Asimov, Isaac - Lucky Starr 01 - David Starr, Space Ranger

7/21/2019 Asimov, Isaac - Lucky Starr 01 - David Starr, Space Ranger

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FAIR FIGHT David said, ÓIÒll see you in the dome if you wish. Meanwhile, step aside.He wal!ed fo"wa"d unhu""iedly, and G"iswold stepped #a$!. Ó%ou stupid &"eenho"n. 'e$anÒt have a fist(fi&ht with nosepie$es on. ÓTa!e you" nosepie$e off, then, saidDavid, Óand IÒll ta!e mine off. )top me in fai" fi&ht, if you $an. ÓFai" fi&ht* $ame the

app"ovin& shout f"om the $"owd, and +i&man yelled, Óut up o" #a$! down, G"iswold.He leaped fo"wa"d,flippin& G"iswoldÒs #laste" f"om his hip. David put his hand to hisnosepie$e. ÓReady- +i&man $alled, ÓIÒll $ount th"ee. +i&man #e&an $ountin&,Óne/Ó And at the $ount of ÓTh"ee David 0uietly "emoved his nosepie$e and tossedIt, with the atta$hed $ylinde"s, to one side. He stood the"e, unp"ote$ted, holdin& His#"eath a&ainst the un#ea"a#le atmosphe"e of Ma"s ...

DA1ID )TARR()A23 RA4G3R Isaa$ Asimov w"itin& as aul F"en$h

A Del 5ey +oo! +A66A4TI43 +5) 7 H3' %R5 A Del Rey +oo! u#lished #y+allantine +oo!s 2opy"i&ht 8 9:;< #y Dou#leday and 2ompany, In$. "efa$e 2opy"i&ht

8 9:=> #y Isaa$ Asimov All "i&hts "ese"ved unde" Inte"national and an(Ame"i$an2opy"i&ht 2onventions. u#lished in the ?nited )tates #y +allantine +oo!s, a division of Random House, In$., 4ew %o"!, and simultaneously in 2anada #y Random House of2anada 6imited, To"onto. All the $ha"a$te"s in this #oo! a"e fi$titious, and any"esem#lan$e to a$tual pe"sons livin& o" dead is pu"ely $oin$idental. I)+4 @(B;(9;B9( This edition pu#lished #y a""an&ement with Dou#leday and 2ompany, In$.Manufa$tu"ed in the ?nited )tates of Ame"i$a Fi"st +allantine +oo!s 3ditionC Ap"il 9:>B2ove" a"t #y Da""ell 5. )weet

24T34T) "efa$e B 9 The lum f"om Ma"s ; < The +"ead#as!et in the )!y 9@ Men fo" the Fa"ms of Ma"s 9 B ( Alien 6ife < ; ( Dinne"time <: ( Ó)and Away* ;= ( +i&man Ma!es a Dis$ove"y B< > ( 4i&ht Meetin& B> : ( Into the Fissu"e ;B 9@ ( +i"thof the )pa$e Ran&e" @ 99 ( The )to"m 9< ( The Missin& ie$e =< 9 ( The 2oun$ilTa!es ve" => 9B ( EI Am the )pa$e Ran&e"*Ò >B 9; ( The )pa$e Ran&e" Ta!es ve":@ 9 ( )olution :; A+?T TH3 A?THR 9@9

"efa$e +a$! in the 9:;@s, I w"ote a se"ies of si de""in&(do novels a#out DavidÓ6u$!y )ta"" and his #attles a&ainst malefa$to"s within the )ola" )ystem. 3a$h of thesi too! pla$e in a diffe"ent "e&ion of the system, and in ea$h $ase I made use of theast"onomi$al fa$ts/as they we"e then !nown. 4ow, mo"e than a 0ua"te"($entu"y late",these novels a"e #ein& pu#lished in new editions #ut what a 0ua"te"($entu"y it has#een* Mo"e has #een lea"ned a#out the wo"lds of ou" )ola" )ystem in this last 0ua"te"($entu"y than in all the thousands of yea"s that went #efo"e. DA1ID )TARRC )A23RA4G3R was w"itten in 9:;9 and at that time, the"e was still a faint possi#ility thatthe"e we"e $anals on Ma"s, as had fi"st #een "epo"ted th"ee(0ua"te"s of a $entu"yea"lie". The"e was, the"efo"e, a faint possi#ility that intelli&ent life eisted the"e, o" hadeisted at one time. )in$e then, thou&h, we have sent p"o#es past Ma"s and a"ound it tota!e photo&"aphs of its su"fa$e, and map the enti"e planet. In 9:=, we even landedsmall la#o"ato"ies on the Ma"tian su"fa$e to test its soil. The"e a"e no $anals. The"e a"einstead, $"ate"s, &iant vol$anoes and eno"mous $anyons. The atmosphe"e is only 9





pe"$ent as dense as 3a"thÒs and is almost enti"ely $a"#on dioide. The"e is no $lea"si&n of any life at all upon Ma"s, and the possi#ility of advan$ed life upon it, now o" eve",seems nil. If I had w"itten the #oo! today, I would have had to adust the plot to ta!e allthis into a$$ount. I hope my Gentle Reade"s enoy the #oo! anyway, as an adventu"esto"y, #ut please donÒt fo"&et that the advan$e of s$ien$e $an outdate even the most

$ons$ientious s$ien$e(fi$tion w"ite" and that my ast"onomi$al des$"iptions a"e no lon&e"a$$u"ate in all "espe$ts. Isaa$ Asimov

9 The lum f"om Ma"s David )ta"" was sta"in& "i&ht at the man, so he saw it happen.He saw him die. David had #een waitin& patiently fo" D". Hen"ee and, in the meanwhile,enoyin& the atmosphe"e of Inte"national 2ityÒs newest "estau"ant. This was to #e hisfi"st "eal $ele#"ation now that he had o#tained His de&"ee and 0ualified fo" fullmem#e"ship in the 2oun$il of )$ien$e. He did not mind waitin&. The 2afe )up"eme still&listened f"om the f"eshly applied $h"omosili$one paints. The su#dued li&ht that sp"eadevenly ove" the enti"e dinin& "oom had no visi#le sou"$e. At the wall end of DavidÒsta#le was the small, self(&lowin& $u#e whi$h $ontained a tiny th"ee(dimensional "epli$a

of the #and whose musi$ filled in a soft #a$!&"ound. The leade"Òs #aton was a half(in$h flash of motion and of $ou"se the ta#le top itself was of the )anito type, the ultimatein fo"$e(field mode"nity and, e$ept fo" the deli#e"ate fli$!e", 0uite invisi#le. DavidÒs$alm #"own eyes swept the othe" ta#les, half(hidden in thei" al$oves, not out of#o"edom, #ut #e$ause people inte"ested him mo"e than any of the s$ientifi$ &ad&et"ythat the 2afe )up"eme $ould &athe". T"i(television and fo"$e(fields we"e wonde"s tenyea"s #efo"e, yet we"e al"eady a$$epted #y all. eople, on the othe" hand, did not$han&e, #ut even now, ten thousand yea"s afte" the py"amids we"e #uilt and fivethousand yea"s afte" the fi"st atom #om# had eploded, they we"e still the insolu#lemyste"y and the unfaded wonde". The"e was a youn& &i"l in a p"etty &own lau&hin&&ently with the man who sat opposite he" a middle(a&ed man, in un$omfo"ta#le holiday$lothin&, pun$hin& the menu $om#ination on the me$hani$al waite" while his wife andtwo $hild"en wat$hed &"avely two #usinessmen tal!in& animatedly ove" thei" desse"t.

And it was as DavidÒs &lan$e fli$!ed ove" the #usinessmen that it happened. ne ofthem, fa$e $on&estin& with #lood, moved $onvulsively and attempted to "ise. The othe",$"yin& out, st"et$hed out an a"m in a va&ue &estu"e of help, #ut the fi"st had al"eady$ollapsed in his seat and was #e&innin& to slide unde" the ta#le. David had "isen to hisfeet at the fi"st si&n of distu"#an$e and now his lon& le&s ate the distan$e #etween theta#les in th"ee 0ui$! st"ides. He was in the #ooth and, at a tou$h of his fin&e" on theele$t"oni$ $onta$t nea" the t"i(television $u#e, a violet $u"tain with fluo"es$ent desi&nsswept a$"oss the open end of the al$ove. It would att"a$t no attention. Many dine"sp"efe""ed to ta!e advanta&e of that so"t of p"iva$y. The si$! manÒs $ompanion only nowfound his voi$e. He said, ÓMannin& is ill. ItÒs some so"t of seiu"e. A"e you a do$to"-DavidÒs voi$e was $alm and level. It $a""ied assu"an$e. He said, Ó4ow sit 0uietly andma!e no noise. 'e will have the mana&e" he"e and what $an #e done will #e done.He had his hands on the si$! man, liftin& him as thou&h he we"e a "a& doll, althou&h theman was heavyset. He pushed the ta#le as fa" to one side as possi#le, his fin&e"ssepa"ated un$annily #y an in$h of fo"$e(field as he &"ipped it. He laid the man on theseat, loosenin& the Ma&no(seams of his #louse, and #e&an applyin& a"tifi$ial"espi"ation. David had no illusion as to the possi#ility of "e$ove"y. He !new the





symptomsC the sudden flushin&, the loss of voi$e and #"eath, the few minutesÒ fi&ht fo"life, and then, the end. The $u"tain #"ushed aside. 'ith admi"a#le dispat$h the mana&e" had answe"ed the eme"&en$y si&nal whi$h David had tapped even #efo"e he had lefthis own ta#le. The mana&e" was a sho"t, plump man, d"essed in #la$!, ti&htly fittin&$lothin& of $onse"vative $ut. His fa$e was distu"#ed. ÓDid someone in this win&Ó He

seemed to sh"in! in upon himself as his eyes too! in the si&ht. The su"vivin& dine" wasspea!in& with hyste"i$al "apidity. Ó'e we"e havin& dinne" when my f"iend had thisseiu"e. As fo" this othe" man, I donÒt !now who he is. David a#andoned his futileattempts at "evival. He #"ushed his thi$! #"own hai" off his fo"ehead. He said, Ó%ou a"ethe mana&e"- ÓI am live" Gaspe"e, mana&e" of the 2afe )up"eme, said the plumpman #ewilde"edly. ÓThe eme"&en$y $all f"om Ta#le >= sounds and when I $ome, it isempty. I am told a youn& man has ust "un into the #ooth of Ta#le :B, and I follow andfind this. He tu"ned. ÓI shall $all the house do$to". David said, Óne moment. The"eis no use in that This man is dead. Ó'hat* $"ied the othe" dine". He lun&ed fo"wa"d,$"yin&, ÓMannin&* David )ta"" pulled him #a$!, pinnin& him a&ainst the unseea#leta#le top. Ó3asy, man. %ou $annot help him and this is no time fo" noise. Ó4o, no,

Gaspe"e a&"eed "apidly. Ó'e must not upset the othe" dine"s. +ut see he"e, si", ado$to" must still eamine this poo" man to de$ide the $ause of death. I $an allow noi""e&ula"ities in my "estau"ant. ÓI am so""y, M". Gaspe"e, #ut I fo"#id the eaminationof this man #y anyone at the moment. Ó'hat a"e you tal!in& a#out- If this man diesof a hea"t atta$! Ó Ólease. 6et us have $o(ope"ation and not useless dis$ussion.'hat is you" name, si"- The livin& dine" said dully, Ó3u&ene Fo"este". Ó'ell, then,M". Fo"este", I want to !now ea$tly what you and you" $ompanion ate ust now. Ó)i"* The little mana&e" sta"ed at David, with eyes swellin& out of thei" so$!ets. ÓA"e yousu&&estin& that somethin& in the food $aused this- ÓIÒm not ma!in& su&&estions.IÒm as!in& 0uestions. Ó%ou have no "i&ht to as! 0uestions. 'ho a"e you- %ou a"eno#ody. I demand that a do$to" eamine this poo" man. ÓM". Gaspe"e, this is 2oun$ilof )$ien$e #usiness. David #a"ed the inne" su"fa$e of his w"ist, $u"lin& the flei#leMetallite sleeve a#ove it. Fo" a moment it was me"ely eposed s!in, and then an ovalspot da"!ened and tu"ned #la$!. 'ithin it little yellow &"ains of li&ht dan$ed and fli$!e"edin the familia" patte"ns of the +i& Dippe" and of "ion. The mana&e"Òs lips t"em#led.The 2oun$il of )$ien$e was not an offi$ial &ove"nment a&en$y, #ut its mem#e"s we"enea"ly a#ove the &ove"nment He said, ÓI am so""y, si". Ó4o apolo&ies a"e ne$essa"y.4ow, M". Fo"este", will you answe" my fi"st 0uestion- Fo"este" mutte"ed, Ó'e had thespe$ial dinne" num#e" th"ee. Ó+oth of you- ÓThatÒs "i&ht. David said, Ó'e"ethe"e no su#stitutions on eithe" pa"t- He had studied the menu at his own ta#le. The2afe )up"eme featu"ed et"ate""est"ial deli$a$ies, #ut the spe$ial dinne" num#e" th"eewas one of the mo"e o"dina"y meals native to 3a"thC ve&eta#le soup, veal $hops, #a!edpotato, peas, i$e $"eam, and $offee. Ó%es, the"e was a su#stitution. Fo"este"Òs #"owsd"ew to&ethe". ÓMannin& o"de"ed stewed ma"pluhis fo" desse"t. ÓAnd you didnÒt-Ó4o. ÓAnd whe"e a"e the ma"pluhis now- David had eaten them himself. Theywe"e pluhis &"own in the vast Ma"tian &"eenhouses, ui$y and pitless, with a faint$innamon flavo" supe"imposed on thei" f"uit(iness. Fo"este" said, ÓHe ate them. 'hatdo you suppose- ÓHow soon #efo"e he $ollapsed- ÓA#out five minutes, I thin!. 'ehadnÒt even finished ou" $offee. The man was tu"nin& si$!ly pale. Ó'e"e theypoisoned- David did not answe". He tu"ned to the mana&e", Ó'hat a#out the





ma"plums- ÓThe"e was nothin& w"on& with them. 4othin&. Gaspe"e seied the$u"tains of the al$ove and shoo! them in his passion, #ut did not fo"&et to spea! in thesoftest of whispe"s. ÓThey we"e a f"esh shipment f"om Ma"s, &ove"nment tested andapp"oved. 'e have se"ved hund"eds of po"tions in the last th"ee ni&hts alone. 4othin&li!e this has happened till now. ÓJust the same you had #ette" &ive o"de"s to eliminate

ma"plums f"om the list of desse"ts until we $an inspe$t them a&ain. And now, in $ase itwasnÒt the ma"pluhis at all, please #"in& me a $a"ton of some so"t and we will t"ansfe"what is left of the dinne" fo" study. ÓImmediately. Immediately. ÓAnd of $ou"sespea! to no one of this. The mana&e" "etu"ned in a few moments, smea"in& his #"owwith a feathe"y hand!e"$hief. He said, ÓI $annot unde"stand it. I "eally $annot. Davidstowed the used plasti$ dishes, with s$"aps of food still adhe"in& to them, in the $a"ton,added what was left of the toasted "olls, "e$apped the waed $ups in whi$h the $offeehad #een se"ved, and put them aside. Gaspe"e left off "u##in& his hands f"anti$ally to"ea$h a fin&e" towa"d the $onta$t at the ed&e of the ta#le. DavidÒs hand moved 0ui$!ly,and the mana&e" was sta"tled to find his w"ist imp"isoned. Ó+ut, si", the $"um#s* ÓIÒllta!e those too. He used his pen!nife to $olle$t ea$h s$"ap, its sha"p steel slidin&

easily alon& the nothin&ness of the fo"$e(field. David himself dou#ted the wo"th of fo"$e(field ta#le tops. Thei" shee" t"anspa"en$y was anythin& #ut $ondu$ive to "elaation. Thesi&ht of dishes and $utle"y "estin& on nothin& $ould not help #ut leave dine"s tense, sothat the field had to #e put deli#e"ately out of phase to indu$e $ontinual inte"fe"en$espa"!les that &ave "ise to an illusion of su#stan$e. In "estau"ants they we"e popula"sin$e at the $on$lusion of a meal it was ne$essa"y only to etend the fo"$e(field af"a$tion of an in$h to dest"oy whateve" adhe"in& $"um#s and d"ops "emained. It wasonly when David had $on$luded his $olle$tion that he allowed Gaspe"e to pe"fo"m theetension, "emovin& the safety $at$h fi"st #y a tou$h of the fin&e" and then pe"mittin&Gaspe"e to use his spe$ial !ey. A new, a#solutely $lean su"fa$e was instantlyp"esented. ÓAnd now, ust a moment. David &lan$ed at the metal fa$e of his w"istwat$h, then fli$!ed a $o"ne" of the $u"tain aside. He said softly, ÓD". Hen"ee* Thelan!y middle(a&ed man who was sittin& on what had #een DavidÒs seat fifteen minutesea"lie" stiffened and loo!ed a#out him with su"p"ise. David was smilin&. ÓHe"e I am*He put a lin&e" to his lips. D". Hen"ee "ose. His $lothes hun& loosely upon him and histhinnin& &"ay hai" was $om#ed $a"efully ove" a #ald spot. He said, ÓMy dea" David, a"eyou he"e al"eady- I had thou&ht you we"e late. +ut is anythin& w"on&- DavidÒs smilehad #een sho"t(lived. He said, ÓItÒs anothe" one. D". Hen"ee stepped within the$u"tain, loo!ed at the dead man, and mutte"ed, ÓDea" me. ÓThatÒs one way ofputtin& it, said David. ÓI thin!, said D". Hen"ee, "emovin& his &lasses and playin&the mild fo"$e(#eam of his pen$il($leane" ove" the lenses #efo"e "epla$in& them, ÓIthin! we had #ette" $lose down the "estau"ant. Gaspe"e opened and $losed his mouthsoundlessly, li!e a fish. Finally he said in a st"an&led &asp, Ó2lose the "estau"ant* It has#een open only a wee!. It will #e "uin. A#solute "um* Óh, #ut only fo" an hou" o" so.'e will have to "emove the #ody and inspe$t you" !it$hens. )u"ely you want us to"emove the sti&ma of food poisonin& if we $an, and su"ely it would #e even less$onvenient fo" you to have us ma!e a""an&ements fo" this in the p"esen$e of thedine"s. Ó1e"y well then. I will see that the "estau"ant is made availa#le to you, #ut Imust have an hou"Òs &"a$e to allow p"esent dine"s to finish thei" meals. I hope the"ewill #e no pu#li$ity. Ó4one, I assu"e you. D". Hen"eeÒs lined fa$e was a mas! of





wo""y. ÓDavid, will you $all 2oun$il Hall and as! to spea! to 2onway- 'e have ap"o$edu"e fo" su$h $ases. He will !now what to do. ÓMust I stay- put in Fo"este"suddenly. ÓI feel si$!. Ó'ho is this, David- as!ed D". Hen"ee. ÓThe dead manÒsdinne" $ompanion. His name is Fo"este". Óh. Then I am af"aid, M". Fo"este", you willhave to #e si$! he"e. The "estau"ant was $old and "epulsive in its emptiness. )ilent

ope"atives had $ome and &one. 3ffi$iently they had &one th"ou&h the !it$hens atom #yatom. 4ow only D". Hen"ee and David )ta"" "emained. They sat in an empty al$ove.The"e we"e no li&hts, and the t"i(televisions on ea$h ta#le we"e simply dead $u#es of&lass. D". Hen"ee shoo! his head. Ó'e will lea"n nothin&. I am su"e of that f"omepe"ien$e. I am so""y, David. This is not the p"ope" $ele#"ation we had planned.Ólenty of time fo" $ele#"ation late". %ou mentioned in you" lette"s these $ases of foodpoisonin&, so I was p"epa"ed. )till, I wasnÒt awa"e of this intense se$"e$y whi$h seemsne$essa"y. I mi&ht have #een mo"e dis$"eet if I had !nown. Ó4o. It is no use. 'e$annot hide this t"ou#le fo"eve". 6ittle #y little the"e a"e tiny lea!s. eople see othe"people die while eatin& and then hea" of still othe" $ases. Always while theyÒ"e eatin&.It is #ad and will &"ow wo"se. 'ell, we will tal! mo"e of this tomo""ow when you tal! to

2onway himself. Ó'ait* David loo!ed deep into the olde" manÒs eyes. ÓThe"e issomethin& that wo""ies you mo"e than the death of a man o" the death of a thousand.)omethin& I donÒt !now. 'hat is it- D". Hen"ee si&hed. ÓIÒm af"aid, David, that3a"th is in &"eat dan&e". Most of the 2oun$il does not #elieve it and 2onway is only half($onvin$ed, #ut I am $e"tain that this supposed food poisonin& is a $leve" and #"utalattempt at seiin& $ont"ol of 3a"thÒs e$onomi$ life and &ove"nment. And so fa", David,the"e is no hint as to who is #ehind the th"eat and ea$tly how it is #ein& a$$omplished.The 2oun$il of )$ien$e is enti"ely helpless*

< The +"ead#as!et in the )!y He$to" 2onway, 2hief 2ounselo" of )$ien$e, stood at hiswindow in the topmost suite of )$ien$e Towe", the slende" st"u$tu"e whi$h dominatedthe no"the"n su#u"#s of Inte"national 2ity. The $ity was #e&innin& to spa"!le in the ea"lytwili&ht. )oon it would tu"n to st"ea!s of white alon& the elevated pedest"ianp"omenades. The #uildin&s would li&ht up in eweled patte"ns as the windows $ame tolife. Almost $ente"ed in his window we"e the distant domes of the Halls of 2on&"ess,with the 3e$utive Mansion snu&&led #etween. He was alone in his offi$e, and theautomati$ lo$! was adusted to D". Hen"eeÒs fin&e"p"ints only. He $ould feel some ofhis dep"ession liftin&. David )ta"" was on his way, suddenly and ma&i$ally &"own up,"eady to "e$eive his fi"st assi&nment as a mem#e" of the 2oun$il. He felt almost asthou&h his son we"e a#out to visit him. In a way, that was how it was. David )ta"" washis sonC his and Au&ustus Hen"eeÒs. The"e had #een th"ee of them at fi"st, himself andGus Hen"ee and 6aw"en$e )ta"". How he "emem#e"ed 6aw"en$e )ta""* They had allth"ee &one th"ou&h s$hool to&ethe", 0ualified fo" the 2oun$il to&ethe", done thei" fi"stinvesti&ations to&ethe" and then 6aw"en$e )ta"" had #een p"omoted. It was to #eepe$ted he was #y fa" the most #"illiant of the th"ee. )o he had "e$eived a semi(pe"manent station on 1enus, and that was the fi"st time the th"ee had not ta$!led ap"oposition to&ethe". He had &one with his wife and $hild. The wife was +a"#a"a. 6ovely+a"#a"a )ta""* 4eithe" Hen"ee no" himself had eve" ma""ied, and fo" neithe" we"e the"eany &i"ls to $ompete with +a"#a"a in memo"y. 'hen David was #o"n, it was ?n$le Gusand ?n$le He$to", until he sometimes &ot $onfused and $alled his fathe" ?n$le





6aw"en$e. And then on the t"ip to 1enus the"e was the pi"ate atta$!. It had #een a totalmassa$"e. i"ate ships too! vi"tually no p"isone"s in spa$e, and mo"e than a hund"edhuman #ein&s we"e dead #efo"e two hou"s had passed. Amon& them we"e 6aw"en$eand +a"#a"a. 2onway $ould "emem#e" the day, the ea$t minute, when the news had"ea$hed )$ien$e Towe". at"ol ships had shot out into spa$e, t"a$in& the pi"ates they

atta$!ed the aste"oid lai"s in a fu"y that was $ompletely unp"e$edented. 'hethe" they$au&ht the pa"ti$ula" villains who had &utted the 1enus(#ound ship none $ould eve" say,#ut the pi"ate powe" had #een #"o!en f"om that yea" on. And the pat"ol ships foundsomethin& elseC a tiny life#oat windin& a p"e$a"ious o"#it #etween 1enus and 3a"th,"adiatin& its $oldly automati$ "adio $alls fo" help. nly a $hild was inside. A f"i&htened,lonely fou"(yea"(old, who did not spea! fo" hou"s e$ept to say stoutly, ÓMothe" said IwasnÒt to $"y. It was David )ta"". His sto"y, seen th"ou&h $hildish eyes, was &a"#led,#ut inte"p"etation was only too easy. 2onway $ould still see what those last minuteswithin the &utted ship must have #een li!eC 6aw"en$e )ta"", dyin& in the $ont"ol "oom,with the outlaws fo"$in& thei" way in +a"#a"a, a #last &un in he" hand, despe"atelyth"ustin& David into the life#oat, t"yin& to set the $ont"ols as #est she $ould, "o$!etin& it

into spa$e. And then- )he had a &un in he" hand. As lon& as she $ould, she must haveused it a&ainst the enemy, and when that $ould #e no lon&e", a&ainst he"self. 2onwaya$hed to thin! of it. A$hed, and on$e a&ain wished they had allowed him to a$$ompanythe pat"ol ships so that with his own hands he mi&ht have helped to tu"n the aste"oid$aves into flamin& o$eans of atomi$ dest"u$tion. +ut mem#e"s of the 2oun$il of)$ien$e, they said, we"e too valua#le to "is! in poli$e a$tions, so he stayed home and"ead the news #ulletins as they "olled out on the ti$!e" tape of his telenews p"oe$to".+etween them he and Au&ustus Hen"ee had adopted David )ta"", #ent thei" lives toe"ase those last ho""i#le memo"ies of spa$e. They we"e #oth mothe" and fathe" to himthey pe"sonally supe"vised his tuto"in& they t"ained him with one thou&ht in mindC toma!e him what 6aw"en$e )ta"" had on$e #een. He had e$eeded thei" epe$tations. Inhei&ht he was 6aw"en$e, "ea$hin& si feet, "an&y and ha"d, with the $ool ne"ves and0ui$! mus$les of an athlete and the sha"p, $lea" #"ain of a fi"st($lass s$ientist. And#eyond that the"e was somethin& a#out his #"own hai" with the su&&estion of a wave init, in his level, wide(set #"own eyes, in the t"a$e of a $left in his $hin whi$h vanishedwhen he smiled, that was "eminis$ent of +a"#a"a. He had "a$ed th"ou&h his A$ademydays leavin& a t"ail of spa"!s and the dead ash of p"evious "e$o"ds #oth on the playin&fields and in the $lass"oohis. 2onway had #een pe"tu"#ed. ÓItÒs not natu"al, Gus.HeÒs outdoin& his fathe". And Hen"ee, who didnÒt #elieve in unne$essa"y spee$h,had puffed at his pipe and smiled p"oudly. ÓI hate to say this, 2onway had $ontinued,Ó#e$ause youÒll lau&h at me, #ut the"eÒs somethin& not 0uite no"mal in it. Remem#e"that the $hild was st"anded in spa$e fo" two days with ust a thin life#oat hull #etweenhimself and sola" "adiation. He was only seventy million miles f"om the sun du"in& ape"iod of sunspot maimum. ÓAll youÒ"e sayin&, said Hen"ee, Óis that Davidshould have #een #u"nt to death. Ó'ell, I donÒt !now, mum#led 2onway. ÓTheeffe$t of "adiation on livin& tissue, on human livin& tissue, has its myste"ies. Ó'ell,natu"ally. ItÒs not a field in whi$h epe"imentation is ve"y feasi#le. David had finished$olle&e with the hi&hest ave"a&e on "e$o"d. He had mana&ed to do o"i&inal wo"! in#iophysi$s on the &"aduate level. He was the youn&est man eve" to #e a$$o"ded fullmem#e"ship in the 2oun$il of )$ien$e. To 2onway the"e had #een a loss in all this. Fou"





yea"s ea"lie" he had #een ele$ted 2hief 2ounselo". It was an hono" he would have&iven his life fo", yet he !new that had 6aw"en$e )ta"" lived, the ele$tion would have&one in a wo"thie" di"e$tion. And he had lost all #ut o$$asional $onta$t with youn& David)ta"", fo" to #e 2hief 2ounselo" meant that one had no life othe" than the #eetlin&p"o#lehis of all the Galay. 3ven at &"aduation ee"$ises he had seen David only f"om a

distan$e. In the last fou" yea"s he mi&ht have spo!en to him fou" times. )o His hea"t#eat hi&h when he hea"d the doo" open. He tu"ned, wal!in& "apidly to meet them asthey wal!ed in. ÓGus old man. He held out his hand, w"un& the othe"Òs. ÓAnd David#oy* An hou" passed. It was t"ue ni&ht #efo"e they $ould stop spea!in& of themselvesand tu"n to the unive"se. It was David who #"o!e out. He said, ÓI saw my fi"st poisonin&today, ?n$le He$to". I !new enou&h to p"event pani$. I wish I !new enou&h to p"eventpoisonin&. 2onway said so#e"ly, Ó4o one !nows that mu$h. I suppose, Gus, it was aMa"tian p"odu$t a&ain. Ó4o way of tellin&, He$to". +ut a ma"plum was involved.Ó)uppose, said David )ta"", Óyou let me !now anythin& IÒm allowed to !now a#outthis. ÓItÒs "ema"!a#ly simple, said 2onway. ÓHo""i#ly simple. In the last fou"months somethin& li!e two hund"ed people have died immediately afte" eatin& some

Ma"s(&"own p"odu$t. ItÒs no !nown poison, the symptoms a"e those of no !nowndisease. The"e is a "apid and $omplete pa"alysis of the ne"ves $ont"ollin& thediaph"a&m and the mus$les of the $hest. It amounts to a pa"alysis of the lun&s, whi$h isfatal in five minutes. ÓIt &oes deepe" than that too. In the few $ases whe"e weÒve$au&ht the vi$tims in time, weÒve t"ied a"tifi$ial "espi"ation, as you did, and even i"onlun&s. They still died in five minutes. The hea"t is affe$ted as well. Autopsies show usnothin& e$ept ne"ve de&ene"ation that must have #een un#elieva#ly "apid. Ó'hata#out the food that poisoned them- as!ed David. ÓDead end, said 2onway. ÓThe"eis always time fo" the poisoned item o" po"tion to #e $ompletely $onsumed. the"spe$imens of the same so"t at the ta#le o" in the !it$hen a"e ha"mless. 'eÒve fed themto animals and even to human voluntee"s. The stoma$h $ontents of the dead men haveyielded un$e"tain "esults. ÓThen how do you !now itÒs food poisonin& at all-Ó+e$ause the $oin$iden$e of death afte" eatin& a Ma"tian p"odu$t time afte" time,without !nown e$eption, is mo"e than $oin$iden$e. David said thou&htfully, ÓAnd itisnÒt $onta&ious, o#viously. Ó4o. Than! the sta"s fo" that. 3ven so, itÒs #ad enou&h.)o fa" weÒve !ept this as 0uiet as we $an, with full $o(ope"ation f"om the laneta"yoli$e. Two hund"ed deaths in fou" months ove" the population of all 3a"th is still amana&ea#le phenomenon, #ut the "ate may in$"ease. And if the people of 3a"th#e$ome awa"e that any mouthful of Ma"tian food mi&ht #e thei" last, the $onse0uen$es$ould #e ho""i#le. 3ven thou&h we we"e to point out that the death "ate is only fifty pe"month out of a population of five #illions, ea$h pe"son would thin! himself $e"tain to #eone of those fifty. Ó%es, said David, Óand that would mean that the ma"!et fo"Ma"tian food impo"ts would fall th"ou&h the floo". It would #e too #ad fo" the Ma"tianFa"min& )yndi$ates. ÓThat* 2onway sh"u&&ed his shoulde"s, th"ustin& aside thep"o#lem of the Fa"min& )yndi$ates as somethin& of no moment. ÓDo you see nothin&else- ÓI see that 3a"thÒs own a&"i$ultu"e $anÒt suppo"t five #illion people.ÓThatÒs it ea$tly. 'e $anÒt do without food f"om the $olonial planets. The"e would #esta"vation on 3a"th in s! wee!s. %et if the people a"e af"aid of Ma"tian food, the"e will #eno p"eventin& that, and I donÒt !now how lon& it $an #e staved off. 3a$h new death is anew $"isis. 'ill this #e the one that the tele(news will &et hold of- 'ill the t"uth $ome out





now- And the"eÒs GusÒs theo"y on top of eve"ythin&. D". Hen"ee sat #a$!, tampin&to#a$$o &ently into His pipe. ÓI feel su"e, David, that this epidemi$ of food poisonin& isnot a natu"al phenomenon. It is too widesp"ead. It st"i!es one day in +en&al, the netday in 4ew %o"!, the day afte" in Kani#a". The"e must #e intelli&en$e #ehind it. ÓI tellyou/Ó #e&an 2onway. Ó6et him &o on, ?n$le He$to", u"&ed David. ÓIf any &"oup

we"e see!in& to $ont"ol 3a"th, what #ette" move $ould they ma!e than to st"i!e at ou"wea!est point, ou" food supply- 3a"th is the most populous planet in all the Galay. Itshould #e, sin$e it is man!indÒs o"i&inal home. +ut that ve"y fa$t ma!es us the wea!estwo"ld, in a sense, sin$e weÒ"e not self(suppo"tin&. u" #"ead#as!et is in the s!yC onMa"s on Ganymede on 3u"opa. If you $ut the impo"ts in any manne", eithe" #y pi"atea$tion o" #y the mu$h mo"e su#tle system #ein& used now, we a"e 0ui$!ly helpless.That is all. Ó+ut, said David, Óif that we"e the $ase, wouldnÒt the "esponsi#le &"oup$ommuni$ate with the &ove"nment, if only to &ive an ultimatum- ÓIt would seem so,#ut they may #e waitin& thei" time waitin& fo" "ipeness. " they may #e dealin& with thefa"me"s of Ma"s di"e$tly. The $olonists have minds of thei" own, mist"ust 3a"th, and, infa$t, if they see thei" livelihood th"eatened, may th"ow in with these $"iminals alto&ethe".

May#e even, he puffed st"enuously, Óthey themselves a"e +ut IÒll ma!e noa$$usations. ÓAnd my pa"t, said David. Ó'hat is it y0u would have me do- Ó6etme tell him, said 2onway. ÓDavid, we want you to &o to 2ent"al 6a#o"ato"ies on theMoon. %ou will #e pa"t of the "esea"$h team investi&atin& the p"o#lem. At this momentthey a"e "e$eivin& samples of eve"y shipment of food leavin& Ma"s. 'e a"e #ound to$ome a$"oss some poisoned item. Half of all items a"e fed to "ats the "emainin&po"tions of any fatal pie$es a"e analyed #y all the means at ou" disposal. ÓI see. Andif ?n$le Gus is "i&ht, I suppose you have anothe" team on Ma"s- Ó1e"y epe"ien$edmen. +ut meanwhile, will you #e "eady to leave fo" the Moon tomo""ow ni&ht-Ó2e"tainly. +ut if thatÒs the $ase, may I leave now to &et "eady- Óf $ou"se. ÓAndwould the"e #e any o#e$tion to my usin& my own ship- Ó4ot at all. The twos$ientists, alone in the "oom, sta"ed down at the fai"y(tale li&hts of the $ity fo" a lon&time #efo"e eithe" spo!e. Finally 2onway said, ÓHow li!e 6aw"en$e he is* +ut heÒs stillso youn&. It will #e dan&e"ous. Hen"ee said, Ó%ou "eally thin! it will wo"!-Ó2e"tainly* 2onway lau&hed. Ó%ou hea"d his last 0uestion a#out Ma"s. He has nointention of &oin& to the Moon. I !now him that well. And itÒs the #est way to p"ote$thim. The offi$ial "e$o"ds will say he is &oin& to the Moon the men at 2ent"al6a#o"ato"ies a"e inst"u$ted to "epo"t his a""ival. 'hen he does "ea$h Ma"s, the"e will #eno "eason fo" you" $onspi"ato"s, if they eist, to ta!e him fo" a mem#e" of the 2oun$il,and of $ou"se he will maintain an in$o&nito #e$ause he will #e #usy foolin& us, hethin!s. 2onway added, ÓHeÒs #"illiant. He may #e a#le to do somethin& the "est of us$ould not do. Fo"tunately, heÒs still youn& and $an #e maneuve"ed. In a few yea"s thatwill #e impossi#le. He would see th"ou&h us. 2onwayÒs $ohimuni$ato" tin!led &ently.He flipped it open. Ó'hat is it- Óe"sonal $ommuni$ation fo" you, si". ÓFo" me-T"ansmit it. He loo!ed wildly at Hen"ee. ÓIt $anÒt #e f"om the $onspi"ato"s you #a##lea#out. Ópen it and see, su&&ested Hen"ee. 2onway sli$ed the envelope open. Fo" a moment he sta"ed. Then he lau&hed a #it wildly, tossed the open sheet to Hen"ee,and slumped #a$! in his $hai". Hen"ee pi$!ed it up. The"e we"e only two s$"awled lineswhi$h "ead, ÓHave it you" way* Ma"s it is. It was si&ned, ÓDavid. Hen"ee "oa"edwith lau&hte". Ó%ou maneuve"ed him all "i&ht. And 2onway $ould not help #ut oin.





Men fo" the Fa"ms of Ma"s To a native 3a"thman, 3a"th meant 3a"th. It was ust thethi"d planet f"om that sun whi$h was !nown to the inha#itants of the Galay as )ol. Inoffi$ial &eo&"aphy, howeve", 3a"th was mo"eC it in$luded all the #odies of the )ola")ystem. Ma"s was as mu$h 3a"th as 3a"th itself was, and the men and women who

lived on Ma"s we"e as mu$h 3a"thmen as thou&h they lived on the home planet.6e&ally, at any "ate. They voted fo" "ep"esentatives in the All(3a"th 2on&"ess and fo"laneta"y "esident. +ut that was as fa" as it went. The 3a"thmen of Ma"s $onside"edthemselves 0uite a sepa"ate and #ette" #"eed, and the new$ome" had a lon& way to &oto #e a$$epted #y the Ma"tian fa"m#oy as anythin& mo"e than a $asual tou"ist of notmu$h a$$ount. David )ta"" found that out almost at on$e when he ente"ed the Fa"m3mployment +uildin&. A little man was at his heels as he wal!ed in. A "eally little man.He was a#out five feet two and his nose would have "u##ed a&ainst DavidÒs#"east#one if they had stood fa$e to fa$e. He had pale "ed hai" #"ushed st"ai&ht #a$!, awide mouth, and the typi$al open($olla", dou#le(#"easted ove"all and hip(hi&h, #"i&htly$olo"ed #oots of the Ma"tian fa"m#oy. As David headed fo" the window ove" whi$h

&lowed the le&end, ÓFa"m 3mployment, footsteps "attled a#out him, and a teno" voi$e$"ied out, ÓHold on. De$ele"ate you" footsteps, fella. The little man was fa$in& him.David said, ÓIs the"e anythin& I $an do fo" you- The little man $a"efully inspe$ted him,se$tion #y se$tion, then put out one a"m and leaned ne&li&ently a&ainst the3a"thmanÒs waistline. Ó'hen did you des$end the old &an&plan!- Ó'hat&an&plan!- Ó"etty voluminous fo" an 3a"thie at that. Did you &et $"amped out the"e- ÓIÒm f"om 3a"th, yes. The little man #"ou&ht his hands down one afte" the othe" sothat they slapped sha"ply a&ainst his #oots. It was the f a"m#oy &estu"e of self(asse"tion. ÓIn that $ase, he said, Ósuppose you assume a waitin& position and let anative attend to his #usiness. David said, ÓAs you please. ÓAnd if you have anyo#e$tion to ta!in& you" tu"n, you $an ta!e it up with me when weÒ"e th"ou&h o" anytime the"eafte" at you" $onvenien$e. My name is +i&man. IÒm John +i&man Jones, #utyou $an as! fo" me anywhe"e in town #y the name of +i&man. He paused, thenadded, ÓThat, 3a"thie, is my $o&nomen. Any $omplaints a#out it- And David said&"avely, Ó4one at all. +i&man said, ÓRi&ht* and left fo" the des!, while David,#"ea!in& into a smile as soon as the othe"Òs #a$! was safely tu"ned, sat down to wait.He had #een on Ma"s fo" less than twelve hou"s, ust lon& enou&h to "e&iste" his shipunde" an assumed name in the la"&e su#(su"fa$e &a"a&es outside the $ity, ta!e a "oomfo" the ni&ht at one of the hotels, and spend a few hou"s of the mo"nin& wal!in& th"ou&hthe domed $ity. The"e we"e only th"ee of these $ities on Ma"s, and thei" fewness was to#e epe$ted in view of the epense "e0ui"ed to maintain the t"emendous domes and tosupply the to""ents of powe" ne$essa"y to p"ovide the tempe"atu"e and &"avity of 3a"th.This, 'in&"ad 2ity, named afte" Ro#e"t 2la"! 'in&"ad, the fi"st man to "ea$h Ma"s, wasthe la"&est. It was not ve"y diffe"ent f"om a $ity on 3a"th it was almost a pie$e of 3a"th$ut out and put on a diffe"ent planet it was as thou&h the men on Ma"s, thi"ty(fivemillion miles away at the ve"y nea"est, had to hide that fa$t f"om themselves somehow.In the $ente" of town, whe"e the ellipsoidal dome was a 0ua"te" of a mile hi&h, the"ewe"e even twenty(sto"y #uildin&s. The"e was only one thin& missin&. The"e was no sunand no #lue s!y. The dome itself was t"anslu$ent, and when the sun shone on it, li&htwas unifo"mly sp"ead ove" all its ten s0ua"e miles. The li&ht intensity at any "e&ion of





the dome was small so that the Ós!y to a man in the $ity was a pale, pale yellow. Thetotal effe$t, howeve", was a#out e0uivalent to that of a $loudy day on 3a"th. 'hen ni&ht$ame, the dome faded and disappea"ed into sta"less #la$!. +ut then the st"eet li&htswent on, and 'in&"ad 2ity seemed mo"e than eve" li!e 3a"th. 'ithin the #uildin&sa"tifi$ial li&ht was used day and ni&ht David )ta"" loo!ed up at the sudden sound of loud

voi$es. +i&man was still at the des!, shoutin&, ÓI tell you this is a $ase of #la$!list.%ouÒve &ot me #la$!listed, #y Jupite". The man #ehind the des! seemed fluste"ed.He had fluffy side#u"ns with whi$h his fin&e"s !ept playin&. He said, Ó'e have no#la$!lists, M". Jones.Ó ÓMy name is +i&man. 'hatÒs the matte"- A"e you af"aid toehi#it f"iendship- %ou $alled me +i&man the fi"st few days. Ó'e have no #la$!lists,+i&man. Fa"mhands ust a"enÒt in demand. Ó'hat a"e you tal!in& a#out- TimJen!ins &ot pla$ed day #efo"e yeste"day in two minutes. ÓJen!ins had epe"ien$e asa "o$!et man. ÓI $an handle a "o$!et as well as Tim any day. Ó'ell, youÒ"e downhe"e as a seede". ÓAnd IÒm a &ood one. DonÒt they need seede"s- Ó6oo!,+i&man, said the man #ehind the des!, ÓI have you" name on the "oste". ThatÒs all I$an do. IÒll let you !now if anythin& tu"ns up. He tu"ned a $on$ent"ated attention on

the "e$o"d #oo! #efo"e him, followin& up ent"ies with ela#o"ate un$on$e"n. +i&mantu"ned, then shouted ove" his shoulde", ÓAll "i&ht, #ut IÒm sittin& "i&ht he"e, and thenet la#o" "e0uisition you &et, IÒm #ein& sent out. If they donÒt want me, I want to hea" them say so to me. To me, do you unde"stand- To me, J. +i&man J., pe"sonally. Theman #ehind the des! said nothin&. +i&man too! a seat, mutte"in&. David )ta"" "ose andapp"oa$hed the des!. 4o othe" fa"m#oy had ente"ed to dispute his pla$e in line. Hesaid, ÓIÒd li!e a o#. The man loo!ed up, pulled an employment #lan! and handp"inte" towa"d himself. Ó'hat !ind- ÓAny !ind of fa"m wo"! availa#le. The man putdown his hand p"inte". ÓA"e you Ma"s(#"ed- Ó4o, si". IÒm f"om 3a"th. Ó)o""y.4othin& open. David said, Ó'ell, loo! he"e. I $an wo"!, and I need wo"!. G"eatGalay, is the"e a law a&ainst 3a"thmen wo"!in&- Ó4o, #ut the"e isnÒt mu$h you $ando on a fa"m without epe"ien$e. ÓI still need a o#. ÓThe"e a"e lots of o#s in town.4et window ove". ÓI $anÒt use a o# in town. The man #ehind the des! loo!edspe$ulatively at David, and David had no t"ou#le in "eadin& the &lan$e. Men t"aveled toMa"s fo" many "easons, and one of them was that 3a"th had #e$ome tooun$omfo"ta#le. 'hen a sea"$h $all went out fo" a fu&itive, the $ities of Ma"s we"e$om#ed tho"ou&hly Lafte" all, they we"e pa"t of 3a"th, #ut no one eve" found a huntedman on the Ma"s fa"ms. To the Fa"min& )yndi$ates, the #est fa"m#oy was one who hadno othe" pla$e he da"ed &o. They p"ote$ted su$h and too! $a"e not to lose them to the3a"th autho"ities they half("esented and mo"e than half(despised. Ó4ame- said the$le"!, eyes #a$! on the fo"m. ÓDi$! 'illiams, said David, &ivin& the name unde"whi$h he had &a"a&ed his ship. The $le"! did not as! fo" identifi$ation. Ó'he"e $an I &etin tou$h with you- Ó6andis Hotel, Room <9<. ÓAny low(&"avity epe"ien$e at all-The 0uestionin& went on and on most of the #lan!s had to #e left empty. The $le"!si&hed, put the #lan! into the slot whi$h automati$ally mi$"ofilmed it, filed it, and thusadded it to the pe"manent "e$o"ds of the offi$e. He said, ÓIÒll let you !now. +ut hedidnÒt sound hopeful. David tu"ned away. He had not epe$ted mu$h to $ome of this,#ut at least he had esta#lished himself as a somewhat le&itimate see!e" afte" a fa"min&

o#. The net step He whi"led. Th"ee men we"e ente"in& the employment offi$e and thelittle fellow, +i&man, had hopped an&"ily out of his seat. He was fa$in& them now, a"ms





$a""ied loosely away f"om his hips althou&h he had no weapons that David $ould see.The th"ee who ente"ed stopped, and then one of the two who #"ou&ht up the "ea"lau&hed and said, Ó6oo!s as if we have +i&man, the mi&hty mid&et, he"e. May#e heÒsloo!in& fo" a o#, #oss. The spea!e" was #"oad a$"oss the shoulde"s and his nosewas flattened a&ainst his fa$e. He had a $hewed(to(death, unlit $i&a" of &"een Ma"tian

to#a$$o in his mouth and he needed a shave #adly. ÓNuiet, G"iswold, said the man inf"ont. He was pud&y, not too tall, and the soft s!in on his $hee!s and on the #a$! of hisne$! was slee! and smooth. His ove"all was typi$al Ma"s, of $ou"se, #ut it was of mu$hfine" mate"ial than that of any of the othe" fa"m#oys in the "oom. His hip(hi&h #oots we"espi"aled in pin! and "ose. In all his late" t"avels on Ma"s, David )ta"" neve" saw twopai"s of #oots of identi$al desi&n, neve" saw #oots that we"e othe" than &a"ish. It wasthe ma"! of individuality amon& the fa"m#oys. +i&man was app"oa$hin& the th"ee, hislittle $hest swellin& and his fa$e twisted with an&e". He said, ÓI want my pape"s out ofyou, He"mes. IÒve &ot a "i&ht to them. The pud&y man in f"ont was Hennes. He said0uietly, Ó%ouÒ"e not wo"th any pape"s, +i&man. ÓI $anÒt &et anothe" o# withoutde$ent pape"s. I wo"!ed fo" you fo" two yea"s and did my pa"t. Ó%ou did a #lasted lot

mo"e than you" pa"t. ut of my way. He t"amped past +i&man, app"oa$hed the des!,and said, ÓI need an epe"ien$ed seede"/a &ood one. I want one tall enou&h to see ino"de" to "epla$e a little #oy I had to &et "id of. +i&man felt that. Ó+y )pa$e, heyelled, ÓyouÒ"e "i&ht I did mo"e than my pa"t. I was on duty when I wasnÒt supposedto #e, you mean. I was on duty lon& enou&h to see you &o d"ivin& wheels(ove"(sand intothe dese"t at midni&ht. nly the net mo"nin& you !new nothin& a#out it, e$ept that I&ot heaved fo" "efe""in& to it, and without "efe"en$e pape"s Ó Hennes loo!ed ove" hisshoulde", annoyed. ÓG"is(wold, he said, Óth"ow that fool out. +i&man did not"et"eat, althou&h G"iswold would have made two of him. He said in his hi&h voi$e, ÓAll"i&ht. ne at a time. +ut David )ta"" moved now, His smooth st"ide de$eptively slow.G"iswold said, Ó%ouÒ"e in my way, f"iend. IÒve &ot some t"ash to th"ow out. F"om#ehind David, +i&man $"ied out, ÓItÒs all "i&ht, 3a"thie. 6et him at me. David i&no"edthat. He said to G"iswold, ÓThis seems to #e a pu#li$ pla$e, f"iend. 'eÒve all &ot the"i&ht to #e he"e. G"iswold said, Ó6etÒs not a"&ue, f"iend. He put a hand "ou&hly onDavidÒs shoulde" as thou&h to th"ust him to one side. +ut DavidÒs left hand shot up to$at$h the w"ist of G"iswoldÒs outst"et$hed a"m, and his "i&ht hand st"ai&ht(a"med theothe"Òs shoulde". G"iswold went whi"lin& #a$!wa"d, slahimin& ha"d a&ainst the plasti$pa"tition that divided the "oom in two. ÓIÒd "athe" a"&ue, f"iend, said David. The $le"!had $ome to his feet with a yell. the" des! wo"!e"s swa"med to the openin&s in thepa"tition, #ut made no move to inte"fe"e. +i&man was lau&hin& and $lappin& David onthe #a$!. Ó"etty &ood fo" a fellow f"om 3a"th. Fo" the moment Hennes seemedf"oen. The "emainin& fa"m#oy, sho"t and #ea"ded, with the pasty fa$e of one who hadspent too mu$h time unde" the small sun of Ma"s and not enou&h unde" the a"tifi$ial sunlamps of the $ity, had allowed his mouth to d"op "idi$ulously open. G"iswold "e$ove"edhis #"eath slowly. He shoo! #is head. His $i&a", whi$h had d"opped to the &"ound, he!i$!ed aside. Then he loo!ed up, his eyes poppin& with fu"y. He pushed himself awayf"om the wall and the"e was a momenta"y &lint of steel that was swallowed up in hishand. +ut David stepped to one side and #"ou&ht up his a"m. The small, $"oo!ed$ylinde" that o"dina"ily "ested snu&ly #etween his uppe" a"m and #ody shot down thelen&th of his sleeve and into his &"ippin& palm. Hennes $"ied out, Ó'at$h you" step,





G"iswold. HeÒs &ot a #laste". ÓD"op you" #lade, said David. G"iswold swo"e wildly,#ut metal $latte"ed a&ainst the floo". +i&man da"ted fo"wa"d and pi$!ed up the #lade,$ho"tlin& at the stu##led oneÒs dis$omfitu"e. David held out his hand fo" it and spa"ed ita 0ui$! &lan$e. Ó4i$e, inno$ent #a#y fo" a fa"m#oy to have, he said. Ó'hatÒs thelaw in Ma"s a&ainst $a""yin& a fo"$e(#lade- He !new it as the most vi$ious weapon in

the Galay. utwa"dly, it was me"ely a sho"t shaft of stainless steel that was a littlethi$!e" than the haft of a !nife #ut whi$h $ould still #e held ni$ely in the palm. 'ithin itwas a tiny moto" that $ould &ene"ate an invisi#le nine(in$h(lon&, "ao"(thin fo"$e(fieldthat $ould $ut th"ou&h anythin& $omposed of o"dina"y matte". A"mo" was of no usea&ainst it, and sin$e it $ould sli$e th"ou&h #one as easily as th"ou&h flesh, its sta# wasalmost inva"ia#ly fatal. Hennes stepped #etween them. He said, Ó'he"eÒs you"li$ense fo" a #laste", 3a"thie- ut it away and weÒll $all it 0uits. Get #a$! the"e,G"iswold. ÓHold on, said David, as Hennes tu"ned away. Ó%ouÒ"e loo!in& fo" aman, a"enÒt you- Hennes tu"ned #a$!, his eye#"ows liftin& in amusement. ÓIÒmloo!in& fo" a man. %es. ÓAll "i&ht. IÒm loo!in& fo" a o#. ÓIÒm loo!in& fo" anepe"ien$ed seede". Do you 0ualify- Ó'ell, no. ÓHave you eve" ha"vested- 2an

you handle a sand($a"- In sho"t, youÒ"e ust, if I may ud&e f"om you" $ostume/andhe stepped #a$! as thou&h to &et a #ette" ove"(all view/Óan 3a"thman who happens to#e handy with a #laste". I $anÒt use you. Ó4ot even, DavidÒs voi$e fell to awhispe", Óif I tell you that IÒm inte"ested in food poisonin&- HennesÒs fa$e didnÒt$han&e his eyes didnÒt fli$!e", He said, ÓI donÒt see you" point. ÓThin! ha"de",then. He was smilin& thinly, and the"e was little humo" in that smile. Hennes said,Ó'o"!in& on a Ma"s fa"m isnÒt easy. ÓIÒm not the easy type, said David. Theothe" loo!ed ove" his "an&y f"ame a&ain. Ó'ell, may#e youÒ"e not. All "i&ht, weÒlllod&e and feed you, sta"t you with th"ee $han&es of $lothin& and a pai" of #oots. Fiftydolla"s the fi"st yea", paya#le at the end of the yea". If you donÒt wo"! out the yea", thefifty is fo"feited. ÓFai" enou&h. 'hat type of wo"!- ÓThe only !ind you $an do.Gene"al helpe" at the $howhouse. If you lea"n, youÒll move up if not, thatÒs whe"e youspend the yea". ÓDone. 'hat a#out +i&man- +i&man, who had #een sta"in& f"omone to the othe", s0uaw!ed, Ó4o, si". I donÒt wo"! fo" that sand(#u&, and I wouldnÒtadvise you to, eithe". David said ove" his shoulde". ÓHow a#out a sho"t st"et$h in"etu"n fo" pape"s of "efe"en$e- Ó'ell, said +i&man, Óa month, may#e. He"messaid, ÓIs he a f"iend of you"s- David nodded. ÓI wonÒt $ome without him. ÓIÒllta!e him too, then. ne month, and heÒs to !eep his mouth shut. 4o pay, e$ept hispape"s. 6etÒs &et out of he"e. My sand($a"Òs outside. The five left, David and+i&man #"in&in& up the "ea". +i&man said, ÓI owe you a favo", f"iend. %ou may $olle$t atwill. The sand($a" was open ust then, #ut David $ould see the slots into whi$h panels$ould slide in o"de" that it mi&ht #e en$losed a&ainst the d"iftin& dust sto"his of Ma"s.The wheels we"e #"oad to minimie the tenden$y to sin! when $"ossin& the soft d"ifts.The a"ea of &lass was "edu$ed to a minimum and, whe"e it eisted, me"&ed into thesu""oundin& metal as thou&h they had #een welded to&ethe". The st"eets we"emode"ately $"owded, #ut no one paid any attention to the ve"y $ommon si&ht of sand($a"s and f a"m#oys. Hennes said, Ó'eÒll sit in f"ont. %ou and you" f"iend may sit in#a$!, 3a"thman. He had moved into the d"ive"Òs seat as he spo!e. The $ont"ols we"ein the middle of the f"ont pa"tition, with the windshield $ente"ed a#ove. G"iswold too! theseat at HennesÒs "i&ht. +i&man moved into the "ea" and David followed Him. )omeone





was #ehind him. David half tu"ned as +i&man $alled suddenly, Ó'at$h out* It was these$ond of HennesÒs hen$hmen who was now $"ou$hin& in the $a" doo", his pasty#ea"ded fa$e sna"lin& and taut. David moved 0ui$!ly, #ut it was fa" too late. His lastsi&ht was that of the &leamin& mule of a weapon in the hen$hmanÒs hand, and thenhe was $ons$ious of a soft pu""in& noise. The"e was s$a"$ely any sensation to it, and a

distant, distant voi$e said, ÓAll "i&ht, Ku!is. Get in #a$! and !eep wat$h, in wo"ds thatseemed to $ome f"om the end of a lon& tunnel. The"e was a last momenta"y feelin& ofmotion fo"wa"d, and then the"e was $omplete nothin&ness. David )ta"" slumped fo"wa"din his seat, and the last si&ns of life a#out him vanished.

B ( Alien 6ife Ra&&ed pat$hes of li&ht floated past David )ta"". )lowly he #e$ame awa"eof a t"emendous tin&lin& all a#out him and a sepa"ate p"essu"e on his #a$!. The #a$!p"essu"e "esolved itself into the fa$t that he was lyin& fa$e up on a ha"d matt"ess. Thetin&lin& he !new to #e the afte"math of a stun(&un, a weapon whose "adiation wo"!edupon the ne"ve $ente"s at the #ase of the #"ain. +efo"e li&ht #e$ame $ohe"ent, #efo"ehe was tho"ou&hly awa"e of his su""oundin&s, he felt his shoulde"s #ein& sha!en and

the distant stin& of sha"p slaps on his $hee!s. The li&ht washed into his open eyes andhe #"ou&ht his tin&lin& a"m up to wa"d off the net slap. It was +i&man leanin& ove" him,his little "a##ity fa$e with its "ound snu# nose nea"ly tou$hin& his. He said, Ó+yGanymede, I thou&ht they finished you fo" &ood. E David #"ou&ht himself up to ana$hin& el#ow. He said, ÓIt almost feels as if they did. 'he"e a"e we- ÓIn the fa"mlo$!up. ItÒs no use t"yin& to &et out, eithe". The doo"Òs lo$!ed the windows a"e#a""ed. He loo!ed dep"essed. David felt unde" his a"ms. They had "emoved His#laste"s. 4atu"ally* )o mu$h was to #e epe$ted. He said, ÓDid they stun you, too,+i&man- +i&man shoo! his head. ÓKu!is ho"iontaled me with the &un #utt. Hefin&e"ed a "e&ion of his s!ull with &in&e"ly distaste. Then he swelled, Ó+ut I nea"ly#"o!e his a"m fi"st. The"e was the sound of footsteps outside the doo". David sat upand waited. He"mes ente"ed, and with him the"e $ame an olde" man, with a lon&, ti"ed(loo!in& fa$e set off #y faded #lue eyes unde" #ushy &"ay eye#"ows that seemed fied ina pe"manent fu""ow. He was d"essed in $ity $ostume, whi$h was mu$h li!e that of 3a"th.He even la$!ed the Ma"tian hip #oots. Hennes spo!e to +i&man fi"st. ÓGet out to the$howhouse and the fi"st time you sneee without pe"mission youÒll #e #"o!en in two.+i&man s$owled, waved to David with an ÓIÒll #e seein& you, 3a"thman, andswa&&e"ed out with a $latte"in& of #oots. Hennes wat$hed him leave and lo$!ed thedoo" #ehind him. He tu"ned to the man with the &"ay eye#"ows. ÓThis is the one, M".Ma!ian. He $alls himself 'illiams. Ó%ou too! a $han$e stunnin& him, Hennes. If youhad !illed him, a valua#le lead mi&ht have &one with the $anal(dust. Hennessh"u&&ed. ÓHe was a"med. 'e $ould ta!e no $han$es. In any $ase, heÒs he"e, si".They we"e dis$ussin& him, David thou&ht, as thou&h he we"enÒt the"e o" we"e ustanothe" inanimate pa"t of the #ed. Ma!ian tu"ned to him, his eyes ha"d. Ó%ou, the"e, Iown this "an$h. ve" a hund"ed miles in any di"e$tion is all Ma!ian. I say who is to #ef"ee and who is to #e in p"ison who wo"!s and who sta"ves even who lives and whodies. Do you unde"stand me- Ó%es, said David. ÓThen answe" f"an!ly, and youÒllhave nothin& to fea". T"y to hide anythin& and weÒll have it out of you one way o"anothe". 'e may have to !ill you. Do you still unde"stand me- Óe"fe$tly. ÓIs you"name 'illiams- ÓItÒs the only name I will &ive on Ma"s. ÓFai" enou&h. 'hat do





you !now a#out food poisonin&- David swun& his feet off the #ed. He said, Ó6oo!, mysiste" died ove" an afte"noon sna$! of #"ead and am. )he was twelve yea"s old, and laythe"e dead with the am still on he" fa$e. 'e $alled the do$to". He said it was foodpoisonin& and told us not to eat anythin& in the house till he $ame #a$! with $e"tainanalyti$al e0uipment. He neve" $ame #a$!. Ó)ome#ody else $ame instead. )omeone

with a &"eat deal of autho"ity. He had plain($lothes men to es$o"t him. He had usdes$"i#e all that had happened. He said to us, EIt was a hea"t atta$!.Ò 'e told him thatwas "idi$ulous #e$ause my siste" had nothin& w"on& with he" hea"t, #ut he wouldnÒtlisten to us. He told us that if we sp"ead "idi$ulous sto"ies a#out food poisonin&, wewould &et in t"ou#le. Then he too! the a" of am with him. He was even an&"y with usfo" havin& wiped the am f"om my siste"Òs lips. ÓI t"ied to &et in tou$h with ou" do$to",#ut his nu"se would neve" admit he was in. I #"o!e into his offi$e and found Him the"e,#ut all he would say was that he had made a mista!en dia&nosis. He seemed af"aid total! a#out it. I went to the poli$e, #ut they wouldnÒt listen. ÓThe a" of am the men too!away was the only thin& in the house my siste" ate that day that the "est of the, familyhadnÒt eaten as well. That a" was f"eshly opened and it was impo"ted f"om Ma"s.

'eÒ"e old(fashioned people and li!e the old food. That was the only Ma"s p"odu$t inthe house. I t"ied to find out th"ou&h the newspape"s whethe" the"e had #een any othe"$ases of food poisonin&. It all seemed so suspi$ious to me. I even went to Inte"national2ity. I 0uit my o# and de$ided that in one way o" anothe" I would find out what had!illed my siste" and t"y to nail anyone that mi&ht #e "esponsi#le. 3ve"ywhe"e I hit a#lan!, and then the"e $ame poli$emen with a wa""ant fo" my a""est. ÓI was almostepe$tin& that, and &ot out a step ahead of them. I $ame to Ma"s fo" two "easons. Fi"st,it was the only way to !eep out of ail Lthou&h it doesnÒt seem so now, does it-, andse$ond, #e$ause of one thin& I did find out. The"e we"e two o" th"ee suspi$ious deathsin the "estau"ants of Inte"national 2ity and in ea$h $ase they we"e at "estau"ants whi$hfeatu"ed Ma"tian $uisines. )o I de$ided the answe" was on Ma"s. Ma!ian was "unnin&a thi$! thum# down the lon& line of his $hin. He said, ÓThe ya"n han&s to&ethe",Hennes. 'hat do you thin!- ÓI say, &et names and dates, and $he$! the sto"y. 'edonÒt !now who this man is. Ma!ian sounded almost 0ue"ulous. Ó%ou !now we$anÒt do that, Hennes. I donÒt want to do anythin& that would sp"ead news of all thismess. It would #"ea! the enti"e )yndi$ate. He tu"ned to David. ÓIÒm &oin& to send+enson to spea! to you heÒs ou" a&"onomist. Then, a&ain to Hennes, Ó%ou stayhe"e till +enson $omes. It was a#out half an hou" #efo"e +enson $ame. Du"in& thatinte"val David leaned $a"elessly #a$! on the $ot payin& no attention to Hennes, who, fo" his pa"t, played the same so"t of &ame. Then the doo" opened and a voi$e said, ÓIÒm+enson. It was a &entle, hesitant voi$e and it #elon&ed to a "ound(fa$ed individual ofa#out fo"ty, with thinnin& sandy hai" and "imless eye&lasses. His small mouth sp"eaditself in a smile. +enson went on, ÓAnd you, I suppose, a"e 'illiams- ÓThatÒs"i&ht, said David )ta"". +enson loo!ed $a"efully at the youn& 3a"thman, as thou&h hewe"e analyin& him #y eye. He said, ÓA"e you disposed to violen$e- ÓIÒmuna"med, David pointed out, Óand su""ounded #y a fa"m full of men 0uite "eady to !illme if I step out of line. ÓNuite "i&ht. 'ould you leave us, Hennes- Hennes umpedto his feet in p"otest. ÓThatÒs not safe, +enson. Ólease, Hennes. +ensonÒs mildeyes pee"ed ove" his spe$ta$les. Hennes &"owled, $lapped one hand a&ainst a #oot indis&"untlement, and wal!ed out the doo". +enson lo$!ed it #ehind him. Ó%ou see,





'illiams, he said apolo&eti$ally, Óin the last half(yea" IÒve &"own to #e an impo"tantman he"e. 3ven Hennes listens to me. IÒm still not used to it. He smiled a&ain. ÓTellme. M". Ma!ian says you a$tually witnessed a death #y this st"an&e food poisonin&.ÓMy siste"Òs. Óh* +enson flushed. ÓIÒm d"eadfully so""y. I !now it must #e apainful su#e$t to you, #ut mi&ht I have the details- ItÒs ve"y impo"tant. David

"epeated the sto"y he had ea"lie" told Ma!ian. +enson said, ÓAnd it happened as0ui$!ly as that. ÓIt $ould only have #een five to ten minutes afte" she had eaten.ÓTe""i#le. Te""i#le. %ou have no idea how dist"essin& all this is. He was "u##in& hishands to&ethe" ne"vously. ÓIn any $ase, 'illiams, IÒd li!e to fill in the sto"y fo" you.%ouÒve &uessed most of it, anyway, and, somehow, I feel "esponsi#le to you fo" whathappened to you" siste". All of us he"e on Ma"s a"e "esponsi#le until su$h time as we$lea" up the myste"y. %ou see, this has #een &oin& on fo" months now, thesepoisonin&s. 4ot many, #ut enou&h to have us at ou" witÒs end. Ó'eÒve t"a$ed #a$!the poisoned foodstuffs and we a"e $e"tain they $ome f"om no one fa"m. +ut one thin&did tu"n upC all the poisoned food is shipped out of 'in&"ad 2ity the othe" two $ities onMa"s a"e $lean so fa". That would seem to indi$ate that the sou"$e of infe$tion is within

the $ity, and Hennes has #een wo"!in& on the assumption. He has ta!en to "idin& to the$ity, ni&hts, on dete$tive epeditions of His own, #ut he has tu"ned up nothin&. ÓI see.That eplains +i&manÒs "ema"!s, said David. Ó3h- +ensonÒs fa$e twisted inpulement, then $lea"ed. Óh, you mean the little fellow who &oes a#out shoutin& allthe time. %es, he $au&ht Hennes leavin& on$e, and Hennes had him th"own out.Hennes is a most impulsive man. In any $ase, I thin! Hennes is w"on&. 4atu"ally all thepoison would t"avel th"ou&h 'in&"ad 2ity. It is the shippin& point fo" the enti"ehemisphe"e. Ó4ow M". Ma!ian himself #elieves the infe$tion to #e deli#e"ately sp"eadth"ou&h human a&en$y. At least he and seve"al othe"s of the )yndi$ate have "e$eivedmessa&es offe"in& to #uy thei" fa"ms fo" a "idi$ulously small sum. The"e is no mention of the poisonin& and no eviden$e whatsoeve" of any $onne$tion #etween the offe"s to #uyand this ho""i#le #usiness. David was listenin& intently. He said, ÓAnd who ma!esthese offe"s to #uy- Ó'hy, how should we !now- I have seen the lette"s and theyonly say that if the offe"s a"e a$$epted, the )yndi$ate is to #"oad$ast a $oded messa&eove" a pa"ti$ula" su#(ethe"i$ wave#and. The p"i$e offe", the lette"s say, will de$"ease #y9@ pe" $ent ea$h month. ÓAnd the lette"s $anÒt #e t"a$ed- ÓIÒm af"aid not. Theypass th"ou&h the o"dina"y mails with an EAste"oidÒ postma"!. How $an one sea"$h the

Aste"oids- ÓHave the laneta"y oli$e #een info"med- +enson lau&hed softly. ÓDoyou thin! M". Ma!ian, o" any of the )yndi$ate fo" that matte", would $all in the poli$e fo"a thin& li!e this- This is a de$la"ation of pe"sonal wa" to them. %ou donÒt p"ope"lyapp"e$iate the Ma"tian mentality, M". 'illiams. %ou donÒt "un to the law when youÒ"e int"ou#le unless youÒ"e willin& to $onfess itÒs somethin& you $anÒt handle you"self. 4ofa"m#oy is eve" willin& to do that. IÒve su&&ested that the info"mation #e su#mitted tothe 2oun$il of )$ien$e, #ut M". Ma!ian wouldnÒt even do that. He said the 2oun$il waswo"!in& on the poisonin& without su$$ess, and if that we"e the !ind of da"ned fools theywe"e, he would do without them. And thatÒs whe"e I $ome in. Ó%ouÒ"e wo"!in& onthe poisonin& too- ÓThatÒs "i&ht. IÒm the a&"onomist he"e. ÓThatÒs the title M".Ma!ian &ave you. Ó?h(huh. )t"i$tly spea!in&, an a&"onomist is a pe"son whospe$ialies in s$ientifi$ a&"i$ultu"e. IÒve #een t"ained in p"in$iples of fe"tilitymaintenan$e, $"op "otation, and matte"s of that so"t. IÒve always spe$ialied in Ma"tian





p"o#lehis. The"e a"enÒt many of us and so one $an &et a "athe" &ood position, eventhou&h the fa"m#oys sometimes lose patien$e with us and thin! weÒ"e ust $olle&eidiots without p"a$ti$al epe"ien$e. Anyway, IÒve had additional t"ainin& as well in#otany and #a$te"iolo&y, so IÒve #een put in $ha"&e #y M". Ma!ian of the enti"e"esea"$h p"o&"am on Ma"s with "espe$t to the poisonin&. The othe" mem#e"s of the

)yndi$ate a"e $o(ope"atin&. ÓAnd what have you found out, M". +enson- ÓA$tuallyas little as the 2oun$il of )$ien$e, whi$h is not su"p"isin& $onside"in& how little I have inthe way of e0uipment and help in $ompa"ison with them. +ut I have developed $e"taintheo"ies. The poisonin& is too "apid fo" anythin& #ut a #a$te"ial toin. At least if we$onside" the ne"ve de&ene"ation that ta!es pla$e and the othe" symptoms. I suspe$tMa"tian #a$te"ia. Ó'hat* ÓThe"e is Ma"tian life, you !now. 'hen 3a"thmen fi"sta""ived, Ma"s was $ove"ed with simple fo"ms of life. The"e we"e &iant al&ae whose #lue(&"een $olo" was seen teles$opi$ally even #efo"e spa$e(t"avel was invented. The"e we"e#a$te"ia(li!e fo"ms that lived on the al&ae and even little inse$t(li!e $"eatu"es that we"ef"ee(movin&, yet manufa$tu"ed thei" own food li!e plants. ÓDo they still eist-Ó'hy, $e"tainly. 'e $lea" them off the land $ompletely #efo"e $onve"tin& a"eas to ou"

own fa"ms and int"odu$e ou" own st"ains of #a$te"ia, the ones that a"e ne$essa"y toplant &"owth. ut in the un$ultivated a"eas, howeve", Ma"tian life still flou"ishes. Ó+uthow $an they #e affe$tin& ou" plants, then. ÓThatÒs a &ood 0uestion. %ou see,Ma"tian fa"ms a"e not li!e the 3a"th fa"m lands youÒ"e used to. n Ma"s, the fa"ms a"enot open to sun and ai". The sun on Ma"s doesnÒt &ive enou&h heat fo" 3a"th plantsand the"e is no "ain. +ut the"e is &ood, fe"tile soil and the"e is 0uite enou&h $a"#ondioide whi$h the plants live on p"ima"ily. )o $"ops on Ma"s a"e &"own unde" vastsheets of &lass. They a"e seeded, $a"ed fo", and ha"vested #y nea"ly automati$ma$hine"y so that ou" fa"m#oys a"e ma$hinists mo"e than anythin& else. The fa"ms a"ea"tifi$ially wate"ed #y a system of planet(wide pipin& that $a""ies #a$! to the pola"i$e$aps. ÓI tell you this so you will "ealie that it would #e diffi$ult to infe$t plantso"dina"ily. The fields a"e $losed and &ua"ded f"om all di"e$tions e$ept f"om #eneath.Ó'hat does that mean- as!ed David. ÓIt means that unde"neath a"e the famousMa"tian $ave"ns and within them the"e may #e intelli&ent Ma"tians. Ó%ou meanMa"tian men- Ó4ot men. +ut o"&anisms as intelli&ent as man. I have "eason to#elieve that the"e a"e Ma"tian intelli&en$es that a"e p"o#a#ly anious to d"ive usint"udin& 3a"thmen f"om the fa$e of thei" planet*

; ( Dinne"time Ó'hat "eason- demanded David. +enson loo!ed em#a""assed. Hemoved one hand slowly ove" his head, smoothin& the spa"se st"ands of li&ht hai" thatdid not mana&e to hide the pin! st"ea!s of hai"less s!ull that lay #etween. He said,Ó4one that I $ould $onvin$e the 2oun$il of )$ien$e with. 4one that I $ould evenp"esent to M". Ma!ian. +ut I #elieve IÒm "i&ht. ÓIs it anythin& you would $a"e to tal!a#out- Ó'ell, I donÒt !now. F"an!ly, itÒs #een a lon& time sin$e IÒve spo!en toanyone #ut fa"m#oys. %ouÒ"e a $olle&e man o#viously. 'hat did you mao" in-ÓHisto"y, said David p"omptly. ÓMy thesis $on$e"ned the inte"national politi$s of theea"ly atomi$ a&e. Óh. +enson loo!ed disappointed. ÓAny $ou"ses in s$ien$e atall- ÓI had a $ouple in $hemist"y one in oolo&y. ÓI see. It o$$u""ed to me that Imi&ht #e a#le to $onvin$e M". Ma!ian to let you help me in my la#o"ato"y. It wouldnÒt#e mu$h of a o#, espe$ially sin$e you have no s$ientifi$ t"ainin&, #ut it would #e #ette"





than what Hennes will have you doin&. ÓThan! you, M". +enson. +ut a#out theMa"tians- Óh yes. ItÒs simple enou&h. %ou may not !now it #ut the"e a"e etensive$aves unde" the Ma"tian su"fa$e, pe"haps seve"al miles unde". )o mu$h is !nown f"omea"th0ua!e data, o", "athe", Ma"s0ua!e data. )ome investi&ato"s $laim they a"e me"elythe "esult of natu"al wate" a$tion in the days when Ma"s still had o$eans, #ut then

"adiation has #een pi$!ed up that has its sou"$e #eneath the soil and whi$h $anÒt havea human sou"$e #ut must have some intelli&ent sou"$e. The si&nals a"e too o"de"ly to#e anythin& else. ÓIt ma!es sense, "eally, if you stop to thin! a#out it. In the youth of theplanet the"e was suffi$ient wate" and oy&en to suppo"t life, #ut with a &"avity only twofifths that of 3a"th, #oth su#stan$es lea!ed slowly away into spa$e. If the"e we"eintelli&ent Ma"tians, they must have #een a#le to fo"esee that. They mi&ht have #uilthu&e $ave"ns well unde"neath thei" soil, into whi$h they $ould "eti"e with enou&h wate"and ai" to $ontinue indefinitely, if they !ept thei" population sta#le. 4ow suppose theseMa"tians found that thei" planetÒs su"fa$e was ha"#o"in& intelli&ent life on$e mo"e/lifef"om anothe" planet. )uppose they "esented it o" fea"ed ou" eventual inte"fe"en$e withthem. 'hat we $all food poisonin& mi&ht #e #a$te"iolo&i$al wa"fa"e. David said

thou&htfully, Ó%es, I see you" point. Ó+ut would the )yndi$ate- " the 2oun$il of)$ien$e- 'ell, neve" mind. IÒll have you wo"!in& fo" me soon, and pe"haps weÒll #ea#le to $onvin$e them yet. He smiled and held out a soft hand whi$h was swallowedup in David )ta""Òs la"&e one. ÓI thin! theyÒll #e lettin& you out now, +enson said.They did let him out, and fo" the fi"st time David had the $han$e to o#se"ve the hea"t ofa Ma"tian fa"m. It was domed, of $ou"se, as the $ity had #een. David had #een su"e ofthat f"om the instant he had "e&ained $ons$iousness. %ou $ouldnÒt epe$t to #e#"eathin& f"ee ai" and livin& unde" 3a"th(st"en&th &"avity unless you we"e within apowe"ed dome. 4atu"ally the dome was mu$h smalle" than that of a $ity. At its hi&hest itwas only a#out one hund"ed feet, its t"anslu$ent st"u$tu"e visi#le in all its details, st"in&sof white fluo"es$ent li&hts outdoin& the t"anslu$ent &limme" of the sunli&ht. The wholest"u$tu"e $ove"ed a#out half a s0ua"e mile. Afte" the fi"st evenin&, howeve", David hadlittle time to etend his o#se"vations. The fa"m dome seemed full of men and they allhad to #e fed th"ee times a day. In the evenin&s pa"ti$ula"ly, with the dayÒs wo"! done,the"e seemed no end to them. )tolidly he would stand #ehind the $how ta#le whilefa"m#oys with plasti$ platte"s moved past him. The platte"s, David found out eventually,we"e manufa$tu"ed espe$ially fo" Ma"tian fa"m use. ?nde" the heat of human handsthey $ould #e molded and $losed a#out the food at su$h times as it was ne$essa"y to$a""y meals out to the dese"t. Molded so, they !ept the sand out and the heat in. 'ithinthe fa"m dome they $ould #e flattened out a&ain and used in the usual way. Thefa"m#oys paid David little attention. nly +i&man, whose lithe f"ame slipped amon& theta#les "epla$in& sau$e #ottles and spi$e $ontaine"s, waved to him. It was a te""i#le d"opin so$ial position fo" the little fellow, #ut he was philosophi$al a#out it. ÓItÒs only fo" amonth, he had eplained one time in the !it$hen, when they we"e p"epa"in& the dayÒsstew and the head $oo! had left on his own #usiness fo" a few minutes, Óand most ofthe fellows !now the s$o"e and a"e ma!in& it easy fo" me. f $ou"se the"eÒs G"iswold,Ku!is, and that #un$hC the "ats that t"y to &et somewhe"e #y li$!in& HennesÒs #oots.+ut what in )pa$e do I $a"e- ItÒs only a few wee!s. Anothe" time he said, ÓDonÒt letit #othe" you a#out the #oys not $ottonin& to you. They !now youÒ"e an 3a"thman, see,and they donÒt !now youÒ"e p"etty &ood fo" an 3a"thman, li!e I do. Hennes is always





po!in& a#out afte" me, o" else G"iswold is, to ma!e su"e I donÒt tal! to them, o" elsethey would have hea"d the fa$ts f"om me. +ut theyÒll &et wise. +ut the p"o$ess wasta!in& time. Fo" David, it "emained the sameC a fa"m#oy and his platte" a dollop ofmashed potatoes, a ladle of peas, and a small stea! Lanimal food was mu$h s$a"$e" onMa"s than plant food, sin$e meat had to #e impo"ted f"om 3a"th. The fa"m#oy then

helped himself to a slive" of $a!e and a $up of $offee. Then anothe" fa"m#oy withanothe" platte" anothe" dollop of mashed potatoes, anothe" ladle of peas, and so on. Tothem, it seemed, David )ta"" was ust an 3a"thman with a ladle in one hand and a la"&e(tined fo"! in the othe". He wasnÒt even a fa$e ust a ladle and a fo"!. The $oo! stu$!his head th"ou&h the doo", his little eyes pee"in& pi&&ily ove" the sa&&in& pou$hes#eneath. EHey, 'illiams. Rattle you" le&s and &et some food into the spe$ial mess.Ma!ian, +enson, Hennes, and any othe"s who we"e $onside"ed espe$ially wo"thy inpoint of view of position o" of len&th of se"vi$e dined in a "oom #y themselves . They satat ta#les and had the food #"ou&ht to them. David had #een th"ou&h this #efo"e. Hep"epa"ed spe$ial platte"s and #"ou&ht them into the "oom on a wheeled se"vi$e ta#le.He th"eaded his way 0uietly th"ou&h the ta#les, #e&innin& with the one at whi$h Ma!ian,

Hennes, and two othe"s sat. At +ensonÒs ta#le he lin&e"ed. +enson a$$epted hisplatte" with a smile and a ÓHow a"e you- and p"o$eeded to eat with "elish. David, withan ai" of $ons$ientiousness, #"ushed at invisi#le $"um#s. His mouth mana&ed to &etitself $lose to +ensonÒs ea"s and his lips s$a"$ely moved as he said, ÓAnyone eve" &etpoisoned he"e at the fa"m- +enson sta"ted at the sudden sound of wo"ds and loo!ed0ui$!ly at David. As 0ui$!ly he loo!ed away, t"ied to appea" indiffe"ent. He shoo! hishead in a sha"p ne&ative. ÓThe ve&eta#les a"e Ma"tian, a"enÒt they- mu"mu"edDavid. A new voi$e sounded in the "oom. It was a "ou&h yell f"om the othe" end of the"oom. Ó+y )pa$e, you lon& 3a"th a$!ass, &et a move on* It was G"iswold, His fa$estill stu##led. He must shave sometimes, David thou&ht, sin$e the stu##le neve" &"ewlon&e", #ut no one eve" seemed to see it sho"te", eithe". G"iswold was at the last ta#le to#e visited. He was still mum#lin&, his an&e" #oilin& ove". His lips d"ew #a$!. Ó+"in& ove" that platte", dish(o$!ey. Faste". Faste". David did so, #ut without hu""y, andG"iswoldÒs hand, with the fo"! in it, a##ed 0ui$!ly. David moved mo"e 0ui$!ly, and thefo"! $lan&ed sha"ply a&ainst the ha"d plasti$ of the t"ay. +alan$in& the t"ay in one hand,David $au&ht G"iswoldÒs fist with the othe". His &"ip &"ew ti&ht. The othe" th"ee at theta#le pushed #a$! thei" $hai"s and "ose. DavidÒs voi$e, low, i$y, and dead level,sounded ust hi&h enou&h to #e hea"d #y G"iswold. ÓD"op it and as! fo" you" "ationde$ently, o" youÒll have it all at on$e. G"iswold w"ithed, #ut David maintained his hold.DavidÒs !nee in the #a$! of G"iswoldÒs $hai" p"evented the fa"m#oy f"om pushin&away f"om the ta#le. ÓAs! ni$ely, said David. He smiled, de$eptively &entle. Ó6i!e aman with #"eedin&. G"iswold was pantin& ha"shly. The fo"! d"opped f"om #etween hisnum#ed fin&e"s. He &"owled, Ó6et me have the t"ay. ÓIs that all- Ólease. Hespat it out. David lowe"ed the t"ay and "eleased the othe"Òs fist f"om whi$h the #loodhad #een $"ushed, leavin& it white. G"iswold massa&ed it with his othe" hand and"ea$hed fo" his fo"!. He loo!ed a#out him, mad with fu"y, #ut the"e was only amusemento" indiffe"en$e in the eyes that met his. The fa"ms on Ma"s we"e ha"d ea$h man had to$a"e fo" himself. Ma!ian was standin&. Ó'illiams, he $alled. David app"oa$hed. Ó)i"- Ma!ian made no di"e$t "efe"en$e to what had ust o$$u""ed, #ut he stood the"e fo" amoment, loo!in& $a"efully at David, as thou&h he we"e seein& him fo" the fi"st time and





li!ed what he saw. He said, Ó'ould you li!e to oin the $he$!up tomo""ow- ÓThe$he$!up, si"- 'hat is that- ?no#t"usively he su"veyed the ta#le. Ma!ianÒs stea! was&one, #ut his peas "emained #ehind and the mashed potatoes we"e s$a"$ely tou$hed.He had not the &"it, appa"ently, of Hennes, who had left a $lean platte". ÓThe $he$!upis the monthly d"ive th"ou&h all the fa"m to $he$! on the plant "ows. ItÒs an old fa"m

$ustom. 'e $he$! on possi#le a$$idental #"ea!s in the &lass, on the $ondition andwo"!in&s of the i""i&ation pipes and fa"m ma$hine"y, also on possi#le poa$hin&. 'eneed as many &ood men as possi#le out on the $he$!up. ÓIÒd li!e to &o, si".ÓGood* I thin! youÒll do. Ma!ian tu"ned to Hennes, who had #een listenin&th"ou&hout with $old and unemotional eyes. ÓI li!e the #oyÒs style, Hennes. 'e may#e a#le to ma!e a fa"m#oy out of him. And, Hennes Ó His voi$e san! and David,movin& away, $ould no lon&e" $at$h it, #ut f"om the 0ui$! hooded &lan$e Ma!ian $ast inthe di"e$tion of G"iswoldÒs ta#le, it $ould not have #een ve"y $omplimenta"y to thevete"an fa"m#oy. David )ta"" $au&ht the footstep inside his own pa"titionin& and a$tedeven #efo"e he was fully awa!e. He slipped off the fa" side of the #ed and unde"neath.He $au&ht the &limpse of #a"e feet &limme"in& whitely in the pale li&ht of the "esidual

fluo"es$ents shinin& th"ou&h the window. The "esiduals we"e allowed to #u"n in the fa"mdome du"in& the sleepin& pe"iod to avoid da"!ness too in$onveniently #la$!. Davidwaited, hea"d the "ustle of the sheets as hands p"o#ed uselessly th"ou&h the #ed, thena whispe". Ó3a"thman* 3a"thman* 'he"e in )pa$e Ó David tou$hed one of the feet andwas "ewa"ded #y a sudden withd"awal and a sha"p inta!e of #"eath. The"e was a pauseand then a head, shapeless in the dus!, was nea" his. Ó3a"thman- %ou the"e-Ó'he"e else would I #e sleepin&, +i&man- I li!e it he"e unde" the #ed. The little fellowfumed and whispe"ed peevishly, Ó%ou mi&ht have s0ueeed a yell out of me and then Iwould have #een in the stew to my ea"s. IÒve &ot to tal! to you. Ó4owÒs you"$han$e. David $hu$!led softly and $"awled #a$! into #ed. +i&man said, Ó%ouÒ"e asuspi$ious spa$e #u& fo" an 3a"thman. Ó%ou #et, said David. ÓI intend livin& a lon&life. ÓIf youÒ"e not $a"eful, you wonÒt. Ó4o- Ó4o. IÒm foolish to #e he"e. If IÒm$au&ht, IÒll neve" &et my "efe"en$e pape"s. ItÒs ust that you helped me when I $oulduse it, and itÒs my tu"n to pay #a$!. 'hat was it you did to this louse, G"iswold-ÓJust a little miup in the spe$ial mess. ÓA little miup- He was "avin& mad. It was allHennes $ould do to hold him #a$!. ÓIs this what you $ame to tell me, +i&man-Óa"t of it. They we"e #ehind the &a"a&e ust afte" 3&hts(out. They didnÒt !now I wasa"ound, and I didnÒt tell them. Anyway, Hennes was yan!in& the stuffin&s out ofG"iswold fi"st fo" sta"tin& somethin& with you when the ld Man was wat$hin& andse$ond, fo" not havin& the sand to finish on$e he had sta"ted it. G"iswold was too madto tal! sense. 4ea" as I $ould ud&e, he was ust &a"&lin& somethin& a#out how hewould have you" &ia"d. Hennes said Ó He #"o!e off. Ó6isten, didnÒt you tell me thatHennes was all $lea" as fa" as you we"e $on$e"ned- ÓHe seems so. ÓThosemidni&ht t"ips/Ó Ó%ou only saw him on$e. Ón$e is enou&h. If it was le&itimate, why$anÒt you &ive me the st"ai&ht stuff- ÓItÒs not mine to &ive, +i&man, #ut it all seemsle&itimate. ÓIf thatÒs the $ase, whatÒs he &ot a&ainst you- 'hy doesnÒt he $all offhis do&s- Ó'hat do you mean- Ó'ell, when G"iswold finished tal!in&, Hennes saidhe was to hold off. He said you would #e out on $he$!up tomo""ow and that would #ethe time. )o I thou&ht IÒd $ome and wa"n you, 3a"thman. +ette" stay off $he$!up.DavidÒs voi$e "emained unflu""ied. Ó2he$!up would #e time fo" what- Did Hennes





say- ÓI didnÒt hea" past that. They moved away and I $ouldnÒt follow, o" I wouldhave #een out in the open. +ut I assume itÒs p"etty plain. ÓMay#e. +ut suppose wet"y to find out fo" su"e ea$tly what theyÒ"e afte". +i&man leaned $lose, as thou&h hewe"e t"yin& to et"a$t a "eadin& f"om DavidÒs fa$e despite the &loom. ÓHow do youmean- David said, ÓHow do you suppose. IÒll #e at the $he$!up and &ive the #oys a

$han$e to show me. Ó%ou $anÒt do that, &asped +i&man. Ó%ou $ouldnÒt handleyou"self on a $he$!up a&ainst them. %ou donÒt !now anythin& a#out Ma"s, you poo"3a"thman you. ÓThen, said David phle&mati$ally, Óit $ould mean sui$ide, Isuppose. 6etÒs wait and see. He patted +i&man on the shoulde", tu"ned ove", andwent to sleep a&ain.

( Ó)and Away* 2he$!up e$itement #e&an within the fa"m dome as soon as themain fluo"es$ents we"e tu"ned on. The"e was a wild noise and a mad s$u""y. )and($a"swe"e #"ou&ht out in "ows, ea$h fa"m#oy tendin& his own. Ma!ia"i was he"e and the"e,neve" too lon& at any one point. Hennes, in his flat, effi$ient voi$e, assi&ned the pa"tiesand set the "outes a$"oss the fa"mÒs vast epanse. He loo!ed up as he passed David

and stopped. Ó'illiams, he said, Óa"e you still of a mind to #e on the $he$!up- ÓIwouldnÒt miss it. ÓAll "i&ht then. )in$e you havenÒt any $a" of you" own, IÒll assi&nyou one out of &ene"al sto$!. n$e itÒs assi&ned, itÒs you"s to ta!e $a"e of and !eep inwo"!in& $ondition. Any "epai"s o" dama&e whi$h we $onside" avoida#le will $ome out ofyou" pay. ?nde"stood- ÓFai" enou&h. ÓIÒll put you on G"iswoldÒs team. I !nowthat you and he donÒt &et alon&, #ut heÒs ou" #est man in the fields and youÒ"e an3a"thie without epe"ien$e. I wouldnÒt $a"e to load you onto a lesse" man. 2an youd"ive a sand($a"- ÓI thin! I $an handle any movin& vehi$le with a little p"a$ti$e.Ó%ou $an, eh- 'eÒll &ive you you" $han$e to ma!e &ood on that. He was a#out tostep away when his eyes $au&ht somethin&. He #a"!ed, ÓAnd whe"e do you thin!youÒ"e &oin&- +i&man had ust stepped into the assem#ly "oom. He was in a newoutfit and his #oots had #een polished to mi""o"(shine. His hai" was sli$!ed down andhis fa$e was s$"u##ed and pin!. He d"awled, Ón the $he$!up, Hennes/Miste"Hennes. IÒm not on detention and I still have my "atin& as li$ensed fa"m#oy eventhou&h you have put me on $how detail. That means I $an &o on $he$!up. It also meansI have a "i&ht to my old $a" and my old s0uad. Hennes sh"u&&ed. Ó%ou "ead the "ule#oo!s a lot, and thatÒs what they say, I suppose. +ut one mo"e wee!, +i&man, onemo"e wee!. Afte" that, if you eve" show you" nose anywhe"e on Ma!ian te""ito"y IÒllhave a "eal man step on you and s0uash you. +i&man made a th"eatenin& &estu"e atHennesÒs "et"eatin& #a$! and then tu"ned to David. Ó3ve" used a nosepie$e,3a"thman- Ó4eve" a$tually. IÒve hea"d a#out them, of $ou"se. ÓHea"in& isnÒtusin&. IÒve $he$!ed an et"a one out fo" you. 6oo!, let me show you how to &et it on.4o, no, &et you" thum#s out of the"e. 4ow wat$h how I hold my hands. ThatÒs "i&ht.4ow ove" the head and ma!e su"e the st"aps a"enÒt twisted in the #a$! of the ne$!, o"youÒll end with a heada$he. 4ow $an you see th"ou&h them- The uppe" pa"t ofDavidÒs fa$e was t"ansfo"med into a plasti$(en$ased monst"osity, and the dou#le hoseleadin& f"om the oy&en $ylinde"s up ea$h side of his $hin su#t"a$ted fu"the" f"om anyappea"an$e of humanity. ÓDo you have t"ou#le #"eathin&- as!ed +i&man. David wasst"u&&lin&, fi&htin& to su$! in ai". He yan!ed the nosepie$e off. ÓHow do you tu"n it on-The"eÒs no &au&e. +i&man was lau&hin&. ÓThatÒs the "etu"n fo" the s$a"e you &ave





me last ni&ht. %ou donÒt need a &au&e. The $ylinde"s automati$ally feed oy&en assoon as the wa"mth and p"essu"e of you" fa$e t"ip a $onta$t and it automati$ally $losesoff when you ta!e it off. ÓThen the"eÒs somethin& w"on& with it. I Ó Ó4othin& w"on&with it. It feeds at a &as p"essu"e of one fifth no"mal to mat$h the p"essu"e of the Ma"satmosphe"e, and you $anÒt su$! it in out he"e when youÒ"e fi&htin& the p"essu"e of a

no"mal 3a"th atmosphe"e. ut the"e in the dese"t it will #e fine. And it will #e enou&h,too, #e$ause even thou&h itÒs one fifth no"mal, itÒs all oy&en. %ouÒll have as mu$hoy&en as you always had. Just "emem#e" one thin&C #"eathe in th"ou&h you" nose #ut#"eathe out th"ou&h you" mouth. If you #"eathe out th"ou&h you" nose, youÒll fo& upyou" eyepie$es, and that wonÒt #e &ood. He st"utted a#out DavidÒs tall, st"ai&ht #odyand shoo! his head. ÓDonÒt !now what to do a#out you" #oots. +la$! and white* %ouloo! li!e a &a"#a&e detail o" somethin&. He &lan$ed down at his own $ha"t"euse(and(ve"milion $"eations with mo"e than a little $ompla$en$y. David said, ÓIÒll mana&e.%ouÒd #ette" &et to you" $a". It loo!s as thou&h theyÒ"e &ettin& "eady to move.Ó%ouÒ"e "i&ht. 'ell, ta!e it easy. 'at$h out fo" the &"avity $han&e. ThatÒs ha"d to ta!eif youÒ"e not used to it. And, 3a"thman Ó Ó'ell. Ó5eep you" eyes open. %ou !now

what I mean. ÓThan!s. I shall. The sand($a"s we"e linin& up now in s0ua"es of nine.The"e we"e mo"e than a hund"ed all told, ea$h with its fa"m#oy pee"in& ove" its ti"es and$ont"ols. 3a$h vehi$le had its handmade si&ns intended as humo". The sand($a"t"undled out fo" David was spe$!led with su$h si&ns f"om half(a(doen p"evious owne"s,#e&innin& with a Ó'at$h ut, Gi"ls $i"$lin& the #ullet(li!e p"ow of the $a" and endin&with a ÓThis AinÒt 4o Dust )to"m, This Is Me, on the "ea" #umpe". David $lim#ed inand $losed the doo". It fit ti&htly. 4ot even a seam showed. Immediately a#ove his headthe"e was the filte"ed and "efilte"ed vent that allowed e0ualiation of ai" p"essu"e withinand without the $a". The &lass was not 0uite $lea". It had a faint mistin& that was p"oofof doens of dust sto"his met and weathe"ed. David found the $ont"ols familia" enou&h.They we"e standa"d fo" &"ound $a"s, fo" the most pa"t. The few unfamilia" #uttonseplained themselves upon manipulation. G"iswold $ame past, &estu"in& at himfu"iously. He opened his doo". G"iswold yelled, ÓGet you" f"ont flaps down, you e"!.'eÒ"e not headin& into any sto"m. David sea"$hed fo" the p"ope" #utton and found iton the stee"in&(wheel shaft. The windshields, whi$h loo!ed as thou&h they we"e weldedto metal, disen&a&ed themselves and san! down into so$!ets. 1isi#ility imp"oved. f$ou"se, he thou&ht. Ma"sÒs atmosphe"e would s$a"$ely, "aise wind enou&h to distu"#them, and this was Ma"tian summe". It would not #e too $old. A voi$e $alled, ÓHey,3a"thman* He loo!ed up. +i&man was wavin& at him. He was in G"iswoldÒs &"oup ofnine also. David waved #a$!. A se$tion of the dome lifted up. 4ine $a"s t"undled in,movin& slu&&ishly. The se$tion $losed #ehind them. Minutes passed, then it opened,empty, and nine mo"e moved in. G"iswoldÒs voi$e sounded suddenly and loudly net toDavidÒs ea". David tu"ned and saw the small "e$eive" in the $a" top ust #ehind hishead. The small &"illed openin& at the head of the stee"in&(wheel shaft was amouthpie$e. Ó)0uad ei&ht, "eady- The voi$es sounded $onse$utivelyC Ó4um#e" one,"eady. Ó4um#e" two, "eady. Ó4um#e" th"ee, "eady. The"e was a pause afte"num#e" si. Just a few se$onds. David then $alled, Ó4um#e" seven, "eady. The"efollowed Ó4um#e" ei&ht, "eady. +i&(manÒs "eedy tones $ame last. Ó4um#e" nine,"eady. The dome se$tion was "aisin& a&ain and the $a"s ahead of David #e&anmovin&. David slowly stepped on the "esisto", $uttin& the $oils, allowin& ele$t"i$ity to





pou" into the moto". His sand($a" leaped ahead, all #ut $"ashin& into the "ea" of the onein f"ont. He let out the "esisto" with a e"! and felt the $a" t"em#le #eneath him. Gentlyhe #a#ied it alon&. The se$tion en$losed them li!e a small tunnel, shuttin& off #ehind.He #e$ame $ons$ious of the hiss of ai" #ein& pumped out of the se$tion #a$! into thedome p"ope". He felt his hea"t #e&in to pound, #ut his hands we"e steady upon the

wheel. His $lothin& #ellied away f"om him and the ai" was seepin& out alon& the$ylind"i$al line whe"e #oots met thi&h. The"e was a tin&lin& in his hands and $hin, afeelin& of puffiness, of distention. He swallowed "epeatedly, to "elieve the &athe"in& painin his ea"s. Afte" five minutes he found himself pantin& in an effo"t to &athe" enou&hoy&en fo" his needs. The othe"s we"e slippin& on thei" nosepie$es. He did the same,and this time oy&en slid smoothly up His nost"ils. He #"eathed deeply, puffin& it outth"ou&h his mouth. His a"ms and feet still tin&led, #ut the feelin& was #e&innin& to dieaway. And now the se$tion was openin& ahead of them, and the flat, "uddy sands ofMa"s &litte"ed in the sunÒs fee#le li&ht. The"e was a yell in unison f"om ei&ht fa"m#oyth"oats as the se$tion lifted. Ó)and awa(a(a(ay* and the fi"st $a"s in line #e&an tomove. It was the t"aditional fa"m#oy $"y, made thin and almost sop"ano in the thin ai" of

Ma"s. David let in the "esisto" and $"awled a$"oss the line that ma"!ed the #ounda"y#etween dome metal and Ma"tian soil. And it hit him* The sudden &"avity $han&e wasli!e a sha"p fall of a thousand feet. ne hund"ed and twenty pounds of His two hund"eddisappea"ed as he $"ossed the line, and it left him #y way of the pit of his stoma$h. He$lut$hed at the wheel as the sensation of fall, fall, fall pe"sisted. The sand($a" vee"edwildly. The"e was the sound of G"iswoldÒs voi$e, whi$h maintained its hoa"seness evenin the in$on&"uous hollowness fo"$ed upon it #y the thin ai" whi$h $a""ied sound wavesso poo"ly. Ó4um#e" seven* +a$! in line* David fou&ht with the wheel, fou&ht with hisown sensations, fou&ht to ma!e himself see $lea"ly. He d"a&&ed at the oy&en th"ou&hhis nosepie$e and slowly the wo"st passed. He $ould see +i&man loo!in& aniously inHis di"e$tion. He too! one hand away f"om the wheel momenta"ily to wave, then$on$ent"ated on the "oad. The Ma"tian dese"t was almost flat, flat and #a"e. 4ot even as$"u# of ve&etation eisted he"e. This pa"ti$ula" a"ea had #een dead and dese"ted fo"who !new how many thousands o" millions of yea"s. The thou&ht suddenly st"u$! himthat pe"haps he was w"on&. e"haps the dese"t sands had #een $oated with #lue(&"eenmi$"oo"&anisms until 3a"thmen had $ome and #u"ned them away to ma!e "oom fo" thei" fa"ms. The $a"s ahead t"ailed faint dust that "ose slowly, as if it we"e pa"t of a motion(pi$tu"e film that had #een slowed down. It settled as slowly. DavidÒs $a" was t"ailin&#adly. He added speed and still mo"e speed, and found that somethin& was &oin&w"on&. The othe"s, ahead of him, we"e hu&&in& the &"ound #ut he, himself, was#oundin& li!e a a$!"a##it. At eve"y t"iflin& impe"fe$tion in the &"ound su"fa$e, at eve"yp"oe$tin& line of "o$!, his $a" too! off. It d"ifted laily up into the ai", in$hes hi&h, itswheels whinin& a&ainst nothin&. It $ame down as &ently, then lu"$hed fo"wa"d with a

e"! as the st"ainin& wheels $au&ht hold. It $aused him to lose &"ound, and when hepou"ed the ui$e in to &ain a&ain, the umpin& &"ew wo"se. It was the low &"avity that didit, of $ou"se, #ut the othe"s mana&ed to $ompensate fo" it. He wonde"ed how. It was&ettin& $old. 3ven at Ma"tian summe", he &uessed the tempe"atu"e to #e #a"ely a#ovef"eein&. He $ould loo! di"e$tly at the sun in the s!y. It was a dwa"fed sun in a pu"ples!y in whi$h he $ould ma!e out th"ee o" fou" sta"s. The ai" was too thin to #lan! themout o" to s$atte" li&ht in su$h a manne" as to fo"m the s!y(#lue of 3a"th. G"iswoldÒs





voi$e was soundin& a&ainC Ó2a"s one, fou", and seven to the left. 2a"s two, five, andei&ht to the $ente". 2a"s th"ee, si, and nine to the "i&ht 2a"s two and th"ee will #e in$ha"&e of thei" su#se$tions. G"iswoldÒs $a", num#e", one, was #e&innin& to $u"l to theleft, and David, followin& it with his eyes, noti$ed the da"! line on the leftwa"d ho"ion.4um#e" fou" was followin& one, and David tu"ned his wheel sha"ply left to mat$h the

an&le of vee". 'hat followed $au&ht him #y su"p"ise. His $a" went into a "apid s!id,s$a"$ely allowin& him time to "ealie it. He yan!ed despe"ately at the wheel, spinnin& itin the di"e$tion of s!id. He shut off all powe" and felt the wheels "asp as the $a" whi"ledonwa"d. The dese"t $i"$led #efo"e him, so that only its "edness $ould ma!e anyimp"ession. And then the"e was +i&manÒs thin $"y th"ou&h the "e$eive", Ó)tamp on theeme"&en$y t"a$tion. ItÒs ust to the "i&ht of the "esisto"s. David p"o#ed despe"ately fo" the eme"&en$y t"a$tion, whateve" it was, #ut His a$hin& feet found nothin&. The da"!line on the ho"ion appea"ed #efo"e him and then vanished. It was mu$h sha"pe" now,and #"oade". 3ven in that "apid flash, its natu"e #e$ame appallin&ly evident. It was oneof the fissu"es of Ma"s, lon& and st"ai&ht. 6i!e the fa" mo"e nume"ous ones on 3a"thÒsMoon, they we"e $"a$!s in the planeta"y su"fa$e, made as the wo"ld d"ied th"ou&h

millions of yea"s. They we"e up to a hund"ed feet a$"oss and no man had plum#ed thei"depth. ÓItÒs a pin!, stu##y #utton, . yelled +i&man. Ó)tamp eve"ywhe"e. David didso, and the"e was a sudden sli&ht yieldin& #eneath his toes. TheC swift motion of hissand($a" #e$ame a "e#ellious &"indin& that to"e at him. The dust $ame up in $louds,$ho!in& him and o#s$u"in& eve"ythin&. He #ent ove" the wheel and waited. The $a" wasdefinitely slowin&. And then, finally, it stopped. He sat #a$! and #"eathed 0uietly fo" amoment Then he withd"ew his nosepie$e, wiped the inne" su"fa$es while the $old ai"stun& at nose and eyes, and "epla$ed it. His $lothes we"e "uddy &"ay with dust and his$hin was $a!ed with it. He $ould feel its d"y(ness upon his lips, and the inte"io" of his $a" was filthy with it. The two othe" $a"s of his su#(se$tion had pulled up net to him.G"iswold was $lim#in& out of one, his stu##led fa$e made monst"ously u&ly #y thenose(pie$e. David was suddenly awa"e of the "eason fo" the popula"ity of #ea"ds andstu##le amon& the fa"m#oys. They we"e p"ote$tion a&ainst the $old, thin wind of Ma"s.G"iswold was sna"lin&, showin& yellowed and #"o!en teeth. He said, Ó3a"thman, the"epai"s fo" this sand($a" will $ome "i&ht out of you" wa&es. %ou had HennesÒswa"nin&. David opened the doo" and $lim#ed out. F"om outside, the $a" was a wo"sew"e$! still, if that we"e possi#le. The ti"es we"e to"n and f"om them p"oe$ted the hu&eteeth whi$h we"e o#viously the Óeme"&en$y t"a$tion. He said, Ó4ot one $ent $omesout of my wa&es, G"iswold. The"e was somethin& w"on& with the $a". ÓThatÒs fo"su"e. The d"ive". A stupid, dum#(lu& d"ive", thatÒs whatÒs w"on& with the $a". Anothe" $a" $ame s0uealin& up, and G"iswold tu"ned to it. His stu##le seemed to #"istle. ÓGetthe #last out of he"e, you $in$h(#u&. Get on with you" o#. +i&man umped out of his$a". Ó4ot till I ta!e a loo! at the 3a"thmanÒs $a". +i&man wei&hed less than fiftypounds on Ma"s, and in one lon&, flat leap he was at DavidÒs side. He #ent fo" amoment, then st"ai&htened. He said, Ó'he"e a"e the wei&ht("ods, G"iswold- Davidsaid, Ó'hat a"e the wei&ht("ods, +i&man- The little fellow spo!e "apidly. Ó'hen youta!e these sand($a"s out into low &"avity, you put foot( thi$! #eams ove" ea$h of theales. %ou ta!e them out when youÒ"e on hi&h &"av. IÒm so""y, fella, #ut I neve" on$ethou&ht that this mi&ht #e what Ó David stopped him. His lips d"ew #a$!. It wouldeplain why his $a" had floated upwa"d at ea$h #ump while the othe"s we"e &lued to the





soil. He tu"ned to G"iswold. ÓDid you !now they we"e &one- G"iswold swo"e. Ó3a$hman is "esponsi#le fo" his own $a". If you didnÒt noti$e they we"e &one, thatÒs you"ne&li&en$e. All the $a"s we"e now on the s$ene. A $i"$le of hai"y men we"e fo"min&a"ound the th"ee, 0uiet, attentive, not inte"fe"in&. +i&man sto"med. Ó%ou #i& hun! ofsili$a, the manÒs a tende"foot. He $anÒt #e epe$ted to Ó ÓNuiet, +i&man, said

David. ÓThis is my o#. I as! you a&ain, G"iswold. Did you !now a#out this in advan$e- ÓAnd I told you, 3a"thie. In the dese"t a man has to wat$h himself. IÒm not &oin& tomothe" you. ÓAll "i&ht. In that $ase IÒll wat$h myself "i&ht now. David loo!ed a#out.They we"e almost at the ed&e of the fissu"e. Anothe" ten feet and he would have #een adead man. ÓHoweve", youÒll have to wat$h you"self, too, #e$ause IÒm ta!in& you" $a".%ou $an d"ive mine #a$! to the fa"m dome o" you $an stay he"e fo" all I $a"e. Ó+yMa"s* G"iswoldÒs hand shot to his hip and the"e was a sudden "ou&h $"y f"om, the$i"$le of wat$hin& men. ÓFai" fi&ht* Fai" fi&ht* The $ode of the Ma"tian dese"ts was aha"d one, #ut it d"ew the line at advanta&es $onside"ed unfai". That was unde"stood andenfo"$ed. nly #y su$h mutual p"e$autions $ould any man #e p"ote$ted f"om aneventual fo"$e(!nife in the #a$! o" #last(&un in the #elly. G"iswold loo!ed at the ha"d

fa$es a#out him. He said, Ó'eÒll have it out #a$! in the dome. n you" o#s, men.David said, ÓIÒll see you in the dome if you wish. Meanwhile, step aside. He wal!edfo"wa"d unhu""iedly, and G"iswold stepped #a$!. Ó%ou stupid &"eenho"n. 'e $anÒthave a fist(fi&ht with nosepie$es on. Do you have anythin& #ut #one inside you" s!ull-ÓTa!e you" nosepie$e off, then, said David, Óand IÒll ta!e mine off. )top me in fai"fi&ht, if you $an. ÓFai" fi&ht* $ame the app"ovin& shout f"om the $"owd, and +i&manyelled, Óut up o" #a$! down, G"iswold. He leaped fo"wa"d, "ippin& G"iswoldÒs#laste" f"om his hip. David put his hand to his nosepie$e. ÓReady- +i&man $alled,ÓIÒll $ount th"ee. The men yelled $onfusedly. They we"e waitin& now, in !eenanti$ipation. G"iswold &lan$ed wildly a#out him. +i&man was $ountin&, Óne Ó And atthe $ount of ÓTh"ee David 0uietly "emoved his nosepie$e, and tossed it, with theatta$hed $ylinde"s, to one side. He stood the"e, unp"ote$teds holdin& his #"eath a&ainstthe un#"eatha#le atmosphe"e of Ma"s.

= ( +i&man Ma!es a Dis$ove"y G"lswold did not sti", and his nosepie$e "emained inpla$e. The"e was a th"eatenin& &"owl f"om the spe$tato"s. David moved as 0ui$!ly ashe da"ed, &au&in& his steps a&ainst the li&ht &"avity. He lun&ed $luhisily Lit was almostas thou&h wate" we"e holdin& him up and $au&ht G"iswold a#out the shoulde". Hetwisted sideways, avoidin& the fa"m#oyÒs !nee. ne hand "ea$hed to G"iswoldÒs $hin,$au&ht the nosepie$e and yan!ed it up and off. G"iswold &"a##ed fo" it with the#e&innin& of a thin yell, #ut $au&ht himself and $lamped his mouth shut a&ainst the lossof any ai". He #"o!e away, sta&&e"in& a #it. )lowly he $i"$led David. 4ea"ly a minute hadpassed sin$e David had d"awn His last #"eath. His lun&s felt the st"ain. G"iswold, eyes#loodshot, $"ou$hed and sidled towa"d David. His le&s we"e sp"in&y, his motions&"a$eful. He was used to low &"avity and $ould handle himself. David "ealied &"imlythat he himself p"o#a#ly $ould not. ne 0ui$!, inudi$ious move and he mi&ht findhimself sp"awlin&. 3a$h se$ond too! its st"ain. David !ept out of "ea$h and wat$hed thetwistin& &"ima$e on G"iswoldÒs fa$e tauten and &"ow to"tu"ed. He would have tooutwait the fa"m#oy. He himself had an athleteÒs lun&s. G"iswold ate too mu$h andd"an! too mu$h to #e in p"ope" shape. The fissu"e $au&ht His eye. It was some fou" feet





#ehind him now, a shee" $liff, d"oppin& pe"pendi$ula"ly. It was towa"d it that G"iswoldwas maneuve"in& him. He halted his "et"eat. In ten se$onds G"iswold would have to$ha"&e. He would have to. And G"iswold did. David let himself d"op to one side, and$au&ht the othe" with his shoulde". He whi"led unde" the impa$t and allowed the fo"$e of the whi"l to add itself to his own th"ustin& fist whi$h $au&ht G"iswoldÒs aw#one at its

so$!et. G"iswold sta&&e"ed #lindly. He let out his #"eath in a hu&e puff and filled hislun&s with a mitu"e of a"&on, neon, and $a"#on dioide. )lowly, d"eadfullys he$"umpled. 'ith a last effo"t he t"ied to "aise him self, half su$$eeded, sta"ted fallin&a&ain, totte"ed fo"wa"d in an attempt to maintain his #alan$e The"e was a $onfusedyellin& in DavidÒs ea"s. n t"em#lin& le&s, deaf and #lind to eve"ythin& #ut Hisnosepie$e on the &"ound, he wal!ed #a$! to the $a". Fo"$in& his to"tu"ed, oy&en($"avin& #ody to wo"! slowly and with di&nity, he #u$!led on his $ylinde"s with $a"e andadusted his nosepie$e. Then, finally, he too! a shudde"in& d"a& of oy&en that pou"edinto his lun&s li!e the "ush of $old wate" into a desi$$ated stoma$h. It was a full minute#efo"e he $ould do anythin& #ut #"eathe, His hu&e $hest "isin& and fallin& in la"&e, "apidsweeps. He opened his eyes. Ó'he"eÒs G"iswold- They we"e a"ound him, all of

them +i&man in the ve"y fo"e. +i&man loo!ed su"p"ised. ÓDidnÒt you see- ÓI!no$!ed him down. David loo!ed a#out sha"ply. G"iswold was nowhe"e. +i&man madea down(sweepin& motion with his hand. ÓInto the fissu"e. Ó'hat- David f"owned#eneath the nosepie$e. ÓThis is a #ad o!e. Ó4o, no. Óve" the ed&e li!e a dive".Ó+y )pa$e, it was his own fault. Ó2lea" $ase of self(defense fo" you, 3a"thie. Theywe"e all tal!in& at on$e. David said, Ó'ait, what happened- Did O th"ow Him ove"-Ó4o, 3a"thie, +i&man $lamo"ed. ÓIt wasnÒt you" doin&. %ou hit him and the #u& wentdown. Then he t"ied to &et up. He sta"ted &oin& down a&ain, and when he t"ied to !eephis #alan$e, he so"t of hopped fo"wa"d, too #lind to see what lay ahead of him. 'e t"iedto &et him, #ut the"e wasnÒt enou&h time, and ove" he went. If he hadnÒt #een so #usymaneuve"in& you to the ed&e of the fissu"e so he $ould th"ow you ove", it wouldnÒthave happened. David loo!ed at the men. They loo!ed at him. Finally one of thefa"m#oys th"ust out a ha"d hand. ÓGood show, fa"m#oy. It was $almly said, #ut itmeant a$$eptan$e, and it #"o!e the lo& am. +i&man yelled a t"iumph, umped si feetinto the ai", and san! slowly down, with le&s twiddlin& unde" him in a maneuve" no #alletdan$e", howeve" epe"t, $ould have dupli$ated unde" 3a"th &"avity. The othe"s we"e$"owdin& $lose now. Men who had add"essed David only as Ó3a"thie o" Ó%ou, o"not at all, we"e $lappin& him on the #a$! and tellin& him he was a man Ma"s $ould #ep"oud of. +i&man shouted, ÓMen, letÒs $ontinue the $he$!up. Do we need G"iswold toshow us how- They howled #a$!, Ó4o* ÓThen how a#out it- He vaulted into his$a". Ó2ome on, fa"m#oy, they yelled at David, who umped into what had #eenG"iswoldÒs $a" fifteen minutes #efo"e and set it in motion. n$e a&ain the $all ofÓ)and awa(a(a(ay* sh"illed and ululated th"ou&h the Ma"tian wisps. The news sp"ead#y sand($a" "adio, leapin& a$"oss the empty spa$es #etween the &lass(en$losedst"et$hes of fa"m lands. 'hile David maneuve"ed his vehi$le up and down the $o""ido"s#etween the &lass walls, wo"d of G"iswoldÒs end made its way a$"oss all the epanseof the fa"m. The ei&ht "emainin& fa"m#oys of what had #een G"iswoldÒs su#(se$tion&athe"ed to&ethe" on$e a&ain in the dyin& "uddy li&ht of Ma"sÒs sin!in& sun and"et"a$ed the ea"ly(mo"nin& d"ive #a$! to the fa"m dome. 'hen David "etu"ned, he foundhimself al"eady noto"ious. The"e was no fo"mal evenin& meal that day. It had #een





eaten out in the dese"t #efo"e the "etu"n, so in less than half an hou" of the $ompletionof the $he$!up, men had &athe"ed #efo"e the Main House, waitin&. The"e was no dou#tthat #y now Hennes and the ld Man himself had hea"d of the fi&ht. The"e we"e enou&hof the ÓHennes $"owd, that is, men who had #een hi"ed sin$e Hennes had #e$omefo"eman and whose inte"ests we"e tied tho"ou&hly to those of Hennes, to insu"e the fa$t

that the news had sp"ead in that di"e$tion. )o the men waited with pleased anti$ipation.It was not that they had any &"eat hate fo" Hennes. He was effi$ient and no #"ute. +uthe was not li!ed. He was $old and aloof, la$!ed the 0uality of easy miin& whi$h hadma"!ed ea"lie" fo"emen. n Ma"s, with its la$! of so$ial distin$tions, that was a se"ioussho"t$omin& and one whi$h the men $ould not help #ut "esent. And G"iswold himselfhad #een anythin& #ut popula". All in all, it was mo"e e$itement than the Ma!ian fa"mhad seen in th"ee Ma"tian yea"s, and a Ma"tian yea" is ust one month sho"t of #ein& two3a"th(yea"s lon&. 'hen David appea"ed, a $onside"a#le $hee" went up and way wasmade fo" him, thou&h a small &"oup well to one side loo!ed &lum and hostile. Inside, the$hee"s must have #een hea"d, fo" Ma!ian, Hennes, +enson, and a few othe"s steppedout. David wal!ed up the foot of the "amp whi$h led to the doo"way and Hennes moved

fo"wa"d to the head of the "amp, whe"e he stood, loo!in& down. David said, Ó)i", I have$ome to eplain todayÒs in$ident. Hennes said evenly, ÓA valua#le employee of theMa!ian fa"ms died today as the "esult of a 0ua""el with you. 2an you" eplanation"emove that fa$t- Ó4o, si", #ut the man G"iswold was #eaten in fai" fi&ht. A voi$e$alled out f"om the $"owd, ÓG"iswold t"ied to !ill the #oy. He fo"&ot to have the wei&ht("ods in$luded in the #oyÒs $a" #y a$$ident, The"e we"e seve"al s$atte"ed s0uaw!s oflau&hte" at the final sa"$asti$ wo"d. Hennes paled. His fist $len$hed. Ó'ho said that-The"e was silen$e, and then f"om the ve"y f"ont of the $"owd a small, su#dued voi$esaid, Ólease, tea$he", it wasnÒt I. +i&man was standin& the"e, hands $lasped #efo"ehim, eyes loo!in& modestly down. The lau&hte" $ame a&ain, and this time it was a "oa".Hennes supp"essed fu"y with an effo"t. He said to David, ÓDo you $laim an attempt onyou" life- David said, Ó4o, si". I $laim only a fai" fi&ht, witnessed #y seven fa"m#oys. Aman who ente"s a fai" fi&ht must #e willin& to $ome out as #est he $an. Do you intend toset up new "ules- A yell of app"oval went up f"om the audien$e. Hennes loo!ed a#outhim. He $"ied, ÓI am so""y that you men a"e #ein& misled and a&itated into a$tions youwill "e&"et. 4ow &et #a$! to you" wo"!, all of you, and #e assu"ed that you" attitude thisevenin& will not #e fo"&otten. As fo" you, 'illiams, we will $onside" the $ase. This is notthe end. He slammed #a$! into Main House and, afte" a momentÒs hesitation, the"est followed him. David was $alled to +ensonÒs offi$e ea"ly the net day. It had #een alon& ni&ht of $ele#"ation, whi$h David $ould neithe" avoid no" #"ea! away f"om, and heyawned p"odi&iously as he stooped to avoid hittin& the lintel. +enson said, Ó2ome in,'illiams. He was d"essed in a white smo$! and the ai" in the offi$e had a$ha"a$te"isti$ animal odo" that $ame f"om the $a&es of "ats and hahiste"s. He smiled.Ó%ou loo! sleepy. )it down. ÓThan!s, said David. ÓI am sleepy. 'hat $an I do fo"you- ÓItÒs what I $an do fo" you, 'illiams. %ouÒ"e in t"ou#le and you $ould #e inwo"se t"ou#le. IÒm af"aid you donÒt !now what $onditions on Ma"s a"e li!e. M". Ma!ianhas the full le&al autho"ity to o"de" you #lasted if he #elieves the death of G"iswold $an#e $onside"ed mu"de". Ó'ithout a t"ial- Ó4o, #ut Hennes $ould find twelvefa"m#oys who would thin! his way easily enou&h. ÓHeÒd have t"ou#le with the "est of the fa"m#oys if he t"ied to do that, wouldnÒt he- ÓI !now. I told Hennes that ove" and





ove" a&ain last ni&ht. DonÒt thin! that Hennes and I &et alon&. HeÒs too di$tato"ial fo"me too fond, #y fa", of his own ideas, su$h as that p"ivate dete$tive wo"! of his whi$h Imentioned to you the othe" time. And M". Ma!ian a&"eed with me $ompletely. He mustlet Hennes ta!e $ha"&e of all di"e$t dealin&s with the men, of $ou"se, whi$h is why hedidnÒt inte"fe"e yeste"day, #ut he told Hennes afte"wa"d, to his fa$e, that he wasnÒt

&oin& to sit #y and see his fa"m dest"oyed ove" a stupid "as$al su$h as G"iswold, andHennes had to p"omise to let the matte" stew fo" a while. Just the same, he wonÒtfo"&et this in a hu""y, and Hennes is a #ad enemy to have he"e. ÓIÒll have to "is! it,wonÒt I- Ó'e $an "un the "is! to a minimum. IÒve as!ed Ma!ian if I may use youhe"e. %ou $ould #e 0uite useful, you !now, even without s$ientifi$ t"ainin&. %ou $an helpfeed the animals and $lean the $a&es. I $ould tea$h you how to anesthetie them andma!e ine$tions. It wonÒt #e mu$h, #ut it will !eep you out of HennesÒs way andp"event dis"uption of fa"m mo"ale whi$h is somethin& we $anÒt affo"d now, as youshould !now. A"e you willin&- 'ith the utmost &"avity David said, ÓIt would #e "athe"a so$ial $omedown fo" a man whoÒs #een told heÒs an honest(to(&oodness fa"m#oynow. The s$ientist f"owned. Óh, $ome now, 'illiams. DonÒt ta!e se"iously what

those fools tell you. Fa"m(#oy* Huh* ItÒs a fan$y name fo" a semi(s!illed a&"i$ultu"alla#o"e" and nothin& mo"e. %ouÒd #e silly to listen to thei" upside(down notions of so$ialstatus. 6oo!, if you wo"! with me you mi&ht #e helpin& to wo"! out the myste"y of thepoisonin&s help aven&e you" siste". ThatÒs why you $ame to Ma"s, wasnÒt it- IÒllwo"! fo" you, said David. ÓGood. +ensonÒs "ound fa$e st"et$hed in a smile of "elief.+i&man loo!ed th"ou&h the doo" $autiously. He half whispe"ed, ÓHey* David tu"neda"ound and $losed the $a&e doo". ÓHello, +i&man. ÓIs +enson a"ound- Ó4o. HeÒs&one fo" the day. Ó!ay. +i&man ente"ed, wal!in& $a"efully, as thou&h to p"eventeven an a$$idental $onta$t #etween his $lothin& and any o#e$t in the la#o"ato"ies. .ÓDonÒt tell me you have somethin& a&ainst +enson. Ó'ho, me- 4o. HeÒs ust a#it/you !now. He tapped his temple a few times. Ó'hat !ind of a &"own man would$ome to Ma"s to fool a"ound with little animals- And then heÒs always tellin& us how to"un the plantin& and ha"vestin&. 'hat does he !now- %ou $anÒt lea"n anythin& a#outMa"s fa"min& in some 3a"th $olle&e. At that, he t"ies to ma!e himself seem #ette" thanwe a"e. %ou !now what I mean- 'e have to slap him down sometimes. He loo!ed&loomily at David. ÓAnd now loo! at you. HeÒs &ot you all spiffed out in a ni&ht&own,too, playin& nu"semaid to a mouse. 'hy do you let him- ÓItÒs ust fo" a while, saidDavid. Ó'ell. +i&man ponde"ed a moment, then th"ust out his hand aw!wa"dly. ÓIwant to say &ood(#y. David too! it. Ó6eavin&- ÓMy monthÒs up. I have my pape"sso now IÒll #e &ettin& a o# somewhe"e else. IÒm &lad I met up with you, 3a"thie.May#e when you" own timeÒs up we $an meet a&ain. %ou wonÒt want to stay unde"Hennes. ÓHold on. David did not "elease the little fellowÒs hand. Ó%ouÒll #e &oin&to 'in&"ad 2ity now, wonÒt you- ETill I find a o#. %es. ÓGood. IÒve #een waitin&fo" this fo" a wee!. I $anÒt leave the fa"m, +i&man, so will you do an e""and fo" me-Ó%ou #et. Just name it. ÓItÒs a little "is!y. %ouÒd have to $ome #a$! he"e. ÓAll"i&ht. IÒm not af"aid of Hennes. +esides, the"e a"e ways fo" us to meet he doesnÒt!now a thin& a#out. IÒve #een on Ma!ian fa"ms a lot lon&e" than he has. David fo"$ed+i&man into a seat. He s0uatted net to Him, and his voi$e was a whispe". Ó6oo!,the"eÒs a li#"a"y at the $o"ne" of 2anal and ho#os st"eets in 'in&"ad 2ity. I want youto &et some #oo! films fo" me alon& with a viewe". The info"mation that will &et you the





p"ope" films is in this sealed Ó +i&manÒs hand $lawed out sha"ply, seiin& DavidÒs"i&ht sleeve, fo"$in& it upwa"d. ÓHe"e, what a"e you doin&- demanded David. ÓI wantto see somethin&, panted +i&man. He had #a"ed DavidÒs w"ist now, holdin& it, inne"su"fa$e upwa"d, wat$hin& it #"eathlessly. David made no move to withd"aw it. Hewat$hed His own w"ist without $on$e"n. Ó'ell, whatÒs the idea- Ó'"on& one,

mutte"ed +i&man. ÓReally- David too! his w"ist away f"om +i&manÒs $lut$heffo"tlessly and eposed the othe" w"ist. He held them #oth #efo"e Him. Ó'hat a"e youloo!in& fo"- Ó%ou !now what IÒm loo!in& fo". I thou&ht you" fa$e was familia" eve"sin$e you $ame he"e. 2ouldnÒt pla$e it. I $ould !i$! myself. 'hat !ind of an 3a"th(manwould $ome he"e and #e "ated as &ood as any native fa"m#oy in less than a month-

And I have to wait fo" you to send me to the li#"a"y at the 2oun$il of )$ien$e #efo"e Itum#le. ÓI still donÒt unde"stand you, +i&man. ÓI thin! you do, David )ta"". Henea"ly shouted the name in His t"iumph.

> ( 4i&ht Meetin& David said, ÓNuiet, man* +i&manÒs voi$e san!. ÓIÒve seen you invideo "eels often enou&h. +ut why donÒt you" w"ists show the ma"!- IÒve hea"d all the

mem#e"s of the 2oun$il we"e ma"!ed. Ó'he"e did you hea" this- And who told youthe li#"a"y at 2anal and ho#os is the 2oun$il of )$ien$e- +i&man flushed. ÓDonÒtloo! down at the fa"m#oy, miste". IÒve lived in the $ity. IÒve even had s$hoolin&. ÓMyapolo&ies. I didnÒt mean it that way. 'ill you still help me- Ó4ot until I unde"standa#out you" w"ists. ÓThatÒs not ha"d. ItÒs a $olo"less tattoo that will tu"n da"! in ai",#ut only if I want it to. ÓHowÒs that- ÓItÒs a matte" of emotion. 3a$h humanemotion is a$$ompanied #y a pa"ti$ula" ho"mone patte"n in the #lood. ne and only onesu$h patte"n a$tivates the tattoo. I happen to !now the emotion that fits. David didnothin& visi#ly, #ut slowly a pat$h on the inne" su"fa$e of his "i&ht w"ist appea"ed andda"!ened. The &olden dots of the +i& Dippe" and "ion &lowed momenta"ily and thenthe whole faded "apidly. +i&manÒs fa$e &lowed and his hands $ame down fo" thatautomati$ sma$! a&ainst his #oots. David $au&ht His a"ms "ou&hly. ÓHey, said+i&man. Ó4o e$itement, please. A"e you with me- Ó)u"e IÒm with you. IÒll #e #a$!toni&ht with the stuff you want and IÒll tell you whe"e we $an meet. The"eÒs a pla$eoutside, nea" the )e$ond )e$tion Ó He went on, whispe"in& di"e$tions. David nodded.ÓGood. He"eÒs the envelope. +i&man too! it and inse"ted it #etween his hip #oot andthi&h. He said, ÓThe"eÒs a po$!et on the inside top of the #ette"(0uality hip #oots, M".)ta"". Do you !now that- ÓI do. DonÒt loo! down at this fa"m#oy, eithe". And myname, +i&man, is still 'illiams. That leaves ust one last statement. The 2oun$illi#"a"ians will #e the only ones who will #e a#le to open that envelope safely. If anyoneelse t"ies, heÒll #e hu"t. +i&man d"ew himself up. Ó4o one else will open it. The"e a"epeople who a"e #i&&e" than I am. May#e you thin! I donÒt !now that, #ut I do. Just thesame, #i&&e" o" not, no#ody, and I mean no#ody, will ta!e this f"om me without !illin&me. 'hatÒs mo"e, I wasnÒt thin!in& of openin& it myself, eithe", if youÒve &iven thatany thou&ht. ÓI have, said David. ÓI t"y to &ive all possi#ilities some, thou&ht, #ut IdidnÒt &ive that one ve"y mu$h. +i&man smiled, made a mo$! pass with his fist atDavidÒs $hin, and was &one. It was almost dinne"time when +enson "etu"ned. Heloo!ed unhappy and his plump $hee!s we"e d"oopin&. He said listlessly, ÓHow a"e you,'illiams- David was washin& his hands #y dippin& them into the spe$ial dete"&entsolution whi$h was unive"sally used on Ma"s fo" this pu"pose. He withd"ew his hands





indi$atin& p"essu"e e0uili#"ium. nly then did he dep"ess the "ed #utton. The oute"se$tion lifted and he stepped out. This time he was not t"yin& to $ont"ol a $a". Helowe"ed himself to the ha"d, $old sands and waited fo" the stoma$h(tu"nin& sensationsto pass as he a$$ustomed himself to the &"avity $han&e. It too! s$a"$ely two minutes fo" that to happen. A few mo"e &"avity($han&e passa&es, David thou&ht &"imly, and he

would have what the fa"m#oys $alled Ó&"avity le&s. He "ose, tu"ned to &et his#ea"in&s, and then found himself, 0uite involunta"ily, f"oen in fas$ination* It was the fi"sttime he had eve" seen the Ma"tian ni&ht s!y. The sta"s themselves we"e the old familia"ones of 3a"th, a""an&ed in all the familia" $onstellations. The distan$e f"om Ma"s to3a"th, &"eat thou&h it was, was insuffi$ient to alte" pe"$epti#ly the "elative positions ofthe distant sta"s. +ut thou&h the sta"s we"e un$han&ed in position, how vastly they we"e$han&ed in #"illian$e. The thinne" ai" of Ma"s s$a"$ely softened them, #ut left them ha"dand &em(#"i&ht. The"e was no moon, of $ou"se, not one su$h as 3a"th !new. Ma"sÒstwo satellites, ho#os and Deimos, we"e tiny thin&s only five o" ten miles a$"oss, simplymountains flyin& loose in spa$e. 3ven thou&h they we"e mu$h $lose" to Ma"s than theMoon was to 3a"th, they would show no dis! and #e only two mo"e sta"s. He sea"$hed

fo" them, even thou&h he "ealied they mi&ht easily #oth #e on the othe" side of Ma"s.6ow on the weste"n ho"ion he $au&ht somethin& else. )lowly he tu"ned to it. It was #yfa" the #"i&htest o#e$t in the s!y, with a faint #lue(&"een tin&e to it that was mat$hed fo"#eauty #y nothin& else in the heavens he wat$hed. )epa"ated f"om it #y a#out the widthof Ma"sÒs sh"un!en sun was anothe" o#e$t, yellowe", #"i&ht in itself #ut dwa"fed #y themu$h &"eate" #"illan$e of its nei&h#o". David needed no sta" map to identify the dou#leo#e$t. They we"e the 3a"th and the Moon, the dou#le Óevenin& sta" of Ma"s. He to"ehis eyes away, tu"ned towa"d the low out($"oppin& of "o$! visi#le in the li&ht of his pen$ilflash, and #e&an wal!in&. +i&man had told him to use those "o$!s as a &uide. It was$old in the Ma"tian ni&ht, and David was "e&"etfully awa"e of the heatin& powe"s of eventhe Ma"tian sun, one hund"ed and thi"ty million miles away. The sand($a" was invisi#le,o" nea"ly so, in the wea! sta"li&ht, and he hea"d the low, even pu"" of its en&ines lon&#efo"e he saw it. He $alled, Ó+i&man* and the little fellow popped out of it. Ó)pa$e*said +i&man. ÓI was #e&innin& to thin! you we"e lost. Ó'hy is the en&ine "unnin&-ÓThatÒs easy. How else do I !eep f"om f"eein& to death- 'e wonÒt #e hea"d,thou&h. I !now this pla$e. ÓDo you have the films- ÓDo I- 6isten, I donÒt !nowwhat you had in the messa&e you sent #ut they had five o" si s$hola"s $i"$lin& me li!esatellites. It was EM". Jones thisÒ and ÓM". Jones that.Ò I said, EMy nameÒs+i&man,Ò I said. And then it was EM". +i&man, if you please.Ò Anyway/+i&manti$!ed items off on his fin&e"s/Ó#efo"e the day was &one, they had fou" films fo" me,two viewe"s, a #o as #i& as myself whi$h I havenÒt opened, and the loan Lo" may#ethe &ift fo" all I !now of a sand($a" to $a""y it all in. David smiled #ut made no answe".He ente"ed Into the wel$ome wa"mth of the $a" and 0ui$!ly, in a "a$e to out"un the fleetni&ht, adusted the viewe"s fo" p"oe$tion and inse"ted a film in ea$h. Di"e$t viewin&would have #een 0ui$!e", mo"e p"efe"a#le, #ut even in the wa"m inte"io" of the sand($a" his nosepie$e was still a ne$essity, and the #ul#ous t"anspa"ent $ove"in& of his eyesmade di"e$t viewin& impossi#le. )lowly the sand($a" lu"$hed fo"wa"d th"ou&h the ni&ht,"epeatin& almost ea$tly the "oute of G"iswoldÒs su#se$tion on the day of the $he$!up.ÓI donÒt &et it, said +i&man. He had #een mutte"in& unde" his #"eath uselessly fo"fifteen minutes and now he had to "epeat his loude" statement twi$e #efo"e the #"oodin&





David would "espond. ÓDonÒt &et what- Ó'hat youÒ"e doin&. 'he"e youÒ"e &oin&.I fi&u"e this is my #usiness #e$ause IÒm &oin& to stay with you f"om he"e on. IÒve #eenthin!in& today, M". )t/ 'illiams, thin!in& a lot. M". Ma!ianÒs #een in a !ind of #itin&tempe" fo" months now, and he wasnÒt a #ad oe at all #efo"e that. He"mes $ame in atthat time, with a new shuffle fo" all hands. And )$hool#oy +enson &ets his li$!s in all of

a sudden. +efo"e it all sta"ted he was no#ody, and now heÒs "eal pally with the #i&shots. Then, to top it off, youÒ"e he"e, with the 2oun$il of )$ien$e "eady to put upanythin& you want. ItÒs somethin& #i&, I !now, and I want to #e in on it ÓDo you-said David. ÓDid you see the maps I was viewin&- Ó)u"e. Just old maps of Ma"s.IÒve seen them a million times. ÓHow a#out the ones with the $"osshat$hed a"eas-Do you !now what those a"eas stood fo"- ÓAny fa"m#oy $an tell you that. The"e a"esupposed to #e $ave"ns unde"neath, e$ept that I donÒt #elieve it. My point is this. Howin )pa$e $an anyone tell the"e a"e holes two miles unde"neath the &"ound if no oneÒs#een down the"e to see- Tell me that. David did not #othe" to des$"i#e the s$ien$e ofseismo&"aphy to +i&man. Instead, he said, Ó3ve" hea" of Ma"tians- +i&man #e&an,Ó)u"e. 'hat !ind of a 0uestion Ó and then the sand($a" s$"ee$hed and t"em#led as the

little fellowÒs hands moved $onvulsively on the wheels. Ó%ou mean "eal Ma"tians-Ma"s Ma" tians not people Ma"tians 3!e us- Ma"tians livin& he"e #efo"e people $ame- His thin lau&h "attled pie"$in&ly inside the $a" and when he $au&ht his #"eath a&ain Litis diffi$ult to lau&h and #"eathe at the same time with a nosepie$e on, he said,Ó%ouÒve #een tal!in& to that &uy +enson. David "emained &"avely un"uffled at theothe"Òs &lee. Ó'hy do you say that, +i&man- Ó'e on$e $au&ht him "eadin& some!ind of #oo! a#out it, and we "i##ed the pants off him. Jumpin& Aste"oids, he &ot so"e.He $alled us all i&no"ant peasants, and I loo!ed up the wo"d in the di$tiona"y and toldthe #oys what it meant. The"e was tal! of mayhem fo" a while, and he &ot shoveda"ound so"t of #y a$$ident, if you !now what I mean, fo" a while afte" that. He neve"mentioned anythin& a#out Ma"tians to his afte" that wouldnÒt have had the ne"ve. I&uess, thou&h, he fi&u"ed you we"e an 3a"thman and would fall fo" that !ind of $omet&as. ÓA"e you su"e itÒs $omet &as- Ó)u"e. 'hat else $an it #e- eople have #eenon Ma"s fo" hund"eds and hund"eds of yea"s. 4o oneÒs eve" seen Ma"tians.Ó)uppose theyÒ"e down in the $ave"ns two miles unde"neath. Ó4o oneÒs seen the$ave"ns eithe". +esides, how would the Ma"tians &et the"e in the fi"st pla$e- eoplehave #een ove" eve"y in$h of Ma"s and the"e su"e a"enÒt stai"$ases &oin& downanywhe"e. " elevato"s, eithe". ÓA"e you $e"tain- I saw one the othe" day. Ó'hat- +i&man loo!ed #a$! ove" his shoulde". He said, Ó5iddin& me- ÓIt wasnÒt astai"$ase, #ut it was a hole. And it was at least two miles deep. Óh, you mean thefissu"e. 4uts, that doesnÒt mean anythin&. Ma"s if full of fissu"es. Ó3a$tly, +i&man.

And IÒve &ot detailed maps of the fissu"es on Ma"s too. Ri&ht he"e. The"eÒs a funnythin& a#out them whi$h, as nea"ly as I $an tell f"om the &eo&"aphy you #"ou&ht me,hasnÒt #een noti$ed #efo"e. 4ot a sin&le fissu"e $"osses a sin&le $ave"n. Ó'hatdoes that p"ove- ÓIt ma!es sense. If you we"e #uildin& ai"ti&ht $ave"ns, would youwant a hole in the "oof- And the"eÒs anothe" $oin$iden$e. 3a$h fissu"e $uts $lose to a$ave"n, #ut without eve" tou$hin&, as thou&h the Ma"tians used them as points ofent"an$e into the $ave"ns they we"e #uildin&. The sand($a" stopped suddenly. In thedim li&ht of the viewe"s, whi$h we"e still fo$used on two maps p"oe$ted simultaneouslyupon the flat white su"fa$e of the #uilt(in s$"eens, +i&manÒs fa$e #lin!ed som#e"ly at





David in the #a$! seat. He said, Ó'ait a minute. 'ait a umpin& minute. 'he"e a"e we&oin&- ÓTo the fissu"e, +i&man, A#out two miles past the pla$e whe"e G"iswold wentove". ThatÒs whe"e it &ets nea"est the $ave"n unde" the Ma!ian fa"ms. ÓAnd on$e we&et the"e- David said $almly, Ón$e we &et the"e, why, IÒll $lim# down into it.

: ( Into the Fissu"e ÓA"e you se"ious- as!ed +i&man. ÓNuite se"ious, said David.Ó%ou mean/he t"ied to smile/Óthe"e "eally a"e Ma"tians- Ó'ould you #elieve me if I said the"e we"e- Ó4o. He $ame to a sudden de$ision. Ó+ut that doesnÒt matte". Isaid I wanted to #e in this, and I donÒt #a$! out. n$e a&ain the $a" moved fo"wa"d.The fee#le dawn of the Ma"tian heavens was #e&innin& to li&ht the &"im lands$apewhen the $a" app"oa$hed the fissu"e. It had #een $"eepin& fo" half an hou" p"evious, itspowe"ful headli&hts p"o#in& the da"!ness, lest, as +i&man had put it, they find thefissu"e a little too 0ui$!ly. David $lim#ed out of the $a" and app"oa$hed the &iant $"a$!.4o li&ht penet"ated it as yet. It was a #la$! and ominous hole in the &"ound, st"et$hin&out of si&ht in eithe" di"e$tion, with the opposin& lip a featu"eless &"ay p"ominen$e. Hepointed his flash downwa"d and the #eam of li&ht faded into nothin&. +i&man $ame up

#ehind him. ÓA"e you su"e this is the "i&ht pla$e- David loo!ed a#out him.ÓA$$o"din& to the maps, this is the $losest app"oa$h to a $ave"n. How fa" a"e we f"omthe nea"est fa"m se$tion- ÓTwo miles easy. The 3a"thman nodded. Fa"m#oys we"eunli!ely to tou$h this spot e$ept possi#ly du"in& $he$!up. He said, Ó4o use waitin&then. +i&man said, ÓHow a"e you &oin& to do it, anyway- David had al"eady liftedthe #o whi$h +i&man had o#tained in 'in&"ad 2ity out of the $a". He to"e it open andtoo! out the $ontents. Ó3ve" see one of these- he as!ed. +i&man shoo! his head. Hetwiddled a pie$e of It #etween &loved thum# and fo"efin&e". It $onsisted of a pai" of lon&"opes with a sil!y sheen $onne$ted at twelve(in$h inte"vals #y $"osspie$es. ÓItÒs a"ope ladde", I suppose, he said. Ó%es, said David, Ó#ut not "ope. This is spunsili$one, li&hte" than ma&nesium, st"on&e" than steel, and #a"ely affe$ted #y anytempe"atu"es weÒ"e li!ely to meet on Ma"s. Mostly, itÒs used on the Moon, whe"e the&"avity is "eally, low and the mountains "eally hi&h. n Ma"s, the"eÒs not mu$h use fo" it#e$ause itÒs a "athe" flat wo"ld. In fa$t, it was a st"o!e of lu$! that the 2oun$il $ouldlo$ate one in the $ity. Ó'hat &ood will this do you- +i&man was "unnin& the len&thof it th"ou&h his hands until the ladde" ended in a thi$! #ul# of metal. Ó2a"eful, saidDavid. ÓIf the safety $at$h isnÒt on, you $an dama&e you"self p"etty #adly. . He too! it&ently out of +i&manÒs hand, en$i"$led the metal #ul# with his own st"on& hands, andtwisted ea$h hand In opposin& di"e$tions. The"e was a sha"p little $li$!, #ut when he"eleased his hold, the #ul# seemed un$han&ed. Ó4ow loo!. The soil of Ma"s thinnedand vanished at the app"oa$hes of the fissu"e, and the $liff ed&e was na!ed "o$!. David#ent and, with a li&ht p"essu"e, tou$hed the #ul# end of the ladde" to the $"a&, faintly"uddy in the flushin& s!y of mo"nin&. He too! his hand away, and it "emained the"e,#alan$ed at an odd an&le. Ó6ift it up, he said. . +i&man loo!ed at him, #ent, and lifted.Fo" a moment he loo!ed puled as the #ul# "emained whe"e it was then he yan!edwith all his mi&ht and still nothin& happened. He loo!ed up an&"ily. Ó'hat did you do-David smiled. Ó'hen the safety is "eleased, any p"essu"e at the tip of the #ul# "eleasesa thin fo"$e(field a#out twelve in$hes lon& that $uts "i&ht into the "o$!. The end of thefield then epands outwa"d in ea$h di"e$tion a#out si in$hes, to ma!e a ETÒ of fo"$e.The limits of the field a"e #lunt, not sha"p, so you $anÒt loosen it #y yan!in& it f"om side





to side. The only way you $an pull out the #ul# is to #"ea! the "o$! $lean off. ÓHow doyou "elease it- David "an the hund"ed(foot len&th of ladde" th"ou&h his hands and$ame up with a simila" #ul# at the othe" end. He twisted it, then pushed it at the "o$!. It"emained the"e, and afte" some fifteen se$onds the fi"st #ul# fell on its side. ÓIf youa$tivate one #ul#, he said, Óthe othe" is automati$ally dea$tivated. ", of $ou"se, if

you adust the safety $at$h of an a$tivated #ul#/he #ent down and did so/Óit isdea$tivated/he lifted it up/Óand the othe" "emains unaffe$ted. +i&man s0uatted.'he"e the two #ul#s had #een the"e we"e now na""ow $uts a#out fou" in$hes lon& in thelivin& "o$!. They we"e too na""ow fo" him to inse"t his fin&e"nail. David )ta" wasspea!in&. He said, ÓIÒve &ot wate" and food fo" a wee!. IÒm af"aid my oy&en wonÒtlast mo"e than two days, #ut you wait a wee! anyway. If IÒm not #a$! then, this is thelette" youÒ"e to delive" to the 2oun$il head0ua"te"s. ÓHold on. %ou donÒt "eally thin!these fai"y(tale Ma"tians Ó ÓI mean lots of thin&s. I mean I may slip. The "ope ladde"may #e faulty. I may a$$identally an$ho" it to a point at whi$h the"e is a fault in the "o$!.

Anythin&. )o $an I "ely on you- +i&man loo!ed disappointed. Ó+ut thatÒs a finesituation. Am I supposed to sit a"ound up he"e while you ta!e all the "is!s- ÓItÒs the

way a team wo"!s, +i&man. %ou !now that. He was stoopin& at the lip of the fissu"e.The sun was ed&in& ove" the ho"ion #efo"e them and the s!y had faded f"om #la$! topu"ple. The fissu"e, howeve", "emained a fo"#iddin& dus!y a#yss. The spa"seatmosphe"e of Ma"s did not s$atte" li&ht ve"y well, and only when the sun was di"e$tlyove"head was the ete"nal ni&ht of the fissu"e dispelled. )tolidly David tossed the ladde"into the fissu"e. Its fi#e" made no noise as it swun& a&ainst the "o$!, upheld #y the !no#whi$h held ti&htly to the stony lip. A hund"ed feet #elow they $ould hea" the othe" !no#thump on$e o" twi$e. David yan!ed at the "ope to test its hold, then, seiin& the topmost"un& with his hands, he vaulted into the a#yss himself. It was a feathe"y feelin& floatin&down at less than half the speed one would have on 3a"th, #ut the"e it ended. His a$tualwei&ht was not fa" #elow 3a"th no"mal, $onside"in& the two oy&en $ylinde"s he $a""ied,ea$h the la"&est sie availa#le at the fa"m. His head p"oe$ted a#ove su"fa$e. +i&manwas sta"in& at him, wide(eyed. David said, Ó4ow &et away and ta!e the $a" with you.Retu"n the films and viewe"s to the 2oun$il and leave the s$oote". ÓRi&ht, said+i&man. All $a"s $a""ied eme"&en$y fou"(wheeled platfo"ms that $ould t"avel fifty milesunde" thei" own powe". They we"e un$omfo"ta#le and no p"ote$tion at all a&ainst $oldo", wo"se still, a&ainst dust sto"his. )till, when a sand($a" #"o!e down miles f"om home,s$oote"s we"e #ette" than waitin& to #e found. David )ta"" loo!ed downwa"d. It was tooda"! to see the end of the ladde", the sheen of whi$h &limme"ed into &"ayness. Allowin&his le&s to dan&le f"ee, he s$"am#led down the fa$e of the $liff "un& #y "un&, $ountin& ashe did so. At the ei&htieth "un& he "ea$hed fo" the f"ee end of the ladde" and "eeled it inafte" hoo!in& an a"m a#out and th"ou&h a "un&, leavin& #oth hands f"ee. 'hen thelowe" #ul# was in his hand, he "ea$hed to the "i&ht and th"ust it at the fa$e of the $liff. It"emained the"e. He yan!ed ha"d at it, and it held. Nui$!ly he swun& himself f"om hisp"evious position to the #"an$h of the "ope ladde" now dan&lin& f"om the new an$ho".ne hand "emained on the po"tion of the ladde" he had left, waitin& fo" it to &ive. 'henit did so, he swun& it outwa"d, so that the #ul# f"om a#ove would swin& wide of himselfas it fell. He felt a sli&ht pendulum effe$t upon himself as the #ul#, whi$h had #een atthe lip of the fissu"e thi"ty se$onds #efo"e, now lashed #a$! and fo"th some onehund"ed and ei&hty feet #elow the su"fa$e of Ma"s. He loo!ed up. The"e was a #"oad





swath of pu"ple s!y to #e seen, #ut he !new it would &et na""owe" with ea$h "un& hedes$ended. Down he went, and at eve"y ei&hty "un&s he set himself a new an$ho", fi"stto the "i&ht of the old one and then to the left, maintainin& in &ene"al a st"ai&ht passa&edownwa"d. )i hou"s had passed, and on$e a&ain David paused fo" a #ite of$on$ent"ated "ation and a swi& of wate" f"om his $anteen. 2at$hin& his feet in "un&s and

"elain& the p"essu"e on his a"ms was all he $ould do in the way of "estin&. 4owhe"e inall the des$ent had the"e #een a ho"iontal led&e la"&e enou&h fo" him to $at$h his#"eath upon. At least nowhe"e within the "ea$h of His flashli&ht. That was #ad in othe"ways. It meant that the t"ip upwa"d, supposin& that the"e eve" was to #e a t"ip upwa"d,would have to #e made #y the slow method of a##in& ea$h #ul#, in tu"n, at a spot ashi&h as one $ould "ea$h. It $ould #e done and had #een/on the Moon. n Ma"s the&"avity was mo"e than twi$e what it was on the Moon, and p"o&"ess would #e ho""i#lyslow, fa" slowe" than the ou"ney down was. And that, David "ealied &"imly, was slowenou&h. He $ould not #e mu$h mo"e than a mile #elow su"fa$e. Downwa"d the"e wasonly #la$!. A#ove, the now na""ow st"ea! of s!y had #"i&htened. David de$ided to wait.It was past eleven #y his 3a"th(time wat$h, and that had fai" si&nifi$an$e on Ma"s,

whe"e the pe"iod of "otation was only half an hou" lon&e" than on 3a"th. The sun wouldsoon #e ove"head. He thou&ht so#e"ly that the maps of the Ma"tian $ave"ns we"e at#est only "ou&h app"oimations f"om the a$tion of vi#"ation waves unde" the planetÒssu"fa$e. 'ith ve"y sli&ht e""o"s eistin& he $ould #e miles away f"om the t"ue ent"an$einto the $ave"ns. And then, too, the"e mi&ht #e no ent"an$es at all. The $ave"ns mi&ht#e pu"ely natu"al phenomena, li!e the 2a"ls#ad 2ave"ns on 3a"th. 3$ept, of $ou"se,that these Ma"tian $ave"ns we"e hund"eds of miles a$"oss. He waited, almost d"owsily,han&in& loosely ove" nothin&, in da"!ness and silen$e. He fleed his num#ed fin&e"s.3ven unde" the &loves, the Ma"tian $old nipped. 'hen he was des$endin&, the a$tivity!ept him wa"m when he waited, the $old #u""owed in. He had almost de$ided to "enewhis $lim#in& to !eep f"om f"eein& when he $au&ht the fi"st (app"oa$h of dim li&ht. Heloo!ed up and saw the slowly des$endin& dim yellow of sunli&ht. ve" the lip of thefissu"e, into the small st"ea! of s!y that "emained to his vision, the sun $ame. It too! tenminutes fo" the li&ht to in$"ease to maimum, when the enti"e #u"nin& &lo#e had#e$ome visi#le. )mall thou&h it was to an 3a"thmanÒs eyes, its width was one 0ua"te"that of the fissu"e openin&. David !new the li&ht would last half an hou" o" less and thatthe da"!ness would "etu"n fo" twenty(fou" hou"s the"eafte". He loo!ed a#out "apidly,swin&in& as he did so. The wall of the fissu"e was #y no means st"ai&ht. It was a&&ed,#ut it was eve"ywhe"e ve"ti$al. It was as thou&h a $ut had #een made into the Ma"tiansoil with a #adly $"imped !nife, #ut one whi$h $ut st"ai&ht down. The opposite wall was$onside"a#ly $lose" than it had #een at the su"fa$e, #ut David estimated that the"ewould #e at least anothe" mile o" two of des$ent #efo"e it would #e $lose enou&h totou$h. )till, it all amounted to nothin&. 4othin&* And then he saw the pat$h of #la$!ness.DavidÒs #"eath whistled sha"ply. The"e was $onside"a#le #la$!ness elsewhe"e.'he"eve" an out$"oppin& of "o$! $ast a shadow, the"e was #la$!ness. It was ust thatthis pa"ti$ula" pat$h was "e$tan&ula". It had pe"fe$t, o" what seemed to #e pe"fe$t, "i&htan&les. It had to #e a"tifi$ial. It was li!e a doo" of some so"t set into the "o$!. Nui$!ly he$au&ht up the lowe" !no# of the ladde", set it as fa" out in the di"e$tion of the pat$h ashe $ould "ea$h, &athe"ed in the othe" !no# as it fell, and set it still fa"the" out in thesame di"e$tion. He alte"nated them as "apidly as he $ould, hopin& sava&ely that the sun





would hold out, that the pat$h itself was not, somehow, an illusion. The sun had $"ossedthe fissu"e and now tou$hed the lip of the wall f"om whi$h he dan&led. The "o$! hefa$ed, whi$h had #een yellow("ed, tu"ned &"ay a&ain. +ut the"e was still li&ht upon theothe" wall, and he $ould see well enou&h. He was less than a hund"ed feet away, andea$h alte"nation of ladde" !no#s #"ou&ht him a ya"d $lose". Glimme"in&, the sunli&ht

t"aveled up the opposite wall, and the dus! was $losin& in when he "ea$hed the ed&e ofthe pat$h. His &loved "in&e"s $losed upon the ed&e of a $avity set into the "o$!. It wassmooth, The line had neithe" fault no" flaw. It had to #e made #y intelli&en$e. He neededsunli&ht no lon&e". The small #eam of the flashli&ht would #e enou&h. He swun& hisladde" into the inset, and when he d"opped a !no# he felt it $lun! sha"ply on "o$!#eneath. A ho"iontal led&e* He des$ended 0ui$!ly, and in a few minutes found himselfstandin& on "o$!. Fo" the fi"st time in mo"e than si hou"s he was standin& onsomethin& solid. He found the ina$tive #ul#, th"ust it into "o$! at waist level, #"ou&htdown the ladde", then adusted the safety lat$h and pulled out the #ul#. Fo" the fi"st timein mo"e than si hou"s #oth ends of the ladde" we"e f"ee. David looped the ladde"a"ound his waist and a"m and loo!ed a#out. The $avity in the fa$e of the $liff was a#out

ten feet hi&h and si a$"oss. 'ith his flashli&ht pointin& the way, he wal!ed inwa"d and$ame fa$e to fa$e with a smooth and 0uite solid stone sla# that #a""ed fa"the" p"o&"ess.It, too, was the wo"! of intelli&en$e. It had to #e. +ut it "emained an effe$tive #a""ie" tofu"the" eplo"ation ust the same. The"e was a sudden pain in his ea"s, and he spunsha"ply. The"e $ould #e only one eplanation. )omehow the ai" p"essu"e a#out himselfwas in$"easin&. He moved #a$! towa"d the fa$e of the $liff and was not su"p"ised to findthat the openin& th"ou&h whi$h he had $ome was #a""ed #y "o$! whi$h had notp"eviously #een the"e. It had slid into pla$e without a sound. His hea"t #eat 0ui$!ly. Hewas o#viously in an ai" lo$! of some so"t. 2a"efully he "emoved his nose(pie$e andsampled the new ai". It felt &ood in his lun&s, and it was wa"m. He advan$ed to the inne" sla# of "o$! and waited $onfidently fo" it to lift up and away. It did ea$tly that, #ut a fullminute #efo"e it did so David felt his a"ms $omp"essed suddenly a&ainst his #ody asthou&h a steel lasso had #een th"own a#out him and ti&htened. He had time fo" onesta"tled $"y, and then his le&s pushed one a&ainst the othe" unde" simila" p"essu"e. Andso it was that when the inne" doo" opened and the way to ente" the $ave"n was $lea"#efo"e Him, David )ta"" $ould move neithe" hand no" foot.

9@ ( +i"th of the )pa$e Ran&e" David waited. The"e was no use in spea!in& to emptyai". "esuma#ly the entities who had #uilt the $ave"ns and who $ould so ihimo#ilie himin so ihimate"ial a fashion would #e pe"fe$tly $apa#le of playin& all the $a"ds. He felthimself lift f"om the &"ound and slowly tip #a$!wa"d until the line of his #ody was pa"allelwith the floo". He t"ied to $"ane his head upwa"d #ut found it to #e nea"ly ihimova#le.The #onds we"e not so st"on& as those whi$h had ti&htened a#out his lim#s. It was"athe" li!e a ha"ness of velvety "u##e" that &ave, #ut only so fa". He moved inwa"dsmoothly. It was li!e ente"in& wa"m, f"a&"ant, #"eatha#le wate". As his head left the ai"lo$!, the last po"tion of his #ody to do so, a d"eamless sleep $losed ove" him. David)ta"" opened his eyes with no sensation of any passa&e of time #ut, with the sensationof life nea" #y. 3a$tly what fo"m that sensation too! he $ould not say. He was fi"st$ons$ious of the heat. It was that of a hot summe" day on 3a"th. )e$ond, the"e was thedim "ed li&ht that su""ounded him and that s$a"$ely suffi$ed fo" vision. +y it he $ould





#a"ely ma!e out the walls of a small "oom as he tu"ned his head. 4owhe"e was the"emotion nowhe"e life. And yet somewhe"e nea" the"e must #e the wo"!in& of a powe"fulintelli&en$e. David felt that in a way he $ould not eplain. 2autiously he t"ied to move ahand, and it lifted without hind"an$e. 'onde"in&ly he sat up"i&ht and found himself on asu"fa$e that yielded and &ave #ut whose natu"e he $ould not ma!e out in the dimness.

The voi$e $ame suddenly. ÓThe $"eatu"e is awa"e of its su""oundin&s . . . The last pa"tof the statement was a um#le of meanin&less sound. David $ould not identify thedi"e$tion f"om whi$h the voi$e $ame. It was f"om all di"e$tions and no di"e$tion. Ase$ond voi$e sounded. It was diffe"ent, thou&h the diffe"en$e was a su#tle one. It was&entle", smoothe", mo"e feminine, somehow. ÓA"e you well, $"eatu"e- David said, ÓI$annot see you. The fi"st voi$e LDavid thou&ht of it as a manÒs sounded a&ain. ÓIt isthen as I told . . . A&ain the um#le. Ó%ou a"e not e0uipped to see mind. The lastph"ase was #lu""ed, #ut to David it sounded li!e Ósee mind. ÓI $an see matte", hesaid, Ó#ut the"e is s$a"$ely li&ht to see #y. The"e was a silen$e, as thou&h the twowe"e $onfe""in& apa"t, and then the"e was the &entle th"ustin& of an o#e$t into DavidÒshand. It was his flashli&ht. ÓHas this, $ame the mas$uline voi$e, Óany si&nifi$an$e to

you with "e&a"d to li&ht- Ó'hy, $e"tainly. DonÒt you see- He flashed it on and0ui$!ly splashed the li&ht #eam a#out himself. The "oom was empty of life, and 0uite#a"e. The su"fa$e he "ested upon was t"anspa"ent to li&ht and some fou" feet off thefloo". ÓIt is as I said, said the feminine voi$e e$itedly. ÓThe $"eatu"eÒs si&ht senseis a$tivated #y sho"t(wave "adiation. Ó+ut most of the "adiation of the inst"ument is inthe inf"a"ed. It was that I ud&ed #y, p"otested the othe". The li&ht was #"i&htenin&even as the voi$e sounded, tu"nin& fi"st o"an&e, then yellow, and finally white. Davidsaid, Ó2an you $ool the "oom too- Ó+ut it has #een $a"efully adusted to thetempe"atu"e of you" #ody. Ó4eve"theless, I would have it $oole". They we"e $o(ope"ative, at least. A $ool wind swept ove" David, wel$ome and "ef"eshin&. He let thetempe"atu"e d"op to seventy #efo"e he stopped them. David thou&ht, ÓI thin! you a"e$ohimuni$atin& di"e$tly with my mind. "esuma#ly that is why I seem to hea" youspea!in& Inte"national 3n&lish. The mas$uline voi$e said, ÓThe last ph"ase is a

um#le, #ut $e"tainly we a"e $ohimuni$atin&. How else would that #e done- Davidnodded to himself. That a$$ounted fo" the o$$asional noisy #lu". 'hen a p"ope" namewas used that had no a$$ompanyin& pi$tu"e fo" his own mind to inte"p"et, it $ould only#e "e$eived as a #lu". Mental stati$. The feminine voi$e said, ÓIn the ea"ly histo"y of ou" "a$e the"e a"e le&ends that ou" minds we"e $losed to one anothe" and that we$ommuni$ated #y means of sym#ols fo" the eye and ea". F"om you" 0uestion I $annothelp #ut wonde" if this is the $ase with you" own people, $"eatu"e. David said, ÓThatis so. How lon& is it sin$e I was #"ou&ht into the $ave"n- The mas$uline voi$e said,Ó4ot 0uite a planeta"y "otation. 'e apolo&ie fo" any in$onvenien$e we $aused you,#ut it was ou" fi"st oppo"tunity to study one of the new su"fa$e $"eatu"es alive. 'e havesalva&ed seve"al #efo"e this, one only a sho"t while a&o, #ut none we"e fun$tional, andthe amount of info"mation o#tained f"om su$h is, of ne$essity, limited. David wonde"edif G"iswold had #een the "e$ently salva&ed $o"pse. He said $autiously, ÓIs you"eamination of myself ove"- The feminine voi$e "esponded 0ui$!ly. Ó%ou fea" ha"m.The"e is a distin$t imp"ession in you" mind that we may #e so sava&e as to inte"fe"ewith you" life fun$tions in o"de" to &ain !nowled&e. How ho""i#le* ÓIÒm so""y if I haveoffended you. It is me"ely that I am una$0uainted with you" methods. The mas$uline





voi$e said, Ó'e !now all we need. 'e a"e 0uite $apa#le of ma!in& a mole$ule(#y(mole$ule investi&ation of you" #ody without the need of physi$al $onta$t at all. Theeviden$e of ou" psy$ho(me$hanisms is 0uite suffi$ient. Ó'hat a"e these psy$ho(me$hanisms you mention- ÓA"e you a$0uainted with matte"(mind t"ansfo"mations-ÓI am af"aid not The"e was a pause, and then the mas$uline voi$e said $u"tly, ÓI have

ust investi&ated you" mind. I am af"aid, ud&in& #y its tetu"e, that you" &"asp ofs$ientifi$ p"in$iples is insuffi$ient fo" you to unde"stand my eplanations. David felt putin his pla$e. He said, ÓMy apolo&ies. The mas$uline voi$e went on. ÓI would as! yousome 0uestions. Ó"o$eed, si". Ó'hat was the last pa"t of you" statement- ÓItwas me"ely a manne" of hono"a#le add"ess. A pause. Óh yes, I see. %ou $ompli$ateyou" $ommuni$ation sym#ols in a$$o"dan$e with the pe"son you add"ess. An odd$ustom. +ut I delay. Tell me, $"eatu"e, you "adiate an eno"mous heat. A"e you ill o" $anthis #e no"mal- ÓIt is 0uite no"mal. The dead #odies you eamined we"e undou#tedlyat the tempe"atu"e of thei" envi"onment, whateve" it was. +ut while fun$tionin&, ou"#odies maintain a $onstant tempe"atu"e that #est suits us. ÓThen you a"e not nativesof this planet- David said, Ó+efo"e I answe" this 0uestion, may I as! you what you"

attitude would #e towa"d $"eatu"es li!e myself if we o"i&inated f"om anothe" planet- ÓIassu"e you that you and you" fellow $"eatu"es a"e a matte" of indiffe"en$e to us e$eptin so fa" as you a"ouse ou" $u"iosity. I see f"om you" mind that you a"e uneasy with"e&a"d to ou" motives. I see that you fea" ou" hostility. Remove su$h thou&hts. Ó2anyou not "ead in my mind, then, the answe" to you" 0uestions- 'hy do you 0uestion mespe$ifi$ally- ÓI $an only "ead emotions and &ene"al attitudes in a#sen$e of p"e$ise$ommuni$ation. +ut, then, you a"e a $"eatu"e and would not unde"stand. Fo" p"e$iseinfo"mation, $ommuni$ation must involve an effo"t of will. If it will help to ease you"mind, I will info"m you that we have eve"y "eason to #elieve you to #e a mem#e" of a"a$e not native to this planet. Fo" one thin&, the $omposition of you" tissues is utte"lydiffe"ent f"om that of any livin& thin& eve" !nown to have eisted on the fa$e of thewo"ld. %ou" #ody heat indi$ates also that you $ome f"om anothe" wo"ld, a wa"me" one.Ó%ou a"e $o""e$t. 'e $ome f"om 3a"th. ÓI do not unde"stand the last wo"d. ÓF"omthe planet net nea"e" the sun than this one. Ó)o* That is most inte"estin&. At the timeou" "a$e "eti"ed to the $ave"ns some half a million "evolutions a&o we !new you" planetto possess life, thou&h p"o#a#ly not intelli&en$e. 'as you" "a$e intelli&ent then-Ó)$a"$ely, said David. ne million 3a"th(yea"s had passed sin$e the Ma"tians had leftthe su"fa$e of thei" planet. ÓIt is indeed inte"estin&. I must $a""y this "epo"t to the2ent"al Mind di"e$tly. 2ome, . Ó6et me "emain #ehind, /. I would li!e to $ommuni$atefu"the" with this $"eatu"e. ÓAs you please. The feminine voi$e said, ÓTell me of you" wo"ld. David spo!e f"eely. He felt a pleasant, almost deli$ious, lan&uo". )uspi$iondepa"ted and the"e was no "eason he $ould not answe" t"uthfully and in full. These#ein&s we"e !ind and f"iendly. He #u##led with info"mation. And then she "eleased he"hold on His mind and he stopped a#"uptly. An&"ily he said, Ó'hat have I #een sayin&- Ó4othin& of ha"m, the feminine voi$e assu"ed him. ÓI have me"ely "ep"essed theinhi#itions of you" mind. It is unlawful to do so, and I would not have da"ed do it if we"ehe"e. +ut you a"e only a $"eatu"e and I am so $u"ious. I !new that you" suspi$ion wastoo deep to let you tal! without a little help f"om me and you" suspi$ion is so mispla$ed.'e would neve" ha"m you $"eatu"es as lon& as you do not int"ude upon us. Ó'ehave al"eady done so, have we not- as!ed David. Ó'e o$$upy you" planet f"om end





to end. Ó%ou a"e still testin& me. %ou mist"ust me. The su"fa$e of the planet is of nointe"est to us. This is home. And yet, the feminine voi$e seemed almost wistful, Óthe"emust #e a $e"tain th"ill in t"avelin& f"om wo"ld to wo"ld. 'e a"e well awa"e that the"e a"emany planets in spa$e and many suns. To thin! that $"eatu"es li!e you"self a"einhe"itin& all that. It is all so inte"estin& that I am than!ful a&ain and a&ain that we

sensed you ma!in& you" $luhisy way down towa"d us in time to ma!e an openin& fo"you. Ó'hat* David $ould not help #ut shout, althou&h he !new that the sound waveshis vo$al $o"ds $"eated went unheeded and that only the thou&hts of his mind we"esensed. Ó%ou made that openin&- Ó4ot I alone. helped. That is why we we"e &iventhe $han$e to investi&ate you. Ó+ut how did you do it- Ó'hy, #y willin& it. ÓIdonÒt unde"stand. Ó+ut it is simple. 2an you not see it in my mind- +ut I fo"&et. %oua"e a $"eatu"e. %ou see, when we "eti"ed to the $ave"ns we we"e fo"$ed to dest"oy manythousands of $u#i$ miles of matte" to ma!e spa$e fo" ou"selves unde" the su"fa$e.The"e was nowhe"e to sto"e the matte" as su$h, so we $onve"ted it to ene"&y and // .Ó4o, no, I donÒt follow you. Ó%ou donÒt unde"stand- In that $ase, all I $an say Isthat the ene"&y was sto"ed in su$h a way that it $ould #e tapped #y an effo"t of the

mind. Ó+ut if all the matte" that was on$e in these vast $ave"ns we"e $onve"ted intoene"&y Ó ÓThe"e would #e a &"eat deal. 2e"tainly. 'e have lived on that ene"&y fo" half a million "evolutions, and it is $al$ulated that we have enou&h fo" twenty million mo"e"evolutions. 3ven #efo"e we left the su"fa$e we had studied the "elation of mind andmatte" and sin$e we have $ome to the $ave"ns we have pe"fe$ted the s$ien$e to su$h ade&"ee that we have a#andoned matte" enti"ely as fa" as ou" pe"sonal use is$on$e"ned. 'e a"e $"eatu"es of pu"e mind and ene"&y, who neve" die and a"e no lon&e" #o"n. I am he"e with you, #ut sin$e you $annot sense mind, you a"e not awa"e of mee$ept with you" mind. Ó+ut su"ely people su$h as you"selves $an ma!e themselveshei" to all the unive"se. Ó%ou fea" that we shall $ontest the unive"se with poo" mate"ial$"eatu"es su$h as you"self- That we shall fi&ht fo" a pla$e amon& the sta"s- That is silly.

All the unive"se is he"e with us. 'e a"e suffi$ient to ou"selves. David was silent. Thenslowly he put his hands to His head as he had the sensation of fine, ve"y fine tend"ils&ently tou$hin& his mind. It was the fi"st time the feelin& had $ome, and he sh"an! f"omits intima$y. )he said, ÓMy apolo&ies a&ain. +ut you a"e su$h an inte"estin& $"eatu"e.%ou" mind tells me that you" fellow $"eatu"es a"e in &"eat dan&e" and you suspe$t thatwe mi&ht #e the $ause. I assu"e you, $"eatu"e, it is not so. )he said it simply. Davidhad no $ou"se #ut to #e(3eve. He said, Ó%ou" $ompanion said my tissue $hemist"y wasenti"ely diffe"ent f"om that of any life on Ma"s. May I as! how- ÓIt is $omposed of anit"o&enous mate"ial. Ó"otein, eplained David. ÓI do not unde"stand that wo"d.Ó'hat a"e you" tissues $omposed of- Óf . It is enti"ely diffe"ent. The"e is p"a$ti$allyno nit"o&en in it. Ó%ou $ould offe" me no food, then- ÓI am af"aid not. says anyo"&ani$ matte" of ou" planet would #e 0ui$!ly poisonous to you. 'e $ould manufa$tu"esimple $ompounds of you" life type that you mi&ht feed on, #ut the $omple nit"o&enousmate"ial that fo"ms the #ul! of you" tissue is 0uite #eyond us without mu$h study. A"eyou hun&"y, $"eatu"e- The"e was no mista!in& the sympathy and $on$e"n in he"thou&hts. LDavid pe"sisted in thin!in& of it as a voi$e. He said, ÓFo" the moment I havestill my own food. The feminine voi$e said, ÓIt seems unpleasant fo" me to thin! ofyou simply as a $"eatu"e. 'hat is you" name- Then, as thou&h she fea"ed she mi&htnot #e unde"stood, ÓHow do you" fellow $"eatu"es identify you- ÓI am $alled David





)ta"". ÓI do not unde"stand that e$ept that the"e seems a "efe"en$e to the suns ofthe unive"se. Do they $all you that #e$ause you a"e a t"avele" th"ou&h spa$e- Ó4o.Many of my people t"avel th"ou&h spa$e. E)ta""Ò has no pa"ti$ula" meanin& at p"esent.It is simply a sound to identify me, as you" names a"e simply sounds. At least they ma!eno pi$tu"e I $annot unde"stand them. Ó'hat a pity. %ou should have a name whi$h

would indi$ate you" t"avels th"ou&h spa$e the way in whi$h you "an&e f"om one end ofthe unive"se to the othe". If I we"e a $"eatu"e su$h as you"self, it seems to me that itwould #e fittin& I should #e $alled E)pa$e Ran&e".Ò And so it was that f"om the lips of a livin& $"eatu"e he did not see and $ould neve" see in its t"ue fo"m David )ta"" hea"d,fo" the fi"st time, the name #y whi$h, eventually, all the Galay would !now him.

99 ( The )to"m A deepe", slowe" voi$e now too! fo"m in DavidÒs mind. It said &"avely,ÓI &"eet you, $"eatu"e. It is a &ood name has ust &iven you. The feminine voi$e said,ÓI ma!e way fo" you +y the loss of a faint tou$h upon His mind David #e$ameunmista!a#ly awa"e that the owne" of the feminine voi$e was no lon&e" in mental$onta$t. He tu"ned wa"ily, la#o"in& on$e mo"e unde" the illusion that the"e was di"e$tion

to these voi$es and findin& his unt"ied mind still attemptin& to inte"p"et in the oldinade0uate ways somethin& with whi$h it had neve" #efo"e $ome in $onta$t. The voi$e$ame f"om no di"e$tion, of $ou"se. It was within his mind. The $"eatu"e of the deep voi$e&au&ed the diffi$ulty. It said, Ó%ou a"e distu"#ed #y the failu"e of you" sense e0uipmentto dete$t me and I do not wish you to #e distu"#ed. I $ould adopt the outwa"d physi$alappea"an$e of a $"eatu"e su$h as you"self #ut that would #e a poo" and undi&nifiedimpostu"e. 'ill this suffi$e- David )ta"" wat$hed the &limme" appea" in the ai" #efo"ehim. It was a soft st"ea! of #lue(&"een li&ht a#out seven feet hi&h and a foot wide. Hesaid $almly, ÓThat is 0uite suffi$ient. The deep voi$e said, ÓGood* And now let meeplain who I am. I am the Administ"ato" of . The "epo"t of the $aptu"e of a livespe$imen of the new su"fa$e life $ame to me as a matte" of $ou"se. I will eamine you"mind. The offi$e of the new #ein& had #een a um#le of sound, and nothin& mo"e, toDavid, #ut he had $au&ht the unmista!a#le sense of di&nity and "esponsi#ility thata$$ompanied it. 4eve"theless he said fi"mly, ÓI would mu$h p"efe" that you "emainedoutside my mind. Ó%ou" modesty, said the deep voi$e, Óis 0uite unde"standa#le andp"aisewo"thy. I should eplain that my inspe$tion would #e $onfined most $a"efully tothe oute" f"in&es only. I would avoid ve"y s$"upulously any int"usion on you" inne"p"iva$y. David tensed his mus$les uselessly. Fo" lon& minutes the"e was nothin&.3ven the illusive feathe"y tou$h upon his mind, that had #een p"esent when the owne"of the feminine voi$e had p"o#ed it, was a#sent f"om this new and mo"e epe"ien$edinspe$tion. And yet David was awa"e, without !nowin& how he $ould possi#ly #e awa"e,of the $ompa"tments of his mind #ein& deli$ately opened, then $losed, without pain o"distu"#an$e. The deep voi$e said, ÓI than! you. %ou will #e "eleased ve"y sho"tly and"etu"ned to the su"fa$e. David said defiantly, Ó'hat have you found in my mind-Ó3nou&h to pity you" fellows. 'e of the Inne" 6ife we"e on$e li!e you"selves so wehave some $omp"ehension of it. %ou" people a"e out of #alan$e with the unive"se. %ouhave a 0uestionin& mind that see!s to unde"stand what it dimly senses, withoutpossessin& the t"ue", deepe" senses that alone $an "eveal "eality to you. In you" futilesee!in& afte" the shadows that en$ompass you, you d"ive th"ou&h spa$e to the oute"most limits of the Galay. It is as I have said / has named you well. %ou a"e a "a$e of





)pa$e Ran&e"s indeed. Ó%et of what use is you" "an&in&- The t"ue vi$to"y is within. Tounde"stand the mate"ial unive"se, you must fi"st #e$ome divo"$ed f"om it as we a"e. 'ehave tu"ned away f"om the sta"s and towa"d ou"selves. 'e have "et"eated to the$ave"ns of ou" one wo"ld and a#andoned ou" #odies. 'ith us the"e is no lon&e" death,e$ept when a mind would "est o" #i"th, e$ept when a mind &one to "est must #e

"epla$ed. David said, Ó%et you a"e not all(suffi$ient to you"selves. )ome of you suffe"f"om $u"iosity. The #ein& who spo!e to me #efo"e wished to !now of 3a"th. Ó is"e$ently #o"n. He" days a"e not e0ual to a hund"ed "evolutions of the planet a#out thesun. He" $ont"ol of thou&ht patte"ns is impe"fe$t. 'e who a"e matu"e $an easily$on$eive all the va"ious desi&ns into whi$h you" 3a"th histo"y $ould have #een woven.Few of them would #e $omp"ehensi#le to you"self, and not in an infinity of yea"s $ouldwe have ehausted the thou&hts possi#le in the $onside"ation of you" one wo"ld, andea$h thou&ht would have #een as fas$inatin& and stimulatin& as the one thou&ht whi$hhappens to "ep"esent "eality. In time / will lea"n that this is so. Ó%et you you"self ta!ethe t"ou#le to eamine my mind. ÓIn o"de" that I may ma!e $e"tain of that whi$h Ip"eviously me"ely suspe$ted. %ou" "a$e has the $apa$ity fo" &"owth. ?nde" the #est

$i"$uhistan$es a million "evolutions of ou" planet/a moment in the life of theGalay/may see it a$hieve the Inne" 6ife. That would #e &ood. My "a$e would have a$ompanion in ete"nity and $ompanionship would #enefit us mutually. %ou say we maya$hieve it, said David $autiously. Ó%ou" spe$ies have $e"tain tenden$ies my peopleneve" had. F"om you" mind I $an see easily that the"e a"e tenden$ies a&ainst thewelfa"e of the whole. ÓIf you spea! of su$h thin&s as $"ime and wa", then see in mymind that the vast mao"ity of humans fi&hts the anti(so$ial tenden$ies and that thou&hou" p"o&"ess a&ainst them is slow, it is $e"tain. ÓI see that. I see mo"e. I see that youyou"self a"e ea&e" fo" the welfa"e of the whole. %ou have a st"on& and healthy mind, theessen$e of whi$h I would not #e so""y to see made into one of ou"s. I would li!e to helpyou in you" st"ivin&s. ÓHow- demanded David. Ó%ou" mind is full of suspi$iona&ain. Relieve you" tension. My help would not #e th"ou&h pe"sonal inte"fe"en$e in thea$tivities of you" people, I assu"e you. )u$h inte"fe"en$e would #e in$omp"ehensi#le toyou"selves and undi&nified fo" myself. 6et me su&&est instead the two inade0ua$ieswhi$h you a"e most awa"e of in you"self. ÓFi"st, sin$e you a"e $omposed of unsta#lein&"edients, you a"e a $"eatu"e of no pe"manen$e. 4ot only will you de$ompose anddissolve in a few "evolutions of the planet, #ut if #efo"e then you a"e su#e$ted to any ofa thousand diffe"ent st"esses, you will die. )e$ondly, you feel that you $an wo"! #est inse$"e$y, yet not lon& a&o a fellow $"eatu"e "e$o&nied you" t"ue identity althou&h youhad p"etended to a diffe"ent identity alto&ethe". Is what I have said t"ue- David said,ÓIt is t"ue. +ut what $an you do a#out it- The deep voi$e said, ÓIt is al"eady done andin you" hand. And the"e was a soft(tetu"ed somethin& in David )ta""Òs hand. Hisfin&e"s almost let it d"op #efo"e they "ealied they we"e holdin& it. It was a nea"lywei&htless st"ip of 'ell, of what- The deep voi$e answe"ed the unspo!en thou&htpla$idly. ÓIt is neithe" &aue, no" fi#e", no" plasti$, no" metal. It is not matte" at all asyou" mind unde"stands matte". It is . ut it ove" you" eyes. David did as he was told,and it sp"an& f"om his hands as thou&h it had a p"imitive life of its own, foldin& softly andwa"mly a&ainst eve"y fold of st"u$tu"e of his fo"ehead, eyes, and nose yet it did notp"event him f"om #"eathin& o" f"om #lin!in& his eyes. Ó'hat has #een a$$omplished-he as!ed. +efo"e the wo"ds we"e out of his mouth the"e was a mi""o" #efo"e him,





manufa$tu"ed out of ene"&y as silently and 0ui$!ly as thou&ht itself. In it he $ould seehimself #ut dimly. His fa"m#oy $ostume, f"om hip #oots to wide lapels, appea"ed out offo$us th"ou&h a shadowy mist that $han&ed $ontinuously, as thou&h it we"e a thinsmo!e that d"ifted yet neve" vanished. F"om his uppe" lip to the top of his head all waslost in a shimme" of li&ht that #laed without #lindin& and th"ou&h whi$h nothin& $ould

#e seen. As he sta"ed, the mi""o" vanished, "etu"nin& to the sto"e of ene"&y f"om whi$h ithad #een momenta"ily withd"awn. David as!ed wonde"in&ly, ÓIs that how I wouldappea" to othe"s- Ó%es, if those othe"s had only the senso"y e0uipment you you"selfhave. Ó%et I $an see pe"fe$tly. That means that li&ht "ays ente" the shield. 'hy maythey not leave then and "eveal my fa$e- ÓThey do leave, as you say, #ut they a"e$han&ed In the passa&e and "eveal only what you see in the mi""o". To eplain thatp"ope"ly, I must use $on$epts la$!in& in you" mindÒs unde"standin&. ÓAnd the "est-DavidÒs hands moved slowly ove" the smo!e that en$i"$led him. He felt nothin&. Thedeep voi$e a&ain answe"ed the voi$eless thou&ht. Ó%ou feel nothin&. %et what appea"sto you as smo!e is a #a""ie" whi$h is "esistant to sho"t(wave "adiation and impassa#le tomate"ial o#e$ts of la"&e" than mole$ula" sie. Ó%ou mean it is a pe"sonal fo"$e(

shield- ÓThat is a $"ude des$"iption, yes. David said, ÓG"eat Galay, itÒsimpossi#le* It has #een definitely p"oven that no fo"$e(field small enou&h to p"ote$t aman f"om "adiation and f"om mate"ial ine"tia $an #e &ene"ated #y any ma$hine $apa#leof #ein& $a""ied #y a man. ÓAnd so it is to any s$ien$e of whi$h you" fellows 9<@David )ta"", )pa$e Ran&e" a"e $apa#le of evolvin&. +ut the mas! you wea" is not apowe" sou"$e. It is instead a sto"a&e devi$e of ene"&y whi$h, fo" instan$e, $an #ede"ived f"om a few momentsÒ eposu"e to a sun "adiatin& as st"on&ly as ou"s is f"omthe distan$e of this planet. It is, fu"the", a me$hanism fo" "eleasin& that ene"&y at mentaldemand. )in$e you" own mind is in$apa#le of $ont"ollin& the powe", it has #eenadusted to the $ha"a$te"isti$s of you" mind and will ope"ate automati$ally as needed.Remove the mas! now. David lifted his hand to his eyes and, a&ain "esponsive to hiswill, the mas! fell away and was only a st"ip of &aue in his hand. The deep voi$e spo!efo" a last time. ÓAnd now you must leave us, )pa$e Ran&e". And as &ently as $an #eima&ined, $ons$iousness left David )ta"". 4o" was the"e any t"ansition in his "etu"n to$ons$iousness. It $ame #a$! in its enti"ety. The"e wasnÒt even a momentÒsun$e"tainty as to his whe"ea#outs none of the Ó'he"e am I- attitude. He !new withsu"ety that he was standin& on his &ood two le&s upon the su"fa$e of Ma"s that he waswea"in& the nosepie$e a&ain and #"eathin& th"ou&h it that #ehind him was the ea$tpla$e at the lip of the fissu"e whe"e he had th"ust the "ope ladde"Òs an$ho" fo" the#e&innin& of the des$ent that to his left, half(hidden amon& the "o$!s, was the s$oote"whi$h +i&man had left #ehind. He even !new the ea$t manne" in whi$h he had #een"etu"ned to the su"fa$e. It was not memo"y it was info"mation deli#e"ately inse"ted in hismind, p"o#a#ly as a final devi$e to imp"ess him with the powe" of the Ma"tians ove"matte"(ene"&y fnte"$on(ve"sions. They had dissolved a "unnel to the su"fa$e fo" him.They had lifted him a&ainst &"avity at almost "o$!et speed, tu"nin& the solid "o$! toene"&y #efo"e him and $on&ealin& the ene"&y to "o$! on$e mo"e #ehind him, until hewas standin& on the planetÒs oute" s!in on$e mo"e. The"e we"e even wo"ds in his mindthat he had neve" $ons$iously hea"d. They we"e in the feminine voi$e of the $ave"ns,and the wo"ds we"e simply theseC ÓHave no fea", )pa$e Ran&e"* He stepped fo"wa"dand was awa"e that the wa"m, 3a"th(li!e su""oundin&s that had #een p"epa"ed fo" him in





the $ave"n #elow no lon&e" eisted. He felt the $old the mo"e fo" the $ont"ast and thewind was st"on&e" than any he had felt yet on Ma"s. The sun was low in the east as ithad #een when he fi"st des$ended the fissu"e. 'as that the p"evious dawn- He had noway of ud&in& the passa&e of time du"in& his un$ons$ious inte"vals, #ut he felt $e"tainHis des$ent had not #een mo"e than two dawns #efo"e anyway. The"e was a diffe"en$e

to the s!y. It seemed #lue" and the sun was "edde". David f"owned thou&htfully fo" amoment, then sh"u&&ed. He was #e$omin& a$$ustomed to the Ma"tian lands$ape, thatwas all. It was #e&innin& to seem mo"e familia" and, th"ou&h ha#it, he was inte"p"etin& itin the old 3a"thly patte"ns. Meanwhile it would #e #ette" to #e&in the "etu"n to the fa"mdome immediately. The s$oote" was #y no means so 0ui$! as a sand($a" no" as$omfo"ta#le. The less time spent on it the #ette". He too! app"oimate si&htin&s amon&the "o$! fo"mations and felt li!e an old hand #e$ause of it. The fa"m#oys found thei"way a$"oss what seemed t"a$!less dese"t #y ust this method. They would si&ht alon& a"o$! that Óloo!ed li!e a wate"melon on a hat, p"o$eed in that di"e$tion until level withone that Óloo!ed li!e a spa$eship with two off($ente" ets and head #etween it and afa"the" "o$! that Óloo!ed li!e a #o with its top stove in. It was a $"ude method #ut it

"e0ui"ed no inst"uments othe" than a "etentive memo"y and a pi$tu"es0ue ima&ination,and the fa"m#oys had those in plenty. David was followin& the "oute +i&man had"e$ohimended fo" speediest "etu"n with the least $han$e of &oin& w"on& amon& the lessspe$ta$ula" fo"mations. The s$oote" oun$ed alon&, leapin& $"aily when it st"u$! "id&esand !i$!in& up the dust when it tu"ned, David "ode with it, di&&in& his heels fi"mly intothe so$!ets p"ovided fo" them and holdin& a metal stee"in& leash ti&htly in ea$h hand.He made no effo"t to $ut his speed. 3ven if the vehi$le tu"ned ove", the"e would #e little$han$e fo" mu$h ha"m to himself unde" Ma"tian &"avity. It was anothe" $onside"ationthat stopped himC the 0uee" taste in his mouth and the it$h alon& the side of his aw#oneand down the line of his #a$!#one. The"e was a faint &"ittiness in his mouth, and heloo!ed #a$! with distaste at the plume of dust that etted out #ehind him li!e "o$!etehaust. )t"an&e that it should wo"! its way fo"wa"d and a"ound him to fill his mouth asit did. Fo"wa"d and a"ound* G"eat Galay* The thou&ht that $ame to him at that moment$lamped a $old, stiflin& hand upon his hea"t and th"oat. He slowed the s$oote" andheaded fo" a "o$!y "id&e whe"e it $ould sti" up no dust. The"e he stopped it and waitedfo" the ai" to &"ow $lea". +ut it didnÒt. His ton&ue wo"!ed a#out, tastin& the inside of hismouth and sh"in!in& f"om the in$"easin& "ou&hness that $ame of fine &"it. He loo!ed atthe "edde" sun and #lue" s!y with new unde"standin&. It was the &ene"al dust in the ai"that was s$atte"in& mo"e li&ht, ta!in& the #lue f"om the sun and addin& it to the s!y in&ene"al. His lips we"e &"owin& d"y and the it$hin& was sp"eadin&. The"e was no lon&e"dou#t a#out it, and with a &"im intensity of pu"pose he flun& himself upon his s$oote"and dashed at top speed a$"oss the "o$!s, &"avel, and dust. Dust* Dust* 3ven on 3a"thmen !new Intimately of, the Ma"tian dust sto"m, whi$h "esem#led only in sound thesandsto"m of the 3a"thly dese"ts. It was the deadliest sto"m !nown to the inha#ited)ola" )ystem. 4o man, $au&ht as David )ta"" was now, without a sand($a" asp"ote$tion, miles f"om the nea"est shelte", had eve", in all the histo"y of Ma"s, su"vived adust sto"m. Men had "olled in death th"oes within fifty feet of a dome, una#le to ma!ethe distan$e while o#se"ve"s within neithe" da"ed no" $ould sally to the "es$ue without asand($a". David )ta"" !new that only minutes sepa"ated him f"om the same a&oniin&death. Al"eady the dust was $"eepin& "emo"selessly #etween his nosepie$e and the s!in





of his fa$e. He $ould feel it in his wate"in&, #lin!in& eyes.

9< ( The Missin& ie$e The natu"e of the Ma"tian dust sto"m is not well unde"stood.6i!e 3a"thÒs Moon, the su"fa$e of Ma"s is, to a la"&e etent, $ove"ed #y fine dust.?nli!e the Moon, Ma"s possesses an atmosphe"e $apa#le of sti""in& up that dust.

?sually this is not a se"ious matte". The Ma"tian atmosphe"e is thin and winds a"e notlon&(sustained. +ut o$$asionally, fo" "easons un!nown, thou&h possi#ly $onne$ted withele$t"on #om#a"dments f"om spa$e, the dust #e$omes ele$t"i$ally $ha"&ed and ea$hpa"ti$le "epels its nei&h#o"s. 3ven without wind they would tend to lift upwa"d. 3a$hstep would "aise a $loud that would "efuse to settle, #ut would d"ift and wisp out th"ou&hthe ai". 'hen to this a wind is added, a fully developed dust sto"m mi&ht #e said toeist. The dust is neve" thi$! enou&h to o#s$u"e vision that isnÒt its dan&e". It is "athe"the pe"vasiveness of the dust that !ills. The dust pa"ti$les a"e et"emely fine andpenet"ate eve"ywhe"e. 2lothes $annot !eep them out the shelte" of a "o$!y led&emeans nothin& even the nosepie$e with its #"oad &as!et fittin& a&ainst the fa$e ishelpless to p"event the individual pa"ti$le f"om wo"!in& its way th"ou&h. At the hei&ht of

a sto"m two minutes would suffi$e to a"ouse an un#ea"a#le it$hin&, five minutes wouldvi"tually #lind a man, and fifteen minutes would !ill him. 3ven a mild sto"m, so &entlethat it may not even #e noti$ed #y the people eposed, is suffi$ient to "edden eposeds!in in what a"e $alled dust #u"ns. David )ta"" !new all this and mo"e. He !new that hisown s!in was "eddenin&. He was $ou&hin& without its havin& any effe$t on $lea"in& his$a!in& th"oat. He had t"ied $lampin& his mouth shut, #lowin& his #"eath out du"in&ehalations th"ou&h the smallest openin& he $ould mana&e. It didnÒt help. The dust$"ept in, wo"!in& its way past his lips. The s$oote" was e"!in& i""e&ula"ly now as thedust did to its moto" what it was doin& to David. His eyes we"e swollen nea"ly $losednow. The tea"s that st"eamed out we"e a$$umulatin& a&ainst the &as!et at the #ottom of the nosepie$e and we"e, fo&&in& the eyepie$es, th"ou&h whi$h he $ould see nothin&anyway. 4othin& $ould stop those tiny dust pa"ti$les #ut the ela#o"ately ma$hinedseahis of a dome o" a sand($a". 4othin&. 4othin&- Th"ou&h the maddenin& it$h and the"a$!in& $ou&h he was thin!in& despe"ately of the Ma"tians. 'ould they have !nown thata dust sto"m was #"ewin&- 2ould they have- 'ould they have sent him to the su"fa$e if they had !nown- F"om his mind they must have &leaned the info"mation that he hadonly a s$oote" to $a""y him #a$! to the dome. They mi&ht have as easily t"anspo"tedhim to the su"fa$e ust outside the fa"m dome, o", fo" that matte", even inside the dome.They must have !nown $onditions we"e "i&ht fo" a dust sto"m. He "emem#e"ed how the#ein& with the deep voi$e had #een so a#"upt in his de$ision to "etu"n David to thesu"fa$e, as thou&h he hu""ied in o"de" that time mi&ht #e allowed fo" David to #e $au&htin the sto"m. And yet the last wo"ds of the feminine voi$e, the wo"ds he had not$ons$iously hea"d and whi$h, the"efo"e, he was $e"tain had #een inse"ted in his mindwhile he was #ein& #o"ne th"ou&h "o$! to the su"fa$e, we"eC ÓHave no fea", )pa$eRan&e". 3ven as he thou&ht all this he !new the answe". ne hand was fum#lin& inhis po$!et, the othe" at his nosepie$e. As the nosepie$e lifted off, the pa"tially p"ote$tednose and eyes "e$eived a f"esh su"&e of dust, #u"nin& and i""itatin& He had thei""esisti#le desi"e to sneee, #ut fou&ht it #a$!. The involunta"y inta!e of #"eath would fillhis lun&s with 0uantities of the dust. That in itself mi&ht #e fatal. +ut he was #"in&in& upthe st"ip of &aue he had ta!en f"om his po$!et, lettin& it w"ap a#out his eyes and nose,





and then ove" it he slapped the nosepie$e a&ain. nly then did he sneee. It meant hed"ew in vast 0uantities of Ma"sÒs useless atmosphe"i$ &ases, #ut no dust was $omin&.He followed that #y fo"$e(#"eathin&, &aspin& in as mu$h oy&en as he $ould and puffin&it out, flin&in& the dust of his mouth away alte"natin& that with deli#e"ate inhalationsth"ou&h the mouth to p"event any on$omin& of oy&en d"un!enness. G"adually, as the

tea"s washed the dust out of his eyes and no new dust ente"ed, he found he $ould seea&ain. His lim#s and #ody we"e o#s$u"ed #y the smo!iness of the fo"$e(shield thatsu""ounded him,. and he !new the uppe" pa"t of his head to #e invisi#le in the &low ofhis mas!. Ai" mole$ules $ould penet"ate the shield f"eely, #ut, small thou&h they we"e,the dust pa"ti$les we"e la"&e enou&h to #e stopped. David $ould see the p"o$ess withthe na!ed eye. As ea$h dust pa"ti$le st"u$! the shield, it was halted and the ene"&y ofits motion $onve"ted into li&ht, so that at its point of attempted penet"ation a tiny spa"!leshowed. David found his #ody an o$ean of su$h spa"!les $"owdin& one anothe", all the#"i&hte" as the Ma"tian sun, "ed and smo!ily dim th"ou&h the dust, allowed the &"ound#elow to "emain in semi(da"!ness. David slapped and #"ushed at his $lothin&. Dust$louds a"ose, too fine to see even if the $loudiness of the shield had not p"evented si&ht

in any $ase. The dust left #ut $ould not "etu"n. G"adually he #e$ame almost $lea" of thepa"ti$les. He loo!ed du#iously at the s$oote" and attempted to sta"t its moto". He was"ewa"ded only #y a sho"t, &"atin& noise and then silen$e. It was to #e epe$ted. ?nli!ethe sand($a"s, s$oote"s did not, $ould not, have en$losed moto"s. He would have towal!. The thou&ht was not a pa"ti$ula"ly f"i&htenin& one. The fa"m dome was little mo"ethan two miles away and he had plenty of oy&en. His $ylinde"s we"e full. The Ma"tianshad seen to that #efo"e sendin& him #a$!. He thou&ht he unde"stood them now. Theydid !now the dust sto"m was $omin&. They mi&ht even have helped it alon&. It would #est"an&e if, with thei" lon& epe"ien$e with Ma"tian weathe" and thei" advan$ed s$ien$e,they had not lea"ned the fundamental $auses and me$hanisms of dust sto"his. +ut insendin& him out to fa$e the sto"m, they !new he had the pe"fe$t defense in his po$!et.They had not wa"ned him of eithe" the o"deal that awaited him o" of the defense he$a""ied. It made sense. If he we"e the man who dese"ved the &ift of the fo"$e(shield, hewould, o" should, thin! of it himself. If he did not, he was the w"on& man fo" the o#.David smiled &"imly even as he win$ed at the tou$h of his $lothin& a&ainst inflamed s!inas he st"et$hed his le&s a$"oss the Ma"tian te""ain. The Ma"tians we"e $oldlyunemotional in "is!in& his life, #ut he $ould almost sympathie with them. He hadthou&ht 0ui$!ly enou&h to save himself, #ut he denied himself any p"ide in that. Heshould have thou&ht of the mas! mu$h soone". The fo"$e(shield that su""ounded himwas ma!in& it easie" to t"avel. He noted that the shield $ove"ed the soles of his #oots sothat they neve" made $onta$t with the Ma"tian su"fa$e #ut $ame to "est some 0ua"te"in$h a#ove it. The "epulsion #etween himself and the planet was an elasti$ one, asthou&h he we"e on many steel sp"in&s. That, $om#ined with the low &"avity, ena#led himto devou" the distan$e #etween himself and the dome in swin&in& &iant st"ides. He wasin a hu""y. Mo"e than anythin& else at the moment he felt the need of a hot #ath. +y thetime David "ea$hed one of the oute" lo$!s of the fa"m dome the wo"st of the sto"m wasove" and the li&ht flashes on his fo"$e(shield had thinnedto o$$asional spa"!s. It wassafe to "emove the mas! f"om his eyes. 'hen the lo$!s had opened fo" him, the"e we"efi"st of all sta"es, and then $"ies, as the fa"m#oys on duty swa"med a#out him.ÓJumpin& Jupite", itÒs 'illiams* Ó'he"eÒve you #een, #oy- Ó'hat happened-





And a#ove the $onfused $"ies and simultaneous 0uestionin& the"e $ame the sh"ill $"y,ÓHow did you &et th"ou&h the dust sto"m- The 0uestion penet"ated, and the"e was asho"t silen$e. )omeone said, Ó6oo! at his fa$e. ItÒs li!e a peeled tomato. That wasan ea&&e"ation, #ut the"e was enou&h t"uth to it to imp"ess all who we"e the"e. Handswe"e yan!in& at his $olla" whi$h had #een ti&htly #ound a#out his ne$! in the fi&ht

a&ainst the Ma"tian $old. They shuffled him into a seat and put in a $all fo" Hennes.Hennes a""ived in ten minutes, hoppin& off a s$oote" and app"oa$hin& with a loo! thatwas $ompounded of annoyan$e and an&e". The"e we"e no visi#le si&ns of any "elief atthe safe "etu"n of a man in his employ. He #a"!ed, Ó'hatÒs this all a#out, 'illiams-David lifted his eyes and said $oolly, ÓI was lost. Óh, is that what you $all it- Gonefo" two days and you we"e ust lost. How did you mana&e it- ÓI thou&ht IÒd ta!e awal! and I wal!ed too fa". Ó%ou thou&ht you needed a #"eath of ai", so youÒve #eenwal!in& th"ou&h two Ma"tian ni&hts- Do you epe$t me to #elieve that- ÓA"e anysand($a"s missin&- ne of the fa"m#oys inte"posed hastily as Hennes "eddenedfu"the". ÓHeÒs !no$!ed out, M". Hennes. He was out in the dust sto"m. Hennes said,ÓDonÒt #e a fool. If he we"e out in the dust sto"m, he wouldnÒt #e sittin& he"e alive.

Ó'ell, I !now, the fa"m#oy said, Ó#ut loo! at Him. Hennes loo!ed at him. The"edness of his eposed ne$! and shoulde"s was a fa$t that $ould not #e easily a"&uedaway. He said, Ó'e"e you in the sto"m- ÓIÒm af"aid so, said David. ÓHow did you&et th"ou&h- ÓThe"e was a man, said David. ÓA man in smo!e and li&ht. The dustdidnÒt #othe" him. He $alled himself the )pa$e Ran&e". The men we"e &athe"in&$lose. Hennes tu"ned on them fu"iously, his plump fa$e wo"!in&. ÓGet the )pa$e out ofhe"e* he yelled. Ó+a$! to you" wo"!. And you, Jonnitel, &et a sand($a" out he"e. Itwas nea"ly an hou" #efo"e the hot #ath he $"aved was allowed David. Hennes pe"mittedno one else to app"oa$h him. ve" and ove" a&ain, as he pa$ed the floo" of his p"ivateoffi$e, he would stop in midst"ide, whi"l in sudden fu"y, and demand of David, Ó'hata#out this )pa$e Ran&e"- 'he"e did you meet him- 'hat did he say- 'hat did he do-'hatÒs this smo!e and li&ht you spea! of- To all of wlii$h David would only sha!e hishead sli&htly and say, ÓI too! a wal!. I &ot lost. A man $allin& himself the )pa$e Ran&e" #"ou&ht me #a$!. Hennes &ave up eventually. The dome do$to" too! $ha"&e. David&ot his hot #ath. His #ody was anointed with $"eahis and ine$ted with the p"ope"ho"mones. He $ould not avoid the ine$tion of )opo"ite as well. He was asleep almost#efo"e the needle was withd"awn. He wo!e to find himself #etween $lean, $ool sheets inthe si$! #ay. The "eddenin& of the s!in had su#sided $onside"a#ly. They would #e athim a&ain, he !new, #ut he would have to fi&ht them off #ut a little while lon&e". He wassu"e he had the answe" to the food(poisonin& myste"y now almost the whole answe".He needed only a missin& pie$e o" two, and, of $ou"se, le&al p"oof. He hea"d the li&htfootstep #eyond the head of his #ed and stiffened sli&htly. 'as it &oin& to #e&in a&ainso soon- +ut it was only +enson who moved into his line of vision. +enson, with hisplump lips pu"sed, his thin hai" in disa""ay, his whole fa$e a pi$tu"e of wo""y. He $a""iedsomethin& that loo!ed li!e an old(fashioned $luhisy &un. He said, Ó'illiams, a"e youawa!e- David said, Ó%ou see I am. +enson passed the #a$! of his hand a$"oss ape"spi"in& fo"ehead. ÓThey donÒt !now IÒm he"e. I shouldnÒt #e, I suppose. Ó'hynot- ÓHennes is $onvin$ed youÒ"e involved with this food poisonin&. HeÒs #een"avin& to Ma!ian and my(self a#out It. He $laims youÒve #een out somewhe"e andhave nothin& to say a#out it now othe" than "idi$ulous sto"ies. Despite anythin& I $an do,





IÒm af"aid youÒ"e in te""i#le t"ou#le. ÓDespite anythin& you $an do- %ou donÒt#elieve HennesÒs theo"y a#out my $ompli$ity in all this- +enson leaned fo"wa"d, andDavid $ould feel his #"eath wa"m on his fa$e as he whispe"ed, Ó4o, I donÒt. I donÒt#e$ause I thin! you" sto"y is t"ue. ThatÒs why IÒve $ome he"e. I must as! you a#outthis $"eatu"e you spea! of, the one you $laim was $ove"ed with smo!e and li&ht. A"e

you su"e it wasnÒt a hallu$ination, 'illiams- ÓI saw him, said David. ÓHow do you!now he was human- Did he spea! 3n&lish- ÓHe didnÒt spea!, #ut he was shapedli!e a human. DavidÒs eyes fastened upon +enson. ÓDo you thin! it was a Ma"tian- ÓAh/+ensonÒs lips d"ew #a$! in a spasmodi$ smile/Óyou "emem#e" my theo"y.%es, I thin! it was a Ma"tian. Thin!, man, thin!* TheyÒ"e $omin& out in the open nowand eve"y pie$e of info"mation may #e vital. 'e have so little time. Ó'hy so littletime- David "aised himself to one el#ow. Óf $ou"se you donÒt !now whatÒshappened sin$e youÒve #een &one, #ut f"an!ly, 'illiams we a"e all of us in despai"now. He held up the &un(li!e affai" in his hand and said #itte"ly, ÓDo you !now whatthis is- ÓIÒve seen you with it #efo"e. ÓItÒs my samplin& ha"poon itÒs my owninvention. I ta!e it with me when IÒm at the sto"a&e #ins in the $ity. It shoots a little

hollow pellet atta$hed to it #y a metal(mesh $o"d into a #in of, let us say, &"ain. At a$e"tain time afte" shootin& an openin& appea"s in the f"ont of the pellet lon& enou&h toallow the hollow within to #e$ome pa$!ed with &"ain. Afte" that the pellet $loses a&ain. Id"a& it #a$! and empty out the "andom sample it has a$$umulated. +y va"yin& the timeafte" shootin& in whi$h the pellet opens, samples $an #e ta!en at va"ious depths in the#in. David said, ÓThatÒs in&enious, #ut why a"e you $a""yin& it now- Ó+e$auseIÒm wonde"in& if I ou&htnÒt to th"ow it into the disposal unit afte" I leave you. It was myonly weapon fo" fi&htin& the poisone"s. It has done me no &ood so fa", and $an $e"tainlydo me no &ood In the futu"e. Ó'hat has happened- David seied the othe"Òsshoulde" and &"ipped it ha"d. ÓTell me. +enson win$ed at the pain. He said, Ó3ve"ymem#e" of the fa"min& syndi$ates has "e$eived a new lette" f"om whoeve" is #ehind thepoisonin&. The"eÒs no dou#t that the lette"s and the poisonin&s a"e $aused #y thesame men, o" "athe", entities. The lette"s admit it now. Ó'hat do they say- +ensonsh"u&&ed. Ó'hat diffe"en$e do the details ma!e- 'hat it amounts to is a demand fo"$omplete su""ende" on ou" pa"t o" the food(poisonin& atta$!s will #e multiplied athousandfold. I #elieve it $an and will #e done, and if that happens, 3a"th and Ma"s, thewhole system, in fa$t, will pani$. He "ose to His feet. ÓIÒve told Ma!ian and Hennesthat I #elieve you, that you" )pa$e Ran&e" is the $lue to the whole thin&, #ut they wonÒt#elieve me. Hennes, 9 thin!, even suspe$ts that IÒm in it with you. He seemeda#so"#ed in his own w"on&s. David said, ÓHow lon& do we have +enson- ÓTwodays. 4o, that was yeste"day. 'e have thi"ty(si hou"s now. Thi"ty(si hou"s* Davidwould have to wo"! 0ui$!ly. 1e"y 0ui$!ly. +ut may#e the"e would yet #e time. 'ithout!nowin& it +enson had &iven him the missin& pie$e to the myste"y.

9 ( The 2oun$il Ta!es ve" +enson left some ten minutes late". 4othin& that Davidtold him satisfied him with "e&a"d to his theo"ies $onne$tin& Ma"tians and poisonin&,and his uneasiness &"ew "apidly. He said, ÓI donÒt want Hennes $at$hin& me. 'eÒvehad/wo"ds. Ó'hat a#out Ma!ian- HeÒs on ou" side, isnÒt he- ÓI donÒt !now. Hestands to #e "uined #y day afte" tomo""ow. I donÒt thin! he has enou&h spine left tostand up to the fellow. 6oo!, IÒd #ette" &o. If you thin! of anythin&, anythin& at all, &et it





to me somehow, will you- He held out a hand. David too! it #"iefly, and then +ensonwas &one. David sat up in #ed. His own uneasiness had &"own sin$e he had awa!ened.His $lothes we"e th"own ove" a $hai" at the othe" end of the "oom. His #oots stoodup"i&ht #y the side of the #ed. He had not da"ed inspe$t them in +ensonÒs p"esen$ehad s$a"$ely da"ed loo! at them. e"haps, he thou&ht pessimisti$ally, they had not

tampe"ed with them. A fa"m#oyÒs hip #oots a"e inviolate. )tealin& f"om a fa"m#oyÒship #oots, net to stealin& his sand($a" in the open dese"t, was the unfo"&iva#le $"ime.3ven in death, a fa"m#oyÒs #oots we"e #u"ied with him, with the $ontents un"emoved.David &"oped inside the inne" po$!et of ea$h #oot in tu"n, and his fin&e"s metnothin&ness. The"e had #een a hand!e"$hief in one, a few odd $oins in the othe".?ndou#tedly they had &one th"ou&h his $lothin& he had epe$ted that. +ut appa"entlythey had not d"awn the line at his #oots. He held his #"eath as his a"m dived into the"e$esses of one #oot. The soft leathe" "ea$hed to his a"mpit and $"umpled down as Hisfin&e"s st"et$hed out to the toes. A su"&e of pu"e &ladness filled him as he felt the soft&aue(li!e mate"ial of the Ma"tian mas!. He had hidden it the"e on &ene"al p"in$iples#efo"e the #ath, #ut he had not anti$ipated the )opo"ite. It was lu$!, pu"ely, that they

had not sea"$hed the toes of his #oots. He would have to #e mo"e $a"efulhen$efo"wa"d. He put the mas! into a #oot po$!et and $lipped it shut. He pi$!ed up the#oots they had #een polished while he slept, whi$h was &ood of someone, and showedthe almost instin$tive "espe$t whi$h the fa"m(#oy had fo" #oots, anyoneÒs #oots. His$lothes had #een put th"ou&h the Ref"eshe" )p"ay as well. The shinin& plasti$ fi#e"s ofwhi$h they we"e $omposed had a #"and(new smell a#out them. The po$!ets we"e allempty, of $ou"se, #ut unde"neath the $hai" all the $ontents we"e in a $a"eless heap. Heso"ted them out. 4othin& seemed to #e missin&. 3ven the hand!e"$hief and $oins f"omhis #oot po$!ets we"e the"e. He put on unde"$lothes and so$!s, the one(pie$e ove"all,and then the #oots. He was #u$!lin& his #elt when a #"own(#ea"ded fa"m#oy steppedin. David loo!ed up. He said $oldly, Ó'hat do you want, Ku!is- The fa"m#oy said,Ó'he"e do you thin! youÒ"e &oin&, 3a"thie- His little eyes we"e &la"in& vi$iously, andto David the othe"Òs ep"ession was mu$h the same as it had #een the fi"st day he hadlaid eyes on him. David $ould "e$all HennesÒs sand($a" outside the Fa"m 3mploymentffi$e, himself ust settlin& into the seat, and the #ea"ded an&"y fa$e &lowe"in& at him,while a weapon fi"ed #efo"e he $ould move to defend himself. Ó4owhe"e, said David,Óthat I need as! you" pe"mission. ÓThat so- %ouÒ"e w"on&, miste", #e$ause youÒ"estayin& "i&ht he"e. HennesÒs o"de"s. Ku!is #lo$!ed the doo" with his #ody. Two#laste"s we"e $onspi$uously displayed at eithe" side of his d"oopin& #elt. Ku!is waited.Then, his &"easy #ea"d splittin& in two as he smiled yellowly, he said, ÓThin! may#eyouÒve $han&ed you" mind, 3a"thie- ÓMay#e, said David. He added, Ó)omeone&ot in to see me ust now. How $ome- 'e"enÒt you wat$hin&- Ó)hut up, sna"ledKu!is. Ó" we"e you paid off to loo! the othe" way fo" a while- Hennes mi&ht not li!ethat. Ku!is spat, missin& DavidÒs #oots #y half an in$h. David said, Ó%ou want to tossout you" #laste"s and t"y that a&ain- Ku!is said, ÓJust wat$h out if you want anyfeedin&, 3a"thie. He $losed and lo$!ed the doo" #ehind him as he left. A few minutespassed and the"e was the sound of $latte"in& metal a&ainst it as it opened a&ain. Ku!is$a""ied a t"ay. The"e was the yellow of s0uash on it and the &"een of somethin& leafy.Ó1e&eta#le salad, said Ku!is. ÓGood enou&h fo" you. A #la$!ened thum# showedove" one end of the t"ay. The othe" end #alan$ed upon the #a$! of his w"ist so that the





fa"m#oyÒs hand was not visi#le. David st"ai&htened, leapin& to one side, #endin& hisle&s unde" him and #"in&in& them down upon the matt"ess of the #ed. Ku!is, $au&ht #ysu"p"ise, tu"ned in ala"m, #ut David, usin& the sp"in&s of the matt"ess as et"a leve"a&e,laun$hed into the ai". He $ollided heavily with the fa"m#oy, #"ou&ht down one hand flatlyon the t"ay, "ippin& it out of the othe"Òs &"asp and hu"lin& it to the &"ound while twinin&

his othe" hand in the fa"m#oyÒs #ea"d. Ku!is d"opped, yellin& hoa"sely. DavidÒs#ooted foot $ame down on the fa"m#oyÒs hand, the one that had #een hidden unde"the t"ay. The othe"Òs yell #e$ame an a&onied s$"eam as the smashed fin&e"s flewopen, "eleasin& the $o$!ed #laste" they had #een holdin&. DavidÒs hand whipped awayf"om the #ea"d and $au&ht the othe"Òs unha"med w"ist as it &"oped fo" the se$ond#laste". He #"ou&ht it up "ou&hly, a$"oss the p"one $hest, unde" the head and out a&ain.He pulled. ÓNuiet, he said, Óo" IÒll tea" you" a"m loose f"om its so$!et. Ku!issu#sided, his eyes "ollin&, his #"eath puffin& out wetly. He said, Ó'hat a"e you afte"-Ó'hy we"e you hidin& the #laste" unde" the t"ay- ÓI had to p"ote$t myself, didnÒt I-In $ase you umped me while my hands we"e full of t"ay- ÓThen why didnÒt you sendsomeone else with the t"ay and $ove" him- ÓI didnÒt thin! of that, whined Ku!is.

David ti&htened p"essu"e a #it and Ku!isÒs mouth twisted in a&ony. Ó)uppose you tellthe t"uth, Ku!is. ÓI/I was &oin& to !ill you. ÓAnd what would you have told Ma!ian- E Ó%ou we"e/t"yin& to es$ape. Ó'as that you" own idea- Ó4o. It wasHennesÒs. Get Hennes. IÒm ust followin& o"de"s. David "eleased him. He pi$!ed upone #laste" and fli$!ed the othe" out of its holste". ÓGet up. Ku!is "olled ove" on oneside. He &"oaned as he t"ied to lift his wei&ht on a mashed "i&ht hand and nea"ly to"nleft shoulde". Ó'hat a"e you &oin& to do- %ou wouldnÒt shoot an una"med man, wouldyou- Ó'ouldnÒt you- as!ed David. A new voi$e #"o!e in. ÓD"op those &uns,'illiams, It said $"isply. David moved His head 0ui$!ly. Hennes was in the doo"way,#laste" leveled. +ehind him was Ma!ian, fa$e &"ay and et$hed with lines. HennesÒseyes showed his intentions plainly enou&h and his #laste" was "eady. David d"opped the#laste"s he had ust to"n f"om Ku!is. Ó5i$! them ove", said He"mes. David did so.Ó4ow. 'hat happened- David said, Ó%ou !now what happened. Ku!is t"ied a littleassassination at you" o"de"s and I didnÒt sit still and ta!e it. Ku!is was &a##lin&. Ó4o,si", M". Hennes. 4o, si". It was no su$h thin&. I was #"in&in& in his lun$h when he

umped me. My hands we"e full of t"ay I had no $han$e to defend myself. Ó)hut up,said Hennes $ontemptuously. Ó'eÒll have a tal! a#out that late". Get out of he"e and#e #a$! with a $ouple of pinions in less than no time. Ku!is s$"am#led out. Ma!iansaid mildly, Ó'hy the pinions, Hennes- Ó+e$ause this man is a dan&e"ous imposto",M". Ma!ian. %ou "emem#e" I #"ou&ht him in #e$ause he seemed to !now somethin&a#out the food poisonin&. Ó%es. %es, of $ou"se. ÓHe told us a sto"y a#out a youn&e" siste" #ein& poisoned #y Ma"tian am, "emem#e"- I $he$!ed on that. The"e havenÒt#een too many deaths #y poisonin& that have "ea$hed the autho"ities the way this man$laimed his siste"Òs death had. 6ess than two hund"ed and fifty, in fa$t. It was easy to$he$! them all and I had that done. 4one on "e$o"d involved a twelve(yea"(old &i"l, witha #"othe" of 'illiamsÒ a&e, who died ove" a a" of am. Ma!ian was sta"tled. ÓHowlon& have you !nown this, Hennes- ÓAlmost sin$e he $ame he"e. +ut I let it &o. Iwanted to see what he was afte". I set G"iswold to wat$hin& him Ó ÓTo t"yin& to !ill me,you mean, inte""upted David. Ó%es, you would say that, $onside"in& that you !illedhim #e$ause he was fool enou&h to let you suspe$t him. He tu"ned #a$! to Ma!ian.





ÓThen he mana&ed to wi&&le himself in with that soft(headed sap, +enson, whe"e he$ould !eep $lose $he$! on ou" p"o&"ess in investi&atin& the poisonin&. Then, as the lastst"aw, he slipped out of the dome th"ee ni&hts a&o fo" a "eason he wonÒt eplain. %ouwant to !now why- He was "epo"tin& to the men who hi"ed him/the ones who a"e#ehind all this. ItÒs mo"e than ust a $oin$iden$e that the ultimatum $ame while he was

&one. ÓAnd whe"e we"e you- demanded David suddenly. ÓDid you stop !eepin&ta#s on me afte" G"iswold died- If you !new I was &one on the !ind of deal yoususpe$ted, why wasnÒt a pa"ty sent out afte" me- Ma!ian loo!ed puled, and#e&an, Ó'ell Ó +ut David inte""upted. Ó6et me finish, M". Ma!ian. I thin! that may#eHennes wasnÒt in the dome the ni&ht I left and even the day and ni&ht afte" I left.'he"e we"e you, Hennes- Hennes stepped fo"wa"d, His mouth twistin&. DavidÒs$upped hand was nea" his fa$e. He did not #elieve Hennes would shoot, #ut he was"eady to use the shield(mas! if he had to. Ma!ian pla$ed a ne"vous hand on HennesÒsshoulde". ÓI su&&est we leave him fo" the 2oun$il. David said 0ui$!ly, Ó'hat is thisa#out the 2oun$il- Ó4one of you" #usiness, sna"led Hennes. Ku!is was #a$! withthe pinions. They we"e flei#le plasti$ "ods that $ould #e #ent in any way and then

f"oen in position. They we"e infinitely st"on&e" than "opes o" even metal hand$uffs.ÓHold out you" hands, o"de"ed Hennes. David did so without a wo"d. The pinion wasw"apped twi$e a#out his w"ists. Ku!is, lee"in&, d"ew them sava&ely ti&ht then d"ew outthe pin, whi$h a$tion "esulted in an automati$ mole$ula" "ea""an&ement that ha"denedthe plasti$. The ene"&y developed in that "ea""an&ement made the plasti$ wa"m to thetou$h. Anothe" pinion went a#out DavidÒs an!les. David sat 0uietly down upon the #ed.In one hand he still had the shield(mas!. Ma!ianÒs "ema"! a#out the 2oun$il was p"oof enou&h to David that he would not "emain pinioned lon&. Meanwhile he was $ontent toallow matte"s to develop fu"the". He said a&ain, Ó'hatÒs this a#out the 2oun$il- +uthe need not have as!ed. The"e was a yell f"om outside, and a $atapultin& fi&u"e hu"leditself th"ou&h the doo" with the $"y of, Ó'he"eÒs 'illiams- It was +i&man himself, asla"&e as life, whi$h wasnÒt ve"y la"&e. He was payin& no attention to anythin& #utDavidÒs seated fi&u"e. He was spea!in& "apidly and #"eathlessly. ÓI didnÒt hea" youwe"e th"ou&h a dust sto"m till I landed inside the dome. )ilin& 2e"es, you must have#een f"ied. How did you &et th"ou&h it- I I Ó He noti$ed DavidÒs position fo" the fi"sttime, and tu"ned fu"iously. Ó'ho in )pa$e has the #oy tied up li!e this- Hennes had$au&ht his #"eath #y now. ne of his hands shot out and $au&ht +i&manÒs ove"all$olla" in a #"utal &"ip that lifted his sli&ht #ody Óoff the floo". ÓI told you what wouldhappen, slu&, if I $au&ht you he"e a&ain. +i&man yelled, Ó6et &o, you pulp(mouth e"!*IÒve &ot a "i&ht in he"e. I &ive you a se$ond and a half to let me &o o" youÒll answe" tothe 2oun$il of )$ien$e. Ma!ian said, ÓFo" Ma"sÒ sa!e, Hennes, let him &o. Henneslet Him d"op. ÓGet out of he"e. Ó4ot on you" life. IÒm an a$$"edited employee of the2oun$il. I $ame he"e with D". )ilve"s. As! him. He nodded at the tall, thin man ustoutside the doo". His name suited him. His hai" was silve"(white and he had a musta$heof the same shade. ÓIf youÒll pa"don me, said D". )ilve"s, ÓI would li!e to ta!e$ha"&e of matte"s. The &ove"nment at Inte"national 2ity on 3a"th has de$la"ed a state of )ystem 3me"&en$y and all the fa"ms will #e unde" the $ont"ol of the 2oun$il of )$ien$ehen$efo"wa"d. I have #een assi&ned to ta!e ove" the Ma!ian Fa"ms. ÓI epe$tedsomethin& li!e this, mutte"ed Ma!ian unhappily. ÓRemove this manÒs pinions,o"de"ed D". )ilve"s. Hennes said, ÓHeÒs dan&e"ous. ÓI will ta!e full "esponsi#ility.





+i&man umped and $li$!ed his heels. Ón you" way, Hennes. Hennes paled in an&e",#ut no wo"ds $ame. Th"ee hou"s had passed when D". )ilve"s met Ma!ian and Hennesa&ain in Ma!ianÒs p"ivate 0ua"te"s. He said, ÓIÒll want to &o ove" all the p"odu$tion"e$o"ds of this fa"m fo" the last si months. I will have to see you" D". +enson with"e&a"d to whateve" advan$es he has made in $onne$tion with solvin& this food(

poisonin& p"o#lem. 'e have si wee!s to #"ea! this matte". 4o mo"e. )i wee!s,eploded Hennes. Ó%ou mean one day. Ó4o, si". If we havenÒt the answe" #y thetime the ultimatum epi"es, all epo"ts of food f"om Ma"s will #e stopped. 'e will not&ive in while a sin&le $han$e "emains. Ó+y )pa$e, said Hennes. Ó3a"th willsta"ve. Ó4ot fo" si wee!s, said D". )ilve"s. ÓFood supplies will last that lon&, with"ationin&. ÓThe"eÒll #e pani$ and "iotin&, said Hennes. ÓT"ue, said D". )ilve"s&"imly. ÓIt will #e most unpleasant. Ó%ouÒll "uin the fa"m syndi$ates, &"oanedMa!ian. ÓIt will #e "uined anyway. 4ow, I intend to see D". +enson this evenin&. 'e willhave a fou"(way $onfe"en$e tomo""ow at noon. Tomo""ow midni&ht, if nothin& #"ea!sanywhe"e on Ma"s o" at the MoonÒs 2ent"al 6a#o"ato"ies, the em#a"&o &oes into effe$tand a""an&ements will #e made fo" an all(Ma"s $onfe"en$e of the va"ious syndi$ate

mem#e"s. Ó'hy- as!ed Hennes Ó+e$ause, said D". )ilve"s, Óthe"e is "eason tothin! that whoeve" is #ehind this mad $"ime must #e $onne$ted with the fa"ms $losely.They !now too mu$h a#out the fa"ms fo" any othe" $on$lusion to #e a""ived at. Ó'hata#out 'illiams- ÓIÒve 0uestioned him. He sti$!s to his sto"y, whi$h is, IÒll admit,0uee" enou&h. IÒve sent him to the $ity, whe"e heÒll #e 0uestioned fu"the" unde"hypnosis, if ne$essa"y. The doo" si&nal flashed. D". )ilve"s said, Ópen the doo", M".Ma!ian. Ma!ian did so, as thou&h he we"e not owne" of one of the la"&est fa"ms onMa"s and, #y vi"tue of that fa$t, one of the "i$hest and most powe"ful men in the )ola")ystem. +i&man stepped in. He loo!ed at He"mes $hallen&in&ly. He said, Ó'illiams ison a sand($a" headin& #a$! fo" the $ity unde" &ua"d. ÓGood, said D". )ilve"s, histhin lips set ti&htly. A mile outside the fa"m dome the sand($a" stopped. David )ta"",nosepie$e in pla$e, stepped out. He waved to the d"ive", who leaned out and said,ÓRemem#e"* 6o$! =* 'eÒll have one of ou" men the"e to let you in. David smiled andnodded. He wat$hed the sand($a" $ontinue its t"ip towa"d the $ity and then tu"ned #a$!on foot to the fa"m dome. The men of the 2oun$il $o(ope"ated, of $ou"se. They hadhelped him in his desi"e to leave openly and to "etu"n se$"etly, #ut none of them, noteven D". )ilve"s, !new the pu"pose of his "e0uest. He had the pie$es to the pule, #uthe still needed the p"oof.

9B ( EI Am the )pa$e Ran&e"*Ò Hennes ente"ed his #ed"oom in a hae $ompoundede0ually of wea"iness and an&e". The wea"iness was simple. It was nea"in& a.m. Hehad not had too mu$h "est the last two ni&hts o", fo" that matte", mu$h "elief of tension inthe last si months. %et he had felt it ne$essa"y to sit th"ou&h the session this D". )ilve"sof the 2oun$il had had with +enson. D". )ilve"s had not li!ed that, and that a$$ountedfo" one #it of the an&e" that d"en$hed and d"owned him. D". )ilve"s* An old in$ompetentwho $ame #ustlin& down f"om the $ity thin!in& he $ould &et to the #ottom of the t"ou#lein a day and a ni&ht when all the s$ien$e of 3a"th and Ma"s had #een ee"tin& itself fo"months to no avail. And Hennes was an&"y at Ma!ian as well fo" #e$omin& as limp aswell(oiled #oots and nothin& mo"e than the simple la$!ey of the white(headed fool.Ma!ian* Two de$ades a&o he had #een almost a le&end as the tou&hest owne" of the





tou&hest fa"m on Ma"s. The"e was +enson, too, and His inte"fe"en$e with HennesÒsplans fo" settlin& the inte"fe"in& &"eenho"n, this 'illiams, in the 0ui$!est and easiestway. And G"iswold and Ku!is, who we"e too stupid to $a""y th"ou&h the ne$essa"y stepsthat would have won ove" the wea!ness of Ma!ian and the sentimentality of +enson. Heponde"ed #"iefly the advisa#ility of a )opo"ite pill. n this ni&ht he wanted "est fo" the

ne$essa"y !eenness of the net day and yet his an&e" mi&ht !eep sleep away. Heshoo! his head. 4o. He $ould not "is! d"u&&ed helplessness in the event of some$"u$ial tu"n of events in the ni&ht. He $omp"omised #y th"owin& the to&&le swit$h thatma&neti$ally #ound the doo" in pla$e. He even tested the doo" #"iefly to ma!e su"e theele$t"oma&neti$ $i"$uits wo"!ed. e"sonal doo"s, in the totally mas$uline and info"mallife of a fa"m dome, we"e so f"e0uently lo$!ed that it was not un$ommon to haveinsulation wea" th"ou&h, wi"es fall loose, without anyone #ein& the wise" ove" the yea"s.His own doo" had not #een lo$!ed, to his !nowled&e, sin$e he had fi"st ta!en the o#.The $i"$uit was in o"de". The doo" did not even t"em#le as he pulled at it. )o mu$h fo"that. He si&hed heavily, sat down upon the #ed, and "emoved his #oots, fi"st one, thenthe othe". He "u##ed his ieet wea"ily, si&hed a&ain, then stiffened stiffened so suddenly

that he shot off the #ed without "eally #ein& awa"e of movin&. His sta"e was one of$omplete #ewilde"ment. I $ouldnÒt #e. It $ouldnÒt #e* It would mean that 'illiamÒsfoolish sto"y was t"ue. It would mean that +ensonÒs "idi$ulous mou"nin&s a#outMa"tians mi&ht, afte" all, tu"n out to #e 4o, he "efused to #elieve that. It would #e easie"to #elieve that his la$!(sleep mind was havin& a p"ivate o!e. %et the da"! of the "oomwas ali&ht with the $old #lue(white #"illian$e that $a""ied no &la"e with it. +y it he $ouldsee the #ed, the walls, the $hai", the d"esse", even his #oots, standin& whe"e he had

ust pla$ed them. And he $ould see the man $"eatu"e with only a #lae of li&ht whe"e ahead ou&ht to #e and no distin$t featu"e elsewhe"e "athe" a !ind of smo!e instead. Hefelt the wall a&ainst his #a$!. He had not #een $ons$ious of his "et"eat #a$!wa"d. Theo#e$t spo!e, and the wo"ds we"e hollow and #oomin& as thou&h they $a""ied an e$howith them. The o#e$t said, ÓI am the )pa$e Ran&e"* Hennes d"ew himself up. Fi"stsu"p"ise ove", he fo"$ed himself into $almness. In a steady voi$e he said, Ó'hat do youwant- The )pa$e Ran&e" did not move o" spea!, and Hennes found his eyesfastened upon the appa"ition. The fo"eman waited, his $hest pumpin&, and still the thin&of smo!e and li&ht did not move. It mi&ht have #een a "o#ot &ea"ed to ma!e the onestatement of identity. Fo" a moment Hennes wonde"ed if that mi&ht #e the $ase, andsu""ende"ed the thou&ht as soon as it was #o"n. He was standin& net to the $hest ofd"awe"s, and not all his wonde" allowed him to fo"&et that fa$t. )lowly his hand wasmovin&. In the li&ht of the thin& itself his motion was not invisi#le, #ut it paid noattention. HennesÒs hand was "estin& li&htly on the su"fa$e of the #u"eau in a p"etenseof inno$ent &estu"e. The "o#ot, Ma"tian, man, whateve" it was, Hennes thou&ht, wouldnot !now the se$"et of the #u"eau. It had hidden in the "oom, waitin&, #ut it had notsea"$hed the "oom. " if it had done so, it had #een a most s!illful o#, sin$e even nowHennesÒs fli$!in& eye $ould note no sin&le a#no"mal thin& a#out the "oom nothin&mispla$ed nothin& whe"e it should not #e, e$ept fo" the )pa$e Ran&e" itself. Hisfin&e"s tou$hed a little not$h in the wood. It was a $ommon me$hanism and few fa"mmana&e"s on Ma"s la$!ed one. In a way it was old(fashioned, as old(fashioned as theimpo"ted wooden #u"eau itself, a t"adition datin& #a$! to the lawless old days of thefa"min& pionee"s, #ut t"adition dies ha"d. The little not$h moved sli&htly unde" his





fin&e"nail and a panel in the side of the $hest d"opped outwa"d. Hennes was "eady fo" it,and the hand was a #lu" of motion towa"d the #laste" whi$h the movin& panel had"evealed. He held the #laste" now, aimed dead $ente", and in all that tune the $"eatu"ehad not moved. 'hat passed fo" a"ms dan&led emptily, Hennes found $onfiden$esweepin& #a$!. Ro#ot, Ma"tian, o" man, the o#e$t $ould not withstand a #laste". It was

a small weapon, and the p"oe$tile it hu"led was almost $ontempti#le in sie. The old(fashioned Ó&uns of an$ient days $a""ied metal slu&s that we"e "o$!s in $ompa"ison.+ut the small p"oe$tile of the #laste" was fa" mo"e deadly. n$e set in motion, anythin&that stopped it t"ipped a tiny atomi$ t"i&&e" that $onve"ted a su#(mi$"os$opi$ f"a$tion ofits mass into ene"&y, and in that $onve"sion the o#e$t that stopped it, whethe" "o$!,metal, o" human flesh, was $onsumed to the a$$ompaniment of a tiny noise li!e the fli$!of a fin&e"nail a&ainst "u##e". Hennes said in a tone that #o""owed mena$e f"om the#laste" he held, Ó'ho a"e you- 'hat do you want- n$e a&ain the o#e$t spo!e, andon$e a&ain it said slowly, ÓI am the )pa$e Ran&e"* HennesÒs lips $u"ved in $oldfe"o$ity as he fi"ed. The p"oe$tile left the mule, "a$ed s0ua"ely at the o#e$t of smo!e,"ea$hed it, and stopped. It stopped instantaneously, without tou$hin& the #ody that was

still one 0ua"te" of an in$h #eyond its final penet"ation. 3ven the $on$ussion of $ollisionwas not $a""ied #eyond the fo"$e(shield #a""ie" whi$h a#so"#ed all the p"oe$tileÒsmomentum, $onve"tin& it into a fla"e of li&ht. That fla"e of li&ht was neve" seen. It wasd"owned out in the intense #lae that was the #laste" p"oe$tile eplodin& into ene"&y asit stopped with no su""oundin& matte" to shield the #last of li&ht. It was as thou&h a pin(sied sun eisted in the "oom fo" a tiny f"a$tion of a se$ond. Hennes, with a wild yell,th"ew his hands to his eyes as thou&h to p"ote$t them a&ainst a physi$al #low. It wastoo late. Minutes late", when he da"ed open his eyelids, his a$hin&, #u"nin& eyes $ouldtell him nothin&. pen o" $losed, he saw only "ed(studded #la$!ness. He $ould not seethe )pa$e Ran&e" whi"l into motion, poun$e upon his #oots, sea"$h thei" po$!ets withflyin& fin&e"s, #"ea! the doo"Òs ma&neti$ $i"$uit, and slip out of the "oom se$onds#efo"e the inevita#le $"owd of people with thei" $onfused $"ies of ala"m had #e&un to&athe". HennesÒs hand still $ove"ed his eyes when he hea"d them. He $alled, ÓGet thethin&* Get him* HeÒs in the "oom. Ta$!le him, you Ma"s(fo"sa!en, #la$!(#ooted$owa"ds. ÓThe"eÒs no one in the "oom, half(a(doen voi$es $alled, and someoneadded, Ó)mells li!e a #laste", thou&h. A fi"me", mo"e autho"itative voi$e said,Ó'hatÒs w"on&, Hennes- It was D". )ilve"s. ÓInt"ude"s, said Hennes, sha!in& inf"ust"ation and w"ath. ÓDoesnÒt anyone see him- 'hatÒs the matte" with all of you-

A"e you Ó He $ouldnÒt say the wo"d. His #lin!in& eyes we"e wate"in& and #lu""ed li&htwas ust #e&innin& to ma!e its way into them a&ain. He $ouldnÒt say Ó#lind. )ilve"sas!ed, Ó'ho was the int"ude"- 2an you des$"i#e him- And Hennes $ould only sha!ehis head helplessly. How $ould he eplain- 2ould he tell them of a ni&htma"e of smo!ethat $ould spea! and a&ainst whi$h a #laste" #ullet $ould only eplode p"ematu"ely andwithout dama&e e$ept to the man who sped it on its way- D". James )ilve"s made hisway #a$! to his "oom in dull &loom. This distu"#an$e that had "outed him out of his "oom#efo"e he had $ompleted p"epa"ation fo" #ed, this aimless "unnin& a#out of men, theton&ue(tied la$! of eplanation on the pa"t of Hennes, all we"e to him nothin& #ut ase"ies of pinp"i$!s. His eyes we"e fied on tomo""ow. He had no faith in vi$to"y, no faithin the effi$a$y of any em#a"&o. 6et the food shipments stop. 6et even a few on 3a"thfind out why, o", wo"se still, invent thei" own theo"ies the"efo", and the "esults mi&ht #e





mo"e f"i&htful than any mass poisonin&. This youn& David )ta"" ep"essed $onfiden$e,#ut so fa" his a$tions inspi"ed none in himself. His sto"y of a )pa$e Ran&e" was a poo"ly$al$ulated one, fit only to a"ouse the suspi$ions of men su$h as Hennes and #"in&in&him almost to his death. It was fo"tunate fo" the youn&ste" that he, )ilve"s, had a""ivedat the p"ope" time. 4o" had he eplained the "easons fo" su$h a sto"y. He had me"ely

epounded his plans fo" leavin& the $ity and then se$"etly "etu"nin&. %et when )ilve"shad fi"st "e$eived )ta""Òs lette", #"ou&ht #y the little fellow, the one that $alled himself+i&(man in t"emendous defian$e of the t"uth, he had 0ui$!ly $he$!ed with 2oun$ilhead0ua"te"s on 3a"th. It had $onfi"med that David )ta"" was to #e o#eyed in allpa"ti$ula"s. %et how $ould su$h a youn& man D". )ilve"s halted. That was st"an&e* Thedoo" to his "oom, whi$h he had left aa" in his haste, was still aa", #ut no li&ht shone outinto the hall. %et he had not put it out #efo"e leavin&. He $ould "emem#e" its &low #ehindhim as he had hastened down the hall towa"d the stai"s. Had someone put it out fo" himon some st"an&e impulse towa"d e$onomy- It seemed ha"dly li!ely. The"e was nosound within the "oom. He d"ew his #laste", th"ew the doo" open, and stepped fi"mly towhe"e he !new the li&ht swit$h to #e lo$ated. A hand d"opped ove" his mouth. He

s0ui"med, #ut the a"m was a la"&e and mus$ula" one, and the voi$e in his ea" wasfamilia". ÓItÒs all "i&ht, D". )ilve"s. I ust didnÒt want you to &ive me away #y yellin& insu"p"ise. The a"m d"opped away. D". )ilve"s said, Ó)ta""- Ó%es. 2lose the doo". Itseemed you" "oom would #e the #est hidin& pla$e while the sea"$h &oes on. In any$ase, I must spea! to you. Did Hennes say what had happened- Ó4o, not "eally.'e"e you involved in that- DavidÒs smile was lost in the da"!ness. ÓIn a way, D".)ilve"s. Hennes was visited #y the )pa$e Ran&e", and in the $onfusion I was a#le to"ea$h you" "oom with no one, I hope, havin& seen me. The old s$ientistÒs voi$e "osedespite himself. Ó'hat a"e you sayin&- I am in no mood fo" o!es. ÓI am not o!in&.The )pa$e Ran&e" eists. ÓThat will not do. The sto"y did not imp"ess Hennes and Idese"ve the t"uth. ÓIt imp"esses Hennes now, I am su"e, and you will have the t"uthwhen tomo""ow is done. Meanwhile, listen to me. The )pa$e Ran&e", as I say, eists,and he is ou" &"eat hope. The &ame we play is a "i$!ety one and thou&h I !now who is#ehind the poisonin&, the !nowled&e may #e useless. It is not a $"iminal o" two,intendin& to &ain a few millions #y $olossal #la$!mail, that we fa$e, #ut "athe" a well(o"&anied &"oup that intends to &ain $ont"ol of the enti"e )ola" )ystem. It $an $a""y on, Iam $onvin$ed, even if we pi$! off the leade"s, unless we lea"n enou&h of the details ofthe $onspi"a$y to stop its wo"!in&s $old. Ó)how me the leade", said D". )ilve"s&"imly, Óand the 2oun$il will lea"n all ne$essa"y details. Ó4eve" 0ui$!ly enou&h,said David, ust as &"imly. Ó'e must have the answe", all the answe", in less thantwenty(fou" hou"s. 1i$to"y afte" that will not stop the death of millions upon 3a"th. D".)ilve"s said, Ó'hat do you plan then- ÓIn theo"y, said David, ÓI !now who thepoisone" is and how the poisonin& was a$$omplished. To #e met with anythin& #ut a flatdenial on the pa"t of the poisone" I need a #it of mate"ial p"oof. That I will have #efo"ethe evenin& is ove". To &ain f"om him, even then, the ne$essa"y info"mation, we must#"ea! his mo"ale $ompletely. The"e we must use the )pa$e Ran&e". Indeed, he has#e&un the p"o$ess of mo"ale($"a$!in& al"eady. ÓThe )pa$e Ran&e" a&ain. %ou a"e#ewit$hed #y this thin&. If he does eist, if this is not a t"i$! of you"s in whi$h even Imust #e a vi$tim, who is he and what is he- How do you !now he is not de$eivin& you- ÓI $an tell no one the details of that. I $an only tell you that I !now him to #e on the





side of humanity. I t"ust him Eas I would myself, and I will ta!e full "esponsi#ility fo" him.%ou must do as I say, D". )ilve"s, in this matte", o" I wa"n you we will have no $hoi$e #utto p"o$eed without you. The impo"tan$e of the &ame is su$h that even you may notstand in my way. The"e was no mista!in& the fi"m "esolution of the voi$e. D". )ilve"s$ould not see the ep"ession of DavidÒs fa$e in the da"!ness, #ut somehow he did not

have to. Ó'hat is it you wish me to do- ÓTomo""ow noon you will meet with Ma!ian,Hennes, and +enson. +"in& +i&man with you as a pe"sonal #ody&ua"d. He is small, #uthe is 0ui$! and !nows no fea". Have the 2ent"al +uildin& p"ote$ted #y 2oun$il men, andI would advise that you have them a"med with "epeate" #laste"s and &as pellets ust in$ase. 4ow "emem#e" this, #etween twelve(fifteen and twelve(thi"ty leave the "ea"ent"an$e un&ua"ded and uno#se"ved. I will &ua"antee its safety. )how no su"p"ise atwhateve" happens the"eafte". Ó'ill you #e the"e- Ó4o. My p"esen$e will not #ene$essa"y. ÓThen- ÓThe"e will #e a visit f"om the )pa$e Ran&e". He !nows what I!now, and f"om him the a$$usations will #e mo"e shatte"in& to the $"iminal. D". )ilve"sfelt hope a"isin& in spite of himself. ÓDo you thin!, then, that weÒll su$$eed- The"ewas a lon& silen$e. Then David )ta"" said, ÓHow $an I tell- I $an only hope so. The"e

was a lon&e" silen$e. D". )ilve"s felt a tiny d"aft as thou&h the doo" had opened. Hetu"ned to the li&ht swit$h. The "oom flooded with li&ht, and he found himself alone.

9; ( The )pa$e Ran&e" Ta!es ve" David )ta"" wo"!ed as 0ui$!ly as he da"ed. 4otmu$h was left of the ni&ht. )ome of the e$itement and tension we"e #e&innin& to fade,and the utte" wea"iness that he had #een "efusin& to a$!nowled&e fo" hou"s wassoa!in& in ust a #it. His small pen$il flash fli$!e"ed he"e and the"e. He hoped ea"nestlythat what he sou&ht fo" would not #e #ehind still additional lo$!s. If it we"e, he wouldhave to use fo"$e, and he was in no mood to att"a$t attention ust then. The"e was nosafe that he $ould see nothin& e0uivalent to su$h an o#e$t. That was #oth &ood and#ad. 'hat he loo!ed fo" would not #e out of "ea$h, #ut then a&ain it mi&ht not #e in the"oom at all. That would #e a pity afte" the $a"efully planned manne" in whi$h he hado#tained the !ey to this "oom. Hennes would not "e$ove" 0ui$!ly f"om the wo"!in& out of that plan. David smiled. He himself had #een almost as su"p"ised as Hennes at the ve"yfi"st. His wo"ds, ÓI am the )pa$e Ran&e", had #een the fi"st he had spo!en th"ou&hthe fo"$e(shield sin$e his eme"&en$e f"om the Ma"tian $ave"ns. He $ould not "emem#e"what his voi$e had sounded li!e the"e. e"haps he had not t"uly hea"d it. e"haps,unde" Ma"tian influen$e, he had simply sensed his own thou&hts as he did thei"s. He"eon the su"fa$e, howeve", the sound of his own voi$e had left him thunde"st"u$!. Itshollowness and #oomin& depth had #een enti"ely unepe$ted. He "e$ove"ed, of $ou"se,and unde"stood almost immediately. Althou&h the shield let ai" mole$ules pass, itp"o#a#ly slowed them. )u$h inte"fe"en$e would natu"ally affe$t sound waves. Davidwas not ea$tly so""y fo" that. The voi$e, as it was, would #e helpful. The shield hadwo"!ed well a&ainst the #laste" "adiation. The flash had not #een stopped enti"ely hehad seen it $lea"ly. At least the effe$t upon himself had #een nothin& $ompa"ed to thatupon He"mes. Methodi$ally, even as his wea"y mind tu"ned these thin&s ove", he wasinspe$tin& the $ontents of shelves and $a#inets. The li&ht #eam held steady fo" amoment. David "ea$hed past othe" &ad&ets to pi$! up a small metal o#e$t. He tu"ned itove" and ove" in the small li&ht. He wound a little #utton whi$h set at diffe"ent positionsand o#se"ved what happened afte"wa"d. His hea"t #ounded. It was the final p"oof. The





p"oof of all his spe$ulations/the spe$ulations that had #een so "easona#le and so$omplete and yet had "ested upon nothin& mo"e than lo&i$. 4ow the lo&i$ had #een#o"ne out #y somethin& made of mole$ules, somethin& that $ould #e tou$hed and felt.He put it in his hip(#oot po$!et to oin his mas! and the !eys he had ta!en f"omHennesÒs #oots ea"lie" in the ni&ht. 9;> David )ta"", )pa$e Ran&e" He lo$!ed the doo"

#ehind him and stepped out into the open. The dome a#ove was #e&innin& to &"ayvisi#ly. )oon the main fluo"es$ents would &o oa and day would offi$ially #e&in. The lastday, eithe" fo" the poisone"s o" fo" 3a"th $iviliation as it then was. Meanwhile the"ewould #e a $han$e fo" sleep. The Ma!ian fa"m dome lay in a f"oen 0uiet. Few of thefa"m#oys $ould even &uess at what was &oin& on. That it was somethin& se"ious was,of $ou"se, o#vious, #ut fu"the" than that it was impossi#le to see. )ome few whispe"edthat Ma!ian had #een $au&ht in se"ious finan$ial i""e&ula"ities, #ut no one $ould #elieveit. It wasnÒt even lo&i$al, sin$e why would they send in an a"my ust fo" that- 2e"tainlyha"d(fa$ed men in unifo"m $i"$led 2ent"al +uildin& with "epeate" #laste"s $"adled in thei" a"ms. n the "oof of the #uildin& two a"tille"y pie$es had #een set up. And the a"eaa"ound it was dese"ted. All fa"m#oys, e$ept those ne$essa"y fo" the maintenan$e of

essential utilities, had #een "est"i$ted to #a""a$!s. Those few e$epted we"e o"de"ed to"emain st"i$tly at thei" o#s. At 9<C9; p.m. ea$tly, the two men pat"ollin& the "ea" of the#uildin& sepa"ated, moved away, leavin& that a"ea un&ua"ded. At twelve(thi"ty they"etu"ned and too! up thei" pat"ols. ne of the a"tille"ymen on the "oof afte"wa"d statedthat he had seen someone ente" the #uildin& in that inte"val. He admitted he had $au&htonly a #"ief &limpse and his des$"iption did not ma!e ve"y mu$h sense, sin$e he said itseemed to #e a man on fi"e. 4o#ody #elieved him at the time. D". )ilve"s was not$e"tain of anythin&. 4ot at all $e"tain. He s$a"$ely !new how to #e&in the session. Heloo!ed at the othe" fou" that sat a#out the ta#le. Ma!ian. He loo!ed as if he hadnÒtslept in a wee!. "o#a#ly hadnÒt, eithe". He hadnÒt spo!en a wo"d so fa". )ilve"swonde"ed if he was $ompletely awa"e of his su""oundin&s. Hennes. He was wea"in&da"! &lasses. He too! them off at one time and his eyes we"e #loodshot and an&"y. 4owhe sat the"e mutte"in& to himself. +enson. Nuiet and unhappy. D". )ilve"s had spentseve"al hou"s with him the ni&ht #efo"e and the"e was no dou#t in his mind that thefailu"es of his investi&ations we"e an em#a""assment and a &"ief to him. He had spo!ena#out Ma"tians, native Ma"tians, as $auses of the poisonin&s, #ut )ilve"s had !nown#ette" than to ta!e that se"iously. +i&man. The only happy one of the lot. To #e su"e heunde"stood only a f"a&ment of the "eal $"isis. He was leanin& #a$! in his $hai", o#viouslypleased at #ein& at the same ta#le with impo"tant people, savo"in& his "ole to the full.

And the"e was one additional $hai" that )ilve"s had #"ou&ht to the ta#le. It stood the"e,empty and waitin&. 4o one $ohimented on the fa$t. D". )ilve"s !ept the $onve"sation&oin& somehow, ma!in& insu#stantial "ema"!s, t"yin& to mas! his own un$e"tainties.6i!e the empty $hai", he was waitin&. At twelve(siteen he loo!ed up and "ose slowly tohis feet. 4o wo"ds $ame. +i&man pushed his $hai" 9@ David )ia"", )pa$e Ran&e" #a$!and it went ove" with a $"ash. HennesÒs head tu"ned sha"ply and he &"asped the ta#lewith fin&e"s that #e$ame white with st"ain. +enson loo!ed a#out and whimpe"ed. nlyMa!ian seemed unmoved. His eyes lifted, then, appa"ently, too! in the si&ht me"ely asanothe" in$omp"ehensi#le element in a wo"ld that had &"own too la"&e and st"an&e fo"him. The fi&u"e in the doo"way said, ÓI am the )pa$e Ran&e"* In the #"i&ht li&hts ofthe "oom the &low that su""ounded his head was somewhat su#dued, the smo!e that





$on$ealed his #ody somewhat mo"e su#stantial than Hennes had seen it the ni&ht#efo"e. The )pa$e Ran&e" moved in. Almost automati$ally the seated men pushed thei" $hai"s away, $lea"in& a pla$e at the ta#le, so that the one empty $hai" stood in lonelyisolation. The )pa$e Ran&e" sat down, fa$e invisi#le #ehind li&ht, smo!y a"ms etended#efo"e him, "estin& on the ta#le, and yet not "estin& upon it. +etween the ta#le and the

a"ms one 0ua"te" of an in$h of empty spa$e eisted. The )pa$e Ran&e" said, ÓI have$ome to spea! to $"iminals. It was Hennes who #"o!e the sti$!y silen$e that followed.He said, in a voi$e that d"ipped with hus!y venom, Ó%ou mean #u"&la"s- His handwent momenta"ily to his da"! &lasses #ut did not "emove them. His fin&e"s shoo! visi#ly.The )pa$e Ran&e"Òs voi$e was a monotone of slow, hollow wo"ds. ÓIt is t"ue I am a#u"&la". He"e a"e the !eys I a#st"a$ted f"om you" #oots. I need them no lon&e". )live"sof metal flashed a$"oss the ta#le towa"d Hennes, who did not pi$! them up. The )pa$eRan&e" went on, Ó+ut the #u"&la"y too! pla$e in o"de" to p"event a &"eate" $"ime. The"eis the $"ime of the t"usted fo"eman, fo" instan$e, who pe"iodi$ally spent ni&hts in'in&"ad 2ity on a one(man sea"$h fo" poisone"s. +i&manÒs little fa$e pu$!e"ed in&lee. ÓHey, Hennes, he $alled, Ósounds li!e youÒ"e #ein& pa&ed. +ut Hennes had

eyes and ea"s only fo" the appa"ition a$"oss the ta#le. He said, Ó'hat is the $"ime inthat- ÓThe $"ime, said the )pa$e Ran&e", Óof a fast t"ip out in the di"e$tion of the Aste"oids. Ó'hy- 'hat fo"- ÓIs it not f"om the Aste"oids that the poisone"sÒultimata have $ome- ÓA"e you a$$usin& me of #ein& #ehind the food poisonin&- Ideny it. I demand you" p"oof. That is, if you thin! you need any p"oof. e"haps you thin!that you" mas0ue"ade $an fo"$e me to admit a lie. Ó'he"e we"e you the two ni&hts#efo"e the final ultimatum was "e$eived- ÓI will not answe". I deny you" "i&ht to0uestion me. ÓI will answe" the 0uestion fo" you then. The ma$hine"y of the vastpoisonin& $om#ine is lo$ated in the Aste"oids, whe"e what is left of the old pi"ate #andshave &athe"ed. The #"ains of the $om#ine is he"e at Ma!ian Fa"ms. He"e Ma!ian "oseunsteadily to his feet, his mouth wo"!in&. The )pa$e Ran&e" waved him down with afi"m motion of his smo!y a"m and $ontinued, Ó%ou, Hennes, a"e the &o(#etween.Hennes did "emove his &lasses now. His plump, slee! fa$e, somewhat ma""ed #y his"ed("ihimed eyes, was set into a ha"d mold. He said, Ó%ou #o"e me, )pa$e Ran&e", o"whateve" you $all you"self. This $onfe"en$e, as I unde"stand it, was fo" the pu"pose ofdis$ussin& means of $om#atin& the poisone"s. If it is #ein& $onve"ted into a fo"um fo"the stupid a$$usations of a play a$to", I am leavin&. D". )ilve"s "ea$hed a$"oss+i&man to &"asp HennesÒs w"ist. Ólease stay, Hennes. I want to hea" mo"e of this.4o one will $onvi$t you without ample p"oof. Hennes dashed )ilve"sÒs hand awayand "ose f"om his $hai". +i&man said 0uietly, ÓIÒd love to see you shot, Hennes, whi$his ea$tly what you will #e if you &o out the doo". Ó+i&man is "i&ht, said )ilve"s.ÓThe"e a"e a"med men outside, with inst"u$tions to allow no one to leave without o"de"sf"om me. HennesÒs fists $len$hed and un$len$hed. He said, ÓI will not $ont"i#uteanothe" wo"d to this ille&al p"o$edu"e. %ou a"e all witnesses that I am #ein& detained #yfo"$e. He sat down a&ain and folded his a"ms a$"oss his $hest. The )pa$e Ran&e"#e&an a&ain, ÓAnd yet Hennes is only the &o(#etween. He is too &"eat a villain to #ethe "eal villain. +enson said faintly, Ó%ou spea! in $ont"adi$tions. Ónly appa"ently.2onside" the $"ime. %ou $an lea"n a &"eat deal a#out a $"iminal f"om the natu"e of the$"ime he $ohimits. Fi"st, the"e is the fa$t that few people, $ompa"atively, have died sofa". "esuma#ly the $"iminals $ould have &ained what they wanted mo"e 0ui$!ly #y





#e&innin& with wholesale poisonin&s, instead of me"ely th"eatenin& fo" si monthsdu"in& whi$h they "is!ed $aptu"e and &ained nothin&. 'hat does this mean- It wouldseem that the leade" somehow hesitates to !ill. That is $e"tainly not in $ha"a$te" fo"He"mes. I have o#tained most of my info"mation f"om 'illiams, who is not amon& usnow, and f"om him I !now that afte" his a""ival at the fa"m He"mes t"ied seve"al times to

a""an&e his mu"de". Hennes fo"&ot his "esolve. He shouted, ÓA lie* The )pa$eRan&e" went on, unheedin&, Ó)o Hennes would have no $ompun$tion a&ainst !illin&.'e would have to find someone of &entle" mold. %et what would fo"$e an essentially&entle pe"son to !ill people he has neve" seen, who have done him no ha"m- Afte" all,thou&h an insi&nifi$ant pe"$enta&e of 3a"thÒs population has #een poisoned, the deadnum#e" seve"al hund"ed. Fifty of them we"e $hild"en. "esuma#ly, then, the"e is ast"on& d"ive fo" wealth and powe" whi$h ove"$omes his &entleness. 'hat lies #ehindthat d"ive- A life of f"ust"ation, pe"haps, whi$h has d"iven him into a mo"#id hat"ed ofhumanity as a whole, a desi"e to show those who despised him how &"eat a man he"eally is. 'e loo! fo" a man, then, who mi&ht #e epe$ted to have an advan$edinfe"io"ity $omple. 'he"e $an we find su$h a one- All we"e wat$hin& the )pa$e

Ran&e" now with an intentness that #u"ned in eve"y eye. )omethin& of !eenness had"etu"ned even to Ma!ianÒs ep"ession. +enson was f"ownin& in thou&ht, and +i&manhad fo"&otten to &"in. The )pa$e Ran&e" $ontinued, ÓMost impo"tant as a $lue is whatfollowed the a""ival of 'illiams at the fa"m. He was at on$e suspe$ted of #ein& a spy.His sto"y of the poisonin& of his siste" was easily shown to #e false. He"mes, as I havesaid, was fo" out"i&ht mu"de". The leade", with his softe" $ons$ien$e, would ta!e anothe" method. He t"ied to neut"alie the dan&e"ous 'illiams #y developin& a f"iendship fo"him and p"etendin& to unf"iendliness with Hennes. Ó6et us suhima"ie. 'hat do we!now a#out the leade" of the poisone"s- He is a man with a $ons$ien$e who hasseemed f"iendly to 'illiams and unf"iendly to Hennes. A man with an infe"io"ity $om ple"esultin& f"om a life of f"ust"ation #e$ause he was diffe"ent f"om othe"s, less of a man,smalle" Ó The"e was a "apid movement. A $hai" was th"ust f"om the ta#le, and a fi&u"e#a$!ed "apidly away, a #laste" in his hand. +enson "ose to his feet and yelled, ÓG"eat)pa$e. +i&man* D". )ilve"s $"ied helplessly, Ó+ut/#ut I was to #"in& him he"e as a#ody&ua"d. HeÒs a"med. Fo" a moment +i&man stood the"e, #laste" "eady, wat$hin&ea$h of them out of his sha"p little eyes.

9 ( )olution +i&man said, his hi&h voi$e fi"m, ÓDonÒt letÒs d"aw any 0ui$!$on$lusions now. It may sound as if the )pa$e Ran&e" is des$"i#in& me, #ut he hasnÒtsaid so yet. They wat$hed him. 4o one spo!e. +i&man flipped his #laste" suddenly,$au&ht it #y the mule, and tossed it onto the ta#le whe"e it s!ihimed noisily a$"oss inthe di"e$tion of the )pa$e Ran&e". ÓI say IÒm not the man, and the"eÒs my weapon toshow I mean it. The )pa$e Ran&e"Òs smo!e(o#s$u"ed fin&e"s "ea$hed fo" it. ÓI alsosay youÒ"e not the man, he said, and the #laste" s!ihimed #a$! to +i&man. +i&manpoun$ed upon it, shoved it #a$! in his holste", and sat down on$e mo"e. Ó4ow supposeyou !eep on tal!in&, )pa$e Ran&e". The )pa$e Ran&e" said, ÓIt mi&ht have #een+i&man, #ut the"e a"e many "easons why it $ould not have #een. In the fi"st pla$e, theenmity #etween +i&man and Hennes a"ose lon& #efo"e 'illiams appea"ed on thes$ene. D". )ilve"s p"otested. Ó+ut loo! he"e. If the leade" was p"etendin& to #e on theouts with Hennes, it mi&ht not have #een ust fo" 'illiamsÒ sa!e. It mi&ht have #een a





lon&(standin& s$heme. The )pa$e Ran&e" said, Ó%ou" point is well ta!en, D". )ilve"s.+ut $onside" this. The leade", whoeve" he is, must #e in $omplete $ont"ol of the &an&Òsta$ti$s. He must #e a#le to enfo"$e his own s0ueamish(ness a#out !illin& upon a &"oupof what a"e p"o#a#ly the most despe"ate outlaws in the system. The"e is only one wayhe $an do that, and that is #y a""an&in& it so that they $annot possi#ly $ontinue without

him. How- +y $ont"ollin& the supply of poison and the method of poisonin&. )u"ely+i&man $ould do neithe". ÓHow do you !now that- demanded D". )ilve"s.Ó+e$ause +i&man doesnÒt have the t"ainin& that would ena#le him to develop andp"odu$e a new poison mo"e vi"ulent than any !nown. He doesnÒt have the la#o"ato"yo" the #otani$al and #a$te"iolo&i$al t"ainin&. He doesnÒt have a$$ess to the food #ins at'in&"ad 2ity. All of whi$h, howeve", does apply to +enson. The a&"onomist, pe"spi"in&p"ofusely, "aised his voi$e in a wea! yell. Ó'hat a"e you t"yin& to do- Test me as youtested +i&man ust now- ÓI didnÒt test +i&man, said the )pa$e Ran&e". ÓI neve"a$$used him. I do a$$use you, +enson. %ou a"e the #"ains and leade" of the food(poisonin& $om#ine. Ó4o. %ouÒ"e mad. Ó4ot at all. Nuite sane. 'illiams fi"stsuspe$ted you and passed his suspi$ions on to me. ÓHe had no "eason to. I was

pe"fe$tly f"an! with him. ÓToo f"an!. %ou made the mista!e of tellin& him that it wasyou" opinion that Ma"tian #a$te"ia &"owin& upon fa"m p"odu$ts we"e the sou"$e of thepoison. As an a&"onomist, you must have !nown that was impossi#le. Ma"tian life is notp"otein in natu"e and $ould no mo"e feed on 3a"th plants than we $ould feed on "o$!s.)o you told a deli#e"ate lie, and that made eve"ythin& else a#out you suspe$t. It made'illiams wonde" if pe"haps you had you"self made an et"a$t of Ma"tian #a$te"ia. Theet"a$t would #e poisonous. DonÒt you thin! so- +enson $"ied wildly, Ó+ut how $ouldI possi#ly sp"ead the poison- %ou donÒt ma!e sense. Ó%ou had a$$ess to the Ma!ianfa"m shipments. Afte" the fi"st few poisonin&s you $ould a""an&e to o#tain samples f"omthe sto"a&e #ins at the $ity. %ou told 'illiams how you $a"efully too! samples f"omdiffe"ent #ins, f"om diffe"ent levels of a sin&le #in. %ou told him how you used a ha"poon(li!e affai" you invented you"self. Ó+ut what is the"e w"on& with that- ÓA &ood deal.6ast ni&ht I o#tained !eys f"om Hennes. I used them to &et into the one pla$e in thefa"m dome whi$h is $onsistently !ept lo$!ed/you" la#o"ato"y. The"e I found this. Heheld the small metal o#e$t up to the li&ht. D". )ilve"s said, Ó'hat is it, )pa$e Ran&e"- ÓIt is +ensonÒs sample ta!e". It fits at the end of his food ha"poon. #se"ve how itwo"!s. The )pa$e Ran&e" adusted a small !no# at one end. ÓFi"in& the ha"poon.he said, Ót"ips this safety $at$h. )o* 4ow wat$h. The"e was the faintest #uin& noise.It ended afte" five se$onds, and the fo"e end of the sample" &aped open, "emained sofo" a se$ond, then $losed. ÓThatÒs the way itÒs supposed to wo"!, $"ied +enson. ÓImade no se$"et of it. Ó4o, you didnÒt, said the )pa$e Ran&e" ste"nly. Ó%ou andHennes had #een 0ua""elin& fo" days ove" 'illiams. %ou hadnÒt the stoma$h to havehim !illed. At the ve"y last you #"ou&ht the ha"poon with you to 'illiamsÒ #edside tosee if the si&ht of it would su"p"ise him into some a$tion that would &ive him away. ItdidnÒt, #ut Hennes would wait no lon&e", anyway. Ku!is was sent in to !ill him. Ó+utwhatÒs w"on& with the sample"- demanded +enson. Ó6et me show its wo"!in&sa&ain. +ut this time, D". )ilve"s, please o#se"ve the side of the sample" towa"d you"selfnow. D". )ilve"s leaned a$"oss the ta#le, wat$hin& $losely. +i&man, #laste" out on$emo"e, divided his attention #etween +enson and Hennes. Ma!ian was on his feet,leathe"y $hee!s flushed. n$e a&ain the sample" was set, on$e a&ain the little mouth





flew open, and this time, as they wat$hed the neut"al side indi$ated, a $ove"in& slive" ofmetal withd"ew the"e as well, "evealin& a shallow dep"ession that &listened &uhimily.ÓThe"e, said the )pa$e Ran&e", Óyou $an see what happened. 3a$h time +ensontoo! a sample, a few &"ains of wheat, a pie$e of f"uit, a leaf of lettu$e was smea"ed withthat $olo"less &um, a poisonous et"a$t of Ma"tian #a$te"ia. It is a simple poison, no

dou#t, that is not affe$ted #y su#se0uent food p"o$essin& and eventually tu"ns up in aloaf of #"ead, a a" of am, a $an of #a#y food. It was a $leve" and dia#oli$al t"i$!.+enson was #eatin& on the ta#le. ÓItÒs all a lie, a "otten lie* Ó+i&man, said the)pa$e Ran&e", Ó&a& the man. )tand nea" him and donÒt let him move. ÓReally,p"otested D". )ilve"s, ÓyouÒ"e ma!in& a $ase, )pa$e Ran&e", #ut you must let the mandefend himself. ÓThe"e is no time, said the )pa$e Ran&e", Óand p"oof that willsatisfy even you will #e fo"th$omin& 0ui$!ly. +i&man used his hand!e"$hief as a &a&.+enson st"u&&led and then sat in sweatin& stillness as the #utt of +i&manÒs #laste"$ollided noisily with his s!ull. ÓThe net time, said +i&man, Óit will #e ha"d enou&h to!no$! you out may#e fi you up with a $on$ussion. The )pa$e Ran&e" "ose. Ó%ou allsuspe$ted, o" p"etended to suspe$t, +i&man when I spo!e of a man with an infe"io"ity

$omple #e$ause he was small. The"e a"e mo"e ways of #ein& small than in sie.+i&man $ompensates fo" his sie #y #elli&e"en$e and loud asse"tion of his ownopinions. The men he"e "espe$t him #e$ause of this. +enson, howeve", livin& he"e onMa"s amon& men of a$tion finds himself despised as a E$olle&e fa"me",Ò i&no"ed as awea!lin&, and loo!ed down upon #y men whom he $onside"s mu$h his infe"io"s. To #euna#le to $ompensate fo" this e$ept #y mu"de" of the most $owa"dly so"t is anothe"and wo"se !ind of smallness. Ó+ut +enson is mentally si$!. To &et a $onfession out ofhim would #e diffi$ult pe"haps impossi#le. Howeve", He"mes would do almost as wellas a sou"$e of !nowled&e a#out the futu"e a$tivities of the poisone"s. He $ould tell usea$tly whe"e in the Aste"oids we $ould find his va"ious hen$hmen. He $ould tell uswhe"e the supply of poison, fo" use at midni&ht toni&ht, is !ept. He $ould tell us manythin&s. Hennes snee"ed. ÓI $ould tell you nothin&, and I will tell you nothin&. If youshoot +enson and myself "i&ht now, matte"s will p"o$eed ea$tly as they would if wewe"e alive. )o do you" wo"st. Ó'ould you tal!, said the )pa$e Ran&e", Óif we&ua"anteed you" pe"sonal safety- Ó'ho would #elieve in you" &ua"antee- saidHennes. ÓIÒll sti$! to my sto"y. IÒm an inno$ent man. 5illin& us will do you no &ood.Ó%ou "ealie that if you "efuse to tal!, millions of men, women, and $hild"en may die.Hennes sh"u&&ed. Ó1e"y well, said the )pa$e Ran&e". ÓI have #een told somethin&a#out the effe$ts of the Ma"tian poison +enson has developed. n$e in the stoma$h,a#so"ption is ve"y 0ui$! the ne"ves to the $hest mus$les a"e pa"alyed the vi$tim$anÒt #"eathe. It is painful st"an&ulation st"et$hed ove" five minutes. f $ou"se that iswhen the poison has #een int"odu$ed into the stoma$h. The )pa$e Ran&e", as hespo!e, d"ew f"om His po$!et a small &lass pellet. He opened the sample" and d"ew ita$"oss the &uhimed su"fa$e until the &litte" of the &lass had #een o#s$u"ed #y a sti$!y$oatin&. Ó4ow if, he said, Óthe poison we"e pla$ed ust within the lips, matte"s would#e diffe"ent. It would #e a#so"#ed mu$h mo"e slowly and would ta!e effe$t mu$h mo"e&"adually. Ma!ian, he $alled suddenly, Óthe"eÒs the man who #et"ayed you, usedyou" fa"m to o"&anie the poisonin& of men and the "uin of the fa"m syndi$ates. G"a# hisa"ms and pinion them. The )pa$e Ran&e" tossed a pinion upon the ta#le. Ma!ian,with a $"y of lon&(pent "a&e, th"ew himself on Hennes. Fo" a moment w"ath "esto"ed to





him some of the st"en&th of his youth and Hennes st"u&&led in vain a&ainst him. 'henMa!ian stepped away, Hennes was st"apped to his $hai", his a"ms d"awn painfully#ehind and a"ound its #a$!, his w"ists pinioned ti&htly. Ma!ian said #etween "aspin&pants, ÓAfte" you tal!, It will #e my pleasu"e to ta!e you apa"t with my ten fin&e"s. The)pa$e Ran&e" $i"$led the ta#le now, app"oa$h(In& Hennes slowly, the smea"ed &lass

pellet held in two fin&e"s #efo"e him. Hennes sh"an! away. At the othe" end of the ta#le+enson w"ithed despe"ately, and +i&man !i$!ed him into stillness. The )pa$e Ran&e"pin$hed HennesÒs lowe" lip and d"ew it out, eposin& his teeth. Hennes t"ied to snaphis head away, #ut the )pa$e Ran&e"Òs fin&e"s pin$hed to&ethe" and Hennes let out amuffled s$"eam. The )pa$e Ran&e" d"opped the pellet in the spa$e #etween lip andteeth. ÓI #elieve it will ta!e a#out ten minutes #efo"e you a#so"# enou&h poison th"ou&hthe mouth mem#"anes to #e&in ta!in& noti$ea#le effe$t, said the )pa$e Ran&e". ÓIfyou a&"ee to tal! #efo"e then, we will "emove the pellet and let you "inse you" mouth.the"wise, the poison will ta!e effe$t slowly. G"adually it will #e$ome mo"e and mo"ediffi$ult and painful to #"eathe, and finally, in a#out an hou", you will die of ve"y slowst"an&ulation. And if you do die, you will have a$$omplished nothin&, #e$ause the

demonst"ation will #e ve"y edu$ational fo" +enson and we will p"o$eed to sweat thet"uth out of him. The pe"spi"ation t"i$!led down HennesÒs temples. He made $ho!in&noises in the #a$! of his th"oat. The )pa$e Ran&e" waited patiently. Hennes $"ied, ÓIÒlltal!. IÒll tal!. Ta!e it out* Ta!e it out* The wo"ds we"e muffled th"ou&h his disto"tedlips, #ut thei" intent and the hideous te""o" in eve"y line of his fa$e we"e plain enou&h.ÓGood* %ou had #ette" ta!e notes, D". )ilve"s. It was th"ee days #efo"e D". )ilve"smet David )ta"" a&ain. He had had little sleep in that inte"val and he was ti"ed, #ut nottoo ti"ed to &"eet David &ladly. +i&man, who had not left )ilve"s in all that inte"val, wase0ually effusive in his &"eetin&s. ÓIt wo"!ed, said )ilve"s. Ó%ouÒve hea"d a#out it,IÒm su"e. It wo"!ed un#elieva#ly well. ÓI !now, said David, smilin&. ÓThe )pa$eRan&e" told me all a#out it. ÓThen youÒve seen him sin$e. Ónly fo" a moment o"two. ÓHe disappea"ed almost immediately afte"wa"d. I mentioned him in my "epo"t Ihad to, of $ou"se. +ut it $e"tainly made me feel foolish. In any $ase, I have +i&man he"eand old Ma!ian as witnesses. ÓAnd myself, said David. Ó%es, of $ou"se. 'ell, itÒsove". 'e lo$ated the poison sto"es and $leaned out the Aste"oids. The"eÒll #e twodoen men up fo" life senten$es and +ensonÒs wo"! will a$tually #e #enefi$ial in theend. His epe"iments on Ma"tian life we"e, in thei" way, "evolutiona"y. ItÒs possi#le awhole new se"ies of anti#ioti$s may #e the final "esults of his attempts to poison 3a"thinto su#mission. If the poo" fool had aimed at s$ientifi$ eminen$e, he would have endeda &"eat man. Than! HennesÒs $onfession fo" stoppin& him. David said, ÓThat$onfession was $a"efully planned fo". The )pa$e Ran&e" had #een wo"!in& on himsin$e the ni&ht #efo"e. Óh, well, I dou#t that any human $ould have withstood thedan&e" of poisonin& that Hennes was su#e$t to. In fa$t, what would have happened ifHennes had #een "eally inno$ent- The $han$e the )pa$e Ran&e" too! was a #i& one.Ó4ot "eally. The"e was no poison involved. +enson !new that. Do you suppose +ensonwould have left his sample" in his la#o"ato"y smea"ed with poison as eviden$e a&ainsthimself- Do you suppose he !ept any poison whe"e it mi&ht #e found #y a$$ident-Ó+ut the poison on the pellet. Ó. . . was simple &elatin, unfavo"ed. +enson wouldhave !nown it would #e somethin& li!e that. ThatÒs why the )pa$e Ran&e" did not t"yto &et a $onfession out of him. ThatÒs why he had him &a&&ed, to p"event a wa"nin&.





Hennes mi&ht have fi&u"ed it out fo" himself, if he hadnÒt #een in #lind pani$. Ó'ell,IÒll #e tossed out into )pa$e, said D". )ilve"s #lan!ly. He was still "u##in& his $hinwhen he finally made his e$uses and went off to #ed. David tu"ned to +i&man. ÓAndwhat will you #e doin& now, +i&man- +i&man said, ÓD". )ilve"s has offe"ed me ape"manent o# with the 2oun$il. +ut I donÒt thin! IÒll ta!e it. Ó'hy not- Ó'ell, IÒll

tell you, M". )ta"". I so"t of fi&u"e on &oin& with you, whe"eve" you happen to #e &oin&afte" this. ÓIÒm ust &oin& to 3a"th, said David. They we"e alone, yet +i&man loo!ed$autiously ove" his shoulde" #efo"e he spo!e. ÓIt seems to me youÒll #e &oin& lots ofpla$es #esides 3a"th/)pa$e Ran&e". Ó'hat- Ó)u"e. I !new that when I fi"st sawyou $ome in with all that li&ht and smo!e. ThatÒs why I didnÒt ta!e ,you se"ious when itloo!ed as if you we"e a$$usin& me of #ein& the poisone". His fa$e was #"o!en out in a&iant &"in. ÓDo you !now what youÒ"e tal!in& a#out- ÓI su"e do. I $ouldnÒt see you"fa$e, o" the details of you" $ostume, #ut you we"e wea"in& hip #oots and you we"e the"i&ht hei&ht and #uild. Ó2oin$iden$e. ÓMay#e. I $ouldnÒt see the desi&n on the hip#oots #ut I made out a little of them, the $olo"s, fo" instan$e. And youÒ"e the onlyfa"m#oy I eve" hea"d of that was willin& to wea" simple #la$! and white. David )ta""

th"ew his head #a$! and lau&hed. Ó%ou win. Do you "eally want to oin fo"$es with me- ÓIÒd #e p"oud to, said +i&man. David held out his hand and the two shoo!.ÓTo&ethe" then, said David, Ówhe"eve" we &o.

A+?T TH3 A?THR Isaa$ Asimov was #o"n in the )oviet ?nion to his &"eat su"p"ise.He moved 0ui$!ly to $o""e$t the situation. 'hen his pa"ents emi&"ated to the ?nited)tates, Isaa$ Lth"ee yea"s old at the time stowed away in thei" #a&&a&e. He has #eenan Ame"i$an $itien sin$e the a&e of ei&ht. +"ou&ht up in +"oo!lyn, and edu$ated in itspu#li$ s$hools, he eventually found his way to 2olum#ia ?nive"sity and, ove" thep"otests of the s$hool administ"ation, mana&ed to anne a se"ies of de&"ees in$hemist"y, up to and in$ludin& a h.D. He then infilt"ated +oston ?nive"sity and $lim#edthe a$ademi$ ladde", i&no"in& all $"ies of out"a&e, until he found himself "ofesso" of+io$hemist"y. Meanwhile, at the a&e of nine, he found the love of his life Lin theinanimate sense when he dis$ove"ed his fi"st s$ien$e(fi$tion ma&aine. +y the time hewas eleven, he #e&an to w"ite sto"ies, and at ei&hteen, he a$tually wo"!ed up the ne"veto su#mit one. It was "ee$ted. Afte" fou" lon& months of t"i#ulation and suffe"in&, he soldhis fi"st sto"y and, the"eafte", he neve" loo!ed #a$!. In 9:B9, when he was twenty(oneyea"s old, he w"ote the $lassi$ sho"t sto"y Ó4i&htfall and his futu"e was assu"ed.)ho"tly #efo"e that he had #e&un w"itin& his "o#ot sto"ies, and sho"tly afte" that he had#e&un his Foundation se"ies. 'hat was left e$ept 0uantity- At the p"esent time, he haspu#lished ove" <@ #oo!s, dist"i#uted th"ou&h eve"y mao" division of the Dewey systemof li#"a"y $lassifi$ation, and shows no si&ns of slowin& up. He "emains as youthful, aslively, and as lova#le as eve", and &"ows mo"e handsome with ea$h yea". %ou $an #esu"e that this is so sin$e he has w"itten this little essay himself and his devotion toa#solute o#e$tivity is noto"ious. He is ma""ied to Janet Jeppson, psy$hiat"ist and w"ite",has two $hild"en #y a p"evious ma""ia&e and lives in 4ew %o"! 2ity

Asimov, Isaac - Lucky Starr 01 - David Starr, Space Ranger

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Transcript of Asimov, Isaac - Lucky Starr 01 - David Starr, Space Ranger