." [402] There was a lot of noise in the darkness, and someone else said, "I hate Rikud." [403] Then everyone was saying it. [404] Rikud was sad. [405] Soon he would die, because no one would go outside with him and he could not go outside alone. [406] In five more years he would have had a woman, too. [407] He wondered if it was dark and hungry in the women's quarters. [408] Did women eat? [409] Perhaps they ate plants. [410] Once, in the garden, Rikud had broken off a frond and tasted it. [411] It had been bitter, but not unpleasant. [412] Maybe the plants in the viewport would even be better. [413] "We will not be hungry if we go outside," he said. [414] "We can eat there." [415] "We can eat if the buzzer sounds, but it is broken," Chuls said dully. [416] Crifer shrilled, "Maybe it is only variable and will buzz again." [417] "No," Rikud assured him. [418] "It won't." [419] "Then you broke it and I hate you," said Crifer. [420] "We should break you, too, to show you how it is to be broken." [421] "We must go outside—through the viewport." [422] Rikud listened to the odd gurgling sound his stomach made. [423] A hand reached out in the darkness and grabbed at his head. [424] He heard Crifer's voice. [425] "I have Rikud's head." [426] The voice was nasty, hostile. [427] Crifer, more than anyone, had been his friend. [428] But now that he had broken the machinery, Crifer was his enemy, because Crifer came nearer to understanding the situation than anyone except Rikud. [429] The hand reached out again, and it struck Rikud hard across the face. [430] "I hit him! [431] I hit him!" [432] Other hands reached out, and Rikud stumbled. [433] He fell and then someone was on top of him, and he struggled. [434] He rolled and was up again, and he did not like the sound of the angry voices. [435] Someone said, "Let us do to Rikud what he said he did to the machinery." [436] Rikud ran. [437] In the darkness, his feet prodded many bodies. [438] There were those who were too weak to rise. [439] Rikud, too, felt a strange light-headedness and a gnawing hurt in his stomach. [440] But it didn't matter. [441] He heard the angry voices and the feet pounding behind him, and he wanted only to get away. [442] It was dark and he was hungry and everyone who was strong enough to run was chasing him, but every time he thought of the garden outside, and how big it was, the darkness and the hunger and the people chasing him were unimportant. [443] It was so big that it would swallow him up completely and positively. [444] He became sickly giddy thinking about it. [445] But if he didn't open the door and go into the garden outside, he would die because he had no food and no water and his stomach gurgled and grumbled and hurt. [446] And everyone was chasing him. [447] He stumbled through the darkness and felt his way back to the library, through the inner door and into the room with the voice—but the voice didn't speak this time—through its door and into the place of machinery. [448] Behind him, he could hear the voices at the first door, and he thought for a moment that no one would come after him. [449] But he heard Crifer yell something, and then feet pounding in the passage. [450] Rikud tripped over something and sprawled awkwardly across the floor. [451] He felt a sharp hurt in his head, and when he reached up to touch it with his hands there in the darkness, his fingers came away wet. [452] He got up slowly and opened the next door. [453] The voices behind him were closer now. [454] Light streamed in through the viewport. [455] After the darkness, it frightened Rikud and it made his eyes smart, and he could hear those behind him retreating to a safe distance. [456] But their voices were not far away, and he knew they would come after him because they wanted to break him. [457] Rikud looked out upon the garden and he trembled. [458] Out there was life. [459] The garden stretched off in unthinkable immensity to the cluster of low mounds against the bright blue which roofed the many plants. [460] If plants could live out there as they did within the world, then so could people. [461] Rikud and his people should . [462] This was why the world had moved across the darkness and the stars for all Rikud's lifetime and more. [463] But he was afraid. [464] He reached up and grasped the handle of the door and he saw that his fingers were red with the wetness which had come from his hurt head. [465] Slowly he slipped to the cool floor—how his head was burning!—and for a long time he lay there, thinking he would never rise again. [466] Inside he heard the voices again, and soon a foot and then another pounded on the metal of the passage. [467] He heard Crifer's voice louder than the rest: "There is Rikud on the floor!" [468] Tugging at the handle of the door, Rikud pulled himself upright. [469] Something small and brown scurried across the other side of the viewport and Rikud imagined it turned to look at him with two hideous red eyes. [470] Rikud screamed and hurtled back through the corridor, and his face was so terrible in the light streaming in through the viewport that everyone fled before him. [471] He stumbled again in the place of the machinery, and down on his hands and knees he fondled the bits of metal which he could see in the dim light through the open door. [472] "Where's the buzzer?" [473] he sobbed. [474] "I must find the buzzer." [475] Crifer's voice, from the darkness inside, said, "You broke it. [476] You broke it. [477] And now we will break you—" Rikud got up and ran. [478] He reached the door again and then he slipped down against it, exhausted. [479] Behind him, the voices and the footsteps came, and soon he saw Crifer's head peer in through the passageway. [480] Then there were others, and then they were walking toward him. [481] His head whirled and the viewport seemed to swim in a haze. [482] Could it be variable, as Crifer had suggested? [483] He wondered if the scurrying brown thing waited somewhere, and nausea struck at the pit of his stomach. [484] But if the plants could live out there and the scurrying thing could live and that was why the world had moved through the blackness, then so could he live out there, and Crifer and all the others.... [485] So tightly did he grip the handle that his fingers began to hurt. [486] And his heart pounded hard and he felt the pulses leaping on either side of his neck. [487] He stared out into the garden, and off into the distance, where the blue-white globe which might have been a star stood just above the row of mounds. [488] Crifer was tugging at him, trying to pull him away from the door, and someone was grabbing at his legs, trying to make him fall. [489] He kicked out and the hands let go, and then he turned the handle and shoved the weight of his body with all his strength against the door. [490] It opened and he stepped outside into the warmth. [491] The air was fresh, fresher than any air Rikud had ever breathed. [492] He walked around aimlessly, touching the plants and bending down to feel the floor, and sometimes he looked at the blue-white globe on the horizon. [493] It was all very beautiful. [494] Near the ship, water that did not come from a machine gurgled across the land, and Rikud lay down and drank. [495] It was cool and good, and when he got up, Crifer and Wilm were outside the world, and some of the others followed. [496] They stood around for a long time before going to the water to drink. [497] Rikud sat down and tore off a piece of a plant, munching on it. [498] It was good. [499] Crifer picked his head up, from the water, his chin wet. [500] "Even feelings are variable. [501] I don't hate you now, Rikud." [502] Rikud smiled, staring at the ship. [503] "People are variable, too, Crifer. [504] That is, if those creatures coming from the ship are people." [505] "They're women," said Crifer. [506] They were strangely shaped in some ways, and yet in others completely human, and their voices were high, like singing. [507] Rikud found them oddly exciting. [508] He liked them. [509] He liked the garden, for all its hugeness. [510] With so many people, and especially now with women, he was not afraid. [511] It was much better than the small world of machinery, buzzer, frightening doors and women by appointment only. [512] Rikud felt at home.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "What is the plot of the story?": 1. [261] It is more than that: it is human-sustaining as well. 2. [259] —therefore, permit no unauthorized persons to go through this door. 3. [260] The machinery in the next room is your protection against the rigors of space. 4. [262] As nearly as possible, this ship is a perfect, self-sustaining world. 5. [263] It is more than that: it is human-sustaining as well. 6. [264] Try to hurt yourself and the ship will not permit it—within limits, of course. 7. [265] But you can damage the ship, and to avoid any possibility of that, no unauthorized persons are to be permitted through this door— 8. [1] The Sense of Wonder By MILTON LESSER Illustrated by HARRY ROSENBAUM [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction September 1951. 9. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] 10. [3] When nobody aboard ship remembers where it's going, how can they tell when it has arrived? 11. [4] Every day for a week now, Rikud had come to the viewport to watch the great changeless sweep of space. 12. [5] He could not quite explain the feelings within him; they were so alien, so unnatural. 13. [6] But ever since the engines somewhere in the rear of the world had changed their tone, from the steady whining Rikud had heard all twenty-five years of his life, to the sullen roar that came to his ears now, the feelings had grown. 14. [7] If anyone else had noticed the change, he failed to mention it. 15. [8] This disturbed Rikud, although he could not tell why. 16. [9] And, because he had realized this odd difference in himself, he kept it locked up inside him. 17. [10] Today, space looked somehow different. 18. [11] The stars—it was a meaningless concept to Rikud, but that was what everyone called the bright pinpoints of light on the black backdrop in the viewport—were not apparent in the speckled profusion Rikud had always known. 19. [12] Instead, there was more of the blackness, and one very bright star set apart by itself in the middle of the viewport. 20. [13] If he had understood the term, Rikud would have told himself this was odd. 21. [14] His head ached with the half-born thought. 22. [15] It was—it was—what was it? 23. [16] Someone was clomping up the companionway behind Rikud. 24. [17] He turned and greeted gray-haired old Chuls. 25. [18] "In five more years," the older man chided, "you'll be ready to sire children. 26. [19] And all you can do in the meantime is gaze out at the stars." 27. [20] Rikud knew he should be exercising now, or bathing in the rays of the health-lamps. 28. [21] It had never occurred to him that he didn't feel like it; he just didn't, without comprehending. 29. [22] Chuls' reminder fostered uneasiness. 30. [23] Often Rikud had dreamed of the time he would be thirty and a father. 31. [24] Whom would the Calculator select as his mate? 32. [25] The first time this idea had occurred to him, Rikud ignored it. 33. [26] But it came again, and each time it left him with a feeling he could not explain. 34. [27] Why should he think thoughts that no other man had? 35. [28] Why should he think he was thinking such thoughts, when it always embroiled him in a hopeless, infinite confusion that left him with a headache? 36. [29] Chuls said, "It is time for my bath in the health-rays. 37. [30] I saw you here and knew it was your time, too...." His voice trailed off. 38. [31] Rikud knew that something which he could not explain had entered the elder man's head for a moment, but it had departed almost before Chuls knew of its existence. 39. [32] "I'll go with you," Rikud told him. 40. [33] A hardly perceptible purple glow pervaded the air in the room of the health-rays. 41. [34] Perhaps two score men lay about, naked, under the ray tubes. 42. [35] Chuls stripped himself and selected the space under a vacant tube. 43. [36] Rikud, for his part, wanted to get back to the viewport and watch the one new bright star. 44. [37] He had the distinct notion it was growing larger every moment. 45. [38] He turned to go, but the door clicked shut and a metallic voice said. 46. [39] "Fifteen minutes under the tubes, please." 47. [40] Rikud muttered to himself and undressed. 48. [41] The world had begun to annoy him. 49. [42] Now why shouldn't a man be permitted to do what he wanted, when he wanted to do it? 50. [43] There was a strange thought, and Rikud's brain whirled once more down the tortuous course of half-formed questions and unsatisfactory answers. 51. [44] He had even wondered what it was like to get hurt. 52. [45] No one ever got hurt. 53. [46] Once, here in this same ray room, he had had the impulse to hurl himself head-first against the wall, just to see what would happen. 54. [47] But something soft had cushioned the impact—something which had come into being just for the moment and then abruptly passed into non-being again, something which was as impalpable as air. 55. [48] Rikud had been stopped in this action, although there was no real authority to stop him. 56. [49] This puzzled him, because somehow he felt that there should have been authority. 57. [50] A long time ago the reading machine in the library had told him of the elders—a meaningless term—who had governed the world. 58. [51] They told you to do something and you did it, but that was silly, because now no one told you to do anything. 59. [52] You only listened to the buzzer. 60. [53] And Rikud could remember the rest of what the reading machine had said. 61. [54] There had been a revolt—again a term without any real meaning, a term that could have no reality outside of the reading machine—and the elders were overthrown. 62. [55] Here Rikud had been lost utterly. 63. [56] The people had decided that they did not know where they were going, or why, and that it was unfair that the elders alone had this authority. 64. [57] They were born and they lived and they died as the elders directed, like little cogs in a great machine. 65. [58] Much of this Rikud could not understand, but he knew enough to realize that the reading machine had sided with the people against the elders, and it said the people had won. 66. [59] Now in the health room, Rikud felt a warmth in the rays. 67. [60] Grudgingly, he had to admit to himself that it was not unpleasant. 68. [61] He could see the look of easy contentment on Chuls' face as the rays fanned down upon him, bathing his old body in a forgotten magic which, many generations before Rikud's time, had negated the necessity for a knowledge of medicine. 69. [62] But when, in another ten years, Chuls would perish of old age, the rays would no longer suffice. 70. [63] Nothing would, for Chuls. 71. [64] Rikud often thought of his own death, still seventy-five years in the future, not without a sense of alarm. 72. [65] Yet old Chuls seemed heedless, with only a decade to go. 73. [66] Under the tube at Rikud's left lay Crifer. 74. [67] The man was short and heavy through the shoulders and chest, and he had a lame foot. 75. [68] Every time Rikud looked at that foot, it was with a sense of satisfaction. 76. [69] True, this was the only case of its kind, the exception to the rule, but it proved the world was not perfect. 77. [70] Rikud was guiltily glad when he saw Crifer limp. 78. [71] But, if anyone else saw it, he never said a word. 79. [72] Not even Crifer. 80. [73] Now Crifer said, "I've been reading again, Rikud." 81. [74] "Yes?" 82. [75] Almost no one read any more, and the library was heavy with the smell of dust. 83. [76] Reading represented initiative on the part of Crifer; it meant that, in the two unoccupied hours before sleep, he went to the library and listened to the reading machine. 84. [77] Everyone else simply sat about and talked. 85. [78] That was the custom. 86. [79] Everyone did it. 87. [80] But if he wasn't reading himself, Rikud usually went to sleep. 88. [81] All the people ever talked about was what they had done during the day, and it was always the same. 89. [82] "Yes," said Crifer. 90. [83] "I found a book about the stars. 91. [84] They're also called astronomy, I think." 92. [85] This was a new thought to Rikud, and he propped his head up on one elbow. 93. [86] "What did you find out?" 94. [87] "That's about all. 95. [88] They're just called astronomy, I think." 96. [89] "Well, where's the book?" 97. [90] Rikud would read it tomorrow. 98. [91] "I left it in the library. 99. [92] You can find several of them under 'astronomy,' with a cross-reference under 'stars.' 100. [93] They're synonymous terms." 101. [94] "You know," Rikud said, sitting up now, "the stars in the viewport are changing." 102. [95] "Changing?" 103. [96] Crifer questioned the fuzzy concept as much as he questioned what it might mean in this particular case. 104. [97] "Yes, there are less of them, and one is bigger and brighter than the others." 105. [98] "Astronomy says some stars are variable," Crifer offered, but Rikud knew his lame-footed companion understood the word no better than he did. 106. [99] Over on Rikud's right, Chuls began to dress. 107. [100] "Variability," he told them, "is a contradictory term. 108. [101] Nothing is variable. 109. [102] It can't be." 110. [103] "I'm only saying what I read in the book," Crifer protested mildly. 111. [104] "Well, it's wrong. 112. [105] Variability and change are two words without meaning." 113. [106] "People grow old," Rikud suggested. 114. [107] A buzzer signified that his fifteen minutes under the rays were up, and Chuls said, "It's almost time for me to eat." 115. [108] Rikud frowned. 116. [109] Chuls hadn't even seen the connection between the two concepts, yet it was so clear. 117. [110] Or was it? 118. [111] He had had it a moment ago, but now it faded, and change and old were just two words. 119. [112] His own buzzer sounded a moment later, and it was with a strange feeling of elation that he dressed and made his way back to the viewport. 120. [113] When he passed the door which led to the women's half of the world, however, he paused. 121. [114] He wanted to open that door and see a woman. 122. [115] He had been told about them and he had seen pictures, and he dimly remembered his childhood among women. 123. [116] But his feelings had changed; this was different. 124. [117] Again there were inexplicable feelings—strange channelings of Rikud's energy in new and confusing directions. 125. [118] He shrugged and reserved the thought for later. 126. [119] He wanted to see the stars again. 127. [120] The view had changed, and the strangeness of it made Rikud's pulses leap with excitement. 128. [121] All the stars were paler now than before, and where Rikud had seen the one bright central star, he now saw a globe of light, white with a tinge of blue in it, and so bright that it hurt his eyes to look. 129. [122] Yes, hurt! 130. [123] Rikud looked and looked until his eyes teared and he had to turn away. 131. [124] Here was an unknown factor which the perfect world failed to control. 132. [125] But how could a star change into a blinking blue-white globe—if, indeed, that was the star Rikud had seen earlier? 133. [126] There was that word change again. 134. [127] Didn't it have something to do with age? 135. [128] Rikud couldn't remember, and he suddenly wished he could read Crifer's book on astronomy, which meant the same as stars. 136. [129] Except that it was variable, which was like change, being tied up somehow with age. 137. [130] Presently Rikud became aware that his eyes were not tearing any longer, and he turned to look at the viewport. 138. [131] What he saw now was so new that he couldn't at first accept it. 139. [132] Instead, he blinked and rubbed his eyes, sure that the ball of blue-white fire somehow had damaged them. 140. [133] But the new view persisted. 141. [134] Of stars there were few, and of the blackness, almost nothing. 142. [135] Gone, too, was the burning globe. 143. [136] Something loomed there in the port, so huge that it spread out over almost the entire surface. 144. [137] Something big and round, all grays and greens and browns, and something for which Rikud had no name. 145. [138] A few moments more, and Rikud no longer could see the sphere. 146. [139] A section of it had expanded outward and assumed the rectangular shape of the viewport, and its size as well. 147. [140] It seemed neatly sheered down the middle, so that on one side Rikud saw an expanse of brown and green, and on the other, blue. 148. [141] Startled, Rikud leaped back. 149. [142] The sullen roar in the rear of the world had ceased abruptly. 150. [143] Instead an ominous silence, broken at regular intervals by a sharp booming. 151. [144] Change— "Won't you eat, Rikud?" 152. [145] Chuls called from somewhere down below. 153. [146] "Damn the man," Rikud thought. 154. [147] Then aloud: "Yes, I'll eat. 155. [148] Later." 156. [149] "It's time...." Chuls' voice trailed off again, impotently. 157. [150] But Rikud forgot the old man completely. 158. [151] A new idea occurred to him, and for a while he struggled with it. 159. [152] What he saw—what he had always seen, except that now there was the added factor of change—perhaps did not exist in the viewport. 160. [153] Maybe it existed through the viewport. 161. [154] That was maddening. 162. [155] Rikud turned again to the port, where he could see nothing but an obscuring cloud of white vapor, murky, swirling, more confusing than ever. 163. [156] "Chuls," he called, remembering, "come here." 164. [157] "I am here," said a voice at his elbow. 165. [158] Rikud whirled on the little figure and pointed to the swirling cloud of vapor. 166. [159] "What do you see?" 167. [160] Chuls looked. 168. [161] "The viewport, of course." 169. [162] "What else?" 170. [163] "Else? 171. [164]

What is the setting of the story?

[1] The Sense of Wonder By MILTON LESSER Illustrated by HARRY ROSENBAUM [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction September 1951. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] When nobody aboard ship remembers where it's going, how can they tell when it has arrived? [4] Every day for a week now, Rikud had come to the viewport to watch the great changeless sweep of space. [5] He could not quite explain the feelings within him; they were so alien, so unnatural. [6] But ever since the engines somewhere in the rear of the world had changed their tone, from the steady whining Rikud had heard all twenty-five years of his life, to the sullen roar that came to his ears now, the feelings had grown. [7] If anyone else had noticed the change, he failed to mention it. [8] This disturbed Rikud, although he could not tell why. [9] And, because he had realized this odd difference in himself, he kept it locked up inside him. [10] Today, space looked somehow different. [11] The stars—it was a meaningless concept to Rikud, but that was what everyone called the bright pinpoints of light on the black backdrop in the viewport—were not apparent in the speckled profusion Rikud had always known. [12] Instead, there was more of the blackness, and one very bright star set apart by itself in the middle of the viewport. [13] If he had understood the term, Rikud would have told himself this was odd. [14] His head ached with the half-born thought. [15] It was—it was—what was it? [16] Someone was clomping up the companionway behind Rikud. [17] He turned and greeted gray-haired old Chuls. [18] "In five more years," the older man chided, "you'll be ready to sire children. [19] And all you can do in the meantime is gaze out at the stars." [20] Rikud knew he should be exercising now, or bathing in the rays of the health-lamps. [21] It had never occurred to him that he didn't feel like it; he just didn't, without comprehending. [22] Chuls' reminder fostered uneasiness. [23] Often Rikud had dreamed of the time he would be thirty and a father. [24] Whom would the Calculator select as his mate? [25] The first time this idea had occurred to him, Rikud ignored it. [26] But it came again, and each time it left him with a feeling he could not explain. [27] Why should he think thoughts that no other man had? [28] Why should he think he was thinking such thoughts, when it always embroiled him in a hopeless, infinite confusion that left him with a headache? [29] Chuls said, "It is time for my bath in the health-rays. [30] I saw you here and knew it was your time, too...." His voice trailed off. [31] Rikud knew that something which he could not explain had entered the elder man's head for a moment, but it had departed almost before Chuls knew of its existence. [32] "I'll go with you," Rikud told him. [33] A hardly perceptible purple glow pervaded the air in the room of the health-rays. [34] Perhaps two score men lay about, naked, under the ray tubes. [35] Chuls stripped himself and selected the space under a vacant tube. [36] Rikud, for his part, wanted to get back to the viewport and watch the one new bright star. [37] He had the distinct notion it was growing larger every moment. [38] He turned to go, but the door clicked shut and a metallic voice said. [39] "Fifteen minutes under the tubes, please." [40] Rikud muttered to himself and undressed. [41] The world had begun to annoy him. [42] Now why shouldn't a man be permitted to do what he wanted, when he wanted to do it? [43] There was a strange thought, and Rikud's brain whirled once more down the tortuous course of half-formed questions and unsatisfactory answers. [44] He had even wondered what it was like to get hurt. [45] No one ever got hurt. [46] Once, here in this same ray room, he had had the impulse to hurl himself head-first against the wall, just to see what would happen. [47] But something soft had cushioned the impact—something which had come into being just for the moment and then abruptly passed into non-being again, something which was as impalpable as air. [48] Rikud had been stopped in this action, although there was no real authority to stop him. [49] This puzzled him, because somehow he felt that there should have been authority. [50] A long time ago the reading machine in the library had told him of the elders—a meaningless term—who had governed the world. [51] They told you to do something and you did it, but that was silly, because now no one told you to do anything. [52] You only listened to the buzzer. [53] And Rikud could remember the rest of what the reading machine had said. [54] There had been a revolt—again a term without any real meaning, a term that could have no reality outside of the reading machine—and the elders were overthrown. [55] Here Rikud had been lost utterly. [56] The people had decided that they did not know where they were going, or why, and that it was unfair that the elders alone had this authority. [57] They were born and they lived and they died as the elders directed, like little cogs in a great machine. [58] Much of this Rikud could not understand, but he knew enough to realize that the reading machine had sided with the people against the elders, and it said the people had won. [59] Now in the health room, Rikud felt a warmth in the rays. [60] Grudgingly, he had to admit to himself that it was not unpleasant. [61] He could see the look of easy contentment on Chuls' face as the rays fanned down upon him, bathing his old body in a forgotten magic which, many generations before Rikud's time, had negated the necessity for a knowledge of medicine. [62] But when, in another ten years, Chuls would perish of old age, the rays would no longer suffice. [63] Nothing would, for Chuls. [64] Rikud often thought of his own death, still seventy-five years in the future, not without a sense of alarm. [65] Yet old Chuls seemed heedless, with only a decade to go. [66] Under the tube at Rikud's left lay Crifer. [67] The man was short and heavy through the shoulders and chest, and he had a lame foot. [68] Every time Rikud looked at that foot, it was with a sense of satisfaction. [69] True, this was the only case of its kind, the exception to the rule, but it proved the world was not perfect. [70] Rikud was guiltily glad when he saw Crifer limp. [71] But, if anyone else saw it, he never said a word. [72] Not even Crifer. [73] Now Crifer said, "I've been reading again, Rikud." [74] "Yes?" [75] Almost no one read any more, and the library was heavy with the smell of dust. [76] Reading represented initiative on the part of Crifer; it meant that, in the two unoccupied hours before sleep, he went to the library and listened to the reading machine. [77] Everyone else simply sat about and talked. [78] That was the custom. [79] Everyone did it. [80] But if he wasn't reading himself, Rikud usually went to sleep. [81] All the people ever talked about was what they had done during the day, and it was always the same. [82] "Yes," said Crifer. [83] "I found a book about the stars. [84] They're also called astronomy, I think." [85] This was a new thought to Rikud, and he propped his head up on one elbow. [86] "What did you find out?" [87] "That's about all. [88] They're just called astronomy, I think." [89] "Well, where's the book?" [90] Rikud would read it tomorrow. [91] "I left it in the library. [92] You can find several of them under 'astronomy,' with a cross-reference under 'stars.' [93] They're synonymous terms." [94] "You know," Rikud said, sitting up now, "the stars in the viewport are changing." [95] "Changing?" [96] Crifer questioned the fuzzy concept as much as he questioned what it might mean in this particular case. [97] "Yes, there are less of them, and one is bigger and brighter than the others." [98] "Astronomy says some stars are variable," Crifer offered, but Rikud knew his lame-footed companion understood the word no better than he did. [99] Over on Rikud's right, Chuls began to dress. [100] "Variability," he told them, "is a contradictory term. [101] Nothing is variable. [102] It can't be." [103] "I'm only saying what I read in the book," Crifer protested mildly. [104] "Well, it's wrong. [105] Variability and change are two words without meaning." [106] "People grow old," Rikud suggested. [107] A buzzer signified that his fifteen minutes under the rays were up, and Chuls said, "It's almost time for me to eat." [108] Rikud frowned. [109] Chuls hadn't even seen the connection between the two concepts, yet it was so clear. [110] Or was it? [111] He had had it a moment ago, but now it faded, and change and old were just two words. [112] His own buzzer sounded a moment later, and it was with a strange feeling of elation that he dressed and made his way back to the viewport. [113] When he passed the door which led to the women's half of the world, however, he paused. [114] He wanted to open that door and see a woman. [115] He had been told about them and he had seen pictures, and he dimly remembered his childhood among women. [116] But his feelings had changed; this was different. [117] Again there were inexplicable feelings—strange channelings of Rikud's energy in new and confusing directions. [118] He shrugged and reserved the thought for later. [119] He wanted to see the stars again. [120] The view had changed, and the strangeness of it made Rikud's pulses leap with excitement. [121] All the stars were paler now than before, and where Rikud had seen the one bright central star, he now saw a globe of light, white with a tinge of blue in it, and so bright that it hurt his eyes to look. [122] Yes, hurt! [123] Rikud looked and looked until his eyes teared and he had to turn away. [124] Here was an unknown factor which the perfect world failed to control. [125] But how could a star change into a blinking blue-white globe—if, indeed, that was the star Rikud had seen earlier? [126] There was that word change again. [127] Didn't it have something to do with age? [128] Rikud couldn't remember, and he suddenly wished he could read Crifer's book on astronomy, which meant the same as stars. [129] Except that it was variable, which was like change, being tied up somehow with age. [130] Presently Rikud became aware that his eyes were not tearing any longer, and he turned to look at the viewport. [131] What he saw now was so new that he couldn't at first accept it. [132] Instead, he blinked and rubbed his eyes, sure that the ball of blue-white fire somehow had damaged them. [133] But the new view persisted. [134] Of stars there were few, and of the blackness, almost nothing. [135] Gone, too, was the burning globe. [136] Something loomed there in the port, so huge that it spread out over almost the entire surface. [137] Something big and round, all grays and greens and browns, and something for which Rikud had no name. [138] A few moments more, and Rikud no longer could see the sphere. [139] A section of it had expanded outward and assumed the rectangular shape of the viewport, and its size as well. [140] It seemed neatly sheered down the middle, so that on one side Rikud saw an expanse of brown and green, and on the other, blue. [141] Startled, Rikud leaped back. [142] The sullen roar in the rear of the world had ceased abruptly. [143] Instead an ominous silence, broken at regular intervals by a sharp booming. [144] Change— "Won't you eat, Rikud?" [145] Chuls called from somewhere down below. [146] "Damn the man," Rikud thought. [147] Then aloud: "Yes, I'll eat. [148] Later." [149] "It's time...." Chuls' voice trailed off again, impotently. [150] But Rikud forgot the old man completely. [151] A new idea occurred to him, and for a while he struggled with it. [152] What he saw—what he had always seen, except that now there was the added factor of change—perhaps did not exist in the viewport. [153] Maybe it existed through the viewport. [154] That was maddening. [155] Rikud turned again to the port, where he could see nothing but an obscuring cloud of white vapor, murky, swirling, more confusing than ever. [156] "Chuls," he called, remembering, "come here." [157] "I am here," said a voice at his elbow. [158] Rikud whirled on the little figure and pointed to the swirling cloud of vapor. [159] "What do you see?" [160] Chuls looked. [161] "The viewport, of course." [162] "What else?" [163] "Else? [164] Nothing." [165] Anger welled up inside Rikud. [166] "All right," he said, "listen. [167] What do you hear?" [168] "Broom, brroom, brrroom!" [169] Chuls imitated the intermittent blasting of the engines. [170] "I'm hungry, Rikud." [171] The old man turned and strode off down the corridor toward the dining room, and Rikud was glad to be alone once more. [172] Now the vapor had departed, except for a few tenuous whisps. [173] For a moment Rikud thought he could see the gardens rearward in the world. [174] But that was silly. [175] What were the gardens doing in the viewport? [176] And besides, Rikud had the distinct feeling that here was something far vaster than the gardens, although all of it existed in the viewport which was no wider than the length of his body. [177] The gardens, moreover, did not jump and dance before his eyes the way the viewport gardens did. [178] Nor did they spin. [179] Nor did the trees grow larger with every jolt. [180] Rikud sat down hard. [181] He blinked. [182] The world had come to rest on the garden of the viewport. [183] For a whole week that view did not change, and Rikud had come to accept it as fact. [184] There—through the viewport and in it—was a garden. [185] A garden larger than the entire world, a garden of plants which Rikud had never seen before, although he had always liked to stroll through the world's garden and he had come to know every plant well. [186] Nevertheless, it was a garden. [187] He told Chuls, but Chuls had responded, "It is the viewport." [188] Crifer, on the other hand, wasn't so sure. [189] "It looks like the garden," he admitted to Rikud. [190] "But why should the garden be in the viewport?" [191] Somehow, Rikud knew this question for a healthy sign. [192] But he could not tell them of his most amazing thought of all. [193] The change in the viewport could mean only one thing. [194] The world had been walking—the word seemed all wrong to Rikud, but he could think of no other, unless it were running. [195] The world had been walking somewhere. [196] That somewhere was the garden and the world had arrived. [197] "It is an old picture of the garden," Chuls suggested, "and the plants are different." [198] "Then they've changed?" [199] "No, merely different." [200] "Well, what about the viewport? [201] It changed. [202] Where are the stars? [203] Where are they, Chuls, if it did not change?" [204] "The stars come out at night." [205] "So there is a change from day to night!" [206] "I didn't say that. [207] The stars simply shine at night. [208] Why should they shine during the day when the world wants them to shine only at night?" [209] "Once they shone all the time." [210] "Naturally," said Crifer, becoming interested. [211] "They are variable." [212] Rikud regretted that he never had had the chance to read that book on astronomy. [213] He hadn't been reading too much lately. [214] The voice of the reading machine had begun to bore him. [215] He said, "Well, variable or not, our whole perspective has changed." [216] And when Chuls looked away in disinterest, Rikud became angry. [217] If only the man would realize! [218] If only anyone would realize! [219] It all seemed so obvious. [220] If he, Rikud, walked from one part of the world to another, it was with a purpose—to eat, or to sleep, or perhaps to bathe in the health-rays. [221] Now if the world had walked from—somewhere, through the vast star-speckled darkness and to the great garden outside, this also was purposeful. [222] The world had arrived at the garden for a reason. [223] But if everyone lived as if the world still stood in blackness, how could they find the nature of that purpose? [224] "I will eat," Chuls said, breaking Rikud's revery. [225] Damn the man, all he did was eat! [226] Yet he did have initiative after a sort. [227] He knew when to eat. [228] Because he was hungry. [229] And Rikud, too, was hungry. [230] Differently. [231] He had long wondered about the door in the back of the library, and now, as Crifer sat cross-legged on one of the dusty tables, reading machine and book on astronomy or stars in his lap, Rikud approached the door. [232] "What's in here?" [233] he demanded. [234] "It's a door, I think," said Crifer. [235] "I know, but what's beyond it?" [236] "Beyond it? [237] Oh, you mean through the door." [238] "Yes." [239] "Well," Crifer scratched his head, "I don't think anyone ever opened it. [240] It's only a door." [241] "I will," said Rikud. [242] "You will what?" [243] "Open it. [244] Open the door and look inside." [245] A long pause. [246] Then, "Can you do it?" [247] "I think so." [248] "You can't, probably. [249] How can anyone go where no one has been before? [250] There's nothing. [251] It just isn't. [252] It's only a door, Rikud." [253] "No—" Rikud began, but the words faded off into a sharp intake of breath. [254] Rikud had turned the knob and pushed. [255] The door opened silently, and Crifer said, "Doors are variable, too, I think." [256] Rikud saw a small room, perhaps half a dozen paces across, at the other end of which was another door, just like the first. [257] Halfway across, Rikud heard a voice not unlike that of the reading machine. [258] He missed the beginning, but then: —therefore, permit no unauthorized persons to go through this door. [259] The machinery in the next room is your protection against the rigors of space. [260] A thousand years from now, journey's end, you may have discarded it for something better—who knows? [261] But if you have not, then here is your protection. [262] As nearly as possible, this ship is a perfect, self-sustaining world. [263] It is more than that: it is human-sustaining as well. [264] Try to hurt yourself and the ship will not permit it—within limits, of course. [265] But you can damage the ship, and to avoid any possibility of that, no unauthorized persons are to be permitted through this door— Rikud gave the voice up as hopeless. [266] There were too many confusing words. [267] What in the world was an unauthorized person? [268] More interesting than that, however, was the second door. [269] Would it lead to another voice? [270] Rikud hoped that it wouldn't. [271] When he opened the door a strange new noise filled his ears, a gentle humming, punctuated by a throb-throb-throb which sounded not unlike the booming of the engines last week, except that this new sound didn't blast nearly so loudly against his eardrums. [272] And what met Rikud's eyes—he blinked and looked again, but it was still there—cogs and gears and wheels and nameless things all strange and beautiful because they shone with a luster unfamiliar to him. [273] "Odd," Rikud said aloud. [274] Then he thought, "Now there's a good word, but no one quite seems to know its meaning." [275] Odder still was the third door. [276] Rikud suddenly thought there might exist an endless succession of them, especially when the third one opened on a bare tunnel which led to yet another door. [277] Only this one was different. [278] In it Rikud saw the viewport. [279] But how? [280] The viewport stood on the other end of the world. [281] It did seem smaller, and, although it looked out on the garden, Rikud sensed that the topography was different. [282] Then the garden extended even farther than he had thought. [283] It was endless, extending all the way to a ridge of mounds way off in the distance. [284] And this door one could walk through, into the garden. [285] Rikud put his hand on the door, all the while watching the garden through the new viewport. [286] He began to turn the handle. [287] Then he trembled. [288] What would he do out in the garden? [289] He couldn't go alone. [290] He'd die of the strangeness. [291] It was a silly thought; no one ever died of anything until he was a hundred. [292] Rikud couldn't fathom the rapid thumping of his heart. [293] And Rikud's mouth felt dry; he wanted to swallow, but couldn't. [294] Slowly, he took his hand off the door lever. [295] He made his way back through the tunnel and then through the room of machinery and finally through the little room with the confusing voice to Crifer. [296] By the time he reached the lame-footed man, Rikud was running. [297] He did not dare once to look back. [298] He stood shaking at Crifer's side, and sweat covered him in a clammy film. [299] He never wanted to look at the garden again. [300] Not when he knew there was a door through which he could walk and then might find himself in the garden. [301] It was so big. [302] Three or four days passed before Rikud calmed himself enough to talk about his experience. [303] When he did, only Crifer seemed at all interested, yet the lame-footed man's mind was inadequate to cope with the situation. [304] He suggested that the viewport might also be variable and Rikud found himself wishing that his friend had never read that book on astronomy. [305] Chuls did not believe Rikud at all. [306] "There are not that many doors in the world," he said. [307] "The library has a door and there is a door to the women's quarters; in five years, the Calculator will send you through that. [308] But there are no others." [309] Chuls smiled an indulgent smile and Rikud came nearer to him. [310] "Now, by the world, there are two other doors!" [311] Rikud began to shout, and everyone looked at him queerly. [312] "What are you doing that for?" [313] demanded Wilm, who was shorter even than Crifer, but had no lame foot. [314] "Doing what?" [315] "Speaking so loudly when Chuls, who is close, obviously has no trouble hearing you." [316] "Maybe yelling will make him understand." [317] Crifer hobbled about on his good foot, doing a meaningless little jig. [318] "Why don't we go see?" [319] he suggested. [320] Then, confused, he frowned. [321] "Well, I won't go," Chuls replied. [322] "There's no reason to go. [323] If Rikud has been imagining things, why should I?" [324] "I imagined nothing. [325] I'll show you—" "You'll show me nothing because I won't go." [326] Rikud grabbed Chuls' blouse with his big fist. [327] Then, startled by what he did, his hands began to tremble. [328] But he held on, and he tugged at the blouse. [329] "Stop that," said the older man, mildly. [330] Crifer hopped up and down. [331] "Look what Rikud's doing! [332] I don't know what he's doing, but look. [333] He's holding Chuls' blouse." [334] "Stop that," repeated Chuls, his face reddening. [335] "Only if you'll go with me." [336] Rikud was panting. [337] Chuls tugged at his wrist. [338] By this time a crowd had gathered. [339] Some of them watched Crifer jump up and down, but most of them watched Rikud holding Chuls' blouse. [340] "I think I can do that," declared Wilm, clutching a fistful of Crifer's shirt. [341] Presently, the members of the crowd had pretty well paired off, each partner grabbing for his companion's blouse. [342] They giggled and laughed and some began to hop up and down as Crifer had done. [343] A buzzer sounded and automatically Rikud found himself releasing Chuls. [344] Chuls said, forgetting the incident completely, "Time to retire." [345] In a moment, the room was cleared. [346] Rikud stood alone. [347] He cleared his throat and listened to the sound, all by itself in the stillness. [348] What would have happened if they hadn't retired? [349] But they always did things punctually like that, whenever the buzzer sounded. [350] They ate with the buzzer, bathed in the health-rays with it, slept with it. [351] What would they do if the buzzer stopped buzzing? [352] This frightened Rikud, although he didn't know why. [353] He'd like it, though. [354] Maybe then he could take them outside with him to the big garden of the two viewports. [355] And then he wouldn't be afraid because he could huddle close to them and he wouldn't be alone. [356] Rikud heard the throbbing again as he stood in the room of the machinery. [357] For a long time he watched the wheels and cogs and gears spinning and humming. [358] He watched for he knew not how long. [359] And then he began to wonder. [360] If he destroyed the wheels and the cogs and the gears, would the buzzer stop? [361] It probably would, because, as Rikud saw it, he was clearly an "unauthorized person." [362] He had heard the voice again upon entering the room. [363] He found a metal rod, bright and shiny, three feet long and half as wide as his arm. [364] He tugged at it and it came loose from the wires that held it in place. [365] He hefted it carefully for a moment, and then he swung the bar into the mass of metal. [366] Each time he heard a grinding, crashing sound. [367] He looked as the gears and cogs and wheels crumbled under his blows, shattered by the strength of his arm. [368] Almost casually he strode about the room, but his blows were not casual. [369] Soon his easy strides had given way to frenzied running. [370] Rikud smashed everything in sight. [371] When the lights winked out, he stopped. [372] Anyway, by that time the room was a shambles of twisted, broken metal. [373] He laughed, softly at first, but presently he was roaring, and the sound doubled and redoubled in his ears because now the throbbing had stopped. [374] He opened the door and ran through the little corridor to the smaller viewport. [375] Outside he could see the stars, and, dimly, the terrain beneath them. [376] But everything was so dark that only the stars shone clearly. [377] All else was bathed in a shadow of unreality. [378] Rikud never wanted to do anything more than he wanted to open that door. [379] But his hands trembled too much when he touched it, and once, when he pressed his face close against the viewport, there in the darkness, something bright flashed briefly through the sky and was gone. [380] Whimpering, he fled. [381] All around Rikud were darkness and hunger and thirst. [382] The buzzer did not sound because Rikud had silenced it forever. [383] And no one went to eat or drink. [384] Rikud himself had fumbled through the blackness and the whimpering to the dining room, his tongue dry and swollen, but the smooth belt that flowed with water and with savory dishes did not run any more. [385] The machinery, Rikud realized, also was responsible for food. [386] Chuls said, over and over, "I'm hungry." [387] "We will eat and we will drink when the buzzer tells us," Wilm replied confidently. [388] "It won't any more," Rikud said. [389] "What won't?" [390] "The buzzer will never sound again. [391] I broke it." [392] Crifer growled. [393] "I know. [394] You shouldn't have done it. [395] That was a bad thing you did, Rikud." [396] "It was not bad. [397] The world has moved through the blackness and the stars and now we should go outside to live in the big garden there beyond the viewport." [398] "That's ridiculous," Chuls said. [399] Even Crifer now was angry at Rikud. [400] "He broke the buzzer and no one can eat. [401] I hate Rikud, I think." [402] There was a lot of noise in the darkness, and someone else said, "I hate Rikud." [403] Then everyone was saying it. [404] Rikud was sad. [405] Soon he would die, because no one would go outside with him and he could not go outside alone. [406] In five more years he would have had a woman, too. [407] He wondered if it was dark and hungry in the women's quarters. [408] Did women eat? [409] Perhaps they ate plants. [410] Once, in the garden, Rikud had broken off a frond and tasted it. [411] It had been bitter, but not unpleasant. [412] Maybe the plants in the viewport would even be better. [413] "We will not be hungry if we go outside," he said. [414] "We can eat there." [415] "We can eat if the buzzer sounds, but it is broken," Chuls said dully. [416] Crifer shrilled, "Maybe it is only variable and will buzz again." [417] "No," Rikud assured him. [418] "It won't." [419] "Then you broke it and I hate you," said Crifer. [420] "We should break you, too, to show you how it is to be broken." [421] "We must go outside—through the viewport." [422] Rikud listened to the odd gurgling sound his stomach made. [423] A hand reached out in the darkness and grabbed at his head. [424] He heard Crifer's voice. [425] "I have Rikud's head." [426] The voice was nasty, hostile. [427] Crifer, more than anyone, had been his friend. [428] But now that he had broken the machinery, Crifer was his enemy, because Crifer came nearer to understanding the situation than anyone except Rikud. [429] The hand reached out again, and it struck Rikud hard across the face. [430] "I hit him! [431] I hit him!" [432] Other hands reached out, and Rikud stumbled. [433] He fell and then someone was on top of him, and he struggled. [434] He rolled and was up again, and he did not like the sound of the angry voices. [435] Someone said, "Let us do to Rikud what he said he did to the machinery." [436] Rikud ran. [437] In the darkness, his feet prodded many bodies. [438] There were those who were too weak to rise. [439] Rikud, too, felt a strange light-headedness and a gnawing hurt in his stomach. [440] But it didn't matter. [441] He heard the angry voices and the feet pounding behind him, and he wanted only to get away. [442] It was dark and he was hungry and everyone who was strong enough to run was chasing him, but every time he thought of the garden outside, and how big it was, the darkness and the hunger and the people chasing him were unimportant. [443] It was so big that it would swallow him up completely and positively. [444] He became sickly giddy thinking about it. [445] But if he didn't open the door and go into the garden outside, he would die because he had no food and no water and his stomach gurgled and grumbled and hurt. [446] And everyone was chasing him. [447] He stumbled through the darkness and felt his way back to the library, through the inner door and into the room with the voice—but the voice didn't speak this time—through its door and into the place of machinery. [448] Behind him, he could hear the voices at the first door, and he thought for a moment that no one would come after him. [449] But he heard Crifer yell something, and then feet pounding in the passage. [450] Rikud tripped over something and sprawled awkwardly across the floor. [451] He felt a sharp hurt in his head, and when he reached up to touch it with his hands there in the darkness, his fingers came away wet. [452] He got up slowly and opened the next door. [453] The voices behind him were closer now. [454] Light streamed in through the viewport. [455] After the darkness, it frightened Rikud and it made his eyes smart, and he could hear those behind him retreating to a safe distance. [456] But their voices were not far away, and he knew they would come after him because they wanted to break him. [457] Rikud looked out upon the garden and he trembled. [458] Out there was life. [459] The garden stretched off in unthinkable immensity to the cluster of low mounds against the bright blue which roofed the many plants. [460] If plants could live out there as they did within the world, then so could people. [461] Rikud and his people should . [462] This was why the world had moved across the darkness and the stars for all Rikud's lifetime and more. [463] But he was afraid. [464] He reached up and grasped the handle of the door and he saw that his fingers were red with the wetness which had come from his hurt head. [465] Slowly he slipped to the cool floor—how his head was burning!—and for a long time he lay there, thinking he would never rise again. [466] Inside he heard the voices again, and soon a foot and then another pounded on the metal of the passage. [467] He heard Crifer's voice louder than the rest: "There is Rikud on the floor!" [468] Tugging at the handle of the door, Rikud pulled himself upright. [469] Something small and brown scurried across the other side of the viewport and Rikud imagined it turned to look at him with two hideous red eyes. [470] Rikud screamed and hurtled back through the corridor, and his face was so terrible in the light streaming in through the viewport that everyone fled before him. [471] He stumbled again in the place of the machinery, and down on his hands and knees he fondled the bits of metal which he could see in the dim light through the open door. [472] "Where's the buzzer?" [473] he sobbed. [474] "I must find the buzzer." [475] Crifer's voice, from the darkness inside, said, "You broke it. [476] You broke it. [477] And now we will break you—" Rikud got up and ran. [478] He reached the door again and then he slipped down against it, exhausted. [479] Behind him, the voices and the footsteps came, and soon he saw Crifer's head peer in through the passageway. [480] Then there were others, and then they were walking toward him. [481] His head whirled and the viewport seemed to swim in a haze. [482] Could it be variable, as Crifer had suggested? [483] He wondered if the scurrying brown thing waited somewhere, and nausea struck at the pit of his stomach. [484] But if the plants could live out there and the scurrying thing could live and that was why the world had moved through the blackness, then so could he live out there, and Crifer and all the others.... [485] So tightly did he grip the handle that his fingers began to hurt. [486] And his heart pounded hard and he felt the pulses leaping on either side of his neck. [487] He stared out into the garden, and off into the distance, where the blue-white globe which might have been a star stood just above the row of mounds. [488] Crifer was tugging at him, trying to pull him away from the door, and someone was grabbing at his legs, trying to make him fall. [489] He kicked out and the hands let go, and then he turned the handle and shoved the weight of his body with all his strength against the door. [490] It opened and he stepped outside into the warmth. [491] The air was fresh, fresher than any air Rikud had ever breathed. [492] He walked around aimlessly, touching the plants and bending down to feel the floor, and sometimes he looked at the blue-white globe on the horizon. [493] It was all very beautiful. [494] Near the ship, water that did not come from a machine gurgled across the land, and Rikud lay down and drank. [495] It was cool and good, and when he got up, Crifer and Wilm were outside the world, and some of the others followed. [496] They stood around for a long time before going to the water to drink. [497] Rikud sat down and tore off a piece of a plant, munching on it. [498] It was good. [499] Crifer picked his head up, from the water, his chin wet. [500] "Even feelings are variable. [501] I don't hate you now, Rikud." [502] Rikud smiled, staring at the ship. [503] "People are variable, too, Crifer. [504] That is, if those creatures coming from the ship are people." [505] "They're women," said Crifer. [506] They were strangely shaped in some ways, and yet in others completely human, and their voices were high, like singing. [507] Rikud found them oddly exciting. [508] He liked them. [509] He liked the garden, for all its hugeness. [510] With so many people, and especially now with women, he was not afraid. [511] It was much better than the small world of machinery, buzzer, frightening doors and women by appointment only. [512] Rikud felt at home.

1. [4] Every day for a week now, Rikud had come to the viewport to watch the great changeless sweep of space. 2. [10] Today, space looked somehow different. 3. [11] The stars—it was a meaningless concept to Rikud, but that was what everyone called the bright pinpoints of light on the black backdrop in the viewport—were not apparent in the speckled profusion Rikud had always known. 4. [12] Instead, there was more of the blackness, and one very bright star set apart by itself in the middle of the viewport. 5. [37] He had the distinct notion it was growing larger every moment. 6. [120] The view had changed, and the strangeness of it made Rikud's pulses leap with excitement. 7. [121] All the stars were paler now than before, and where Rikud had seen the one bright central star, he now saw a globe of light, white with a tinge of blue in it, and so bright that it hurt his eyes to look. 8. [130] What he saw now was so new that he couldn't at first accept it. 9. [134] Gone, too, was the burning globe. 10. [135] Something loomed there in the port, so huge that it spread out over almost the entire surface. 11. [136] Something big and round, all grays and greens and browns, and something for which Rikud had no name. 12. [140] It seemed neatly sheered down the middle, so that on one side Rikud saw an expanse of brown and green, and on the other, blue. 13. [172] Now the vapor had departed, except for a few tenuous whisps. 14. [173] For a moment Rikud thought he could see the gardens rearward in the world. 15. [174] But that was silly. 16. [175] What were the gardens doing in the viewport? 17. [176] And besides, Rikud had the distinct feeling that here was something far vaster than the gardens, although all of it existed in the viewport which was no wider than the length of his body. 18. [177] The gardens, moreover, did not jump and dance before his eyes the way the viewport gardens did. 19. [178] Nor did they spin. 20. [179] Nor did the trees grow larger with every jolt. 21. [182] The world had come to rest on the garden of the viewport. 22. [183] For a whole week that view did not change, and Rikud had come to accept it as fact. 23. [184] There—through the viewport and in it—was a garden. 24. [185] A garden larger than the entire world, a garden of plants which Rikud had never seen before, although he had always liked to stroll through the world's garden and he had come to know every plant well. 25. [193] The change in the viewport could mean only one thing. 26. [194] The world had been walking—the word seemed all wrong to Rikud, but he could think of no other, unless it were running. 27. [195] The world had been walking somewhere. 28. [196] That somewhere was the garden and the world had arrived. 29. [200] Well, what about the viewport? 30. [201] It changed. 31. [202] Where are the stars? 32. [203] Where are they, Chuls, if it did not change? 33. [215] Our whole perspective has changed.

What is the significance of "variability" in the story?

[1] The Sense of Wonder By MILTON LESSER Illustrated by HARRY ROSENBAUM [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction September 1951. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] When nobody aboard ship remembers where it's going, how can they tell when it has arrived? [4] Every day for a week now, Rikud had come to the viewport to watch the great changeless sweep of space. [5] He could not quite explain the feelings within him; they were so alien, so unnatural. [6] But ever since the engines somewhere in the rear of the world had changed their tone, from the steady whining Rikud had heard all twenty-five years of his life, to the sullen roar that came to his ears now, the feelings had grown. [7] If anyone else had noticed the change, he failed to mention it. [8] This disturbed Rikud, although he could not tell why. [9] And, because he had realized this odd difference in himself, he kept it locked up inside him. [10] Today, space looked somehow different. [11] The stars—it was a meaningless concept to Rikud, but that was what everyone called the bright pinpoints of light on the black backdrop in the viewport—were not apparent in the speckled profusion Rikud had always known. [12] Instead, there was more of the blackness, and one very bright star set apart by itself in the middle of the viewport. [13] If he had understood the term, Rikud would have told himself this was odd. [14] His head ached with the half-born thought. [15] It was—it was—what was it? [16] Someone was clomping up the companionway behind Rikud. [17] He turned and greeted gray-haired old Chuls. [18] "In five more years," the older man chided, "you'll be ready to sire children. [19] And all you can do in the meantime is gaze out at the stars." [20] Rikud knew he should be exercising now, or bathing in the rays of the health-lamps. [21] It had never occurred to him that he didn't feel like it; he just didn't, without comprehending. [22] Chuls' reminder fostered uneasiness. [23] Often Rikud had dreamed of the time he would be thirty and a father. [24] Whom would the Calculator select as his mate? [25] The first time this idea had occurred to him, Rikud ignored it. [26] But it came again, and each time it left him with a feeling he could not explain. [27] Why should he think thoughts that no other man had? [28] Why should he think he was thinking such thoughts, when it always embroiled him in a hopeless, infinite confusion that left him with a headache? [29] Chuls said, "It is time for my bath in the health-rays. [30] I saw you here and knew it was your time, too...." His voice trailed off. [31] Rikud knew that something which he could not explain had entered the elder man's head for a moment, but it had departed almost before Chuls knew of its existence. [32] "I'll go with you," Rikud told him. [33] A hardly perceptible purple glow pervaded the air in the room of the health-rays. [34] Perhaps two score men lay about, naked, under the ray tubes. [35] Chuls stripped himself and selected the space under a vacant tube. [36] Rikud, for his part, wanted to get back to the viewport and watch the one new bright star. [37] He had the distinct notion it was growing larger every moment. [38] He turned to go, but the door clicked shut and a metallic voice said. [39] "Fifteen minutes under the tubes, please." [40] Rikud muttered to himself and undressed. [41] The world had begun to annoy him. [42] Now why shouldn't a man be permitted to do what he wanted, when he wanted to do it? [43] There was a strange thought, and Rikud's brain whirled once more down the tortuous course of half-formed questions and unsatisfactory answers. [44] He had even wondered what it was like to get hurt. [45] No one ever got hurt. [46] Once, here in this same ray room, he had had the impulse to hurl himself head-first against the wall, just to see what would happen. [47] But something soft had cushioned the impact—something which had come into being just for the moment and then abruptly passed into non-being again, something which was as impalpable as air. [48] Rikud had been stopped in this action, although there was no real authority to stop him. [49] This puzzled him, because somehow he felt that there should have been authority. [50] A long time ago the reading machine in the library had told him of the elders—a meaningless term—who had governed the world. [51] They told you to do something and you did it, but that was silly, because now no one told you to do anything. [52] You only listened to the buzzer. [53] And Rikud could remember the rest of what the reading machine had said. [54] There had been a revolt—again a term without any real meaning, a term that could have no reality outside of the reading machine—and the elders were overthrown. [55] Here Rikud had been lost utterly. [56] The people had decided that they did not know where they were going, or why, and that it was unfair that the elders alone had this authority. [57] They were born and they lived and they died as the elders directed, like little cogs in a great machine. [58] Much of this Rikud could not understand, but he knew enough to realize that the reading machine had sided with the people against the elders, and it said the people had won. [59] Now in the health room, Rikud felt a warmth in the rays. [60] Grudgingly, he had to admit to himself that it was not unpleasant. [61] He could see the look of easy contentment on Chuls' face as the rays fanned down upon him, bathing his old body in a forgotten magic which, many generations before Rikud's time, had negated the necessity for a knowledge of medicine. [62] But when, in another ten years, Chuls would perish of old age, the rays would no longer suffice. [63] Nothing would, for Chuls. [64] Rikud often thought of his own death, still seventy-five years in the future, not without a sense of alarm. [65] Yet old Chuls seemed heedless, with only a decade to go. [66] Under the tube at Rikud's left lay Crifer. [67] The man was short and heavy through the shoulders and chest, and he had a lame foot. [68] Every time Rikud looked at that foot, it was with a sense of satisfaction. [69] True, this was the only case of its kind, the exception to the rule, but it proved the world was not perfect. [70] Rikud was guiltily glad when he saw Crifer limp. [71] But, if anyone else saw it, he never said a word. [72] Not even Crifer. [73] Now Crifer said, "I've been reading again, Rikud." [74] "Yes?" [75] Almost no one read any more, and the library was heavy with the smell of dust. [76] Reading represented initiative on the part of Crifer; it meant that, in the two unoccupied hours before sleep, he went to the library and listened to the reading machine. [77] Everyone else simply sat about and talked. [78] That was the custom. [79] Everyone did it. [80] But if he wasn't reading himself, Rikud usually went to sleep. [81] All the people ever talked about was what they had done during the day, and it was always the same. [82] "Yes," said Crifer. [83] "I found a book about the stars. [84] They're also called astronomy, I think." [85] This was a new thought to Rikud, and he propped his head up on one elbow. [86] "What did you find out?" [87] "That's about all. [88] They're just called astronomy, I think." [89] "Well, where's the book?" [90] Rikud would read it tomorrow. [91] "I left it in the library. [92] You can find several of them under 'astronomy,' with a cross-reference under 'stars.' [93] They're synonymous terms." [94] "You know," Rikud said, sitting up now, "the stars in the viewport are changing." [95] "Changing?" [96] Crifer questioned the fuzzy concept as much as he questioned what it might mean in this particular case. [97] "Yes, there are less of them, and one is bigger and brighter than the others." [98] "Astronomy says some stars are variable," Crifer offered, but Rikud knew his lame-footed companion understood the word no better than he did. [99] Over on Rikud's right, Chuls began to dress. [100] "Variability," he told them, "is a contradictory term. [101] Nothing is variable. [102] It can't be." [103] "I'm only saying what I read in the book," Crifer protested mildly. [104] "Well, it's wrong. [105] Variability and change are two words without meaning." [106] "People grow old," Rikud suggested. [107] A buzzer signified that his fifteen minutes under the rays were up, and Chuls said, "It's almost time for me to eat." [108] Rikud frowned. [109] Chuls hadn't even seen the connection between the two concepts, yet it was so clear. [110] Or was it? [111] He had had it a moment ago, but now it faded, and change and old were just two words. [112] His own buzzer sounded a moment later, and it was with a strange feeling of elation that he dressed and made his way back to the viewport. [113] When he passed the door which led to the women's half of the world, however, he paused. [114] He wanted to open that door and see a woman. [115] He had been told about them and he had seen pictures, and he dimly remembered his childhood among women. [116] But his feelings had changed; this was different. [117] Again there were inexplicable feelings—strange channelings of Rikud's energy in new and confusing directions. [118] He shrugged and reserved the thought for later. [119] He wanted to see the stars again. [120] The view had changed, and the strangeness of it made Rikud's pulses leap with excitement. [121] All the stars were paler now than before, and where Rikud had seen the one bright central star, he now saw a globe of light, white with a tinge of blue in it, and so bright that it hurt his eyes to look. [122] Yes, hurt! [123] Rikud looked and looked until his eyes teared and he had to turn away. [124] Here was an unknown factor which the perfect world failed to control. [125] But how could a star change into a blinking blue-white globe—if, indeed, that was the star Rikud had seen earlier? [126] There was that word change again. [127] Didn't it have something to do with age? [128] Rikud couldn't remember, and he suddenly wished he could read Crifer's book on astronomy, which meant the same as stars. [129] Except that it was variable, which was like change, being tied up somehow with age. [130] Presently Rikud became aware that his eyes were not tearing any longer, and he turned to look at the viewport. [131] What he saw now was so new that he couldn't at first accept it. [132] Instead, he blinked and rubbed his eyes, sure that the ball of blue-white fire somehow had damaged them. [133] But the new view persisted. [134] Of stars there were few, and of the blackness, almost nothing. [135] Gone, too, was the burning globe. [136] Something loomed there in the port, so huge that it spread out over almost the entire surface. [137] Something big and round, all grays and greens and browns, and something for which Rikud had no name. [138] A few moments more, and Rikud no longer could see the sphere. [139] A section of it had expanded outward and assumed the rectangular shape of the viewport, and its size as well. [140] It seemed neatly sheered down the middle, so that on one side Rikud saw an expanse of brown and green, and on the other, blue. [141] Startled, Rikud leaped back. [142] The sullen roar in the rear of the world had ceased abruptly. [143] Instead an ominous silence, broken at regular intervals by a sharp booming. [144] Change— "Won't you eat, Rikud?" [145] Chuls called from somewhere down below. [146] "Damn the man," Rikud thought. [147] Then aloud: "Yes, I'll eat. [148] Later." [149] "It's time...." Chuls' voice trailed off again, impotently. [150] But Rikud forgot the old man completely. [151] A new idea occurred to him, and for a while he struggled with it. [152] What he saw—what he had always seen, except that now there was the added factor of change—perhaps did not exist in the viewport. [153] Maybe it existed through the viewport. [154] That was maddening. [155] Rikud turned again to the port, where he could see nothing but an obscuring cloud of white vapor, murky, swirling, more confusing than ever. [156] "Chuls," he called, remembering, "come here." [157] "I am here," said a voice at his elbow. [158] Rikud whirled on the little figure and pointed to the swirling cloud of vapor. [159] "What do you see?" [160] Chuls looked. [161] "The viewport, of course." [162] "What else?" [163] "Else? [164] Nothing." [165] Anger welled up inside Rikud. [166] "All right," he said, "listen. [167] What do you hear?" [168] "Broom, brroom, brrroom!" [169] Chuls imitated the intermittent blasting of the engines. [170] "I'm hungry, Rikud." [171] The old man turned and strode off down the corridor toward the dining room, and Rikud was glad to be alone once more. [172] Now the vapor had departed, except for a few tenuous whisps. [173] For a moment Rikud thought he could see the gardens rearward in the world. [174] But that was silly. [175] What were the gardens doing in the viewport? [176] And besides, Rikud had the distinct feeling that here was something far vaster than the gardens, although all of it existed in the viewport which was no wider than the length of his body. [177] The gardens, moreover, did not jump and dance before his eyes the way the viewport gardens did. [178] Nor did they spin. [179] Nor did the trees grow larger with every jolt. [180] Rikud sat down hard. [181] He blinked. [182] The world had come to rest on the garden of the viewport. [183] For a whole week that view did not change, and Rikud had come to accept it as fact. [184] There—through the viewport and in it—was a garden. [185] A garden larger than the entire world, a garden of plants which Rikud had never seen before, although he had always liked to stroll through the world's garden and he had come to know every plant well. [186] Nevertheless, it was a garden. [187] He told Chuls, but Chuls had responded, "It is the viewport." [188] Crifer, on the other hand, wasn't so sure. [189] "It looks like the garden," he admitted to Rikud. [190] "But why should the garden be in the viewport?" [191] Somehow, Rikud knew this question for a healthy sign. [192] But he could not tell them of his most amazing thought of all. [193] The change in the viewport could mean only one thing. [194] The world had been walking—the word seemed all wrong to Rikud, but he could think of no other, unless it were running. [195] The world had been walking somewhere. [196] That somewhere was the garden and the world had arrived. [197] "It is an old picture of the garden," Chuls suggested, "and the plants are different." [198] "Then they've changed?" [199] "No, merely different." [200] "Well, what about the viewport? [201] It changed. [202] Where are the stars? [203] Where are they, Chuls, if it did not change?" [204] "The stars come out at night." [205] "So there is a change from day to night!" [206] "I didn't say that. [207] The stars simply shine at night. [208] Why should they shine during the day when the world wants them to shine only at night?" [209] "Once they shone all the time." [210] "Naturally," said Crifer, becoming interested. [211] "They are variable." [212] Rikud regretted that he never had had the chance to read that book on astronomy. [213] He hadn't been reading too much lately. [214] The voice of the reading machine had begun to bore him. [215] He said, "Well, variable or not, our whole perspective has changed." [216] And when Chuls looked away in disinterest, Rikud became angry. [217] If only the man would realize! [218] If only anyone would realize! [219] It all seemed so obvious. [220] If he, Rikud, walked from one part of the world to another, it was with a purpose—to eat, or to sleep, or perhaps to bathe in the health-rays. [221] Now if the world had walked from—somewhere, through the vast star-speckled darkness and to the great garden outside, this also was purposeful. [222] The world had arrived at the garden for a reason. [223] But if everyone lived as if the world still stood in blackness, how could they find the nature of that purpose? [224] "I will eat," Chuls said, breaking Rikud's revery. [225] Damn the man, all he did was eat! [226] Yet he did have initiative after a sort. [227] He knew when to eat. [228] Because he was hungry. [229] And Rikud, too, was hungry. [230] Differently. [231] He had long wondered about the door in the back of the library, and now, as Crifer sat cross-legged on one of the dusty tables, reading machine and book on astronomy or stars in his lap, Rikud approached the door. [232] "What's in here?" [233] he demanded. [234] "It's a door, I think," said Crifer. [235] "I know, but what's beyond it?" [236] "Beyond it? [237] Oh, you mean through the door." [238] "Yes." [239] "Well," Crifer scratched his head, "I don't think anyone ever opened it. [240] It's only a door." [241] "I will," said Rikud. [242] "You will what?" [243] "Open it. [244] Open the door and look inside." [245] A long pause. [246] Then, "Can you do it?" [247] "I think so." [248] "You can't, probably. [249] How can anyone go where no one has been before? [250] There's nothing. [251] It just isn't. [252] It's only a door, Rikud." [253] "No—" Rikud began, but the words faded off into a sharp intake of breath. [254] Rikud had turned the knob and pushed. [255] The door opened silently, and Crifer said, "Doors are variable, too, I think." [256] Rikud saw a small room, perhaps half a dozen paces across, at the other end of which was another door, just like the first. [257] Halfway across, Rikud heard a voice not unlike that of the reading machine. [258] He missed the beginning, but then: —therefore, permit no unauthorized persons to go through this door. [259] The machinery in the next room is your protection against the rigors of space. [260] A thousand years from now, journey's end, you may have discarded it for something better—who knows? [261] But if you have not, then here is your protection. [262] As nearly as possible, this ship is a perfect, self-sustaining world. [263] It is more than that: it is human-sustaining as well. [264] Try to hurt yourself and the ship will not permit it—within limits, of course. [265] But you can damage the ship, and to avoid any possibility of that, no unauthorized persons are to be permitted through this door— Rikud gave the voice up as hopeless. [266] There were too many confusing words. [267] What in the world was an unauthorized person? [268] More interesting than that, however, was the second door. [269] Would it lead to another voice? [270] Rikud hoped that it wouldn't. [271] When he opened the door a strange new noise filled his ears, a gentle humming, punctuated by a throb-throb-throb which sounded not unlike the booming of the engines last week, except that this new sound didn't blast nearly so loudly against his eardrums. [272] And what met Rikud's eyes—he blinked and looked again, but it was still there—cogs and gears and wheels and nameless things all strange and beautiful because they shone with a luster unfamiliar to him. [273] "Odd," Rikud said aloud. [274] Then he thought, "Now there's a good word, but no one quite seems to know its meaning." [275] Odder still was the third door. [276] Rikud suddenly thought there might exist an endless succession of them, especially when the third one opened on a bare tunnel which led to yet another door. [277] Only this one was different. [278] In it Rikud saw the viewport. [279] But how? [280] The viewport stood on the other end of the world. [281] It did seem smaller, and, although it looked out on the garden, Rikud sensed that the topography was different. [282] Then the garden extended even farther than he had thought. [283] It was endless, extending all the way to a ridge of mounds way off in the distance. [284] And this door one could walk through, into the garden. [285] Rikud put his hand on the door, all the while watching the garden through the new viewport. [286] He began to turn the handle. [287] Then he trembled. [288] What would he do out in the garden? [289] He couldn't go alone. [290] He'd die of the strangeness. [291] It was a silly thought; no one ever died of anything until he was a hundred. [292] Rikud couldn't fathom the rapid thumping of his heart. [293] And Rikud's mouth felt dry; he wanted to swallow, but couldn't. [294] Slowly, he took his hand off the door lever. [295] He made his way back through the tunnel and then through the room of machinery and finally through the little room with the confusing voice to Crifer. [296] By the time he reached the lame-footed man, Rikud was running. [297] He did not dare once to look back. [298] He stood shaking at Crifer's side, and sweat covered him in a clammy film. [299] He never wanted to look at the garden again. [300] Not when he knew there was a door through which he could walk and then might find himself in the garden. [301] It was so big. [302] Three or four days passed before Rikud calmed himself enough to talk about his experience. [303] When he did, only Crifer seemed at all interested, yet the lame-footed man's mind was inadequate to cope with the situation. [304] He suggested that the viewport might also be variable and Rikud found himself wishing that his friend had never read that book on astronomy. [305] Chuls did not believe Rikud at all. [306] "There are not that many doors in the world," he said. [307] "The library has a door and there is a door to the women's quarters; in five years, the Calculator will send you through that. [308] But there are no others." [309] Chuls smiled an indulgent smile and Rikud came nearer to him. [310] "Now, by the world, there are two other doors!" [311] Rikud began to shout, and everyone looked at him queerly. [312] "What are you doing that for?" [313] demanded Wilm, who was shorter even than Crifer, but had no lame foot. [314] "Doing what?" [315] "Speaking so loudly when Chuls, who is close, obviously has no trouble hearing you." [316] "Maybe yelling will make him understand." [317] Crifer hobbled about on his good foot, doing a meaningless little jig. [318] "Why don't we go see?" [319] he suggested. [320] Then, confused, he frowned. [321] "Well, I won't go," Chuls replied. [322] "There's no reason to go. [323] If Rikud has been imagining things, why should I?" [324] "I imagined nothing. [325] I'll show you—" "You'll show me nothing because I won't go." [326] Rikud grabbed Chuls' blouse with his big fist. [327] Then, startled by what he did, his hands began to tremble. [328] But he held on, and he tugged at the blouse. [329] "Stop that," said the older man, mildly. [330] Crifer hopped up and down. [331] "Look what Rikud's doing! [332] I don't know what he's doing, but look. [333] He's holding Chuls' blouse." [334] "Stop that," repeated Chuls, his face reddening. [335] "Only if you'll go with me." [336] Rikud was panting. [337] Chuls tugged at his wrist. [338] By this time a crowd had gathered. [339] Some of them watched Crifer jump up and down, but most of them watched Rikud holding Chuls' blouse. [340] "I think I can do that," declared Wilm, clutching a fistful of Crifer's shirt. [341] Presently, the members of the crowd had pretty well paired off, each partner grabbing for his companion's blouse. [342] They giggled and laughed and some began to hop up and down as Crifer had done. [343] A buzzer sounded and automatically Rikud found himself releasing Chuls. [344] Chuls said, forgetting the incident completely, "Time to retire." [345] In a moment, the room was cleared. [346] Rikud stood alone. [347] He cleared his throat and listened to the sound, all by itself in the stillness. [348] What would have happened if they hadn't retired? [349] But they always did things punctually like that, whenever the buzzer sounded. [350] They ate with the buzzer, bathed in the health-rays with it, slept with it. [351] What would they do if the buzzer stopped buzzing? [352] This frightened Rikud, although he didn't know why. [353] He'd like it, though. [354] Maybe then he could take them outside with him to the big garden of the two viewports. [355] And then he wouldn't be afraid because he could huddle close to them and he wouldn't be alone. [356] Rikud heard the throbbing again as he stood in the room of the machinery. [357] For a long time he watched the wheels and cogs and gears spinning and humming. [358] He watched for he knew not how long. [359] And then he began to wonder. [360] If he destroyed the wheels and the cogs and the gears, would the buzzer stop? [361] It probably would, because, as Rikud saw it, he was clearly an "unauthorized person." [362] He had heard the voice again upon entering the room. [363] He found a metal rod, bright and shiny, three feet long and half as wide as his arm. [364] He tugged at it and it came loose from the wires that held it in place. [365] He hefted it carefully for a moment, and then he swung the bar into the mass of metal. [366] Each time he heard a grinding, crashing sound. [367] He looked as the gears and cogs and wheels crumbled under his blows, shattered by the strength of his arm. [368] Almost casually he strode about the room, but his blows were not casual. [369] Soon his easy strides had given way to frenzied running. [370] Rikud smashed everything in sight. [371] When the lights winked out, he stopped. [372] Anyway, by that time the room was a shambles of twisted, broken metal. [373] He laughed, softly at first, but presently he was roaring, and the sound doubled and redoubled in his ears because now the throbbing had stopped. [374] He opened the door and ran through the little corridor to the smaller viewport. [375] Outside he could see the stars, and, dimly, the terrain beneath them. [376] But everything was so dark that only the stars shone clearly. [377] All else was bathed in a shadow of unreality. [378] Rikud never wanted to do anything more than he wanted to open that door. [379] But his hands trembled too much when he touched it, and once, when he pressed his face close against the viewport, there in the darkness, something bright flashed briefly through the sky and was gone. [380] Whimpering, he fled. [381] All around Rikud were darkness and hunger and thirst. [382] The buzzer did not sound because Rikud had silenced it forever. [383] And no one went to eat or drink. [384] Rikud himself had fumbled through the blackness and the whimpering to the dining room, his tongue dry and swollen, but the smooth belt that flowed with water and with savory dishes did not run any more. [385] The machinery, Rikud realized, also was responsible for food. [386] Chuls said, over and over, "I'm hungry." [387] "We will eat and we will drink when the buzzer tells us," Wilm replied confidently. [388] "It won't any more," Rikud said. [389] "What won't?" [390] "The buzzer will never sound again. [391] I broke it." [392] Crifer growled. [393] "I know. [394] You shouldn't have done it. [395] That was a bad thing you did, Rikud." [396] "It was not bad. [397] The world has moved through the blackness and the stars and now we should go outside to live in the big garden there beyond the viewport." [398] "That's ridiculous," Chuls said. [399] Even Crifer now was angry at Rikud. [400] "He broke the buzzer and no one can eat. [401] I hate Rikud, I think." [402] There was a lot of noise in the darkness, and someone else said, "I hate Rikud." [403] Then everyone was saying it. [404] Rikud was sad. [405] Soon he would die, because no one would go outside with him and he could not go outside alone. [406] In five more years he would have had a woman, too. [407] He wondered if it was dark and hungry in the women's quarters. [408] Did women eat? [409] Perhaps they ate plants. [410] Once, in the garden, Rikud had broken off a frond and tasted it. [411] It had been bitter, but not unpleasant. [412] Maybe the plants in the viewport would even be better. [413] "We will not be hungry if we go outside," he said. [414] "We can eat there." [415] "We can eat if the buzzer sounds, but it is broken," Chuls said dully. [416] Crifer shrilled, "Maybe it is only variable and will buzz again." [417] "No," Rikud assured him. [418] "It won't." [419] "Then you broke it and I hate you," said Crifer. [420] "We should break you, too, to show you how it is to be broken." [421] "We must go outside—through the viewport." [422] Rikud listened to the odd gurgling sound his stomach made. [423] A hand reached out in the darkness and grabbed at his head. [424] He heard Crifer's voice. [425] "I have Rikud's head." [426] The voice was nasty, hostile. [427] Crifer, more than anyone, had been his friend. [428] But now that he had broken the machinery, Crifer was his enemy, because Crifer came nearer to understanding the situation than anyone except Rikud. [429] The hand reached out again, and it struck Rikud hard across the face. [430] "I hit him! [431] I hit him!" [432] Other hands reached out, and Rikud stumbled. [433] He fell and then someone was on top of him, and he struggled. [434] He rolled and was up again, and he did not like the sound of the angry voices. [435] Someone said, "Let us do to Rikud what he said he did to the machinery." [436] Rikud ran. [437] In the darkness, his feet prodded many bodies. [438] There were those who were too weak to rise. [439] Rikud, too, felt a strange light-headedness and a gnawing hurt in his stomach. [440] But it didn't matter. [441] He heard the angry voices and the feet pounding behind him, and he wanted only to get away. [442] It was dark and he was hungry and everyone who was strong enough to run was chasing him, but every time he thought of the garden outside, and how big it was, the darkness and the hunger and the people chasing him were unimportant. [443] It was so big that it would swallow him up completely and positively. [444] He became sickly giddy thinking about it. [445] But if he didn't open the door and go into the garden outside, he would die because he had no food and no water and his stomach gurgled and grumbled and hurt. [446] And everyone was chasing him. [447] He stumbled through the darkness and felt his way back to the library, through the inner door and into the room with the voice—but the voice didn't speak this time—through its door and into the place of machinery. [448] Behind him, he could hear the voices at the first door, and he thought for a moment that no one would come after him. [449] But he heard Crifer yell something, and then feet pounding in the passage. [450] Rikud tripped over something and sprawled awkwardly across the floor. [451] He felt a sharp hurt in his head, and when he reached up to touch it with his hands there in the darkness, his fingers came away wet. [452] He got up slowly and opened the next door. [453] The voices behind him were closer now. [454] Light streamed in through the viewport. [455] After the darkness, it frightened Rikud and it made his eyes smart, and he could hear those behind him retreating to a safe distance. [456] But their voices were not far away, and he knew they would come after him because they wanted to break him. [457] Rikud looked out upon the garden and he trembled. [458] Out there was life. [459] The garden stretched off in unthinkable immensity to the cluster of low mounds against the bright blue which roofed the many plants. [460] If plants could live out there as they did within the world, then so could people. [461] Rikud and his people should . [462] This was why the world had moved across the darkness and the stars for all Rikud's lifetime and more. [463] But he was afraid. [464] He reached up and grasped the handle of the door and he saw that his fingers were red with the wetness which had come from his hurt head. [465] Slowly he slipped to the cool floor—how his head was burning!—and for a long time he lay there, thinking he would never rise again. [466] Inside he heard the voices again, and soon a foot and then another pounded on the metal of the passage. [467] He heard Crifer's voice louder than the rest: "There is Rikud on the floor!" [468] Tugging at the handle of the door, Rikud pulled himself upright. [469] Something small and brown scurried across the other side of the viewport and Rikud imagined it turned to look at him with two hideous red eyes. [470] Rikud screamed and hurtled back through the corridor, and his face was so terrible in the light streaming in through the viewport that everyone fled before him. [471] He stumbled again in the place of the machinery, and down on his hands and knees he fondled the bits of metal which he could see in the dim light through the open door. [472] "Where's the buzzer?" [473] he sobbed. [474] "I must find the buzzer." [475] Crifer's voice, from the darkness inside, said, "You broke it. [476] You broke it. [477] And now we will break you—" Rikud got up and ran. [478] He reached the door again and then he slipped down against it, exhausted. [479] Behind him, the voices and the footsteps came, and soon he saw Crifer's head peer in through the passageway. [480] Then there were others, and then they were walking toward him. [481] His head whirled and the viewport seemed to swim in a haze. [482] Could it be variable, as Crifer had suggested? [483] He wondered if the scurrying brown thing waited somewhere, and nausea struck at the pit of his stomach. [484] But if the plants could live out there and the scurrying thing could live and that was why the world had moved through the blackness, then so could he live out there, and Crifer and all the others.... [485] So tightly did he grip the handle that his fingers began to hurt. [486] And his heart pounded hard and he felt the pulses leaping on either side of his neck. [487] He stared out into the garden, and off into the distance, where the blue-white globe which might have been a star stood just above the row of mounds. [488] Crifer was tugging at him, trying to pull him away from the door, and someone was grabbing at his legs, trying to make him fall. [489] He kicked out and the hands let go, and then he turned the handle and shoved the weight of his body with all his strength against the door. [490] It opened and he stepped outside into the warmth. [491] The air was fresh, fresher than any air Rikud had ever breathed. [492] He walked around aimlessly, touching the plants and bending down to feel the floor, and sometimes he looked at the blue-white globe on the horizon. [493] It was all very beautiful. [494] Near the ship, water that did not come from a machine gurgled across the land, and Rikud lay down and drank. [495] It was cool and good, and when he got up, Crifer and Wilm were outside the world, and some of the others followed. [496] They stood around for a long time before going to the water to drink. [497] Rikud sat down and tore off a piece of a plant, munching on it. [498] It was good. [499] Crifer picked his head up, from the water, his chin wet. [500] "Even feelings are variable. [501] I don't hate you now, Rikud." [502] Rikud smiled, staring at the ship. [503] "People are variable, too, Crifer. [504] That is, if those creatures coming from the ship are people." [505] "They're women," said Crifer. [506] They were strangely shaped in some ways, and yet in others completely human, and their voices were high, like singing. [507] Rikud found them oddly exciting. [508] He liked them. [509] He liked the garden, for all its hugeness. [510] With so many people, and especially now with women, he was not afraid. [511] It was much better than the small world of machinery, buzzer, frightening doors and women by appointment only. [512] Rikud felt at home.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "What is the significance of 'variability' in the story?": 1. [100] "Variability," he told them, "is a contradictory term. Nothing is variable. It can't be." 2. [98] "Astronomy says some stars are variable," Crifer offered, but Rikud knew his lame-footed companion understood the word no better than he did. 3. [129] Except that it was variable, which was like change, being tied up somehow with age. 4. [500] "Even feelings are variable. I don't hate you now, Rikud." 5. [255] Crifer said, "Doors are variable, too, I think." 6. [303] When he did, only Crifer seemed at all interested, yet the lame-footed man's mind was inadequate to cope with the situation. 7. [304] He suggested that the viewport might also be variable and Rikud found himself wishing that his friend had never read that book on astronomy. 8. [101] "Nothing is variable. It can't be." 9. [102] "Variability and change are two words without meaning." 10. [129] Except that it was variable, which was like change, being tied up somehow with age. 11. [211] "They are variable." 12. [255] Crifer said, "Doors are variable, too, I think." 13. [303] When he did, only Crifer seemed at all interested, yet the lame-footed man's mind was inadequate to cope with the situation. 14. [304] He suggested that the viewport might also be variable and Rikud found himself wishing that his friend had never read that book on astronomy. 15. [500] "Even feelings are variable. I don't hate you now, Rikud." 16. [1] The Sense of Wonder By MILTON LESSER Illustrated by HARRY ROSENBAUM [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction September 1951. 17. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] 18. [3] When nobody aboard ship remembers where it's going, how can they tell when it has arrived? 19. [4] Every day for a week now, Rikud had come to the viewport to watch the great changeless sweep of space. 20. [5] He could not quite explain the feelings within him; they were so alien, so unnatural. 21. [6] But ever since the engines somewhere in the rear of the world had changed their tone, from the steady whining Rikud had heard all twenty-five years of his life, to the sullen roar that came to his ears now, the feelings had grown. 22. [7] If anyone else had noticed the change, he failed to mention it. 23. [8] This disturbed Rikud, although he could not tell why. 24. [9] And, because he had realized this odd difference in himself, he kept it locked up inside him. 25. [10] Today, space looked somehow different. 26. [11] The stars—it was a meaningless concept to Rikud, but that was what everyone called the bright pinpoints of light on the black backdrop in the viewport—were not apparent in the speckled profusion Rikud had always known. 27. [12] Instead, there was more of the blackness, and one very bright star set apart by itself in the middle of the viewport. 28. [13] If he had understood the term, Rikud would have told himself this was odd. 29. [14] His head ached with the half-born thought. 30. [15] It was—it was—what was it?

Describe the relationship between Rikud and Chuls

[1] The Sense of Wonder By MILTON LESSER Illustrated by HARRY ROSENBAUM [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction September 1951. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] When nobody aboard ship remembers where it's going, how can they tell when it has arrived? [4] Every day for a week now, Rikud had come to the viewport to watch the great changeless sweep of space. [5] He could not quite explain the feelings within him; they were so alien, so unnatural. [6] But ever since the engines somewhere in the rear of the world had changed their tone, from the steady whining Rikud had heard all twenty-five years of his life, to the sullen roar that came to his ears now, the feelings had grown. [7] If anyone else had noticed the change, he failed to mention it. [8] This disturbed Rikud, although he could not tell why. [9] And, because he had realized this odd difference in himself, he kept it locked up inside him. [10] Today, space looked somehow different. [11] The stars—it was a meaningless concept to Rikud, but that was what everyone called the bright pinpoints of light on the black backdrop in the viewport—were not apparent in the speckled profusion Rikud had always known. [12] Instead, there was more of the blackness, and one very bright star set apart by itself in the middle of the viewport. [13] If he had understood the term, Rikud would have told himself this was odd. [14] His head ached with the half-born thought. [15] It was—it was—what was it? [16] Someone was clomping up the companionway behind Rikud. [17] He turned and greeted gray-haired old Chuls. [18] "In five more years," the older man chided, "you'll be ready to sire children. [19] And all you can do in the meantime is gaze out at the stars." [20] Rikud knew he should be exercising now, or bathing in the rays of the health-lamps. [21] It had never occurred to him that he didn't feel like it; he just didn't, without comprehending. [22] Chuls' reminder fostered uneasiness. [23] Often Rikud had dreamed of the time he would be thirty and a father. [24] Whom would the Calculator select as his mate? [25] The first time this idea had occurred to him, Rikud ignored it. [26] But it came again, and each time it left him with a feeling he could not explain. [27] Why should he think thoughts that no other man had? [28] Why should he think he was thinking such thoughts, when it always embroiled him in a hopeless, infinite confusion that left him with a headache? [29] Chuls said, "It is time for my bath in the health-rays. [30] I saw you here and knew it was your time, too...." His voice trailed off. [31] Rikud knew that something which he could not explain had entered the elder man's head for a moment, but it had departed almost before Chuls knew of its existence. [32] "I'll go with you," Rikud told him. [33] A hardly perceptible purple glow pervaded the air in the room of the health-rays. [34] Perhaps two score men lay about, naked, under the ray tubes. [35] Chuls stripped himself and selected the space under a vacant tube. [36] Rikud, for his part, wanted to get back to the viewport and watch the one new bright star. [37] He had the distinct notion it was growing larger every moment. [38] He turned to go, but the door clicked shut and a metallic voice said. [39] "Fifteen minutes under the tubes, please." [40] Rikud muttered to himself and undressed. [41] The world had begun to annoy him. [42] Now why shouldn't a man be permitted to do what he wanted, when he wanted to do it? [43] There was a strange thought, and Rikud's brain whirled once more down the tortuous course of half-formed questions and unsatisfactory answers. [44] He had even wondered what it was like to get hurt. [45] No one ever got hurt. [46] Once, here in this same ray room, he had had the impulse to hurl himself head-first against the wall, just to see what would happen. [47] But something soft had cushioned the impact—something which had come into being just for the moment and then abruptly passed into non-being again, something which was as impalpable as air. [48] Rikud had been stopped in this action, although there was no real authority to stop him. [49] This puzzled him, because somehow he felt that there should have been authority. [50] A long time ago the reading machine in the library had told him of the elders—a meaningless term—who had governed the world. [51] They told you to do something and you did it, but that was silly, because now no one told you to do anything. [52] You only listened to the buzzer. [53] And Rikud could remember the rest of what the reading machine had said. [54] There had been a revolt—again a term without any real meaning, a term that could have no reality outside of the reading machine—and the elders were overthrown. [55] Here Rikud had been lost utterly. [56] The people had decided that they did not know where they were going, or why, and that it was unfair that the elders alone had this authority. [57] They were born and they lived and they died as the elders directed, like little cogs in a great machine. [58] Much of this Rikud could not understand, but he knew enough to realize that the reading machine had sided with the people against the elders, and it said the people had won. [59] Now in the health room, Rikud felt a warmth in the rays. [60] Grudgingly, he had to admit to himself that it was not unpleasant. [61] He could see the look of easy contentment on Chuls' face as the rays fanned down upon him, bathing his old body in a forgotten magic which, many generations before Rikud's time, had negated the necessity for a knowledge of medicine. [62] But when, in another ten years, Chuls would perish of old age, the rays would no longer suffice. [63] Nothing would, for Chuls. [64] Rikud often thought of his own death, still seventy-five years in the future, not without a sense of alarm. [65] Yet old Chuls seemed heedless, with only a decade to go. [66] Under the tube at Rikud's left lay Crifer. [67] The man was short and heavy through the shoulders and chest, and he had a lame foot. [68] Every time Rikud looked at that foot, it was with a sense of satisfaction. [69] True, this was the only case of its kind, the exception to the rule, but it proved the world was not perfect. [70] Rikud was guiltily glad when he saw Crifer limp. [71] But, if anyone else saw it, he never said a word. [72] Not even Crifer. [73] Now Crifer said, "I've been reading again, Rikud." [74] "Yes?" [75] Almost no one read any more, and the library was heavy with the smell of dust. [76] Reading represented initiative on the part of Crifer; it meant that, in the two unoccupied hours before sleep, he went to the library and listened to the reading machine. [77] Everyone else simply sat about and talked. [78] That was the custom. [79] Everyone did it. [80] But if he wasn't reading himself, Rikud usually went to sleep. [81] All the people ever talked about was what they had done during the day, and it was always the same. [82] "Yes," said Crifer. [83] "I found a book about the stars. [84] They're also called astronomy, I think." [85] This was a new thought to Rikud, and he propped his head up on one elbow. [86] "What did you find out?" [87] "That's about all. [88] They're just called astronomy, I think." [89] "Well, where's the book?" [90] Rikud would read it tomorrow. [91] "I left it in the library. [92] You can find several of them under 'astronomy,' with a cross-reference under 'stars.' [93] They're synonymous terms." [94] "You know," Rikud said, sitting up now, "the stars in the viewport are changing." [95] "Changing?" [96] Crifer questioned the fuzzy concept as much as he questioned what it might mean in this particular case. [97] "Yes, there are less of them, and one is bigger and brighter than the others." [98] "Astronomy says some stars are variable," Crifer offered, but Rikud knew his lame-footed companion understood the word no better than he did. [99] Over on Rikud's right, Chuls began to dress. [100] "Variability," he told them, "is a contradictory term. [101] Nothing is variable. [102] It can't be." [103] "I'm only saying what I read in the book," Crifer protested mildly. [104] "Well, it's wrong. [105] Variability and change are two words without meaning." [106] "People grow old," Rikud suggested. [107] A buzzer signified that his fifteen minutes under the rays were up, and Chuls said, "It's almost time for me to eat." [108] Rikud frowned. [109] Chuls hadn't even seen the connection between the two concepts, yet it was so clear. [110] Or was it? [111] He had had it a moment ago, but now it faded, and change and old were just two words. [112] His own buzzer sounded a moment later, and it was with a strange feeling of elation that he dressed and made his way back to the viewport. [113] When he passed the door which led to the women's half of the world, however, he paused. [114] He wanted to open that door and see a woman. [115] He had been told about them and he had seen pictures, and he dimly remembered his childhood among women. [116] But his feelings had changed; this was different. [117] Again there were inexplicable feelings—strange channelings of Rikud's energy in new and confusing directions. [118] He shrugged and reserved the thought for later. [119] He wanted to see the stars again. [120] The view had changed, and the strangeness of it made Rikud's pulses leap with excitement. [121] All the stars were paler now than before, and where Rikud had seen the one bright central star, he now saw a globe of light, white with a tinge of blue in it, and so bright that it hurt his eyes to look. [122] Yes, hurt! [123] Rikud looked and looked until his eyes teared and he had to turn away. [124] Here was an unknown factor which the perfect world failed to control. [125] But how could a star change into a blinking blue-white globe—if, indeed, that was the star Rikud had seen earlier? [126] There was that word change again. [127] Didn't it have something to do with age? [128] Rikud couldn't remember, and he suddenly wished he could read Crifer's book on astronomy, which meant the same as stars. [129] Except that it was variable, which was like change, being tied up somehow with age. [130] Presently Rikud became aware that his eyes were not tearing any longer, and he turned to look at the viewport. [131] What he saw now was so new that he couldn't at first accept it. [132] Instead, he blinked and rubbed his eyes, sure that the ball of blue-white fire somehow had damaged them. [133] But the new view persisted. [134] Of stars there were few, and of the blackness, almost nothing. [135] Gone, too, was the burning globe. [136] Something loomed there in the port, so huge that it spread out over almost the entire surface. [137] Something big and round, all grays and greens and browns, and something for which Rikud had no name. [138] A few moments more, and Rikud no longer could see the sphere. [139] A section of it had expanded outward and assumed the rectangular shape of the viewport, and its size as well. [140] It seemed neatly sheered down the middle, so that on one side Rikud saw an expanse of brown and green, and on the other, blue. [141] Startled, Rikud leaped back. [142] The sullen roar in the rear of the world had ceased abruptly. [143] Instead an ominous silence, broken at regular intervals by a sharp booming. [144] Change— "Won't you eat, Rikud?" [145] Chuls called from somewhere down below. [146] "Damn the man," Rikud thought. [147] Then aloud: "Yes, I'll eat. [148] Later." [149] "It's time...." Chuls' voice trailed off again, impotently. [150] But Rikud forgot the old man completely. [151] A new idea occurred to him, and for a while he struggled with it. [152] What he saw—what he had always seen, except that now there was the added factor of change—perhaps did not exist in the viewport. [153] Maybe it existed through the viewport. [154] That was maddening. [155] Rikud turned again to the port, where he could see nothing but an obscuring cloud of white vapor, murky, swirling, more confusing than ever. [156] "Chuls," he called, remembering, "come here." [157] "I am here," said a voice at his elbow. [158] Rikud whirled on the little figure and pointed to the swirling cloud of vapor. [159] "What do you see?" [160] Chuls looked. [161] "The viewport, of course." [162] "What else?" [163] "Else? [164] Nothing." [165] Anger welled up inside Rikud. [166] "All right," he said, "listen. [167] What do you hear?" [168] "Broom, brroom, brrroom!" [169] Chuls imitated the intermittent blasting of the engines. [170] "I'm hungry, Rikud." [171] The old man turned and strode off down the corridor toward the dining room, and Rikud was glad to be alone once more. [172] Now the vapor had departed, except for a few tenuous whisps. [173] For a moment Rikud thought he could see the gardens rearward in the world. [174] But that was silly. [175] What were the gardens doing in the viewport? [176] And besides, Rikud had the distinct feeling that here was something far vaster than the gardens, although all of it existed in the viewport which was no wider than the length of his body. [177] The gardens, moreover, did not jump and dance before his eyes the way the viewport gardens did. [178] Nor did they spin. [179] Nor did the trees grow larger with every jolt. [180] Rikud sat down hard. [181] He blinked. [182] The world had come to rest on the garden of the viewport. [183] For a whole week that view did not change, and Rikud had come to accept it as fact. [184] There—through the viewport and in it—was a garden. [185] A garden larger than the entire world, a garden of plants which Rikud had never seen before, although he had always liked to stroll through the world's garden and he had come to know every plant well. [186] Nevertheless, it was a garden. [187] He told Chuls, but Chuls had responded, "It is the viewport." [188] Crifer, on the other hand, wasn't so sure. [189] "It looks like the garden," he admitted to Rikud. [190] "But why should the garden be in the viewport?" [191] Somehow, Rikud knew this question for a healthy sign. [192] But he could not tell them of his most amazing thought of all. [193] The change in the viewport could mean only one thing. [194] The world had been walking—the word seemed all wrong to Rikud, but he could think of no other, unless it were running. [195] The world had been walking somewhere. [196] That somewhere was the garden and the world had arrived. [197] "It is an old picture of the garden," Chuls suggested, "and the plants are different." [198] "Then they've changed?" [199] "No, merely different." [200] "Well, what about the viewport? [201] It changed. [202] Where are the stars? [203] Where are they, Chuls, if it did not change?" [204] "The stars come out at night." [205] "So there is a change from day to night!" [206] "I didn't say that. [207] The stars simply shine at night. [208] Why should they shine during the day when the world wants them to shine only at night?" [209] "Once they shone all the time." [210] "Naturally," said Crifer, becoming interested. [211] "They are variable." [212] Rikud regretted that he never had had the chance to read that book on astronomy. [213] He hadn't been reading too much lately. [214] The voice of the reading machine had begun to bore him. [215] He said, "Well, variable or not, our whole perspective has changed." [216] And when Chuls looked away in disinterest, Rikud became angry. [217] If only the man would realize! [218] If only anyone would realize! [219] It all seemed so obvious. [220] If he, Rikud, walked from one part of the world to another, it was with a purpose—to eat, or to sleep, or perhaps to bathe in the health-rays. [221] Now if the world had walked from—somewhere, through the vast star-speckled darkness and to the great garden outside, this also was purposeful. [222] The world had arrived at the garden for a reason. [223] But if everyone lived as if the world still stood in blackness, how could they find the nature of that purpose? [224] "I will eat," Chuls said, breaking Rikud's revery. [225] Damn the man, all he did was eat! [226] Yet he did have initiative after a sort. [227] He knew when to eat. [228] Because he was hungry. [229] And Rikud, too, was hungry. [230] Differently. [231] He had long wondered about the door in the back of the library, and now, as Crifer sat cross-legged on one of the dusty tables, reading machine and book on astronomy or stars in his lap, Rikud approached the door. [232] "What's in here?" [233] he demanded. [234] "It's a door, I think," said Crifer. [235] "I know, but what's beyond it?" [236] "Beyond it? [237] Oh, you mean through the door." [238] "Yes." [239] "Well," Crifer scratched his head, "I don't think anyone ever opened it. [240] It's only a door." [241] "I will," said Rikud. [242] "You will what?" [243] "Open it. [244] Open the door and look inside." [245] A long pause. [246] Then, "Can you do it?" [247] "I think so." [248] "You can't, probably. [249] How can anyone go where no one has been before? [250] There's nothing. [251] It just isn't. [252] It's only a door, Rikud." [253] "No—" Rikud began, but the words faded off into a sharp intake of breath. [254] Rikud had turned the knob and pushed. [255] The door opened silently, and Crifer said, "Doors are variable, too, I think." [256] Rikud saw a small room, perhaps half a dozen paces across, at the other end of which was another door, just like the first. [257] Halfway across, Rikud heard a voice not unlike that of the reading machine. [258] He missed the beginning, but then: —therefore, permit no unauthorized persons to go through this door. [259] The machinery in the next room is your protection against the rigors of space. [260] A thousand years from now, journey's end, you may have discarded it for something better—who knows? [261] But if you have not, then here is your protection. [262] As nearly as possible, this ship is a perfect, self-sustaining world. [263] It is more than that: it is human-sustaining as well. [264] Try to hurt yourself and the ship will not permit it—within limits, of course. [265] But you can damage the ship, and to avoid any possibility of that, no unauthorized persons are to be permitted through this door— Rikud gave the voice up as hopeless. [266] There were too many confusing words. [267] What in the world was an unauthorized person? [268] More interesting than that, however, was the second door. [269] Would it lead to another voice? [270] Rikud hoped that it wouldn't. [271] When he opened the door a strange new noise filled his ears, a gentle humming, punctuated by a throb-throb-throb which sounded not unlike the booming of the engines last week, except that this new sound didn't blast nearly so loudly against his eardrums. [272] And what met Rikud's eyes—he blinked and looked again, but it was still there—cogs and gears and wheels and nameless things all strange and beautiful because they shone with a luster unfamiliar to him. [273] "Odd," Rikud said aloud. [274] Then he thought, "Now there's a good word, but no one quite seems to know its meaning." [275] Odder still was the third door. [276] Rikud suddenly thought there might exist an endless succession of them, especially when the third one opened on a bare tunnel which led to yet another door. [277] Only this one was different. [278] In it Rikud saw the viewport. [279] But how? [280] The viewport stood on the other end of the world. [281] It did seem smaller, and, although it looked out on the garden, Rikud sensed that the topography was different. [282] Then the garden extended even farther than he had thought. [283] It was endless, extending all the way to a ridge of mounds way off in the distance. [284] And this door one could walk through, into the garden. [285] Rikud put his hand on the door, all the while watching the garden through the new viewport. [286] He began to turn the handle. [287] Then he trembled. [288] What would he do out in the garden? [289] He couldn't go alone. [290] He'd die of the strangeness. [291] It was a silly thought; no one ever died of anything until he was a hundred. [292] Rikud couldn't fathom the rapid thumping of his heart. [293] And Rikud's mouth felt dry; he wanted to swallow, but couldn't. [294] Slowly, he took his hand off the door lever. [295] He made his way back through the tunnel and then through the room of machinery and finally through the little room with the confusing voice to Crifer. [296] By the time he reached the lame-footed man, Rikud was running. [297] He did not dare once to look back. [298] He stood shaking at Crifer's side, and sweat covered him in a clammy film. [299] He never wanted to look at the garden again. [300] Not when he knew there was a door through which he could walk and then might find himself in the garden. [301] It was so big. [302] Three or four days passed before Rikud calmed himself enough to talk about his experience. [303] When he did, only Crifer seemed at all interested, yet the lame-footed man's mind was inadequate to cope with the situation. [304] He suggested that the viewport might also be variable and Rikud found himself wishing that his friend had never read that book on astronomy. [305] Chuls did not believe Rikud at all. [306] "There are not that many doors in the world," he said. [307] "The library has a door and there is a door to the women's quarters; in five years, the Calculator will send you through that. [308] But there are no others." [309] Chuls smiled an indulgent smile and Rikud came nearer to him. [310] "Now, by the world, there are two other doors!" [311] Rikud began to shout, and everyone looked at him queerly. [312] "What are you doing that for?" [313] demanded Wilm, who was shorter even than Crifer, but had no lame foot. [314] "Doing what?" [315] "Speaking so loudly when Chuls, who is close, obviously has no trouble hearing you." [316] "Maybe yelling will make him understand." [317] Crifer hobbled about on his good foot, doing a meaningless little jig. [318] "Why don't we go see?" [319] he suggested. [320] Then, confused, he frowned. [321] "Well, I won't go," Chuls replied. [322] "There's no reason to go. [323] If Rikud has been imagining things, why should I?" [324] "I imagined nothing. [325] I'll show you—" "You'll show me nothing because I won't go." [326] Rikud grabbed Chuls' blouse with his big fist. [327] Then, startled by what he did, his hands began to tremble. [328] But he held on, and he tugged at the blouse. [329] "Stop that," said the older man, mildly. [330] Crifer hopped up and down. [331] "Look what Rikud's doing! [332] I don't know what he's doing, but look. [333] He's holding Chuls' blouse." [334] "Stop that," repeated Chuls, his face reddening. [335] "Only if you'll go with me." [336] Rikud was panting. [337] Chuls tugged at his wrist. [338] By this time a crowd had gathered. [339] Some of them watched Crifer jump up and down, but most of them watched Rikud holding Chuls' blouse. [340] "I think I can do that," declared Wilm, clutching a fistful of Crifer's shirt. [341] Presently, the members of the crowd had pretty well paired off, each partner grabbing for his companion's blouse. [342] They giggled and laughed and some began to hop up and down as Crifer had done. [343] A buzzer sounded and automatically Rikud found himself releasing Chuls. [344] Chuls said, forgetting the incident completely, "Time to retire." [345] In a moment, the room was cleared. [346] Rikud stood alone. [347] He cleared his throat and listened to the sound, all by itself in the stillness. [348] What would have happened if they hadn't retired? [349] But they always did things punctually like that, whenever the buzzer sounded. [350] They ate with the buzzer, bathed in the health-rays with it, slept with it. [351] What would they do if the buzzer stopped buzzing? [352] This frightened Rikud, although he didn't know why. [353] He'd like it, though. [354] Maybe then he could take them outside with him to the big garden of the two viewports. [355] And then he wouldn't be afraid because he could huddle close to them and he wouldn't be alone. [356] Rikud heard the throbbing again as he stood in the room of the machinery. [357] For a long time he watched the wheels and cogs and gears spinning and humming. [358] He watched for he knew not how long. [359] And then he began to wonder. [360] If he destroyed the wheels and the cogs and the gears, would the buzzer stop? [361] It probably would, because, as Rikud saw it, he was clearly an "unauthorized person." [362] He had heard the voice again upon entering the room. [363] He found a metal rod, bright and shiny, three feet long and half as wide as his arm. [364] He tugged at it and it came loose from the wires that held it in place. [365] He hefted it carefully for a moment, and then he swung the bar into the mass of metal. [366] Each time he heard a grinding, crashing sound. [367] He looked as the gears and cogs and wheels crumbled under his blows, shattered by the strength of his arm. [368] Almost casually he strode about the room, but his blows were not casual. [369] Soon his easy strides had given way to frenzied running. [370] Rikud smashed everything in sight. [371] When the lights winked out, he stopped. [372] Anyway, by that time the room was a shambles of twisted, broken metal. [373] He laughed, softly at first, but presently he was roaring, and the sound doubled and redoubled in his ears because now the throbbing had stopped. [374] He opened the door and ran through the little corridor to the smaller viewport. [375] Outside he could see the stars, and, dimly, the terrain beneath them. [376] But everything was so dark that only the stars shone clearly. [377] All else was bathed in a shadow of unreality. [378] Rikud never wanted to do anything more than he wanted to open that door. [379] But his hands trembled too much when he touched it, and once, when he pressed his face close against the viewport, there in the darkness, something bright flashed briefly through the sky and was gone. [380] Whimpering, he fled. [381] All around Rikud were darkness and hunger and thirst. [382] The buzzer did not sound because Rikud had silenced it forever. [383] And no one went to eat or drink. [384] Rikud himself had fumbled through the blackness and the whimpering to the dining room, his tongue dry and swollen, but the smooth belt that flowed with water and with savory dishes did not run any more. [385] The machinery, Rikud realized, also was responsible for food. [386] Chuls said, over and over, "I'm hungry." [387] "We will eat and we will drink when the buzzer tells us," Wilm replied confidently. [388] "It won't any more," Rikud said. [389] "What won't?" [390] "The buzzer will never sound again. [391] I broke it." [392] Crifer growled. [393] "I know. [394] You shouldn't have done it. [395] That was a bad thing you did, Rikud." [396] "It was not bad. [397] The world has moved through the blackness and the stars and now we should go outside to live in the big garden there beyond the viewport." [398] "That's ridiculous," Chuls said. [399] Even Crifer now was angry at Rikud. [400] "He broke the buzzer and no one can eat. [401] I hate Rikud, I think." [402] There was a lot of noise in the darkness, and someone else said, "I hate Rikud." [403] Then everyone was saying it. [404] Rikud was sad. [405] Soon he would die, because no one would go outside with him and he could not go outside alone. [406] In five more years he would have had a woman, too. [407] He wondered if it was dark and hungry in the women's quarters. [408] Did women eat? [409] Perhaps they ate plants. [410] Once, in the garden, Rikud had broken off a frond and tasted it. [411] It had been bitter, but not unpleasant. [412] Maybe the plants in the viewport would even be better. [413] "We will not be hungry if we go outside," he said. [414] "We can eat there." [415] "We can eat if the buzzer sounds, but it is broken," Chuls said dully. [416] Crifer shrilled, "Maybe it is only variable and will buzz again." [417] "No," Rikud assured him. [418] "It won't." [419] "Then you broke it and I hate you," said Crifer. [420] "We should break you, too, to show you how it is to be broken." [421] "We must go outside—through the viewport." [422] Rikud listened to the odd gurgling sound his stomach made. [423] A hand reached out in the darkness and grabbed at his head. [424] He heard Crifer's voice. [425] "I have Rikud's head." [426] The voice was nasty, hostile. [427] Crifer, more than anyone, had been his friend. [428] But now that he had broken the machinery, Crifer was his enemy, because Crifer came nearer to understanding the situation than anyone except Rikud. [429] The hand reached out again, and it struck Rikud hard across the face. [430] "I hit him! [431] I hit him!" [432] Other hands reached out, and Rikud stumbled. [433] He fell and then someone was on top of him, and he struggled. [434] He rolled and was up again, and he did not like the sound of the angry voices. [435] Someone said, "Let us do to Rikud what he said he did to the machinery." [436] Rikud ran. [437] In the darkness, his feet prodded many bodies. [438] There were those who were too weak to rise. [439] Rikud, too, felt a strange light-headedness and a gnawing hurt in his stomach. [440] But it didn't matter. [441] He heard the angry voices and the feet pounding behind him, and he wanted only to get away. [442] It was dark and he was hungry and everyone who was strong enough to run was chasing him, but every time he thought of the garden outside, and how big it was, the darkness and the hunger and the people chasing him were unimportant. [443] It was so big that it would swallow him up completely and positively. [444] He became sickly giddy thinking about it. [445] But if he didn't open the door and go into the garden outside, he would die because he had no food and no water and his stomach gurgled and grumbled and hurt. [446] And everyone was chasing him. [447] He stumbled through the darkness and felt his way back to the library, through the inner door and into the room with the voice—but the voice didn't speak this time—through its door and into the place of machinery. [448] Behind him, he could hear the voices at the first door, and he thought for a moment that no one would come after him. [449] But he heard Crifer yell something, and then feet pounding in the passage. [450] Rikud tripped over something and sprawled awkwardly across the floor. [451] He felt a sharp hurt in his head, and when he reached up to touch it with his hands there in the darkness, his fingers came away wet. [452] He got up slowly and opened the next door. [453] The voices behind him were closer now. [454] Light streamed in through the viewport. [455] After the darkness, it frightened Rikud and it made his eyes smart, and he could hear those behind him retreating to a safe distance. [456] But their voices were not far away, and he knew they would come after him because they wanted to break him. [457] Rikud looked out upon the garden and he trembled. [458] Out there was life. [459] The garden stretched off in unthinkable immensity to the cluster of low mounds against the bright blue which roofed the many plants. [460] If plants could live out there as they did within the world, then so could people. [461] Rikud and his people should . [462] This was why the world had moved across the darkness and the stars for all Rikud's lifetime and more. [463] But he was afraid. [464] He reached up and grasped the handle of the door and he saw that his fingers were red with the wetness which had come from his hurt head. [465] Slowly he slipped to the cool floor—how his head was burning!—and for a long time he lay there, thinking he would never rise again. [466] Inside he heard the voices again, and soon a foot and then another pounded on the metal of the passage. [467] He heard Crifer's voice louder than the rest: "There is Rikud on the floor!" [468] Tugging at the handle of the door, Rikud pulled himself upright. [469] Something small and brown scurried across the other side of the viewport and Rikud imagined it turned to look at him with two hideous red eyes. [470] Rikud screamed and hurtled back through the corridor, and his face was so terrible in the light streaming in through the viewport that everyone fled before him. [471] He stumbled again in the place of the machinery, and down on his hands and knees he fondled the bits of metal which he could see in the dim light through the open door. [472] "Where's the buzzer?" [473] he sobbed. [474] "I must find the buzzer." [475] Crifer's voice, from the darkness inside, said, "You broke it. [476] You broke it. [477] And now we will break you—" Rikud got up and ran. [478] He reached the door again and then he slipped down against it, exhausted. [479] Behind him, the voices and the footsteps came, and soon he saw Crifer's head peer in through the passageway. [480] Then there were others, and then they were walking toward him. [481] His head whirled and the viewport seemed to swim in a haze. [482] Could it be variable, as Crifer had suggested? [483] He wondered if the scurrying brown thing waited somewhere, and nausea struck at the pit of his stomach. [484] But if the plants could live out there and the scurrying thing could live and that was why the world had moved through the blackness, then so could he live out there, and Crifer and all the others.... [485] So tightly did he grip the handle that his fingers began to hurt. [486] And his heart pounded hard and he felt the pulses leaping on either side of his neck. [487] He stared out into the garden, and off into the distance, where the blue-white globe which might have been a star stood just above the row of mounds. [488] Crifer was tugging at him, trying to pull him away from the door, and someone was grabbing at his legs, trying to make him fall. [489] He kicked out and the hands let go, and then he turned the handle and shoved the weight of his body with all his strength against the door. [490] It opened and he stepped outside into the warmth. [491] The air was fresh, fresher than any air Rikud had ever breathed. [492] He walked around aimlessly, touching the plants and bending down to feel the floor, and sometimes he looked at the blue-white globe on the horizon. [493] It was all very beautiful. [494] Near the ship, water that did not come from a machine gurgled across the land, and Rikud lay down and drank. [495] It was cool and good, and when he got up, Crifer and Wilm were outside the world, and some of the others followed. [496] They stood around for a long time before going to the water to drink. [497] Rikud sat down and tore off a piece of a plant, munching on it. [498] It was good. [499] Crifer picked his head up, from the water, his chin wet. [500] "Even feelings are variable. [501] I don't hate you now, Rikud." [502] Rikud smiled, staring at the ship. [503] "People are variable, too, Crifer. [504] That is, if those creatures coming from the ship are people." [505] "They're women," said Crifer. [506] They were strangely shaped in some ways, and yet in others completely human, and their voices were high, like singing. [507] Rikud found them oddly exciting. [508] He liked them. [509] He liked the garden, for all its hugeness. [510] With so many people, and especially now with women, he was not afraid. [511] It was much better than the small world of machinery, buzzer, frightening doors and women by appointment only. [512] Rikud felt at home.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "Describe the relationship between Rikud and Chuls": 1. [17] He turned and greeted gray-haired old Chuls. 2. [18] "In five more years," the older man chided, "you'll be ready to sire children. And all you can do in the meantime is gaze out at the stars." 3. [29] "It is time for my bath in the health-rays. I saw you here and knew it was your time, too...." His voice trailed off. 4. [30] Rikud knew that something which he could not explain had entered the elder man's head for a moment, but it had departed almost before Chuls knew of its existence. 5. [32] "I'll go with you," Rikud told him. 6. [99] Over on Rikud's right, Chuls began to dress. 7. [100] "Variability," he told them, "is a contradictory term. Nothing is variable. It can't be." 8. [107] Chuls said, "It's almost time for me to eat." 9. [149] "It's time...." Chuls' voice trailed off again, impotently. 10. [197] "It is an old picture of the garden," Chuls suggested, "and the plants are different." 11. [205] "The stars simply shine at night. Why should they shine during the day when the world wants them to shine only at night?" 12. [207] "Naturally," said Crifer, becoming interested. "They are variable." 13. [306] "There are not that many doors in the world," he said. "The library has a door and there is a door to the women's quarters; in five years, the Calculator will send you through that. But there are no others." 14. [307] Chuls smiled an indulgent smile and Rikud came nearer to him. 15. [320] "Well, I won't go," Chuls replied. "There's no reason to go. If Rikud has been imagining things, why should I?" 16. [325] "I imagined nothing. I'll show you—" 17. [326] "You'll show me nothing because I won't go." 18. [343] Chuls said, forgetting the incident completely, "Time to retire." 19. [398] "That's ridiculous," Chuls said.

Describe the significance of the viewport in the story?

[1] The Sense of Wonder By MILTON LESSER Illustrated by HARRY ROSENBAUM [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction September 1951. [2] Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [3] When nobody aboard ship remembers where it's going, how can they tell when it has arrived? [4] Every day for a week now, Rikud had come to the viewport to watch the great changeless sweep of space. [5] He could not quite explain the feelings within him; they were so alien, so unnatural. [6] But ever since the engines somewhere in the rear of the world had changed their tone, from the steady whining Rikud had heard all twenty-five years of his life, to the sullen roar that came to his ears now, the feelings had grown. [7] If anyone else had noticed the change, he failed to mention it. [8] This disturbed Rikud, although he could not tell why. [9] And, because he had realized this odd difference in himself, he kept it locked up inside him. [10] Today, space looked somehow different. [11] The stars—it was a meaningless concept to Rikud, but that was what everyone called the bright pinpoints of light on the black backdrop in the viewport—were not apparent in the speckled profusion Rikud had always known. [12] Instead, there was more of the blackness, and one very bright star set apart by itself in the middle of the viewport. [13] If he had understood the term, Rikud would have told himself this was odd. [14] His head ached with the half-born thought. [15] It was—it was—what was it? [16] Someone was clomping up the companionway behind Rikud. [17] He turned and greeted gray-haired old Chuls. [18] "In five more years," the older man chided, "you'll be ready to sire children. [19] And all you can do in the meantime is gaze out at the stars." [20] Rikud knew he should be exercising now, or bathing in the rays of the health-lamps. [21] It had never occurred to him that he didn't feel like it; he just didn't, without comprehending. [22] Chuls' reminder fostered uneasiness. [23] Often Rikud had dreamed of the time he would be thirty and a father. [24] Whom would the Calculator select as his mate? [25] The first time this idea had occurred to him, Rikud ignored it. [26] But it came again, and each time it left him with a feeling he could not explain. [27] Why should he think thoughts that no other man had? [28] Why should he think he was thinking such thoughts, when it always embroiled him in a hopeless, infinite confusion that left him with a headache? [29] Chuls said, "It is time for my bath in the health-rays. [30] I saw you here and knew it was your time, too...." His voice trailed off. [31] Rikud knew that something which he could not explain had entered the elder man's head for a moment, but it had departed almost before Chuls knew of its existence. [32] "I'll go with you," Rikud told him. [33] A hardly perceptible purple glow pervaded the air in the room of the health-rays. [34] Perhaps two score men lay about, naked, under the ray tubes. [35] Chuls stripped himself and selected the space under a vacant tube. [36] Rikud, for his part, wanted to get back to the viewport and watch the one new bright star. [37] He had the distinct notion it was growing larger every moment. [38] He turned to go, but the door clicked shut and a metallic voice said. [39] "Fifteen minutes under the tubes, please." [40] Rikud muttered to himself and undressed. [41] The world had begun to annoy him. [42] Now why shouldn't a man be permitted to do what he wanted, when he wanted to do it? [43] There was a strange thought, and Rikud's brain whirled once more down the tortuous course of half-formed questions and unsatisfactory answers. [44] He had even wondered what it was like to get hurt. [45] No one ever got hurt. [46] Once, here in this same ray room, he had had the impulse to hurl himself head-first against the wall, just to see what would happen. [47] But something soft had cushioned the impact—something which had come into being just for the moment and then abruptly passed into non-being again, something which was as impalpable as air. [48] Rikud had been stopped in this action, although there was no real authority to stop him. [49] This puzzled him, because somehow he felt that there should have been authority. [50] A long time ago the reading machine in the library had told him of the elders—a meaningless term—who had governed the world. [51] They told you to do something and you did it, but that was silly, because now no one told you to do anything. [52] You only listened to the buzzer. [53] And Rikud could remember the rest of what the reading machine had said. [54] There had been a revolt—again a term without any real meaning, a term that could have no reality outside of the reading machine—and the elders were overthrown. [55] Here Rikud had been lost utterly. [56] The people had decided that they did not know where they were going, or why, and that it was unfair that the elders alone had this authority. [57] They were born and they lived and they died as the elders directed, like little cogs in a great machine. [58] Much of this Rikud could not understand, but he knew enough to realize that the reading machine had sided with the people against the elders, and it said the people had won. [59] Now in the health room, Rikud felt a warmth in the rays. [60] Grudgingly, he had to admit to himself that it was not unpleasant. [61] He could see the look of easy contentment on Chuls' face as the rays fanned down upon him, bathing his old body in a forgotten magic which, many generations before Rikud's time, had negated the necessity for a knowledge of medicine. [62] But when, in another ten years, Chuls would perish of old age, the rays would no longer suffice. [63] Nothing would, for Chuls. [64] Rikud often thought of his own death, still seventy-five years in the future, not without a sense of alarm. [65] Yet old Chuls seemed heedless, with only a decade to go. [66] Under the tube at Rikud's left lay Crifer. [67] The man was short and heavy through the shoulders and chest, and he had a lame foot. [68] Every time Rikud looked at that foot, it was with a sense of satisfaction. [69] True, this was the only case of its kind, the exception to the rule, but it proved the world was not perfect. [70] Rikud was guiltily glad when he saw Crifer limp. [71] But, if anyone else saw it, he never said a word. [72] Not even Crifer. [73] Now Crifer said, "I've been reading again, Rikud." [74] "Yes?" [75] Almost no one read any more, and the library was heavy with the smell of dust. [76] Reading represented initiative on the part of Crifer; it meant that, in the two unoccupied hours before sleep, he went to the library and listened to the reading machine. [77] Everyone else simply sat about and talked. [78] That was the custom. [79] Everyone did it. [80] But if he wasn't reading himself, Rikud usually went to sleep. [81] All the people ever talked about was what they had done during the day, and it was always the same. [82] "Yes," said Crifer. [83] "I found a book about the stars. [84] They're also called astronomy, I think." [85] This was a new thought to Rikud, and he propped his head up on one elbow. [86] "What did you find out?" [87] "That's about all. [88] They're just called astronomy, I think." [89] "Well, where's the book?" [90] Rikud would read it tomorrow. [91] "I left it in the library. [92] You can find several of them under 'astronomy,' with a cross-reference under 'stars.' [93] They're synonymous terms." [94] "You know," Rikud said, sitting up now, "the stars in the viewport are changing." [95] "Changing?" [96] Crifer questioned the fuzzy concept as much as he questioned what it might mean in this particular case. [97] "Yes, there are less of them, and one is bigger and brighter than the others." [98] "Astronomy says some stars are variable," Crifer offered, but Rikud knew his lame-footed companion understood the word no better than he did. [99] Over on Rikud's right, Chuls began to dress. [100] "Variability," he told them, "is a contradictory term. [101] Nothing is variable. [102] It can't be." [103] "I'm only saying what I read in the book," Crifer protested mildly. [104] "Well, it's wrong. [105] Variability and change are two words without meaning." [106] "People grow old," Rikud suggested. [107] A buzzer signified that his fifteen minutes under the rays were up, and Chuls said, "It's almost time for me to eat." [108] Rikud frowned. [109] Chuls hadn't even seen the connection between the two concepts, yet it was so clear. [110] Or was it? [111] He had had it a moment ago, but now it faded, and change and old were just two words. [112] His own buzzer sounded a moment later, and it was with a strange feeling of elation that he dressed and made his way back to the viewport. [113] When he passed the door which led to the women's half of the world, however, he paused. [114] He wanted to open that door and see a woman. [115] He had been told about them and he had seen pictures, and he dimly remembered his childhood among women. [116] But his feelings had changed; this was different. [117] Again there were inexplicable feelings—strange channelings of Rikud's energy in new and confusing directions. [118] He shrugged and reserved the thought for later. [119] He wanted to see the stars again. [120] The view had changed, and the strangeness of it made Rikud's pulses leap with excitement. [121] All the stars were paler now than before, and where Rikud had seen the one bright central star, he now saw a globe of light, white with a tinge of blue in it, and so bright that it hurt his eyes to look. [122] Yes, hurt! [123] Rikud looked and looked until his eyes teared and he had to turn away. [124] Here was an unknown factor which the perfect world failed to control. [125] But how could a star change into a blinking blue-white globe—if, indeed, that was the star Rikud had seen earlier? [126] There was that word change again. [127] Didn't it have something to do with age? [128] Rikud couldn't remember, and he suddenly wished he could read Crifer's book on astronomy, which meant the same as stars. [129] Except that it was variable, which was like change, being tied up somehow with age. [130] Presently Rikud became aware that his eyes were not tearing any longer, and he turned to look at the viewport. [131] What he saw now was so new that he couldn't at first accept it. [132] Instead, he blinked and rubbed his eyes, sure that the ball of blue-white fire somehow had damaged them. [133] But the new view persisted. [134] Of stars there were few, and of the blackness, almost nothing. [135] Gone, too, was the burning globe. [136] Something loomed there in the port, so huge that it spread out over almost the entire surface. [137] Something big and round, all grays and greens and browns, and something for which Rikud had no name. [138] A few moments more, and Rikud no longer could see the sphere. [139] A section of it had expanded outward and assumed the rectangular shape of the viewport, and its size as well. [140] It seemed neatly sheered down the middle, so that on one side Rikud saw an expanse of brown and green, and on the other, blue. [141] Startled, Rikud leaped back. [142] The sullen roar in the rear of the world had ceased abruptly. [143] Instead an ominous silence, broken at regular intervals by a sharp booming. [144] Change— "Won't you eat, Rikud?" [145] Chuls called from somewhere down below. [146] "Damn the man," Rikud thought. [147] Then aloud: "Yes, I'll eat. [148] Later." [149] "It's time...." Chuls' voice trailed off again, impotently. [150] But Rikud forgot the old man completely. [151] A new idea occurred to him, and for a while he struggled with it. [152] What he saw—what he had always seen, except that now there was the added factor of change—perhaps did not exist in the viewport. [153] Maybe it existed through the viewport. [154] That was maddening. [155] Rikud turned again to the port, where he could see nothing but an obscuring cloud of white vapor, murky, swirling, more confusing than ever. [156] "Chuls," he called, remembering, "come here." [157] "I am here," said a voice at his elbow. [158] Rikud whirled on the little figure and pointed to the swirling cloud of vapor. [159] "What do you see?" [160] Chuls looked. [161] "The viewport, of course." [162] "What else?" [163] "Else? [164] Nothing." [165] Anger welled up inside Rikud. [166] "All right," he said, "listen. [167] What do you hear?" [168] "Broom, brroom, brrroom!" [169] Chuls imitated the intermittent blasting of the engines. [170] "I'm hungry, Rikud." [171] The old man turned and strode off down the corridor toward the dining room, and Rikud was glad to be alone once more. [172] Now the vapor had departed, except for a few tenuous whisps. [173] For a moment Rikud thought he could see the gardens rearward in the world. [174] But that was silly. [175] What were the gardens doing in the viewport? [176] And besides, Rikud had the distinct feeling that here was something far vaster than the gardens, although all of it existed in the viewport which was no wider than the length of his body. [177] The gardens, moreover, did not jump and dance before his eyes the way the viewport gardens did. [178] Nor did they spin. [179] Nor did the trees grow larger with every jolt. [180] Rikud sat down hard. [181] He blinked. [182] The world had come to rest on the garden of the viewport. [183] For a whole week that view did not change, and Rikud had come to accept it as fact. [184] There—through the viewport and in it—was a garden. [185] A garden larger than the entire world, a garden of plants which Rikud had never seen before, although he had always liked to stroll through the world's garden and he had come to know every plant well. [186] Nevertheless, it was a garden. [187] He told Chuls, but Chuls had responded, "It is the viewport." [188] Crifer, on the other hand, wasn't so sure. [189] "It looks like the garden," he admitted to Rikud. [190] "But why should the garden be in the viewport?" [191] Somehow, Rikud knew this question for a healthy sign. [192] But he could not tell them of his most amazing thought of all. [193] The change in the viewport could mean only one thing. [194] The world had been walking—the word seemed all wrong to Rikud, but he could think of no other, unless it were running. [195] The world had been walking somewhere. [196] That somewhere was the garden and the world had arrived. [197] "It is an old picture of the garden," Chuls suggested, "and the plants are different." [198] "Then they've changed?" [199] "No, merely different." [200] "Well, what about the viewport? [201] It changed. [202] Where are the stars? [203] Where are they, Chuls, if it did not change?" [204] "The stars come out at night." [205] "So there is a change from day to night!" [206] "I didn't say that. [207] The stars simply shine at night. [208] Why should they shine during the day when the world wants them to shine only at night?" [209] "Once they shone all the time." [210] "Naturally," said Crifer, becoming interested. [211] "They are variable." [212] Rikud regretted that he never had had the chance to read that book on astronomy. [213] He hadn't been reading too much lately. [214] The voice of the reading machine had begun to bore him. [215] He said, "Well, variable or not, our whole perspective has changed." [216] And when Chuls looked away in disinterest, Rikud became angry. [217] If only the man would realize! [218] If only anyone would realize! [219] It all seemed so obvious. [220] If he, Rikud, walked from one part of the world to another, it was with a purpose—to eat, or to sleep, or perhaps to bathe in the health-rays. [221] Now if the world had walked from—somewhere, through the vast star-speckled darkness and to the great garden outside, this also was purposeful. [222] The world had arrived at the garden for a reason. [223] But if everyone lived as if the world still stood in blackness, how could they find the nature of that purpose? [224] "I will eat," Chuls said, breaking Rikud's revery. [225] Damn the man, all he did was eat! [226] Yet he did have initiative after a sort. [227] He knew when to eat. [228] Because he was hungry. [229] And Rikud, too, was hungry. [230] Differently. [231] He had long wondered about the door in the back of the library, and now, as Crifer sat cross-legged on one of the dusty tables, reading machine and book on astronomy or stars in his lap, Rikud approached the door. [232] "What's in here?" [233] he demanded. [234] "It's a door, I think," said Crifer. [235] "I know, but what's beyond it?" [236] "Beyond it? [237] Oh, you mean through the door." [238] "Yes." [239] "Well," Crifer scratched his head, "I don't think anyone ever opened it. [240] It's only a door." [241] "I will," said Rikud. [242] "You will what?" [243] "Open it. [244] Open the door and look inside." [245] A long pause. [246] Then, "Can you do it?" [247] "I think so." [248] "You can't, probably. [249] How can anyone go where no one has been before? [250] There's nothing. [251] It just isn't. [252] It's only a door, Rikud." [253] "No—" Rikud began, but the words faded off into a sharp intake of breath. [254] Rikud had turned the knob and pushed. [255] The door opened silently, and Crifer said, "Doors are variable, too, I think." [256] Rikud saw a small room, perhaps half a dozen paces across, at the other end of which was another door, just like the first. [257] Halfway across, Rikud heard a voice not unlike that of the reading machine. [258] He missed the beginning, but then: —therefore, permit no unauthorized persons to go through this door. [259] The machinery in the next room is your protection against the rigors of space. [260] A thousand years from now, journey's end, you may have discarded it for something better—who knows? [261] But if you have not, then here is your protection. [262] As nearly as possible, this ship is a perfect, self-sustaining world. [263] It is more than that: it is human-sustaining as well. [264] Try to hurt yourself and the ship will not permit it—within limits, of course. [265] But you can damage the ship, and to avoid any possibility of that, no unauthorized persons are to be permitted through this door— Rikud gave the voice up as hopeless. [266] There were too many confusing words. [267] What in the world was an unauthorized person? [268] More interesting than that, however, was the second door. [269] Would it lead to another voice? [270] Rikud hoped that it wouldn't. [271] When he opened the door a strange new noise filled his ears, a gentle humming, punctuated by a throb-throb-throb which sounded not unlike the booming of the engines last week, except that this new sound didn't blast nearly so loudly against his eardrums. [272] And what met Rikud's eyes—he blinked and looked again, but it was still there—cogs and gears and wheels and nameless things all strange and beautiful because they shone with a luster unfamiliar to him. [273] "Odd," Rikud said aloud. [274] Then he thought, "Now there's a good word, but no one quite seems to know its meaning." [275] Odder still was the third door. [276] Rikud suddenly thought there might exist an endless succession of them, especially when the third one opened on a bare tunnel which led to yet another door. [277] Only this one was different. [278] In it Rikud saw the viewport. [279] But how? [280] The viewport stood on the other end of the world. [281] It did seem smaller, and, although it looked out on the garden, Rikud sensed that the topography was different. [282] Then the garden extended even farther than he had thought. [283] It was endless, extending all the way to a ridge of mounds way off in the distance. [284] And this door one could walk through, into the garden. [285] Rikud put his hand on the door, all the while watching the garden through the new viewport. [286] He began to turn the handle. [287] Then he trembled. [288] What would he do out in the garden? [289] He couldn't go alone. [290] He'd die of the strangeness. [291] It was a silly thought; no one ever died of anything until he was a hundred. [292] Rikud couldn't fathom the rapid thumping of his heart. [293] And Rikud's mouth felt dry; he wanted to swallow, but couldn't. [294] Slowly, he took his hand off the door lever. [295] He made his way back through the tunnel and then through the room of machinery and finally through the little room with the confusing voice to Crifer. [296] By the time he reached the lame-footed man, Rikud was running. [297] He did not dare once to look back. [298] He stood shaking at Crifer's side, and sweat covered him in a clammy film. [299] He never wanted to look at the garden again. [300] Not when he knew there was a door through which he could walk and then might find himself in the garden. [301] It was so big. [302] Three or four days passed before Rikud calmed himself enough to talk about his experience. [303] When he did, only Crifer seemed at all interested, yet the lame-footed man's mind was inadequate to cope with the situation. [304] He suggested that the viewport might also be variable and Rikud found himself wishing that his friend had never read that book on astronomy. [305] Chuls did not believe Rikud at all. [306] "There are not that many doors in the world," he said. [307] "The library has a door and there is a door to the women's quarters; in five years, the Calculator will send you through that. [308] But there are no others." [309] Chuls smiled an indulgent smile and Rikud came nearer to him. [310] "Now, by the world, there are two other doors!" [311] Rikud began to shout, and everyone looked at him queerly. [312] "What are you doing that for?" [313] demanded Wilm, who was shorter even than Crifer, but had no lame foot. [314] "Doing what?" [315] "Speaking so loudly when Chuls, who is close, obviously has no trouble hearing you." [316] "Maybe yelling will make him understand." [317] Crifer hobbled about on his good foot, doing a meaningless little jig. [318] "Why don't we go see?" [319] he suggested. [320] Then, confused, he frowned. [321] "Well, I won't go," Chuls replied. [322] "There's no reason to go. [323] If Rikud has been imagining things, why should I?" [324] "I imagined nothing. [325] I'll show you—" "You'll show me nothing because I won't go." [326] Rikud grabbed Chuls' blouse with his big fist. [327] Then, startled by what he did, his hands began to tremble. [328] But he held on, and he tugged at the blouse. [329] "Stop that," said the older man, mildly. [330] Crifer hopped up and down. [331] "Look what Rikud's doing! [332] I don't know what he's doing, but look. [333] He's holding Chuls' blouse." [334] "Stop that," repeated Chuls, his face reddening. [335] "Only if you'll go with me." [336] Rikud was panting. [337] Chuls tugged at his wrist. [338] By this time a crowd had gathered. [339] Some of them watched Crifer jump up and down, but most of them watched Rikud holding Chuls' blouse. [340] "I think I can do that," declared Wilm, clutching a fistful of Crifer's shirt. [341] Presently, the members of the crowd had pretty well paired off, each partner grabbing for his companion's blouse. [342] They giggled and laughed and some began to hop up and down as Crifer had done. [343] A buzzer sounded and automatically Rikud found himself releasing Chuls. [344] Chuls said, forgetting the incident completely, "Time to retire." [345] In a moment, the room was cleared. [346] Rikud stood alone. [347] He cleared his throat and listened to the sound, all by itself in the stillness. [348] What would have happened if they hadn't retired? [349] But they always did things punctually like that, whenever the buzzer sounded. [350] They ate with the buzzer, bathed in the health-rays with it, slept with it. [351] What would they do if the buzzer stopped buzzing? [352] This frightened Rikud, although he didn't know why. [353] He'd like it, though. [354] Maybe then he could take them outside with him to the big garden of the two viewports. [355] And then he wouldn't be afraid because he could huddle close to them and he wouldn't be alone. [356] Rikud heard the throbbing again as he stood in the room of the machinery. [357] For a long time he watched the wheels and cogs and gears spinning and humming. [358] He watched for he knew not how long. [359] And then he began to wonder. [360] If he destroyed the wheels and the cogs and the gears, would the buzzer stop? [361] It probably would, because, as Rikud saw it, he was clearly an "unauthorized person." [362] He had heard the voice again upon entering the room. [363] He found a metal rod, bright and shiny, three feet long and half as wide as his arm. [364] He tugged at it and it came loose from the wires that held it in place. [365] He hefted it carefully for a moment, and then he swung the bar into the mass of metal. [366] Each time he heard a grinding, crashing sound. [367] He looked as the gears and cogs and wheels crumbled under his blows, shattered by the strength of his arm. [368] Almost casually he strode about the room, but his blows were not casual. [369] Soon his easy strides had given way to frenzied running. [370] Rikud smashed everything in sight. [371] When the lights winked out, he stopped. [372] Anyway, by that time the room was a shambles of twisted, broken metal. [373] He laughed, softly at first, but presently he was roaring, and the sound doubled and redoubled in his ears because now the throbbing had stopped. [374] He opened the door and ran through the little corridor to the smaller viewport. [375] Outside he could see the stars, and, dimly, the terrain beneath them. [376] But everything was so dark that only the stars shone clearly. [377] All else was bathed in a shadow of unreality. [378] Rikud never wanted to do anything more than he wanted to open that door. [379] But his hands trembled too much when he touched it, and once, when he pressed his face close against the viewport, there in the darkness, something bright flashed briefly through the sky and was gone. [380] Whimpering, he fled. [381] All around Rikud were darkness and hunger and thirst. [382] The buzzer did not sound because Rikud had silenced it forever. [383] And no one went to eat or drink. [384] Rikud himself had fumbled through the blackness and the whimpering to the dining room, his tongue dry and swollen, but the smooth belt that flowed with water and with savory dishes did not run any more. [385] The machinery, Rikud realized, also was responsible for food. [386] Chuls said, over and over, "I'm hungry." [387] "We will eat and we will drink when the buzzer tells us," Wilm replied confidently. [388] "It won't any more," Rikud said. [389] "What won't?" [390] "The buzzer will never sound again. [391] I broke it." [392] Crifer growled. [393] "I know. [394] You shouldn't have done it. [395] That was a bad thing you did, Rikud." [396] "It was not bad. [397] The world has moved through the blackness and the stars and now we should go outside to live in the big garden there beyond the viewport." [398] "That's ridiculous," Chuls said. [399] Even Crifer now was angry at Rikud. [400] "He broke the buzzer and no one can eat. [401] I hate Rikud, I think." [402] There was a lot of noise in the darkness, and someone else said, "I hate Rikud." [403] Then everyone was saying it. [404] Rikud was sad. [405] Soon he would die, because no one would go outside with him and he could not go outside alone. [406] In five more years he would have had a woman, too. [407] He wondered if it was dark and hungry in the women's quarters. [408] Did women eat? [409] Perhaps they ate plants. [410] Once, in the garden, Rikud had broken off a frond and tasted it. [411] It had been bitter, but not unpleasant. [412] Maybe the plants in the viewport would even be better. [413] "We will not be hungry if we go outside," he said. [414] "We can eat there." [415] "We can eat if the buzzer sounds, but it is broken," Chuls said dully. [416] Crifer shrilled, "Maybe it is only variable and will buzz again." [417] "No," Rikud assured him. [418] "It won't." [419] "Then you broke it and I hate you," said Crifer. [420] "We should break you, too, to show you how it is to be broken." [421] "We must go outside—through the viewport." [422] Rikud listened to the odd gurgling sound his stomach made. [423] A hand reached out in the darkness and grabbed at his head. [424] He heard Crifer's voice. [425] "I have Rikud's head." [426] The voice was nasty, hostile. [427] Crifer, more than anyone, had been his friend. [428] But now that he had broken the machinery, Crifer was his enemy, because Crifer came nearer to understanding the situation than anyone except Rikud. [429] The hand reached out again, and it struck Rikud hard across the face. [430] "I hit him! [431] I hit him!" [432] Other hands reached out, and Rikud stumbled. [433] He fell and then someone was on top of him, and he struggled. [434] He rolled and was up again, and he did not like the sound of the angry voices. [435] Someone said, "Let us do to Rikud what he said he did to the machinery." [436] Rikud ran. [437] In the darkness, his feet prodded many bodies. [438] There were those who were too weak to rise. [439] Rikud, too, felt a strange light-headedness and a gnawing hurt in his stomach. [440] But it didn't matter. [441] He heard the angry voices and the feet pounding behind him, and he wanted only to get away. [442] It was dark and he was hungry and everyone who was strong enough to run was chasing him, but every time he thought of the garden outside, and how big it was, the darkness and the hunger and the people chasing him were unimportant. [443] It was so big that it would swallow him up completely and positively. [444] He became sickly giddy thinking about it. [445] But if he didn't open the door and go into the garden outside, he would die because he had no food and no water and his stomach gurgled and grumbled and hurt. [446] And everyone was chasing him. [447] He stumbled through the darkness and felt his way back to the library, through the inner door and into the room with the voice—but the voice didn't speak this time—through its door and into the place of machinery. [448] Behind him, he could hear the voices at the first door, and he thought for a moment that no one would come after him. [449] But he heard Crifer yell something, and then feet pounding in the passage. [450] Rikud tripped over something and sprawled awkwardly across the floor. [451] He felt a sharp hurt in his head, and when he reached up to touch it with his hands there in the darkness, his fingers came away wet. [452] He got up slowly and opened the next door. [453] The voices behind him were closer now. [454] Light streamed in through the viewport. [455] After the darkness, it frightened Rikud and it made his eyes smart, and he could hear those behind him retreating to a safe distance. [456] But their voices were not far away, and he knew they would come after him because they wanted to break him. [457] Rikud looked out upon the garden and he trembled. [458] Out there was life. [459] The garden stretched off in unthinkable immensity to the cluster of low mounds against the bright blue which roofed the many plants. [460] If plants could live out there as they did within the world, then so could people. [461] Rikud and his people should . [462] This was why the world had moved across the darkness and the stars for all Rikud's lifetime and more. [463] But he was afraid. [464] He reached up and grasped the handle of the door and he saw that his fingers were red with the wetness which had come from his hurt head. [465] Slowly he slipped to the cool floor—how his head was burning!—and for a long time he lay there, thinking he would never rise again. [466] Inside he heard the voices again, and soon a foot and then another pounded on the metal of the passage. [467] He heard Crifer's voice louder than the rest: "There is Rikud on the floor!" [468] Tugging at the handle of the door, Rikud pulled himself upright. [469] Something small and brown scurried across the other side of the viewport and Rikud imagined it turned to look at him with two hideous red eyes. [470] Rikud screamed and hurtled back through the corridor, and his face was so terrible in the light streaming in through the viewport that everyone fled before him. [471] He stumbled again in the place of the machinery, and down on his hands and knees he fondled the bits of metal which he could see in the dim light through the open door. [472] "Where's the buzzer?" [473] he sobbed. [474] "I must find the buzzer." [475] Crifer's voice, from the darkness inside, said, "You broke it. [476] You broke it. [477] And now we will break you—" Rikud got up and ran. [478] He reached the door again and then he slipped down against it, exhausted. [479] Behind him, the voices and the footsteps came, and soon he saw Crifer's head peer in through the passageway. [480] Then there were others, and then they were walking toward him. [481] His head whirled and the viewport seemed to swim in a haze. [482] Could it be variable, as Crifer had suggested? [483] He wondered if the scurrying brown thing waited somewhere, and nausea struck at the pit of his stomach. [484] But if the plants could live out there and the scurrying thing could live and that was why the world had moved through the blackness, then so could he live out there, and Crifer and all the others.... [485] So tightly did he grip the handle that his fingers began to hurt. [486] And his heart pounded hard and he felt the pulses leaping on either side of his neck. [487] He stared out into the garden, and off into the distance, where the blue-white globe which might have been a star stood just above the row of mounds. [488] Crifer was tugging at him, trying to pull him away from the door, and someone was grabbing at his legs, trying to make him fall. [489] He kicked out and the hands let go, and then he turned the handle and shoved the weight of his body with all his strength against the door. [490] It opened and he stepped outside into the warmth. [491] The air was fresh, fresher than any air Rikud had ever breathed. [492] He walked around aimlessly, touching the plants and bending down to feel the floor, and sometimes he looked at the blue-white globe on the horizon. [493] It was all very beautiful. [494] Near the ship, water that did not come from a machine gurgled across the land, and Rikud lay down and drank. [495] It was cool and good, and when he got up, Crifer and Wilm were outside the world, and some of the others followed. [496] They stood around for a long time before going to the water to drink. [497] Rikud sat down and tore off a piece of a plant, munching on it. [498] It was good. [499] Crifer picked his head up, from the water, his chin wet. [500] "Even feelings are variable. [501] I don't hate you now, Rikud." [502] Rikud smiled, staring at the ship. [503] "People are variable, too, Crifer. [504] That is, if those creatures coming from the ship are people." [505] "They're women," said Crifer. [506] They were strangely shaped in some ways, and yet in others completely human, and their voices were high, like singing. [507] Rikud found them oddly exciting. [508] He liked them. [509] He liked the garden, for all its hugeness. [510] With so many people, and especially now with women, he was not afraid. [511] It was much better than the small world of machinery, buzzer, frightening doors and women by appointment only. [512] Rikud felt at home.

Here is the ranking of the context sentences from most to least helpful for answering the question "Describe the significance of the viewport in the story?": 1. [120] The view had changed, and the strangeness of it made Rikud's pulses leap with excitement. 2. [121] All the stars were paler now than before, and where Rikud had seen the one bright central star, he now saw a globe of light, white with a tinge of blue in it, and so bright that it hurt his eyes to look. 3. [132] Of stars there were few, and of the blackness, almost nothing. 4. [133] Gone, too, was the burning globe. 5. [134] Something loomed there in the port, so huge that it spread out over almost the entire surface. 6. [135] Something big and round, all grays and greens and browns, and something for which Rikud had no name. 7. [136] A few moments more, and Rikud no longer could see the sphere. 8. [137] A section of it had expanded outward and assumed the rectangular shape of the viewport, and its size as well. 9. [138] It seemed neatly sheered down the middle, so that on one side Rikud saw an expanse of brown and green, and on the other, blue. 10. [155] Now the vapor had departed, except for a few tenuous whisps. 11. [172] For a moment Rikud thought he could see the gardens rearward in the world. 12. [173] But that was silly. 13. [174] What were the gardens doing in the viewport? 14. [175] And besides, Rikud had the distinct feeling that here was something far vaster than the gardens, although all of it existed in the viewport which was no wider than the length of his body. 15. [176] The gardens, moreover, did not jump and dance before his eyes the way the viewport gardens did. 16. [177] Nor did they spin. 17. [178] Nor did the trees grow larger with every jolt. 18. [183] There—through the viewport and in it—was a garden. 19. [184] A garden larger than the entire world, a garden of plants which Rikud had never seen before, although he had always liked to stroll through the world's garden and he had come to know every plant well. 20. [185] Nevertheless, it was a garden. 21. [278] He had the distinct notion it was growing larger every moment. 22. [279] The viewport stood on the other end of the world. 23. [280] It did seem smaller, and, although it looked out on the garden, Rikud sensed that the topography was different. 24. [281] Then the garden extended even farther than he had thought. 25. [282] It was endless, extending all the way to a ridge of mounds way off in the distance. 26. [374] Outside he could see the stars, and, dimly, the terrain beneath them. 27. [375] But everything was so dark that only the stars shone clearly. 28. [376] All else was bathed in a shadow of unreality. 29. [454] Light streamed in through the viewport. 30. [455] After the darkness, it frightened Rikud and it made his eyes smart, and he could hear those behind him retreating to a safe distance. 31. [456] But their voices were not far away, and he knew they would come after him because they wanted to break him. 32. [457] Rikud looked out upon the garden and he trembled. 33. [458] Out there was life. 34. [459] The garden stretched off in unthinkable immensity to the cluster of low mounds against the bright blue which roofed the many plants. 35. [460] If plants could live out there as they did within the world, then so could people. 36. [461] Rikud and his people should . 37. [462] This was why the world had moved across the darkness and the stars for all Rikud's lifetime and more. 38. [468] Slowly he slipped to the cool floor—how his head was burning!—and for a long time he lay there, thinking he would never rise again. 39. [469] Inside he heard the voices again, and soon a foot and then another pounded on the metal of the passage. 40. [470] He heard Crifer's voice louder than the rest: "There is Rikud on the floor!" 41. [481] His head whirled and the viewport seemed to swim in a haze. 42. [482] Could it be variable, as Crifer had suggested? 43. [487] He stared out into the garden, and off into the distance, where the blue-white globe which might have been a star stood just above the row of mounds. 44. [503] "People are variable, too, Crifer. 45. [504] That is, if those creatures coming from the ship are people."