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TheLightofLilithbyG.MacDonaldWallis

CHAPTERONE

Masonhadthoughttheatmosphereunusuallydense.His"babybullet"hadwobbledanddancedcrazilyastheydescendedfromthemothershiptothespeckledriotofcolorthatwasthesurfaceoftheplanetLilith.Nowthathestoodhereonwhatshouldbethefamiliargroundofthespaceport,onehandrestinglightlyonthewarmsideofhisentrycapsule,hefeltratherthansawadifferenceabouttheplace—afaintluminescenceinthesunlightthathedidn'tremember;acuriousthicknessintheair.

Well,Masonthought,he'donlyreportedfromheretwicebeforeandwasn'texpectedtoknowallofthelocalphenomena.Satisfiedatthisinnerexplanation,heleanedoverandadjustedthecontrolsofthecapsule,closedthehatchandpattedtheMirandatwiceforluck.Hesteppedbackandwatchedhisbabysoarunerringlyintothesky.Intenminutesshewouldbesafelybackinthebigbellyofhermothership.

ThemomentMasonturnedtowalktowardtheportofficeshehadanimmediate,disquietingsuspicionthatheshouldn'thavesentherback.Hisneckprickleduncomfortablyandhisheartleaptinanunreasonablestaboffear.HewheeledaroundinapanicandlookedfortheMiranda.Toolate.Shewasgone,wellonherwaynowbeyondtheatmosphere.

Idiocy,Masonfairlyshoutedathimself,fightingtoputdownthestrangeterror.Sheeridiocy!Hehadn'tbeenreportinganywherenearlongenoughtoacquirethatconditionknownintheFederationas"spacehysteria."Ifanyofhispresentsensationspersisted,Masonpromisedhimselfhe'dgostraighttoUlinskiwhowasrighthereonLilith.

Lilith.OlderthanEve,thefirstwifeofAdam;theancientfemalespiritofevilsplendor—Lilith!Whatanameforanexperimentalplanet,Masonthought,andunexpectedlyfoundhimselflaughing.Withreliefatfindinghisemotionsnormaloncemore,hestrodepurposefullytowardthelowbuildingsflankingthefield.

Simpkins,TropeandPlummef,Masonrepeatedtohimself,tryingtorememberthenamesandfacesofthestaff.They'dbehere,andpossiblyYeeMon,ifhewerelucky.HehopedthatYee'spresenceattheportmightsavehimatripintotheinterior.ButtheViningsistersweresuretobeoutatthesecondlabandtheFederationwouldinsistheseethem.

Masonsighed,resigninganyhopeofaneasystayattheportandfaintlydreadingtheprospectofthedifficulttripoverthemountainsandintotheinteriorjungles.Wouldtheyevergetaroundtoauthorizingflyersinsteadoflandroversforaplacelikethis!

Now,inwhichlabwouldHerbGregsonbe,hewonderedvaguely.AndLouisaWenger.Shewasonememberofthestaffhewouldn'tmindtrekingmanymileswithoutalandrovertosee.ThinkingofLouisa,Masonsmiledwarmlyandbegantowalkalittlefaster.

Suddenly,withoutanywarning,hewaspickedupoffhisfeetandblownatleastsixfeetintotheair.Hewhirledarounddizzilychokingonmouthfulsofafine,blacksubstancethatspiraledaroundhimandbitfiercelythroughhisclothing,stabbinghimwiththesharpprecisionofshot.Hefelltothegroundgaspingandspitting,nearlyblindedbytheblackstuffthatstillclungtohiseyes,sendingviciousstabsofpainintotheretinas.

Then,assuddenlyasithadcome,itwasgone.Thestuffpracticallydancedawayfromhim,leavingwithaswiftnessthatlookedalmostlikeflight.Masoncautiouslyrubbedhissmartingeyesbuttherewasn'taspeckleft.Hefollowedtheblackcloud,watchingasitspiraledlikeatopoverthebuildingsandthenseemedtodissipatebeforehiseyes.Gone!Therewasnothingleftofitbutthepaininhiseyesandaseverewrenchinhisbackwherehehadfallen.

Curiously,herealizedthathehadn'tbeenafraid.Hewonderedmomentarilyattheinaccuraciesofhisreactions:fearatthewrongtime,andcompletesteadinessinthemiddleofthestorm.No,notstorm—thatridiculoussmall

steadinessinthemiddleofthestorm.No,notstorm—thatridiculoussmalltornado.Butwasitatornado?Wasitanysortofstorm?Masonfrowned,tryingtorecallanimpressionthathadseemedterriblyvividsixfeetupinthespiral.Butallhecouldremembernowwasafaintchildlikedreamofdustandhousesspinning—Oz!Ofcourse,theage-olddreamofajourneytoOz.Buthadthatbeentherealimpression?

Forthefirsttimesincehe'dlanded,Masonbecameuncomfortablyawareoftheabsolutestillnessoftheport.Adeadquietthatpermeatedslowly,makinghimintenselyawareofthebeatingofhisheart.Hismovements,ashepulledhimselfupfromtheground,wereunnaturallyloud.Hecouldhearhisownexhalationandtookadeepbreath,unconsciouslytryingtoholditaslongaspossible.

Helookedaround,noticingtheemptinessofthefield,finallyunderstandingthatalltheordinarysoundsofaspaceportwereunreasonablyandunmistakablyabsent.

ForthesecondtimeathrilloffearcoursedthroughMasonandhebegantorun,loudly,asonlyasolitaryhumaninavastlyemptyspacecanrun.Ashereachedthedoorofthemainbuildingandtoreitopenherealizedhewasyelling.Yellingwithanhystericalviolencesostrangethathearingitbroughthimupsharply.Itcouldn'tbehemakingthosemaniacalsounds.

Heforcedhimselftostandquitestillandtakedeepbreaths.WherewasUlinski?Atthemomentitwasallhecaredtoknow.Somehowithadregisteredonhissensesthatthebuildingsweredeserted,thattheofficeswereanamorphousmassoftumbledpapersandoverturnedchairs.Evenrunningoverthefieldhehadunderstoodthattheusualquotaofparkedlandroversweregone.

ButatthismomentMasonwasquitecertainthatsomethingserioushadaffectedhispsycheandhewanteddesperatelytoseeDr.Ulinskibeforeitwastoolate.Rigid,breathingdeeply,hestoodthereclenchingandunclenchinghisfistsuntilasound,thefirstsoundotherthanhisown,madehimspinaroundinterrifiedswiftnessandsearchthedimcornersoftheroom.

Itwasamoan,thefaintwhimperofsomethinginpain,anditwasunmistakablyahumansound.ThiscertaintybroughtMasonaroundsoabruptlythathealmostcriedwithrelief.Andimmediately(laterhethoughtitquitemiraculous)allofMason'scontrolreturned.Itwaslessthanaminutebeforehis

miraculous)allofMason'scontrolreturned.Itwaslessthanaminutebeforehisfearhadentirelyvanishedandhewasbendingcarefullyoverthebroken,mutilatedbodyofHerbGregson.

"Mason,Istayedtowarnyou,"Gregsonwhispered."Knewyouwerecoming.Othershavegone…"Hisbreathingbecamemoreandmoredifficultuntilthewordsthatfollowedwereonlydisjointedgasps,blurtedoutwithafinaleffortofwill."Otherlab…there.Ourfault,shouldn'ttamper…Becareful…"

"Whathappened?"Masonurgedasgentlyashecould."Whodidthis?"

ButGregson'seyeswereclosedandhecouldonlysay,"No…No,ourfault,"beforehewasgone.

Masonroseslowlyandstoodlookingdownatthepitifulbodyforamoment,astrangenewcompassionstirringwithinhim.AcompassionthathadsomethingtodowithmeetingsoviolentadeathhereonLilith.Hedidn'tbelievethathewouldfeelsodeeplyhaditoccurredonEarthorevenononeoftheothersettledplanets.

Hewalkedovertothewindowandlookedoutatthepanoramaacrossthefield.InthedistancetherainbowrangeofLilith'sstrangecolorsmadethesurroundingvegetationlooklikeanartist'sdreamofaworldgonecrazy.Thefaintlypurplehueofthetallferntreescastlongshadowsacrosstheterrain.

Gregsonshouldhavetobeburiedoutthere,Masonthoughtwithaninstinctiverepugnance.Hewouldhavetolieoutthere,underthemulticoloredearththatwouldshiftaridchange,eventuallyclaimingGregsonasitsown.MasonhadaswiftandnostalgicvisionofthequietbrownloamofEarth,amorefittingrestforaman.Hewas,atthatmoment,bitterlysorrythattheFederationhadeverdiscoveredLilith.

Masonhadbeensixwhenhewaschosen.Barelytheminimumageforpreparation.Atallboyforhisage,withashockofthicksandyhairandseriousdarkeyes,hehadgrownduringtheyearsofhisschoolingintoataller,morematurereplicaofthechildhehadbeen.Therigorsofspacetraininghadgivenhimahard,leanlook.Buthisjobasareporter,withthemanyquiethoursofwritingitrequired,hadallowedhimtoretainthatcontemplativeseriousnesswhichhadbeensocharacteristicofhimasachild.

whichhadbeensocharacteristicofhimasachild.

Hehadbeenhomeonlyoncesincethattimetwentyyearsagowhenheboardedtheschoolshiptoprepareforhislifeinspace.Notuntilthislasttrip,whenhehadbeenassignedagaintoreportonthestationatLilith,hadheeverquestionedthatdecisionmadeonawindyhillonEarthduringasummerevening,whenhelayonhisbacksuckingalongbladeofgrassandstaringupatthestars.Evenatsixhehadrecognizedtheprecariousnessofhischildhoodandunderstoodthatintakingthestarshewouldberelinquishingthemostpreciousyearsofhislife.

Thatmomentoftenreturnedtohim,withtheodorsofthedampground,theslickfeelingofwetgrassagainsthistongueandthephysicalconnectionwiththegroundofEarththathehadfeltsodeeply.Butnoneofthiscouldprevailagainstthatblazingsightintheheavens.Whatchildcouldlooklongattheuniversewithoutanunbearablelonging?

Masonwasacceptedquicklywhenhiswishwasmadeknown.HehadalreadybeentestedinhisfirstEarthschool,andwasoneofonlythreeboysinhistownchosenforlifeinspace.Hisparentsmadetheseparationagainsttheirwill,painfullybutproudly.TheyhadlittlechoicebetweentheFederationtestsandthewishoftheironlychild.

Andonthatfirsttripbackwhenhewasjustsixteen,MasonhadfoundEarthastrangehome.Hewassoaccustomedtootherplanets,tothecompanyoffellowreporters,tohiswork,thattheadjustmentwasalmostimpossible.Hisparentswerechanged.Hismemoryofthemhadbecomedimmedthroughthelongyearsofseparation,andmeetingagainwasastrainedandemotionallychargedencounter.Butsomehowtheimpressionsgatheredduringthattimehadstayedwithhim,andnow,inacornerofhisbeing,wasawishtoknowEarthagainandknowherwell,notasavisitorbutasachildwhohadcomehome.

Lilithonlyintensifiedthisfeeling.WhenMasonhadbeengivenhisorders,hehadfeltareluctancetosetfootagainonthisplanetwhichwassoutterlyunlikeanyother.MostoftheinhabitedorexperimentalplanetswereatleastsimilartoEarthinmanyrespects.Masonhadneverbeentoan"alien"planet.ReportersweresentonlytoMan'sexperimentalstationsortoreportonhumansettlerselsewhere.MasonwasaSpecialistinexperimentalstations,andofthemallheleastlikedLilithwithhereeriespectrumthatconfoundedhissensesandmadehimfeelisolatedintheuniverse.

madehimfeelisolatedintheuniverse.

Hiseyes,ashestaredoutthewindow,werehauntedwithalongingforhome.Theyburneddeeplyinhistanned,craggyface.SomeoneseeingMasonatthatmomentwouldhavebeenstruckbythecontrastbetweenthoseseriouseyesandhisairofyouthfulness.Therewassomethingnaiveandchildlike,somethingunfinishedaboutRussellMason.

Itwasn'tuntilhehadburiedGregsonthatMasonrememberedtheMiranda.Cursinghimselfforthesentimentthathaddisplacedhisowninstinctforsurvival,hedrewoutatinytransmitterfromhispocketandbeganacall.Againhewastoolate.Themothershiphadleftandwouldnowbeonherwaytothenextexperimentalstationtodropoffanotherreporter,notreturningforhimuntil—Masonbegantowonderaboutthatuntil.

Thenherememberedthatofcoursehecouldcontacttheshipanywherefromtheradioroomhereonthestrongerfrequency.Heracedbacktotheoffices,runningthroughthelabyrinthofcorridorsuntilhefoundit.OnelookatthecomplicatedapparatusandMasonrealizedthathedidn'tknowthefirstthingaboutit.Hepulledleversandswitches,pressedbuttons,turneddials,damningthementalitythathadsenthimhereequippedtouseonelittletransmittertohisship,andthatonlywhenshewasdirectlyabove.

Whyhadn'ttheypreparedhimforanemergencylikethis,hethoughtnumblyashesatdownontheTech'schair,knowingthathiseffortswerefutile.Spaceexplorationhadbecometoomundane,heguessed,theseexperimentalstationstooordinary.Well,theywantedareporterandtheyhadone.Hesupposedithadnevercrossedtheirmindsthatanythingcouldhappentothestaff.And,actually,ithadn'tcrossedhiseither.Inawayhehadnorighttoaccuse;heshouldhaveforseenanemergencyhimself.

Soberlyhetookpenandpaperanddrewupalist.Thenhewalkedcarefullythroughthebuildingseekingoutstoreroomsanddeliberatelyfashioningapackforhimself.Survivalkit,hethoughtironically,rememberinghishistory,wheneveryFederationmemberwasobligedtocarryone.Eventuallyhewasequippedwithwhatheconsiderednecessaryandwonderedwhetheranyofitwouldbeoftheleastvalue.

Thestoreroomfortheinteriorwasstackedwithaseeminglyfullinventory.

Thestoreroomfortheinteriorwasstackedwithaseeminglyfullinventory.Headmittedthisgrudgingly,realizingthatiftheentirestaffhadgonetothesecondlab—whichwashisardenthope—theywouldsurelyhavedepletedthesupplies.Still,Gregsonhadmanagedtosay,"Secondlab,"andMasonknewhehadbeenhangingonbyathread.Hewouldnothavesaidanythingthatwasn'tmeaningful.

Iftheothershadfledinsomesortofpanic,whichwashowitlooked,whatweretheyrunningfrom?MasonhadbeenthinkingincessantlyofGregson'slastwords:"Ourfault."HethoughtheknewwhatGregsonhadbeentryingtosay.Itwasn'tastaffmemberwhohadkilledhim;itwassomethingelse.Thattornado?Masondoubtedit.Eventhoughhe'dbeentossedaroundabit,ithardlyhadthenecessaryforce.Andtoo,there'dbeensomethingaboutGregsonthatspokeofsomethingmoreevilthanalocalstorm.

Hearrangedthekitonhisback,tookalastlookaroundandwalkedout.Hesearchedtheentirefieldforalandrover,hatingtogiveuptheideathatinsomenookorcrannyhe'dfindone.Thiswassomethinghereallycouldn'tunderstand.Eveniftheyhadleftinahurry,theywouldsurelyhavehadtheforesighttoleaveoneforhim.Theyknewhewascoming.

Theircomplementofthesturdylittlecarshadbeenasubstantialone.Howmany?Masontriedtorecallhisfiguresfromthelastreport.They'dbeenallotedatleastten.Tenroverstotakeasmallgrouptotheinterior?Itdidn'tmakesense.Grimly,Masonstartedwalking.

Hehadn'tgonemorethanamileuptheroughroadwhenhebecameawarethathisteethwereachingstrangely.Therewasaqueer,metallictasteinhismouthandtheairhadafaintlyleadencastandodorthatirritatedhisnostrilsandstunghiseyes.Washedueforanotherspininoneofthoseblackclouds?Masonfrownedandlookedaround,seeingnothingunusualexceptagraytinttothelandscapethatseemedtobegrowingstrongerashewalkedon.

Itwascertainlydifferentfromtheusualpatchworkriotofcolor,butthatdidn'tworryhimgreatly.Theunusualspectrumandrapidchangesofreflectionbroughtconstantsurprisetotheeye.ItwasLilith'scolor,infact,thathaddeterminedherfateasanexperimentalplanet.

Thetastegrewstrongerandthemetal,ifmetalitwas,causedeverynerveinhismouthtojumppainfully.Masonroundedacurve,comingoutfromthedense

hismouthtojumppainfully.Masonroundedacurve,comingoutfromthedensevegetationthatlinedtheroadtoaclearstretchthatlookedatleastahalfamilelongandwide.

Itwasacirculararea,lookingquitelikeaflatgraymetaldisc.Thecenterwasalmostblackwithconcentricringsofgraycirclingoutfromitandfadinggraduallyastheygrewtowardtheouterrim.AtfirstglanceMasonthoughthehadcomeuponaman-maderinkofsomesort—forwhatpurposehecouldn'timagine.

Thenherealizedthatitwastheearthitself,flattenedandpoundedwithamazingprecision.Whathadtheydonethisfor,hewonderedincredulously,andthenrealizedthatthelabheredidn'tevenhavetheequipmentnecessarytodoajoblikethis.

Withoutthinkingfurther,hehurriedontowardtheblackcenter.Hehadn'ttakenmorethantwostepsintothegraywhenherealizedthatwhereashehadstartedwalking,hewasnowbeingpulled.Magnetic!TheunderstandingcameinaflashandMasontriedtoturnaroundandgobackthewayhehadcome.Atfirsthemadenoheadway—hewastryingtorunandasheliftedhisfeettheywereforcedbackandhewouldfall,findinghimselfbeingdrawnclosertothecenter.

Then,indesperation,hefoundthatifhetooklongslowstrides,hecouldactuallymakeaslowbutcertainmovementtowardtheouterrim.Hisentirebodywasachingandthemetallicairhadinvadedhislungstothepointwherehewonderedifhecouldbreathemuchlonger.

Atlasthemadethefinalstrideandfoundhimselfoutsidethecircle.G&spingforair,heranofftotheside,throughthevegetation,untilhefoundaclearspotwheretheairwasfresher.Hislungsclearagain,heretracedhisstepstothegrayearth.Masonintendedtogoaroundthecircle.Ifhekepttotherim,theairwouldbejustbearableandhewouldn'tlosetheroadcompletely.

Asheapproachedthecircle,Masonsawwithhorrorthatthegraywasslowlycreepingtowardhim.Thesubstanceseemedtoengulftheearthittouched,suckingitinlikequicksandandthenspewingitbacktransformedtotheflatmetal.Itwasahorriblyslow,sickeningmovement.Then,ashewatched,itstopped.Therewasasudden,finalshudderofearthandtherimgrewstill.

Henoticedthattheouteredgewasnowthefaintestgraypossible.Beyondthatdimshadeitwouldfadeagaininto…what?White,Masonimagined,ormaybeblackagain.Atanyrate,thethinghadstopped.Hetriedtofightdowntheimagesthatcameintohismind,tellinghimselfthatthiswasobviouslysomeprojectofthestaff.Buthecouldn'tforgetanotherthingGregsonhadsaid:"Shouldn'ttamper…"

Wasthattheanswer?Weretheyalllyingundergroundthereinthemiddleofthatfantasticblackring?Masonrefusedthethoughtandcontinuedaroundtheedge,notevenglancingatitexcepttomakesureitwasn'tencroachingagain—orgrowing.Heshiveredatthespontaneousparallel.

Itwassheerrelieftocomeintouncontaminatedairagain,reliefeventomeettheglowinghuesofLilith.ThecolorswerequicklygettingstrongerandMasonknewitmustbenearingnoonwhenheretheworldbecamesounnaturallybrightandthechromasostrongthatspecialglasseswerenecessary.Masonhadrememberedtobringmorethanonepairandwasgladofthelenswhenheputthemon.ThroughthisshieldthelandscapetookonalmostEarthlycolorsandMasonfeltasharp,nostalgicpainashethoughtofhome.

AfamiliarsoundcamefromthedistanceandasMasonlookedupthehillthatnowroseinfrontofhim,hesawspeedingoverthecresttheincrediblywelcomeshapeofalandrover!

Masonrantothemiddleoftheroad,jumpingupanddownandwavinghisarmsabovehisheadwiththemostoverwhelmingsensationofreliefhe'deverknown.

CHAPTERTWO

Theroverscreameddowntheroad,madearecklessturninfrontofhimandbouncedtoahalt.ThetopflewbackandLouisaWengerwavedfranticallyathimtogetin.Masonwasalreadyrunningandhejumpedintothecar,pullingthetoppanelclosed.

"Neverbeensogladtoseeanybodyinmylife!"Masonsaid,takingoffhisglassesasLouisareleasedthebrake.

"Ihadtoleavewithoutlettinganybodyknow,"Louisasaidhurriedly."Theydidn'twantmetocomeatall,butIhadafeelingyoumightmakeit."Thecarwaspracticallyflyingnow,ataspeedwellbeyondthesafetylevel.

"Whatarewerunningfrom?"Masonmuttereduneasily,"It'sawfullyfast—"

"Matteroftime.Wehaveto,"Louisaanswered,"Thecircle.Isupposeyouwentaroundit,butitwasspreadingsoquickly—"

"It'sstopped,"Masonsaid.

Louisasloweddownandlookedathim."Stopped?"

"AsIwasgoingaround.Itstoppedquitesuddenly."

"Whatcolorwasit?"Louisainterruptedtensely.

"Lightgray,almostwhite."

Louisabrakedcompletelyandleanedoverthewheel,herwholebodyvisiblylimpwithrelief."ThankGod,"shebreathed."Wedidn'tknow.Well,actuallyweweren'tsureitwouldstopatthathuealthoughwesuspecteditmight.Itwasgrowingsoquicklywhenweleft."Shesatupsuddenlyandturnedtohim,"HowwasGregsonwhenyoufoundhim?"

Masonnoticedhowgauntshewas,hollow-cheekedwithshadowsunderherenormousblueeyes.Heruniformwaswrinkledanddirty,lookingasifshe'dbeensleepinginitfordays,andherusuallyroundfigurehadgivenwaytoanextremeslimnessthatMasonneverthelessstillfoundattractive.Hewas

extremeslimnessthatMasonneverthelessstillfoundattractive.Hewassurprisedattheextentofhisconcernforherandtookherhandgentlyashereplied."GregsondiedminutesafterIarrived.I'mafraidyou'llhavetotellmewhathappened."•Louisasatquitestill,hereyesfixedonthehorizon."It'salongstory,Russ.Howmuchdoyouknowaboutwhatwe'redoinghere?"

"IthoughtIknewexactlywhatyouweredoing,"Masonsaidtersely,"untilIarrivedandfoundadesertedfield,adyingmanandanatmospherethatseemedcrazyforLilith—tosaynothingofthatweirdcircleandablackcloudthattossedmearound."

^Ablackcloud?"

"Yes,andsomethingintheairthathadmeutterlyconvincedIwasgoingoutofmymind.You'dbettertellmeaboutit,becausebythetimewereachtheinteriorImayhaveworkedupahealthyantagonismtowardYeeMonforwhateverhe'sleftunreported."

"It'stoolateforthat,Russ,andactuallyitwasn'thisfault.TherewerecertainthingswewerereportingonlytoEckert."

"Eckert!"Mason*cried,"YoumeanEckert'sstaff,don'tyou?"

"No,ImeanEckerthimself.Wegaveourinformationtohimandwehavenoideawhoelse,ifanyone,inhisdivisionhastheknowledge.Imeanknowledgeofcertainexperiments."

"Eckert,"Masonwhistledsoftly.HaskellEckertwastheHeadofExperimentalScienceDivision,AmericanSectionofWorldStates.EvenMasonhadnevermettheman,althoughhewasaconsiderablywellknownreporter."Okay.Goon."

"Itdoesn'tmatternow,ofcourse,"Louisacontinued."We'recompletelycutoff."

"Whatdoyoumean?"Masoninterrupted."Thetransmitterseemedinperfectorderattheport.Ijustdidn'tknowhowtooperateit."

"Itwouldn'thavematteredifyouhad.Wecan'tgetthroughanyway.There'sanatmosphericinterferencewecan'tpenetrate.Thesunstormshavebeen

anatmosphericinterferencewecan'tpenetrate.Thesunstormshavebeenparticularlybadrecently."

Masonwasremindedoftheothers."Who'swithyou?"

"EverybodyexceptGregsonandMikePlummer.PlummerwaskilledimmediatelyandalthoughGregsonwasashortdistanceawayfromtheexplosion,hewaswoundedsobadlyheknewhe'dnevermakeittothesecondlab.Heinsistedonstayingwiththehopeofseeingyouintime."

"Hedid,"Masonsaid."Intimetowarnmeofsomething,buthenevergottotheexplanation.IdidthebestIcouldforhim,"headded,rememberingtheinadequateburial."Whatcausedtheexplosion,Louisa?"

"Color,"shesaidshortly."Wethinkitwasthecombinationofacertaincolorexperimentdoneatatimewhentherewereviolentsunspots.GregsonandPlummerwerebothworkingatthelittlelabinbackofthefuelstation.Weheardaterrificblast—terrific!Ican'tdescribeit.WerushedouttofindthelabcompletelygoneandGregsonlyingonthegroundinmuchthesameconditionthatyoufoundhim.

"Plummerhadsimplyvanished,likethelab.Fortunately,Gregsonwasabletogiveussomedataontheirexperiment,sowehavesomeknowledgetogoon.Hewantedustocomeouthereimmediatelybutwestayedattheportuntilyesterday.Hetriedtowarnus,too,butwedidn'tlisten,and—well,yousawthecircle.That'swhat'sleftofallthelandroversexceptthisone.Thisistheonewehadleftforyou.Aftertheotherswereallengulfed,wewentbacktogetit."

**Engulfedbywhat?"Masonasked,tryingtomakesenseofit,I'mstillinthedark."

"Ifwehadn'tknownbetterwe'dhavecalleditquicksand.Weweretowingtheextracarsalongforuseatthelab,andbecausewefeltwehadtogetthemawayfromtheport.Simpkinswasdrivingtheleadcarandhepassedoverthecenterspotbeforeanythingbegantohappen.Thenthecarhewastowingsuddenlystoppedandbeganmovingbackwards,takingSimpkins'caralongwithit."

Masontriedtoimaginetheenergythatcouldreverseavehicletravelingatthatspeedandshookhishead."Idon'tbelieveit."

thatspeedandshookhishead."Idon'tbelieveit."

"No,neitherdidwe.ButNeilTropewasfollowingandhesawit.Hestoppedandweallhadtofollowsuit.Simpkinsgotoutofhiscarandfoundthathewasbeingdraggedbacktothecenterspot—whichwasn'tblackthen—and,well,youwentaroundthething,soyouwouldn'tknow."

"Yes,Iwould,"Masoncorrected."IwentaroundonlyafterI'dbeenpulledinquiteaway.WhatwouldhavehappenedifI'dbeendrawntothecenter?"

Louisaregardedhimthoughtfully."Ihavenoidea,butI'mawfullygladyou'llneverfindout.Youoranyofus.Weallmanagedtogetawaybuteverycarwaspulledin.Iimagineitwasgrowingatafasterrateyesterday.Theyprobablyreactquicklyatfirstandthenlosemomentum.It'svaluableinformation,Russ."

Masonfrownedattheimplication."They?"heasked."Istheremorethanone?"

Louisastarteduptheroadagain."We'renotabsolutelysureyet,butwebelievethattheparticledisplacementfromPlummer'sdeathreactedinachainthat'ssteadilygrowing.Wethinkit'stheanswertotheatmosphereyoufelt—weallhadthesamereaction.Unreasonablefear,wasn'tit?"

Masonnoddeddumbly.

"ProbablylikePlummer'sfearthesplit-secondbeforedeath,"Louisawenton."Wecouldn'tworkinsuchconditionsanditbecamemuchworse,sowehadtoleave.Wehadnochoice.Ourmindswereworkingbutouremotionswerecompletelyoutofcontrol."

Masonwatchedherclosely,unwillingtobelieve."Whatyou'resaying,then,isthatPlummerisstill,insomestrangeway,alive?"

"Oh,notthewayyouimply,Russ."Louisasmiled."Notinanoccultwayoranythinglikethat.Withoutgettingtootechnicalaboutit,wethinktheexplanationisthathisenergyhaspermeatedpreviouslyunintelligentmatter.Inotherwords,thattheenergyreleasedatthemomentofdeathremainedintelligentinacertainway,forsomereasonorother."

Masonstared."Areyoukidding?"

"No,I'mnot,"Louisasaidvehemently."Listen,doyouknowwhatwasinthemiddleofthatblackcircle?Simpkinssawitbeforehemanagedtogetawayandbeforeitchanged.ThecenteroftheblackcircleheldtheirriliumfeedbackmechanismfromPlummer'swatch."

"Butthat'snotPlummer'slife,"Masonsaidshortly."Andanywayitdoesn'tmakesense.Howdiditgetthere?Itwastoofarawayfromtheexplosion."

"Hehaditonwhenhedied,"shesaid."That'sdefinite.Itwasn'ttoofarawaytobecarriedbytheforceofthatexplosion."

"Andyouthinkthattheirriliuminthewatchattractedtheirriliumofthelandrovers?"

"Definitely.Butonlywithinacertainarea.Afterall,therewasplentyofirriliuminthelab,too.Theremaybeotherspotsgrowingsimilarly."

Masonthoughtoftheblackcloudandimmediatelyknewwhathisfirstimpressionhadbeen:life;living!Thatwasit.Heshivered.

"…andothersbeginningwithplasticsoranyotherbasicstructure,"Louisawassaying."Whatwedidn'tknowwastherateofgrowthorwhetherthey'deverstop.Thatinformationisgoingtobewelcomed.YeeMonwillprobablythinkwe'reovertheworstofitrightnow."

"Butyoudon'tthinkso?"askedMason.

Louisashookherhead."Ithinktheanswerissomewhereintheatmosphere.Waituntilyouseewhat'sgoingoninthepenwiththeanimals!Idon'tthinkanythingisgoingtostopuntilweleaveLilithandstoptampering."

Tampering.ThewordrangfamiliarlyinMason'sear."Butihowcansimpleresearchoncolorresultinsomethingsofantastic?"

"Simple?"Louisasloweddownandindicatedthesceneryaroundthem."Lookaroundyou,Russ.HaveyoueverseensuchviolenceofcoloronEarthoranyotherplanetthatweknow?We'vefoundaspectrumherewithvisiblecolorsthatwedidn'tknowevenexisted.Imaginetherangebeyondthat,thespectrum

thatwedidn'tknowevenexisted.Imaginetherangebeyondthat,thespectrumthatwe'refindingwithinstruments.

"That'sthepartofourresearchwewerereportingonlytoEckert.Youneverknewaboutit.Thestepswe'vetakengofarbeyondTwentiethCenturyphysics.We'vediscoveredoscillationsthatseemtobeattheheartoftheuniverseitself."

"DeBroglie'sTheory,"murmuredMason,rememberingtheTwentiethCenturyscientistwhohadtheorizedthatifparticlesbehavedlikewaves,wavescouldthereforebehavelikeparticles.

"Oh,muchmorethanthat,"Louisasaid,"becausetheynevercametotherealcenteroflightitself."

"Orthemeaningbehindlight,"Masonsaiduncomfortably.

Louisaglancedovergratefully."Yes,that'sthewholepoint.Ihopeyou'llbeabletopersuadeUlinskiandYeeMontoquitnow.Ifwecanradiooutjustoncewecanbepickedupbeforeit'stoolate.Atsomepointweshouldbeabletogetthroughthisatmosphere."

Thecarturnedatthatmoment,wheretheroadleftitsavenueoftunnel-likegrowthandcameoutonthecrestofahill.Ablindingpanoramastretchedbeforeit.

InthedistancerosethemountainsofLilith,droppingdownsheerlyonthefarsidetoasmallvalleythatharboredthe,secondlab.Between,therestretchedacanvasofcolorsobrilliantlyintensethateventhroughthespeciallytreatedwindow,LouisaandMasonhadtoputontheirglassesagain.Colorsfromastrangeworld,reflectionsfromastrangersun.

Masonhadnodifficultybelievingthatifhecouldseewiththeeyeofthesun,hemightseehere,notcolor,butlight;purepatternsofenergy.Hethoughtaboutthesmall,furryanimallifeofLilithandwonderedattheconstructionthatallowedthemtoliveinaworldthatassailedahuman'ssensessounmercifully.NomancouldlivelonginLilithwithoutmechanicalaid.

Theyhadallmadetheexperiment,evenMason,whohadnorighttodoso.Herememberedhisreportsonthesensation.Theblindingheadaches,strangetensionsandthephenomenaofchangedpersonalities.Theyhadallsuffered

tensionsandthephenomenaofchangedpersonalities.Theyhadallsufferedphysicallyand,intheirattempttoseeifMancouldadapttothenewcolors,severalofthestaffhadundergonedeeppsychologicaldisintegration,followedbytreatmentfromDr.Ulinski.

Foratfirst,Masonhadtoadmit,itwasfascinating.Itwasalittlelikelivinginafairytalemorecolorfulthanthemostroseatedreamsofchildhood,oraworldmorebizarrethanthewildestfancyofimagination—untilthemessagefromtheeyecausedthebodyandbraintoscreaminpainandseekanyrelieffromtheunnaturalenvironment.

Almosteveryonehadlearnedtodispensewiththeirglassesuntilnoon.AmisthungoverLilithatdawn,softeninganddullingthebrilliancelikeaveildriftinginfrontofabrighttapestry,orasoftcloudtemperinghuesthatonemightexpectoftheworld'sfirstdawn.Thefilmclunglikeadrape,slowlydissolvinguntilnoon,whenLilithappearedherselfatlast,inaburstofcolorsointensethatsensesreeled.

Theroad,hackedroughlyoutoftheearth,twistednowinserpentineloopsandcurvesasitwoundaroundtheedgesofthenumeroussmalllakesandpoolsthatlayunderneaththeshadowofthemountains.MasonhadoftenattemptedtogivenamestothecolorofthewatersofLilith,butfounditimpossible.Lilithhadcolorsofherownthatdefiedanyclassification.Theyweren'tknowncolorsorevenhuesofknowncolors.

Downhereamongthemyriadshimmeringlakes,theworldwasinvestedagainwithmagic,andthroughtheirglasseswhichscreenedouttheintensity,MasonandLouisafelttheywereinanenchantedgarden,enclosedinanalmostimmortalradiance.Louisasmiledandinaneasier,nearlyplayfulmood,putthelandroverintoboatgearandsaileditstraightintothemiddleofapond.Shecutthepowerandtheyrockedthere,drifting,feelingacuriousandcomfortablesortofpeace.

"Look."Louisapointedtotheedgeofthepoolwhereaplump,ruffledbirdwasstandingpoisedonaclusterofflowers."It'llonlybeamomentbeforethewholegroupappears."Theywatchedwhilethebirds,theirfeathersruffledwiththewind,poppeduponebyonelikemechanicalsoldiersdrilling,aroundthesideofthepool.

Thebirdscirclingthepoolwerebusybobbingupanddown,rockinginarotationthatlookedlikeastationarydance.Suddenlytheybegantodisappearonebyone,divingintothepoolheadfirst.

Louisanoticeditinstantly,"Look,Russ!Thecloud!"Therewasn'ttimetostartthecar.Theblackspinnercametipfromnowhere,obliteratingonesideofthepool,gatheringupintoitselfthegrowthandflowersandbirdsthatwereleftStanding.Itwhirledfuriouslyupanddowninonespotandthendisgorgedagarbageofmatterthatfelldownheavilyasthecloudformedatighterspinandveeredoffoverthewater,dissolvinginthedistance.

CHAPTERTHREE

Itwasduskwhenthelandrovercrossedthelastsummitandbeganitsslowdescenttowardthevalley.Thelastraysofthesunscorchedthejunglebelow,fingeringtreetopswithdelirious,polychromeillumination.Theworldbeneathglewedfaintlyphosphorescent,whilethecragsandfurrowedspursofthemountainsflushedinaweirdechoofreflection.Itwaslikeadescenttothefinalinferno.Grotesqueshadowsroseandleaptaroundtheminaphantasmagoriaofdistortedshapes,risingandwrithingandslowlydissolvingaway.

Withvisionthusimpaired,drivingwasdifficultandittookthreemorehourstoarriveatthefinalroadtothelab.Whenfinallytheycameuponthebuildingsandparkedthecaratlast,itwaswithafeelingofcompleteexhaustion.Theysatthereforamomentenvelopedindarkness,tootiredtothink.AtlastMasonpushedbackthehoodandtheyleftthecarfortheoddlycomfortingroomsofthebuilding.

Itwasremarkablylikecominghome,Masonthought.Cominghometothesecurityofthehumanfamilythoughtheywerestrangelytransplantedtoalienandominoussoil.

YeeMonalonewasuptogreetthem.Gravelyheunlockedthemaindoorandusheredthemintothelounge,hislongsleevesswayingashemadethegracious,ceremonialgesture.Masonsmiled.Sonothinghadchanged.Eveninthemidstofperil,Yeecouldaffect,ashedideachnight,thegracefulflowinggownofhisremoteancestors.Butsomethinghadchanged.Insteadofteatherewassteaminghotcoffee,potsofit,andsandwichespiledridiculouslyhighonaplatter.MasonnotedthisoutofthecornerofhiseyeasheshookYee'shandgratefully.

"Well,Ibelievewe'vemadeit,afterall.Ididn'thavemuchhopethismorning,butafterseeingyou,I'vechangedmymind."

"You'renotmakingsense,Mason,"Yeesaid."Drinkyourcoffee."

Louisathrewherselfdownonacouchlimply,herheadbackandeyesclosedasshemurmured,"Tellhimaboutthecircle,Russ…"Andthen,suddenly,shewasasleep.

wasasleep.

MasoncoveredherwitharobeandsatdownatthetablewithYee.Asheate,MasontoldYeehisstory.Hehadexpectedsomeelationatthenewsofthecirclestopping,butYeejustnoddedsoberly.

"Yes,"Yeesaid."Wefoundanothercirclehereaboutamileawayfromthelab.Likeyou,wewatcheditasitstopped.Itwasn'tmetalliketheother,butsomeotherredsubstance.Abrilliantdeepmagentainthecenter.Itgrewuntilitreachedtheendofitsownhueandthenstopped."

WhenYeesaid,"Magenta,"Masonunderstoodthathewasdescribing,inEarthterms,thequalityofthetint,nottheactualcolor.

"LouisasaidsomethingaboutallthisbeingcausedbyPlummer'sdeath,"Masonbegan.

"Oh,yes,butthat'sawoman'sway,notthewholestory."

Yeeinterrupted."There'smuchmoretoitthanthat.Shementionedoursecretexperiments?"

Masonnodded.

"Theyhavetodowiththedestructiveeffectsoflight.Isupposeyoudidn'tknowthat?"

Masonwasappalled."Butwe—Imean,theFederationoutlawedsuchexperimentsyearsago."

"That'squiteright.Anditisstillagainstthelaw.WhenIsaydestructive,Idon'tmeanthatthepurposeisadestructiveone.Thedestructiveelementisonlyapreliminarytodiscoveringthecreativeeffects.Andwe'vefoundthatthemostpotentwayofworkingwithlightonLilithisinblendingcolors.Insomeofthosevibrationaleffectswemayhavethekeytotheuniverse."

"Andyouwenttoofar,"Masonsaid."Tampering."

"Ididn't,"correctedYee,holdingonesleevebackashereplenishedMason'scup."Gregsonwenttoofar.HeandPlummerrushedaheadrecklessly,withoutourknowledge."

ourknowledge."

"ButLouisasaidtheatmospherewascongestedbeforetheexplosionevertookplace."

"That'strue,"Yeesaid."ButTropeisinvestigatingthat,andIdon'tbelievethatitisapermanentphenomenonoranimportantone.Merelyanunusualsunstorm.Ifeelquitesureitwilldissipate."

"Andthenwecanleave,"Masonsaid.

"Leave?"Yeeleanedbackinhischair,watchingMasonimpassively."There'snoreasontoleave.We'rejustatthebeginningofthings."

Masonwaspuzzled."Ithoughtyouweresofrantic?WhenImetLouisa—"

Yeechuckled."Awoman'swayagain.Butit'strue,'wewereterriblydisturbed.Thepsychologicalterrorattheport—thecircle—it'strue.Wewerereadytogo.Butthen—"heshrugged"—wefoundthatthethingsstopped.Andeventhiswind,thistinytornadoshapeyoudescribe—I'mnotworried.Ifitcan'taffectusit'snotimportant."

Masonstared."Notimportant!ButthepossibleeffectonLilithitself?"

YeeMonfoldedhisarmsinsidethelongsleevesandlookedatMasonwithshadedeyes.Asthemonthspass,thoughtMason,hebecamemoreandmorestrange.Maybeithadsomethingtodowithlivingonastrangeplanet.Hewasgoingoninthatcalm,impenetrableway…InspiteofthecoffeeMasonhadtomakeanefforttostayawake.

"…andIcertainlydon'twantyoutoseemeastheproverbialdispassionatescientist,ivorytowerandallthat.Butreally,Mason,thereissomethingtobesaidforthesesmallexperimentalstations.Wewillnevercolonizethissystem.It'slight-yearsawayfromhumanhabitation,andwhatgoesonherecanhardlyaffectourrace.We'renoteventampering,asyouputit,withanyintelligencehere.BiologicallifeonLilithshowsnosignofevolvingfurther."

"Can'tbesure,"mumbledMason,hiseyesclosing.

"…andwe'reonthevergeofLifeitself.Lilithcanandwillplaygenesisto

"…andwe'reonthevergeofLifeitself.Lilithcanandwillplaygenesistothefinalanswer.It'stoobadabout,Gregson.Goodman,butevenhe…"

Masonhadavagueimpressionofalongcigaretteholderwavingintheair,dragonsdancing,YeeMon'ssleeveagain,ashedronedonandon,untilMasonfellasleep.

Blue.Deep,midnightblue,ultramarineandroyalblue,tintsandshadesofcobalt,cornflower,EmpireandFrenchblue,lapisandaquamarine.Masonopenedhiseyestoalmostafullthirdofthewheelofcolor—Earthcolors—andrealizedatoncethathewasbeinggiventhefulltreatment.Nevertheless,theeffectwassoothingandhelazilyshiftedhisposition,pullinguptheblanket—blueblanket,bluesheets.

"Ah!Feelingbetter?"Ulinskiwassittingbythebed.

MasonsatuphurriedlyasUlinski,grinningunderhisbristlygraybeard,tossedhimarobe.Masonputitonandgrimaced."Youdon'treallythinkI'minsuchbadshape,doyou?"'■

UlinskilaughedasheswitchedonaprojectorandbathedMasoninthespotlight."Itwon'thurt,youknow.Youhadquiteafewshocksyesterday.Justliethereforawhile."Hewalkedtothedoor,callingoverhisshoulder,"Andifyougettoolethargic,I'llputyouintheredroomtonight!"

Masongaveupandlayback.Ulinskiwasright.Heneededthespecialvibrationaleffectsofthecolorrightnow.Hecouldfeelhistensionslowlydisappearing.Howlonghadittakenmedicinetounderstandthetherapyofcolor,hewondered.They'dignoreditrightthroughtheTwentiethCentury,thatwascertain.Then,yearslater,theBogenFoundationhadunearthedtheancientscienceandappliedmoderntheory.

Thatwasthebeginning.There'dbeenalotofquackeryatfirst,Masonremembered,untilsomeresultsbecametooobvioustoignore.Thensciencehadsteppedinwithmodernmethodsofvibrationaltherapy,realizingatlastthatcolorcouldbeusednotonlyforpsychologicaleffectbutforactualhealingaswell.Strangethatithadtakensolong,Masonmused,butthenthesearchwasstillgoingon.Lightwasstillamysteryunlesspossiblythefinalanswerweretobefoundhere,onLilith.

Masondozedoffagainanddidn'twakeuntiljustbeforenoon,whenUlinskicameinandshookhim.

"Hurryup,Russ.You'llwanttoseethis.Simpkinshasfoundsomething."

Sorelaxedthatanymovementwasactuallyaneffort,Masonmanagedtogetdressed.Hefeltasifhe'dbeensleepingformonths,butassoonashewasoutoftheroomhismusclestightenedandafeelingofwell-beingsurgedthroughhim.Hewasreadyforanything.Louisalookedathimapprovinglyasshejoinedtheminthehall.

Ulinskiledthemoutofthebuildingandalongapaththatcircledthepenforanimals."I'mtakingyoutoseethatredcirclewefoundyesterday.Simpkinshasbeenwatchingitallnightanditseemstobedying—watchthethorns,Louisa,they'revicious."

Theyleftthepathandstartedthroughthejungleoveratrailthathadbeenhastilyandroughlycleared.Ulinskiledtheway,partingtheheavyfernsandbranchesbeforethem."Simpkinswasn'tpositive,buthethoughtthehuewasfadingandthismorninghesawhewasright.Weknewthecirclehadstoppedgrowing,butnowweshallseethenextstage.Wearequitecertainnowthattheseisolatedspotswerefeedingonsomething,andthatthisonehadnosustenance.Ah,hereweare!"

Masongaspedwhenhesawthecircle.Althoughsmaller,andofadifferenthue,itwasalmostexactlyliketheoneontheroad.Thecircumferencehowever,wassteadilycontracting,andthecolorfadingtoadull,dustypink,becominggrayerateachmoment.Therestofthestaffmemberswerestandingaroundtheedge,gazingcuriouslyatthedyingring.

SuddenlySimpkins,standingonthefarside,cried,"Look!Lookatthemiddle."

Attheexactcenter,inthedeepesthue,theysawsomethingpulsating;adeepthrobbingthatseemedtostartunderthegroundandswelllikeabubble.Astherestofthecirclefaded—veryquicklynow—thecolorinthecentergrewdarker.Thetintthathadspreadtotheouteredgeswasslowlyswallowedbythethrobbingbeatinthecenterwhichpulsatedmoreandmorerapidlyasitdarkened.

darkened.

"It'slikeaheart,"Louisawhisperedalarmingly.

ButMasondidn'thear.Hewasseizedsuddenlywithacompletelyirrationalurgethatcausedhimtodartswiftlytothecenter,exclaimingasheran,"Weshouldtrytosee—"

"Don'ttouchit!"Ulinski'scommandwastoolate.Masonwasalreadybendingoverthespot.Astheywatchedhimleanover,therewasablindingilluminationandMason'sentirebodyglowedforaninstantincandescently.Theycouldseetheframeworkofhisskeletonbehindthelight.

Atthatmomentthespotdisappearedandthegroundbeneathwastransformedagainintothebare,multicoloredpatchworkofLilith.

Masoncouldneverhavesaidwhyhedidit.Theimpulsecertainlydidn'tstartinhishead,wherecertainprocessesweregoingontellinghimquiteasfirmlyasUlinskitonottouchit.Buthisbodywasanothermatter.Itpulledhimalonginspiteofhimself,hislegsdrawinghimlikeamagnettothatfatalattraction.

Ashebentover,stillnotknowingwhy,Masonreceivedashockunlikeanythathehadeverfeltorheardabout.Itwasexcruciatinglypainful;aswiftsharpnessthatpenetratedtothemarrow,makinghisbonessingoutwithanalmostunbearablevibration.Atthesametimehefeltextremelylight,asifallhisweightandsubstancehadvanished.

Andthenhefeltasensationofgreatspace.Hethoughtforamomentthathewasfloatinginadarkvoid.Thedarknessaroundhimwasthedeep,velvetdarknessofeternity,withoutformormovement,untilgraduallyhisvisionbegantoclear.

Thefirstthinghenoticedwasacloudofsilver,afaintsprinklingofdustswirlingaroundinthedistance.Graduallyitbecamebrighter.Pinpointsofluminescencestabbedmercilesslyintohiseyes.Thesensationoffloatingmergedintoafeelingofsuspension.Masonthoughthewashangingsomewhere,andasthespiralsandwheelsoflighttookformhesawbeneathhimagreatflamingcartwheel,withgasesandvaporsflaringoutintoimmensedistances,lickingattheedgeofcreation.Heseemedtodescendthroughit,passingthroughthatfieryheartasifhewere,himself,aflame,lighterthanlight.

thatfieryheartasifhewere,himself,aflame,lighterthanlight.

Aroundhimitseemedasifagreatdanceweretakingplace,anintricaterevolutionofbodiesturningandpassingandcrossingeachother.Andthedance,atfirstweightless,becameaslow,ponderousmovementofhugemassesmovingheavilyaroundthegreat,flaminghub.

Hedescendedthroughtheheat,meltingandmergingintheinferno,andpassingthrough,sawbelowhimthegreatroundgreenglobeofEarth,hercontinentsatfirstahazyswirl,mergingtogetherasshespun.Thentheoutlinesbecamesharperashefelldown,passingthroughgasesandcloudsofdustlikeameteorracingthroughspace.Hefeltthebreathofatmospherearoundhim,andtheblueoftheskywasapalpablething,amaterialsubstancehecouldfeelandtouchandsmell.

Cloudswereawhite,hotmass,andhecaughthisbreathpainfullyastheawfulheatstabbedathim.Andthen,ashefellyetfaster,theheatincreased,andbelowhesawapinnacle.Ajaggedspurofmoss-coveredrockthatthrustuplikeaspearfromthemountainsbelow.Itwashigh,higherthananythingoughttobe,higherthananythingherememberedonEarth.Higherandhotter.Blazingly,agonizinglyhot

Intheroomattheobservatoryontopofthemountain,twomenweresittingatatable.Onewasdark,ebonydark,withsoftlymouldedfeaturesandskinsmoothasmarble.Notadotofmoistureappearedonthatquietblackcountenance.

Theotherwasanoldman.Veryold,andpale,withasicklypallorunderhiswhitebeardandaquickbreaththatcausedbeadsofperspirationtocoursedownhisfurrowedcheeks.Hewaswipinghisfacewithaclothandpantingslightlyashespoke.

"No,Deayban^thereisnofurtherhope.Wearetrulydesertedandourperilisbeyondrepair.Youhadbestgiveupanyhopeofsalvation.Theraceisdoomedandyourdesperatehopeonlycausesdifficulty.Weneednottohope,buttoprepare.Letusseekmeaninginourend,andinfindingthatmeaning,findtruehope."Theoldmantookacupofwaterandsippedslowlyashiscompanionroseandwenttothegreatwindowoverlookingtherangeofmountains.

"Charka,"theblackmanmurmured,hisvoiceadeepbellvibratinginthe

"Charka,"theblackmanmurmured,hisvoiceadeepbellvibratinginthecornersoftheroom."Charkasays—"

"Charka!"theoldmaninterruptedsharply."Charkasaysthatwhichcameinancientprophecies.HespeaksnotwiththenewtonguebutwiththetongueofancientancestorsbeforethedawnofTime.HispropheciesforesaidtheendofhislastRuler,butsincethen,whichforesayinghasprovedtrue?Eh?Youtellmethat,Deayban!"

Theblackmanatthewindowwassilent.

Masonstoodbesidehim,notknowinghow,knowingonlythathewasthereandinsomestrangewayunseen,knowingthathesawwithDeayban'seyesastheybothlookedoverthemountainsandbeyondthesun.

TheSun.

Hadanyoneeverseenasunlikethis?Couldanymanlookatitforlong?Mason—andDeayban—felttheirheartsshrinkingastheygazedatit.Huge,red,redderthanred,amonstrousswollenglobeofincandescentgashangingoverthehorizon,itsflaringoutlinescastinganorangeshadowoverhalftheEarth,liketheshadowofaflamingshroud.

Masonnolongerfeltanything,nordidhethinkofanything.HewasincapableofthoughtorfeelingexceptasitoccurredtoDeayban.Hethoughtandfeltnothingofhimselfsavehispresence,soitneveroccurredtohimtowonderhowhecouldbethereandyetnotbethere;feelhimselfthereandyetremaininvisible,asitwere.

Withoutanymentalprocess,Masonsimplyunderstoodhispresenceandunderstoodthathewasasmuchapartofeverythinghesawashewasapartofthetwomenorhimself.AsDeayban'sthoughtstookform,Masonheardthem,orfeltthem.Heunderstoodthem.AndinbackofDeayban'sthoughts,MasonwasawareofthatotherdeeplayerofrecordedinformationthatwasDeayban'swholelifeandknowledge.Masongraspedthatinstantly,sothathewasawareofthetwoprocessessimultaneously:Deayban'spresentassociationsandthebackgroundforthem.

Butinsteadofthinkingallthislittlebylittle,Masonsawit,likeavast,unwindingpanoramainhismind'seye.Charka—andthejaggedrangeof

unwindingpanoramainhismind'seye.Charka—andthejaggedrangeofmountains,andbelow,thesilentreachesoftheHimalayas.For,Masonknew,theseweretheoldHimalayas,changedandformedanew.Andinbackofthat,ineonspast,theslowunfoldingofEarth'shistory.

CHAPTERFOUR

All,thiswasinDeayban'smind.

Agesago,intheDawnofTime,Earthmenhadcreatedtheirfirstcrudeships—cumbersomevesselsofheavymetalsthatcruisedslowlyandpainfullyawayfromtheglobe—outintotheroughanddangerousoceansofspace.Manyshipshadbeenlostandinnumerablemenhadgiventheirlivesintheancientquestofexploration.,Andthen,asthesearchexpanded,andtheirknowledgeofbuildingandnavigationimproved,Earthmenhadmadethegreatvoyageawayfromtheirownsunandmetothercultures,otherintelligencesinthegreatCreation..

ButTimewasstillyoungandtheevolutionofManstillinitsinfancy.SoMan,intheearlydays,hadusedarchaicmeansofmeetinghisdestiny.Stillboundbyancienttraditionandearlyculture,stillconfinedtooldprocessesofthoughtandnotreadytounderstandhismeaning;likeachildtransitingtoadolescence,ManhadformedaUnionofCulturesandbounditinheavylawsandcalledittheFederation.Alldiscoveredworldswereunderitslaws.Allintelligencessubjecttoits"justice."Rulesandpenaltiesfordisobeyingruleswereputintocourts,andallbeingswererequiredtoliveunderthiscanopyoflaw.

Menthoughtitaverygoodthing,andindeed,forthem,andforatime,itwas.ForbeforetheDawnofTimegreatwarshadbeenfoughtbetweentheBrotherhoodofMan,andatlast,withtheFederation,Manhadknownfreedomfromwar.ButhehadneverunderstoodthataFederationofLaw,sousefulforhisownpurposesonEarth,mightnotbeequallyefficaciousintheGreatBrotherhoodofIntelligenceamongthestars.

Manhadalsorefusedtoconceivealimitationtoscience.Hehadnotknownhow,where,orwhentostop.Plungingrecklesslyaheadinhiscompulsiontosecurealltheanswers,whenhefoundunusualsubstanceorstrangeformationsinhishuntamongthestars,hehadclaimedthemtooundertheLawand"calledthem"experimentalplanets."

HecaredlittlethathismeddlingruinedorreversedentirelythenaturaldesignoftheGreatEvolution.Hesawnoevilintheblightedplanetsandoftendegeneratingearths.Hecarelesslyformedpocketsofwasteintheuniverse.

degeneratingearths.Hecarelesslyformedpocketsofwasteintheuniverse.

ButsomeintelligencesintheFederationwereofadifferentnaturethanMan.ContrarytoMan'sinsistenceofhisknowledgeoftheGreatPlan,andhissuperiority,allbeingsdidnotdevelopthesameway.Some,startinglaterthanMan,arrivedearlieratthepeakoftheirdevelopment.Some,dependingontheirplaceinthevastuniverseofstars,skippedentirelyanintermediatestageofevolution.TheyoutstrippedManrapidly,andtheirintelligenceandnatureswereasdifferentfromMan's,asManwastoagnat.

Butstillachild,stillnotreadytoaccepthisplace,Mancouldnotacceptthecounselofthosewhoofferedtobehisteachers.And,likeachild,Manstubbornlyrefusedtogiveuphisplaythings—hisexperimentalplanetsandhislaws.AndsinceherefusedtolistentothosewhonowunderstoodthemeaningofBrotherhoodratherthanFederation,hewastreatedlikeachildandconfinedtohisroom.Fromtheimmensereachesofinfinity,Manwassenthome,infleetsofsilvershipsthattracedcometpathsbetweenthesuns.GreatarmadassailedfromtheendsoftheuniversetobringManhome.

Hewasallowedthefreedomofhisownsolarsystem,butbeyondthatboundaryhedarenotgo.

Andnow—Masonfeltasearingagonyasheunderstood—ManwasbeingscorchedoffthefaceoftheEarth,andburnedlikeapestilenceofftheotherneighboringplanets.

Fornowwasthetimeoftheendofhissun.

Andknowingthat,foraninstantMasonknewalsohowfarhehadtraveled.Notsomethousandsoflight-yearsthroughspace,throughswirlinggalaxiesandsuns,that,yes,butnotonlythat.Hehadalsotraveledintotime,sometenthousandmillionyearsintothefuturetowitnesstheendoftheworld.Hewouldnotseethedeathofhissun—thatwasevenyetinthefarfuture,inafewhundredmillionyears.

Buthesaw,withDeayban'seyes,theendoflifeonourworldastheSun'stemperatureroseandenergywasliberatedfasterandfasterfromthegreatflaringarmsoffire.Thestockofhydrogenwasrunningout,andheliumincreasing,andinafewhundredmillionyearstheSunwouldshrivel,assomethingtiredandold,wearyuntodeathoflife-giving.Thedeathwouldbefinal,thelastagony

old,wearyuntodeathoflife-giving.Thedeathwouldbefinal,thelastagonyalonewithnolifetofeelit,aslongbeforethenManwouldhavebeenscorchedfjomthefaceofEarth.

Andtherewouldbenorescue.MasonunderstoodthatasDeaybanunderstooditandsighed,andturnedawayfromthewindow.

ForManhadaskedforhelptoolate.Adultenoughatlasttounderstandhisplaceintheuniverse,willingnowtoaccepthisrole,itwasstilltoolate.Afewhundredyearsagosomethingmighthavebeenpossible,hadManaskedforhelp.Nowtherewasnottimenormeansforevacuation.TheuniversehungheavyasotherworldsrecognizedEarth'sendandmournedforManwhohadmaturedtoolate.

Notalltheresourcesoftheheavens,racingfasterthanthespeedoflight,couldsavetheenormouspopulationfromitsfate.Afewcouldgo;certainlysomecouldbesavednowthattheuniversewasopentothem.Butwhowouldnowleavehisbrothertodiealone?WhatManwouldleavehisbirthplacenowwiththeknowledgethattherestofMankindwasdoomed?InalltheworldscirclingthedyingSuntherewasnotonewhowishedpersonalsalvationattheexpenseofhisneighbor.ThisSunhadgivenManlife,andunderthisSunhewoulddie,tryingonlytoseekmeaninginhisend.

Theblackmansatdownagainatthetable.Hisheartwasheavyandheheldhisheadinhishands.Hewouldbeoneofthelasttogo.Hisraceenduredtheshimmeringwavesofheatbetterthanmost.Thelastpeopletocomeoutoftheearthandwintheirplaceamongmen,thelasttofindtheirplaceinthesun,andnowthelasttodieunderthatsun.

Deaybanwasuneasy.Masonfeltthenaggingquestioninbackofhissorrow.Hadallroadsbeenexplored?Deayban'sthoughtskeptreturningtoCharka,andsuddenlyMasonsawhim.

Hewassittingverystillinacaveonthesideofamountain.Veryquietly,hislegscrossed,handsplacedlooselyinhislap.MasonsawDeaybanenterthecave,stoopinglow,andunderstoodthatDeaybanwasrememberingthescene.

Ithadbeenseveralweeksagowhentheblackmanhadfirstheardoftheoldhermitonthehill.Charkawaspossessedofsecretinformation,mensaid,ancient

hermitonthehill.Charkawaspossessedofsecretinformation,mensaid,ancientknowledgefrombehindtheDawnofTime.Andinspiteofoppositionfromtheoldmanwiththewhitebeard,Deaybanwenttofindhim.HeleftthelonelyobservatoryonthemountainspurandwentinsearchofCharka.

Thecavewasn'tfar.CharkahadchosenthehighestspotonEarth.FortheseweretheoldHimalayas,oncesunkenbeneathmanywatersandnowrisenagain,higherthantheheightoldstoriestoldofthem.ThepeopleoftheHimalayas—whatlegendswerewovenaroundtheirname.Howonce,eonsago,theycouldtakepilgrimsthroughtheValleyofthe

Deadandleadthembackunharmedbutwiser.

Theirprophetsforetoldgreatthings,andtheancientrecordswerekeptinsymbolswhichnomancouldread.TherewerelegendswhichsaidthatsomeneverjoinedtheBrotherhoodofMan,butremainedaparttostudytheirancientknowledgeandseektheirdestinyalone.AndCharka,itwassaid,wasoneofthelastofthesepeople.

Therewasnothinginthecaveotherthanasmallskinofwaterandabowlofgreens.Thegroundwasparchedanddryandtheroofhunglow,hotasanoven.EvenDeaybanbegantoperspireashesatdowninfrontoftheoldman,butCharkawasdryandimmobile.Hisfacewasparchmentlinedwiththousandsoftinywrinklescrisscrossedinawebofage.Hewasold;sooldthatitseemedasifhemusthavepassedthesummitofold-ageandcometohisyouthagain.Hiseyeswereclearandshining,withafarvisionstandinginthem.

"Look,"Charkasaid,pointingoutoftheopening."Look,"wasallhesaid,andDeaybansaw,framedinthearchofthecave,thesamesplendid,farvision.

Itwasnight,butthesunstillglowedadullred,investingthemountainrangewithahumidglow,outliningthefarpeakswithstreaksoforange.Beyond,farinspace,othersunsglowedinreflection.ButshiningupfromEarth,likemillionsuponmillionsofstreakingcomets,thereroseatrailoflight,sleekandsilver,liketracesofquicksilveragainstthesky.

Higherandhighertheyrose,fleetuponfleet,astheyplungedeverupwardtothestars.AndDeaybansaw,too,thesamesilverstreakshurtlingheavenwardfromtheothersettledplanets,untiltheskywasablazeoflightanditwasimpossibletotellwhichwerestarsandwhichwerestreaksandwhichwere

impossibletotellwhichwerestarsandwhichwerestreaksandwhichwereswirlingtrailsofgalaxies.

Manwasleavinghishomeforanotherplaceamongthestars,but—Masonsensedthequality—itwasnotasadpartaking,norareluctantleaving,noragivingup.Itwasratheratremendoussurgeofaffirmation.InhisManhood,Manwasleavinginadazzlingblazeofglory,nolongerconfinedlikeachildtothelife-givingparent.Manwasnowreadytobehimself,tomeetwhateverdemand,wherevertheuniversewouldholdhim…thetable,Deaybandrewinhisbreathsharply,andMasontoofeltthesamebittersweettearsthatsprangtohiseyes.Forthatwashowitshouldbe.InCharka'svisionwastheringoftruth.Manwasreadynow.WashenevertoknowtheresultofhisBecoming?

Later,Charkahadspoken.MasongraspedthatfromDeayban'sthoughtsCharkahadtoldtheoldprophecy,ofwhichtheyhadbothseenthevision:ThatonedayMan,indreadfulperil,wouldalmostperish.ButbecausethetimeofhisBecomingwouldbepast,andbecausehewouldthenbepreparedtopartakeoftheGreatPlan,Manwouldnotbeannihilated.

Testedandscourged,withmanydeepwoundsfromhisstruggle,yes.ButManwouldfindthehelpof"angels."Charkahadusedthatword.Deaybantookthatallegorically,butstill,itmovedhim,forifnotoftheliteralstuffofangels,whatotherwordcouldbeusedfortheblazingradianceofthatvisionofdeparture?

Whowerethey?Andwhatwerethey,theseangels?Fromwheredidtheycome?WhatbeingscouldpossiblyhavetheresourceandspeedtosuddenlyappearandrescueManfromextinctionwhentherestoftheuniversewasunabletohelp?

Deaybanpattedtheoldmanontheshoulderasherosefromthetable,hismemoryfinished,andwenttothegreattelescopethatlookedfarintothedepthofinfinity."Youprepare,oldman,"Deaybansaid,"Youtrytofindmeaningandpreparefortheend."Hefocusedthelensonaclusterofstarsmillionsoflight-yearsaway.

"Butwhileyouprepare,Iwillwatch."Deaybanputhiseyetothetelescope,andMason,seeingwithhimthefarnebula,feltsuddenlywrenchedaway,asifhewerebeingpulledwiththeeyeofthetelescope,fartherandfartheralongthepathitfollowedinthesky.

pathitfollowedinthesky.

Andthentherewasnothing;nothingbuttheblacknessoflostconsciousness.Heknewnothingmore—untilhestoodupright,thevibrationofshocklingeringinhisbodyashesteppedoutofthecircle,Ulinski'scry,"Don'ttouchit!"stillringinginhisears.

Masonsteppedoutofthecircleandahigh,shrillsingingsuddenlyenvelopedhim.Hewasalmostblindedforamomentbytheshockofcolorsthatmethiseyes.

Dr.Ulinskistartedrunningtowardhim,andMasonputuphishandstoshieldhiseyesfromthemovement.InbackofthecolorsandtheearthandUlinski,hesaweverythingmoving,intinystarsanddotsandparticlesspeedinginintricatecirclesandstreaks,crossingandcollidingwithfantasticspeed.Thenslowlytheunbearablevibrationceasedandthingsoncemorelookedordinary.Masonputhishandsdown,lookingatUlinskiwhostoodafewfeetaway.

"Russ—"Ulinski'svoicewasrough"—Areyouallright?No,don'tmoveforamoment.Makesure."

Itwasamomentbeforehespoke,andthen,hearinghisownvoice,Masonthoughthowinfinitelyweakandordinarythewordswere,howsmallagainsttheexperience."IthinkI'mallright,"Masonsaid,andknewrightawaythatnothingmorecouldbesaid.

Heunderstoodinstantlythatcommunicationofhisexperiencewasimpossible.Morethanthat,hefeltitwouldbewrong.Hehadsteppedintothatcircleandbeengone—howlong?Tohimitseemedasifhehadpassedhalfhislifeonthatjourney,buttotheothersstandingaroundthatclearinginthejungle,Masonhadsteppedintothecircle,receivedashockandnowwassteppingoutagain.

ThegroundbeneathhisfeetwastheoldgroundofLilith.Thespotofpulsatingredhadvanishedandtheearthwasitsold,firm,multicoloredhue,changingasthelongshadowsshiftedbeneaththesun.

Thegroupwasstandingaroundinasemicircle,staringathim.Ulinskinear,andinthebackgroundLouisa.BesideherstoodThomasSimpkins,alean,

andinthebackgroundLouisa.BesideherstoodThomasSimpkins,alean,stringylittleman,hisbrowcreasedoverpuzzledandapprehensiveeyes.SomedistanceawayNeilTropeandMarinaandNadiaViningweregroupedlikemarblestatuesinthesun,NeilwithhisarmsfoldedintightprotectionandtheViningsistersleaningslightlyforwardontheirtoes,asifreadytospringawayinsuddenflight.

HehadnotseenYeeMon,whowasinbackofhim.NowheheardamovementandturnedasYeecameupbesideUlinski.

Theybothregardedhimseriously.YeelookedatUlinskiand,asifinagreement,theybothsteppedbackafewpaces.Masonunderstood.Theyallhadthesamethoughtofpossibleradiationeffects.

"Let'sgoback,"Yeesaidquietly."Pleasefollowatadistance,Russ.Youunderstand."

Masondidn'tprotest.Hefeltquitesurethathehadn'tbeenharmedandwouldnothimselfbeharmfulradioactively,butheunderstoodtheirconcern.Louisagesturedtowardhimhelplesslyandsaidonly,"Russ,"andhenoddedbackreassuringly.

Theystartedback,athoughtfulsinglefile,withMasonfollowingintherear.Hewasgladofthesilence.Wordswouldhavebeendifficultrightnowand,hefelt,inawayevendangerous.Masonwantedtothink,andatthemomenthefelthecouldthinkinadifferentandbetterthanordinaryway.Hefeltchargedwithenergyandvitalityandhadtosubdueanimpulsetorunwildlyandexuberantlythroughthewoods.

Hefeltentirelydifferent.Hecouldn'tremembereverhavingfeltthiswaybefore.Everythinglookeddifferent,andparticularlythepeoplehewasfollowingthroughthewoods.Masonwonderedatthenewwayinwhichhe'dseentheminthatsnapshotbythecircle.Forthefirsttimehesawthemnotaspeoplewhomightknowmoreorlessthanhedid,notaspersonalitiesandmannerisms,buthehadseenthem,orthroughthem,totheirverynatures.

HehadneverlikedSimpkinsbecauseofthatconstantseriousattitude,whichMasonhadalwayssuspectedwasapose.Butnowhehadseenwhatthatposecovered,thedeepinsecurityandfear.

AndtheViningsisters.Masonhadalwaysthoughtthemquitebrilliantandeven,asaman,beenirritatedattheirsuccess.ThebeautifulViningsisterswhohadreceivedhonorafterhonorfortheirworkinphysicsandbiochemistry,andwiththeirfantasticearningspurchasedanactualhalfofadiscardedexperimentalplanet.

StoriesvergingonfantasyhadbeentoldabouttheViningsistersandthatsmallplanet.AndforaninstantMasonhadseenthemoutofcontext,farremovedfromthatassociation.

Hehadseenthemsimplyasbodies.Bodiesbeingusedbymindsnotreallybrilliantbutbysomequirkofhereditypossessingapeculiaraptitudeformemoryandrecall.Andinbackofthattherehadbeennothing.Nospark,nohumanity,littleemotion.

AndNeilTrope:notasshallow,butohhowyoung.Untouchedbyanyrealexperiences,hemusthavecometohisthirtiesinthesamewayhehadenteredhistwenties.Hewasblindedbyexternals,believedeverything,passedfromoneassociationtoanotherandtookitallasfinal.Masonhadlikedhimverymuch.Hefeltsomewhatstrangenow,realizinghowmuchhehadenjoyedNeil'scompany.

Mason'sexuberancesuddenlylefthim.Hefeltashamedthathehadn'tbeguntoknowhimselforhisownlack.Hehadtakenastartlingjourneythroughtimeandspaceandseen—avision?Thetruth?Andhehadreturnedalittledifferent,butstillMason,stillunexplored.

Hebegantofeelheavy,asiftheenergywerepouringoutofhiminagreatwideningflood,andhisdoubtsbegantorise.Visionortruth?Andcouldn'tithavehappenedtoanyoftheothersaswell?Washespecialordifferentinanyway?Whathadcausedhimtoruntowardthatcircle?Anyoneofthemmighthavedonethesame.

Butashethoughtthis,Masonfeltbetterbecauseheknew,orthoughtbeknew,thattherewasapurposebehindit.Ithadnothingtodowithhimashewas,butcouldithavesomethingtodowithwhathemightbecome?Hetriedtounderstandit.

Thecirclehadpulsated.Hehad,forsomeunknownreason,runtowardit.Hemightneverknowwhy.Allright.•Butwhatwasthatcircle?Ithadstoppedwhenhesteppedin.Orhaditdied,asUlinskisuggested?Ithadtakenhimsomewhere.Orhadit?Wasitonlyadreamcausedbyshock?Andwhatofthoseotherisolatedspots—thecloudandtheblackcircleontheroad.Whatwastheconnection?

Theothershadpassedfromsight,andMasonbegantopushbacktheheavyfernsthatblockedhispath.Itturnedhere,justbeforetheclearingfortheanimalpen.Masonstoppedforamoment.Somethingwasoccurringtohimandhestoodquitestillandclosedhiseyestoseeitbetter.Hemusthavetheanswer.

Andallatonce,heknew.Hehadknownitbefore,henowrealized.Hehadknownittheminutehesteppedoutofthatredcircle,buttheknowledgehadbeensoswiftthatithaddisappearedbeforethespectacleofthestaffthatmethiseyes.

Nowitreturned,swiftaslightning,instantaneousknowledgethatneedednolonginvolvedreasoningtoknowitstruth.

Plummer'sdeathhadresultedinliberatedenergy.Ithadremainedintelligent,justastheyhadsuspected.Intelligentwithitsownparticularpropertiesofintelligence.AndeachsmallparticleofPlummerhadattracteditslike,inaterrificefforttoliveandgrow.Theexperimentitselfhadcausedthat,andtheexplosioncombiningwiththeatmosphereofLilithatthetimehadresultedinthisfreakofnature.Eventhenonlivingmatterofthelaboratoryhadthesamefate:toattractitslikeandtrytogrow.

Butnowitwasover.

ThatwaswhatMasonknew.Themetallicspotontheroadwouldremainforawhile,ablotonthelandscape,andthengraduallydisappear.Itwashardierthantheotherstructureswhichhadalreadydied.Therewerenomoreblackclouds,andtheotherspotsandcircleshadalreadydiedandvanished.Lilithhadtransformedthem,aftertheirshortnewlife,intoherownatmosphereandearth.Theyweregonebecausethesun'sdisturbancewasdecreasing.

Well,heknewallthis,butwouldtheothersrealizeittoo?Hecouldn'ttrytoexplaintothemhowheknew.Allhecoulddotohelpalleviatetheirfearwasto

explaintothemhowheknew.Allhecoulddotohelpalleviatetheirfearwastosuggestthatitmightbeso.Theywouldhavetofindouttherestforthemselves.

Hestartedwalkingagain,towardtheroominthelabwhereheknewtheywouldexaminehim.Hefeltunfinished,withonlyhalfthepuzzlesolved.Thatthepreviousdangerwaspast,heknew.Buttherewassomuchmissing.

Hadthatjourneybeentrue?

Andiftruth,whyhadhebeenallowedtoseetheworld'send—orMan'sbeginning?Whyhadhebeenplacedinthecen-teroftwosuchdistinctlydifferentfutures?Masonwonderedhowamanwouldfeel,knowingthathisracewasdoomedtoeitherextinctionorsalvation.

CHAPTERFIVE

OnethingthathadalwaysconcernedMasonwastime.

Themomentsoftimestretchingalongthepathofhisexistenceseemedtohimthethinnestofpointsinaline,vanishingbeforeheeverrealizedthem.Therewasthefutureandthepast,butMasonhadalwaysfeltacuriouslackofthepresent.Hewishedthatamancouldfindawaytoholdoneofthosemoments—stretchitoutatwill—muchlikemomentsofheightenedperceptionoftenappearedlongerthanordinarymoments.

Yearsagomenhadconceivedoftimeasthefourthdimensionandpostulatedatheoryofapossiblefifthdimensioninwhichtimewouldbeseenasasolidity,nolongeramoving,vanishingthing,butall-together,assomethingmateriallythereinwhichmancouldmoveaboutatwill.Nowthattheorywasregardedasafairytale.Manhadneverfoundthisso-calledfifthdimensionandeventheoldstoriesoftimetravelweretreatedasnothingmorethanfantasies.

Mason,however,hadnevergottenoverthefeelingthattherewasmoretotimethanwhatwaspresentlyknow.Andnowhehadactuallyexperiencedsomethinginthatdirection.Hewishedhecouldtrustitabsolutely,butitwaspreciselyhisconcernwithtimethatpreventedhimfromacceptingitasreal.

Theshockofvibrationthathadreachedhiminthecirclecouldhaveunlockedsomethingdeepinsidehimthatwishedfortheexperience.Itcouldhavebeenofnomoresubstancethanhisnightlydreams.

Theonepartheneverquestionedwashisknowledgeofthedisappearanceofthevariousspotsandcircles.ThiswasconfirmedbythereportsofNeilTropeandSimpkins.MomentsafterhisexaminationTropehadrushedinwiththenewsofachangeintheatmosphere.

.Simpkinshad-beendispatchedtocheckonthecircleneartheportandreturnedtoreportthatitwasslowlybutquitesteadilyfading.Lilithwasitselfagainatlast,andDr.UlinskihadfoundnotraceofradioactivityinMason.Heattributedthistoatmosphericinfluences,although,heconceded,itwaspuzzling.

Laterthatnight,asMasonwaswonderingwhatkindofareporttoprepare,

Laterthatnight,asMasonwaswonderingwhatkindofareporttoprepare,Ulinskicalledthestafftotheloungeforaconference.

"Wehaveaproblem,"hebegan,seatinghimselfatthelargeroundtableinthecenteroftheroom."InjustashorttimeI'msurewe'llbeabletoradioout,andMasonhereisgoingtohavetosendareportonLilith.They'resuretoknowthatsomethinghashappened.Theyhaveundoubtedlytriedtocontactusandbeenunsuccessfulinpenetratingtheatmosphere.Now—"helookedthoughtfullyatthegroupseatedaroundtheroom"—wemustdecidewhatweshalltellthem."

"Eckertisanothermatter,"headded,pullingabsentlyathisbeard."YeeMonwillcontacthimprivatelyassoonashecan.Withhim,ofcourse,wewillbetruthful.Butthereportingshipmustnothaveallthefacts.Masonknowsenoughnow;therewouldbenopointindisguisinganythingforhisbenefithere.Youcanspeakfreely.Infact,Ithinkitwouldbewisetocleareverythingupforhimsincehe'sbeenmoreorlessdirectlyconnectedwithourexperiments."

MarinaViningleanedforwardonherchair,herblondehairmakingahaloaroundhersmall,evenfeatures."Whydowehavetomakeupanystory?"sheasked,claspingherhandstogether."Theywillknowabouttheatmosphericinterference.That'snothingunusual,evenonEarth.Isn'tthattheanswertothewholethingasfarasthey'reconcerned?"

"No,"YeeMonansweredcurtly."Itcan'tbetheanswertohowGregsondied,orwhywedon'thaveatraceleftofMikePlummer'sbody.Therewillbeaquestionofburial,Marina."

Masonstarted.Hehadn'trememberedthat.Ofcourse,theritualofspaceburial.Asattheolddaysatsea,whensailorswereburiedintheverywatersthathadtakenthem,sotheFederationburiedtheirvictimsintheblacknightofspace.

"Oh,yes,Isee,"murmuredMarina.

"Well,then,wehavetosaytherewasanexplosion."Nad-ia'svoicewassharperthanhersister's,inkeepingwithherappearance.

"Yes,andifwedo,thenwehavetosaywhy."Ulinskiwasgrave."Anexplosionfromordinarycausesisalmostoutofthequestioninthesestations.

explosionfromordinarycausesisalmostoutofthequestioninthesestations.Theywillknowthat,andthey'llaskfordetails,andthenitwillbeobviousthatthiswascausedbyanexperiment."

Simpkinsturnedverypaleandhisvoicetrembledashespoke,"Andiftheyknowthat,willthehighcourtaskforahearing?"Helookedaroundtheroom,andgettingnoanswer,rushedon,trippingoverhiswordsnervously."Whycan'tEckerttakecareofitforus?Eh?Comeon,Ulinski,whycan'thedothat?Whyshouldwehavetoappearinhighcourt?ThisisallamatterforEckert."

Masonwasfascinated.Itwasquiteobviousthathewashearingsomethingnoreporterhadheardbefore.TheinnerworkingsoftheFederationandexperimentalstationsandhighcourtwereamysterythatwasslowlyunfoldingashelistened.Hewasn'tsurehelikedwhatheheard.

YeeMonsaid,withatraceofimpatience,"Oh,Tom,youunderstoodtheconditionswhenyouacceptedthiswork.Whattheuniverseknowsaboutexperimentalplanetsisonething;whatEckertknowsisanother.Butheisaloneinthework,don'tyouunderstand?Therearepossiblyonlyoneortwomenabovehim."

"Whoarethey?"interruptedSimpkins.

YeeMonshrugged."Whoknows?Wedon'tknow,maybeEckertdoesn'tevenknow.Heissworntosecrecyjustasweare."Thenhelaughedalittle."Secrecy!Youknowit'smorethanthat.ThewholestructurewouldcometumblingdownandtakeEckertwithitifthetruthwereknown."

Louisafrowned,lookinganxiouslyatMason.Hecaughtherglanceandwassuddenlyuneasy.Thetruth:thatwasareporter'sjob.Whyweretheytrustinghimwiththisconfidentialdiscussion?

Ulinskiseemedtosensehisthought,forheturnedtoMasonandsmiled."It'squitesimple,Russ.YouknowsomuchalreadyWecan'tkeepanythingfromyou.Infactitwouldbeimpossible.AndwhenYeeMonsaysthewholestructurewouldcomedown,heisincludingnotonlytheexperimentalplanetsandEckert,butMankind.Allofusaswell.

"EventheFederationwouldbeingravedanger.Idon'tknowhowthehighcourtwouldexplainitaway,oriftheywouldeventry.Therearesomesittingin

courtwouldexplainitaway,oriftheywouldeventry.Therearesomesittinginthehighcourtwhoalreadyobjecttomanyofourlaws.Thiswouldgivethemanexcusetheymightwelcome."

Masonhadbeensilent,tryingtopiecelooseendstogether,butnowhethoughthehadaroughpicture."ThefactthatwehaveexperimentalplanetsiswellknownthroughouttheFederation,"hebegan.

"Ah,yes,"Tropeinterruptedwithasarcasticgrin."Theentireuniverseknowsofourhumanitarianendeavorsandthegreatbenefitstoallbeingswithourpureresearch—"

"Hush,"Ulinskistoppedhim."LetRusscontinue."

"WhenIfirstarrived,"Masonwenton,"LouisatoldmethatsomeinformationwasbeingreleasedonlytoEckert.Thatwasmyfirstclue.ThenYeeMonsaidsomethingaboutworkingwiththedestructiveeffectsoflight.Iknewsuchexperimentshadlongagobeenoutlawed.Infact,thepenaltyissoseverethatIhaddifficultybelievingitwastrue.ButthenYeesaidthattheseexperimentswereonlyapreliminary,andthatledmetobelievethatyouwerekeepingthemasecretonlybecauseitwasnecessaryforfurtherpureresearch."

NeilguffawedandagainUlinskisilencedhim.Louisawaslookingseriouslyandintentlyasifshecouldn'tbeartolookatMason.

"SoIthoughtthattheexplosionwassimplyahorribleaccident.Somethingthatwould,ofcourse,beinvestigatedlateron,butnothingforwhichyouwouldbetoblame."

Ulinskinodded."Ofcourse,itwasanaccident,Russ.Butanyinvestigationwouldshowthattheexperimentthatcauseditwasoutsidethelaw.Wewereworkingoutsideofnature,andyouknowweareonlyallowedtoworkwithinnature'sframework.Aninvestigationisoutofthequestion.Wecan'thaveone."

Louisasuddenlylookedup."Can'tthewholethingstillbeattributedtotheatmosphere,justasMarinasaid?"

"No,"Ulinskianswered."Anythingthatresultsinadeathmustbeinvestigated,andanyinvestigationwouldshowwhatweweredoing.Thesame

phenomenonwouldnothaveresultedwithoutthesunstorms,that?strue.Butwewerenotsupposedtobeworkingthewaywewereunderanycircumstances."

"Canyoutellmeexactlywhathappened?"Masonasked,"IknowI'mnotmuchofanexpertonlight,but…"

"Youdon'thavetobe,"Ulinskisaid."It'squitesimple.Wewereblendingcolorsfromoppositeendsofthespectrum.GregsonandPlummerhadhitonit.TheyfoundthatlightonLilithhasapeculiarproperty.Foronething,thevisiblespectrumismuchwiderthanthatofEarth.SohereweactuallyseeraysthatonEarthareinvisible.Andnotonlythat,butthesameprocessofreflectionfromtheseraysresultsincolorswhichonEarthwouldbeoutofthequestion."

Masonnoddedtoshowthatheunderstood.

"AndGregsonfoundthatbycombiningthesecolorshegotaverystrangeresult.Asyouknow,onEarthyoucanmatchanycolorinthespectrumbyacombinationofthreeothercarefullychosencolors.Well,hereonLilithacertaincombinationofcolorsfromtheleastvisiblerays,onthelongandshortendoftheband,resultedinacolornotincludedinthespectrumofLilith!

"Andnotofthewavelengthorquantumofanyraywe'vebeenabletoisolatehere.Itseemedtohavepropertiesofbothlongandshortrays,butinadditionithaditsownproperties,whichwewereunabletoanalyzebecauseitkeptshifting.Thecolorseemedtohavealifeofitsown,ifyoucanimaginethat."

"Yes,Ican,"Masonsaid,"ifitwasanythingliketheilluminationfromthatcircleIsteppedinto."

"Thatwassofastthatwecouldn'thaveseencolorinitevenifcolorhadbeenthere,"YeeMonobserved."ButIwouldn'tbesurprisedifitwerethesamething."

"Atanyrate,"Ulinskicontinued,"notbeingabletoputatagonthisparticularrateofvibration,wedecidedtothrowitonsomeoftheanimalsandseewhathappened.Wehadafewattheportlab,andsinceitwasGregson'sandPlummer'sdiscovery,theymadetheexperiment."HepausedforamomentandlookedatMason."Youknowwhathappened?Absolutelynothingatfirst.Then,twodayslater,theanimalsshowedachangeofcolorthemselvesandthenthey

twodayslater,theanimalsshowedachangeofcolorthemselvesandthentheyalldied."

Masonfrowned."Withadiscoverylikethat,Imeananewcolor,itseemstomeyoudidnothingwrong.Ihateanimalexperimentsmyself,thatisn'tagainstthelaw,isit?"

TheroomwasstiffwithsilenceandMasonlookedfromonetotheother,puzzled."Thatisn'tagainstthelaw,isit?"herepeated.

Ulinskilookeddownatthefloorandthenangrilyhitthepalmofhishandwithhisotherfist.Hismouthwastight."No,thatwasnotagainstthelaw,asyouputit.ButwereportedittoEckertandreceivedfurtherorders."Heraisedhislargeshaggyheadandlookedvacantlyatonewall.

"OurordersfromEckertweretopursuethismatterofanewcolorthatcouldkill,topursueituntilwehadsomethingweweresureof.Anewweaponthatcouldn'tmakeamistake."

"Aweapon!"Masonchokedontheword.

"That'sright,Russ."YeeMonsmiledathimremotely."Ididn'ttellyouthenightyouarrived.Weweren'tsurethenitwouldbenecessary.Notaweapontobeused,though,"headded,"justabalance-of-powerweapon."

"Butit'sagainstthelaw!"Masoncried,aghast.

"Sowascontinuingourexperiment.Youwererightwhenyousaidthefirsttimewasnotwrong,"Yeecontinued."Butthatwaswherethelawsaysweshouldstop.Anythingthathasaharmfuleffectonlifeisconsideredworkingoutsidenature.Regardlessofthefactthatnatureproducedthecolor."

Buthadnatureproducedit,Masonwondered.Manhadinterferedandproducedit,hadn'the?Evenifthecolorwasinherentlythere…

NoticingMason'sexpression,Tropelaughedandpouredadrink.HehandedittoMason."Buckup.You'reabouttolearnthefactsoflife.WhichI'msuretheydon'tteachyouinreportingschool."

MasonsetthedrinkdownwithouttastingitandstaredatNeil."Butyoucan't

MasonsetthedrinkdownwithouttastingitandstaredatNeil."Butyoucan'ttakethissolightly!Thatbalanceofpowerbusinessisancienthistory."

"Verymodernhistory,"Ulinskicorrectedhimdryly."It'sbeengoingonunderyournoseallthetime.Onlyyouyoungreportersneverknewit.You'rethemosteffectivescreenthey'vebeenabletodreamup."

"Doyoumeanthatthisisgoingononotherplanets?"Masondemanded."Oneveryexperimentalplanetyouvisit,"Ulinskisaid."Atleast,that'smyguess."

"Butwho'sresponsible?What'sitfor?"

"Weapons?"Troperaisedhiseyebrows."Whythat'stokeepManinhisplaceofprominenceamongthestars.Haven'tyounoticedyetthatsomeofthebeingswhositinthehighcourtareslightlymoreintelligentthanMan?"HeregardedMasoncynicallyandshookhishead."Theyreallykeepyouconfinedtothoseships,don'tthey?"

"I—Ihaven'thadmuchcontactwithothercultures,"Masonadmittedslowly,seeingthetruthinwhatNeilsaid."Butifsomeofthemaremoreintelligent,"headdedsuddenly,"whydon'ttheyknowwhatwe'redoing?Ordotheyknow?"

"Idoubtitverymuch,"Louisasaid,finallylookingup."Theirintelligenceissodifferentfromours.Theythinkinadifferentway.Idon'tbelievesuchapossibilitywouldoccur,tothem.Andifitdid—"hervoicerose"—I'msuretheywouldthinkweweremad.Warpedandutterlycrazy.Andthey'dberight!"

AfterasilenceUlinskislowlysaid,"AndwouldyoubehappywiththeknowledgethatManwasnolongeratthecenterofcreation?CouldyougiveupyourideaofManasthefinalandbestimageofevolution?CouldyousubmittoalesserroleintheFederation?"Heheldherwithhiseyes,waitingforheranswer."Wouldn'tyouseizeyoursuperioritywithforce,ifnecessary?"

AllofasuddenMasonwastransportedbacktohisvisionoftheobservatoryontopofthemountainandherememberedDeayban'smemoryofMansailinghomeacrossthestars,comingbackcaptivebecausehewasanoutcastintheuniverse.Thememorywasashockhereinthesilenceoftheroomwhereforcesleadingtothatprisonseemedtobeatwork.Wasthistherealbeginningofthatfailure?Againthepeopleintheroomappeareddifferentlytohim.Hesawthemasstrangersactingoutapreordainedrole;puppetsdestinedtobepulledthisway

asstrangersactingoutapreordainedrole;puppetsdestinedtobepulledthiswayandthat.

Louisabrokethesilence."Ifitweremeanttobe,"shesaidsoftly,"theanswerisyes.IthinkIcould."

Theotherslookedawayfromthesimplicityofheranswer.Masoncouldfeelwhatwasatstakehere.ForMantoacceptasmallrolewastoaskagreatdeal.Eachpersonsensedthemagnitudeofthequestion.

"Well,"Ulinskisighed,"I'mafraidyou'requitealoneinthat,Louisa.You'llfindfewmenwhoarecapableofsuchhumility."Hesmiledathergently."Ievenwonderifyouwouldbe,puttoarealtest."ThenheturnedtoMason,"Nowyousee,Russ,whyknowledgeoftheseactivitiesisoutofthequestion."

Masonslowlynodded.Ofcoursehesaw.Therewasnothinghecoulddoaboutit.AnyreportontherealfactswouldsplitasunderthewholestructurethatManhadsocarefullybuilt.Hecouldn'tdothat.Itwouldbeabetrayalofhisrace.But,liewonderedsilently,couldhehelpchangethedirectionbySeeingEckert?Hedidn'tformulateitanymorethanthat;itwassimplyaswiftthought.

Asif,hehadreadMason'smind,YeeMonsaidtoUlinski,"IthinkweshouldgetRussintouchwithEckert.HewillWantafirsthandreportaboutthatcircleandMasonwasdirectlyinvolved.Can'twesendhimtoEckertfirstandholdofftheregularreport?Eckertmayhavesomethingtosuggest."

"Icouldexplainthatmyreportsaren'tcompletedyet,andnotmentionanythingatallaboutGregsonandPlummertomyship,"Masonsaid,anxiousforUlinskitoagreewithYeeMon.Ulinskiwasthoughtful."Yes,perhapsthat'sbestforthepresent.We'llleaveitatthatuntilwehearfromEckert."

CHAPTERSIX

Soontheothersleft,leavingMasonalonewithLouisa.Hehadaterrificurgetotellherwhathadhappenedinthatcircle,andonlyrestrainedhimselfwithdifficulty.Itwasn'ttime.Maybesomeday,butnotnow.Theytalkedquietlyforawhile,deliberatelyavoidingarepetitionofthediscussion.Louisawasdeeplydisturbed,Masonsensed,andhesteeredtheconversationawayfromseriousthoughtstospeaklightlyofpeopleandhome.

"Howlonghasitbeenforyou?"Masonasked.

"SinceI'vebeenhome?Oh,Ihaven'tseenEarthsinceIwasachild,"sheanswered."MyworkwaschosenwhenIwasjustten,andthatwasjustinthenickoftime,soIwassentofftoschoolimmediately."Shepausedforamomentandthenadded,"Itwashard."

Masontookherhandandheldit,realizingthatshewasthinkingofherparentswhomshecouldn'thaveseennowsincethatdaylongagowhensheboardedtheshipschool,toprepareforherlifeinspace.

"Iknow,"hesaid."Ihaven'tseenmyfamilysinceIwassixteen."

Louisalookedathimintently."Doyouthinkit'sright,Russ?Iknowweallwantedthislife,butIwonderifchildrenarereallycapableofchoosing?"

Theyweresilent,thinkingofthemanyyearsspentinspace,growingupinthehugeshipschoolswhichcarriedthemfartherandfartheroutamongthestars.Asyoungadultsthegreaterpartoftheirliveshadbeenspentinspaceandonstrangeplanets.AlthoughEarth,inaway,wasevenstrangerforthem.Dimmemoriesfromtheirchildhoodonthemotherplanetrecurredhauntingly,asifEarthwereadream.

"Whatdoyouremember,Louisa?"Masonasked.

Hereyeslightedasshereplied."IrememberthePacific.MorethananythingIremembertheseaandthesandandrunningwildonthebeachandthehugewaves.Iwasbornononeofthoseislands,Russ,andchildrengrewupveryfreelythere.MorefreelythananywhereelseonEarth,Iimagine."

Herfaceglowedasshespoke,"Andmyparentsgavemesomuchpersonalfreedom,too.IthinktheyrealizedImightbechosenforspace,andtheywantedmetosoakinnatureandchildhoodasmuchasIcouldbeforeIleft."

Shegrinnedathimsomewhatmischievously."AndIalmostdidn'tgo!Itookthetests,andwhentheysaidI'dbeenchosenifIwishedit,Ialmostsaidno.Thecalloftheislandswasverystrong!Butthennatureworkedalittleinreverse,andIbegantothinkthatifnaturewassowonderfulhere,whatwoulditbelikeoutinthestars?"

"Yes,"Masonsaidinalowvoice,"that'sthewaytheyreachus.Achild'simaginationcan'tresistsuchanopportunity."

Suddenlyseriousagain,Louisainsisted,"Doyouthinkit'sright?Afterall,it'sneverwhatwethinkit'sgoingto.be.It'snotdancingamongthestarsatall.It'salifeconfinedtoboardingschool.Andit'shardwork.Thehardeststudyintheworld."

"Theytoldyouallthat;youwerewarned."

"Iknow,butIshruggeditoff.Ihadvisionsofthestars."

"Asdidweall."Masonpressedherhandsympathetically."Butitwon'tbelongnow,andwhenwedogetbackwe'llhavehadanexperiencethatcan'tbematchedbythosewhostayedathome."

"Whenwereyouduetogohome?"Louisaasked.

"Oh,inafewmoretrips,Ithink."

"DoyouthinkEckertwillletyougonow?"

Masonstaredather."Whywouldn'the?"

Shewassilentforamoment,andthen,withoutlookingathim:"Wewereallcarefullyorientedtothisworklongbeforewearrived.ButIthinkthepreparationofthereportersisdifferent,isn'tit?"

Masonfrownedattheimplication.Ofcourse,shewasright.Itwasentirelydifferent.Reportersweretrainedtotellthetruthatwhatevercost.Theytookan

different.Reportersweretrainedtotellthetruthatwhatevercost.Theytookanoathbindingthemtothesearchforfacts.Itwasaseriousbusiness,thisthingoftruth.Masonhadlivedwiththeideaalmostallhislife.Truth,honesty,courage,morality.

Hegroanedasthewholethingbecamesuddenlyandterriblyclear.Howveryclevertheywere!Sendanhonestyoungmantotheexperimentalplanetstoreportonthetruth,andthattruthwouldbeasmuchoraslittleasthestaffscaredtogivehim.Nowondertheirtraininghadneverincludedanyofthesciencesonwhichtheywerereporting.

Theyweregivenaslightknowledgeofterms.Enoughwithwhichtowriteacorrectreport,butnotenoughtoreachtheirownconclusions.Neverenoughtoreallyunderstandwhatwastakingplace.Theywereutterlydependentontheexplanationsthestaffsgavethem.

AgainMasonfeltanurgetotellLouisaaboutthatvisioninthecircle,andagainsomethingstoppedhim.Hefeltthathecouldtrusther,thatthiswholebusinesswasasdistastefultoherastohim.ButtheknowledgeofdeceitwasanewthingtoMason,andasitpenetrated,hefeltheshouldhavetogocautiously.

Hemustlearntobeclever,too,cleverenoughtokeepsomethingstohimself.Itwasastrangeawakeningforayoungmanwhohadspenthisentirelifeconvincedoftherealityofjustice.Hewouldhavetobeextremelycircumspect,Masonthought,andwatchhimselfclosely.Hisbackgroundmadehimsospeciallyvulnerable.

WhatwasthismanEckert,Masonwondered?AndwhowasabovehiminthehierarchydedicatedtosustainingMan'ssupremacy?Hewouldhavetofindthatout.Also,hewouldhavetobecomeconvincedofthetruthofwhathehadseenofMan'sfuture.Whathehadlearnedsofarbroughthimclosertothatconviction,buthewantedfurtherproof.

Masonalsorealizedthattherewasatremendousgapinhisknowledge.Thoseotherintelligenceswhosatinthehighcourt,thoseotherbeingswhommanhadfoundinhisexploration—Masonhadneverseenthem.Hehadrarelyheardofthem.

Hadanyreportereverseenone,hereflected?Hehadneverheardofit.Why

weretheexperimentalplanetssostrangelydevoidofalienintelligence?HehadbeentaughtthattheFederationfrownedonexperimentsinvolvinglifeonanyplanets.Buttheexperimentshereweredirectlyconcernedwithlife.

Didthehighcourtknowanyofthis?

Deepinside,Masonknewtheanswertothat.Itwasaresoundingno!Ofcoursethehighcourthadnoknowledgeofit.Theyreceivedreportssentinbymenlikehimselfwhowerecarefullyscreenedandwhoseknowledgewasfiltered.InallthereportsMasonhadsentin,notonehadmentionedthepresenceoflife.Becausetheinformationhewasgivensedulouslyavoidedallmentionofthesubject.

Masonwonderedaboutthoseotherbeings.Heknewthathehadbeengivenonlyhazyinformation.Whenhewasstillachild,likeallchildren,hehadbeenfascinatedbythepossibilityofotherlife.AndhisteachershadtriedtodescribetheintelligencestheFederationhadfound.Describedthemalwaysamorphously,hintingratherthantelling,andthengivinglecturesonthealien'shistorywhichalwaysprovedsolongandboringthatgraduallythechildrenlostinterest.

Whowerethey?Whatwerethey?

Suddenly,forthefirsttimesincehischildhood,Mason'simaginationwasfiredagain.Butthistimeitwasnotonlyemptycuriosity.ItwasadeepdesiretoknowmoreaboutthepeculiarworkingsoftheFederation,andanevendeeperinterestinknowingonceandforallMan'splaceinthisvastuniverse.

Perhapshewasstrange,Masonpuzzled,perhapshewasdifferent.ButevenifManwerenotthesupremecreation,howinheaven'snamecouldheresisttheimpulsetoknow?Masoncertainlycouldn't.Hefeltheadyandcourageousaboutit.Itmightwellbethecourageofignorance,'headmitted,butatanyrate,itwouldcarryhimthrough.

HegrinnedsuddenlyatLouisa,comingoutofhisreverie,"Don'tworryaboutme.I'llbeallright."

ThenextmorningEckert'svoicecrackledthroughthetransmitteronthespecialwavelength.Ulinskiclosedthedoorandspoketohimalone.Outside,Masonwaited,hopingforananswerbeforethemothershipradioedtohim.That

Masonwaited,hopingforananswerbeforethemothershipradioedtohim.Thatwouldbesoon,heknew.TheyhadbeenduetopickhimupthefollowingdayandwouldcheckonhisprogressfromsomewhereontheirroutebeforestoppingaboveLilith.Ifhisreportsweren'tcompletedtheywouldgoontothenextstationandpickhimuplater.Masonwasnervouswaiting.

AtlastUlinskicameoutandstoodlookingathimwithatraceofangerinhisface.Hespokeroughly."Eckertdoesn'twanttoseeyouyet.Hesaidtoputthemothershipoffandtellthemtopickyouuplater.Inthemeantime,saynothingexceptthatiftheyhavetriedtocontactyoutheywerepreventedbecauseofatmosphericinterference.Andkeepanyotherreporterfromcomingdownherel"

ThislastsoundedlikeawarningtoMasonwhofoundhimselfirritatedatUlinski'stoneofvoice.Ontheotherhandhewassousedtotakingordersfromhissuperiorsthathefounditdifficulttoargue."Ican'tverywellstopanotherreporterfromarriving,"hesaidimpatiently."That'sprobablyexactlywhatthywillsuggest."

"Idon'tcarewhatyousay,"Ulinskisnapped."Justmakesurewedon'tgetanothermandownhere.ThoseareEckert'sorders/'

Ulinskiappearedatriflesorryashelookedathim.HeStopped,stoodstillforamomentasiftryingtodecidesomething,andthenwalkedovertoMason.

"Eckertwantsustocontinuetheexperiments,Russ.That'swhyit'ssonecessary."Hefrowned,lookingasifhewantedtosaymore,andthenturnedabruptlyonhisheelandleftthehall.

AslowangerbegantogrowinMason.AftermurderingtwomenandcausingunknowndamagetoLilith,Eckertwantedthemtocontinuetheexperiments!Continuethemhow?

MasonranafterUlinski,outofthebuildingsandaroundthepathtothepen."Wait!"hecalled."Look,Ulinski,you'renotthinkingofworkingontheanimalsagain,areyou?"

Theystoodonthepathtogether,eyessquintingfromthesun,ablazeofcolorsurroundingthemandmakingthemthetwograyestimagesonthelandscape.Dullblotsonabrilliantcanvas.

"Whatotherexperimentswouldyousuggest?"Ulinskiaskedsavagely.

Masoncouldn'tunderstandwhyUlinskiwassoupset.Ulinskihadworkedbeforeontheseexperimentsandseemedtobereasonablycontent.Mason'sangervanishedinfrontofthisnewcuriosity."What'sthematter,Vladimir?"

Hehadn'tusedUlinski'sfirstnamebeforeandthesoundcausedasharpreactionintheman.Ulinskicaughthisbreathandturnedtowardthepen,almostrunninginhishastetogetaway.Masonlookedafterhim,perplexed.

Tryingtothinkinthefaceofthiswasalmostimpossible,butstillMasonmanagedtowonderwhyheshouldfeelsuchremorse.Hehadn'tdoneathing.Notathing,excepttobeapawninthegameofManbeingplayedatvariouspointsintheuniverse.Thatwaswhathehaddone:nothing.Hehadn'tquestioned,hadn'tsought,hadn'texamined.Hesharedacollectiveguiltandfeltitindividually.

SlowlythefeelingpassedandMasonwalkedbacktohisroom.ThecleanemotionsheexperiencedonLilithwereanothercauseforwonder.Therewasnothingmixedabouthisfeelingshere.Whenhefeltsomethinghefeltitinitsentirety.Hefeltitpurely,andthatwaswhytheemotionspenetratedsodeeply.Hewonderedifthat,too,hadsomethingtodowiththecolorortheatmosphere.

HeopenedhisdoorandfoundLouisainhisroomsittingatthedesk.

"Whatareyougoingtodo,Russ?"Shespokequickly,assoonashehadclosedthedoor,herfaceanxiousasshelookedupathim."Theexperimentsarebeginningagaintoday."Masonsatonhisbed."Yes,Ulinskitoldme."

"Butcan'tyoudosomething?"shepleaded."Can'tyoumakethemstop?Look,Russ,Ithoughtwewereallfinishedhere,that'swhyIdidn'texplaineverythingtoyoubefore.Butwecan'tgoonlikethis!HerbGregsonwasaverybrilliantman.Hewouldneverhavesaidtostoptamperingunlesstherewereagoodreason."

Masonwonderedifshewastellingthetruth.Hehatedtobesuspicious,butwasn'titjustpossiblethatshewasdrawinghimout,toseewherehestood?Wasthisaplannedvisit?

HesaidnothingandLouisagotupandwalkedtothewindow."Iknowyoudon'ttrustme,Russ,"shesaid."AndIcan'tblameyou.IsthereanywayIcanconvinceyouthatI'masopposedtothisasyouare?"

Sheturnedsuddenlyandfacedhim,hereyesblazing."Russ,howwouldyouliketoseetheexperiment?Iknowhowit'sdone.IwaswithGregsononcewhentheydidit.Ifyoucouldjustseethis,Ithinkyou'dunderstand.Please,Russ,letmeshowyou!"

InspiteofhimselfMasonwasintrigued.Hehadneverwitnessedanexperimentofthismagnitudeinhislife.Noneofthereportershad.Ifhehadthatinformation,wouldn'titgivehimanevensharperweaponthanhehadnow?

"Tonight."Shewasexcited."Late,aftereveryone'sasleep.Noonebotherstocheckonusthen—"TherewasasoundoutsidethedoorandLouisabrokeoff."I'llcometonight.Orbetterstill,youmeetmeatthelab."Shefinishedinawhisperandslippedoutoftheroom.

Masondecidedtogoalong.Therewasnothingtolose,anyway.Althoughnobodyhadbotheredtoexplainittohim,herealizedthathewasvirtuallyaprisonerhere.Ifnotaprisonerofthestaff,certainlyEckertwasheadjailkeeper.Hewasjustbeginningtounderstandthathe'dbeeninjailallhislife.Hehadtotakeariskortwoifheeverhopedtobefree.

CHAPTERSEVEN

AftekmidnightMasonquietlyslippedoutofhisroomandfelthiswayalongthepathtothelab.Hewasn'tsurewhichdoorwastheentrancebutahandgraspedhiminthedarknessanddrewhimalong.Louisatookakeyfromthepocketofheroverallsandunlockedthedoor.

TheysteppedinsideandawaveofodorassailedMason'snostrils.Itwasamixtureofsmellsthatwereunnaturallypenetrating.Acloyingsweetnessthatalmostmadehimsick.Louisaledhimthroughthepitchblacktoanotherdoor,openedit,andonceinsideturnedonthelight.

TheylookedateachotherandLouisasmilednervously."Yousee,I'venotledyouintoalion'sden."

No,therewasnotrap,atleastnotsofarforMason.Itwasonlytheanimalswhoweretrapped,hundredsofthemincagesthatlinedthewallsoftheroom.Masonhalfexpectedtohearanoutburstofsoundastheyweresuddenlyexposedtothelight,butinsteadtheyjustblinkedtheireyesandcameforwardintheircages,lookingoutcuriouslyandpathetically,Masonthought,attheirvisitors.

Thereweretwovarietiesoflifecagedhereonoppositesidesoftheroom.Onewasapiglikecreature,aboutthesizeofalargedog,withasnoutandpale-violetreptilianskin.MasonhadnotseenthistypeofanimalbeforeonLilithandwassurprisedatthelackoffeathersorfurwhichwassocharacteristicoflifehere.

"Wheredidyougetthese?"heasked,goinguptooneofthecages.Theanimalcameforward,puttingitssnoutoutofthebars,sniffedathishandandthenturneddisinterestedlyaway.

"Intheswampsbeyondthelab.Theybreedthereinlargenumbers.Andthey'renotverybright.Itwassoeasytocatchthem.Wewereveryinterestedinthechemicalcompositionoftheirskin.Don'tletthecolorfoolyou;wecallthemgilasbecauseofthatresemblancetotheEarthcreature,buttheseanimalsabsorbalmostallthelightthatreachesthem.

"OnEarththey'dhavetobeblacktodothat.It'sanotherofLilith's

"OnEarththey'dhavetobeblacktodothat.It'sanotherofLilith'smysteries."Louisagentlypattedoneoftheanimalsonthehead."They'renotveryattractive,arethey?ButIcan'thelpfeelingsorryforthem."

"Andthese?"Masonasked,goingtotheoppositewallwherethecagesrosefromfloortoceiling,mostofthemempty.Inonlyafewwerethelittle,golden-furredanimals,astinyaskittens,withbright,somehowsweetlittlefacesthatpeeredoutcuriouslyathim.Oneoftheanimalscameupandsatonitsbacklegs,cockingitsheadononesideandregardingMasonintently.Itsfrontpawswavedathim,asifaskinghimtoplay.Masonlaughed."Whydoyouhavesofewofthese?Whatarethey,Louisa?"

"They'requiterare,asfarasweknow,andverydifficulttocapture.Wecallthemmelansbecausetheircolorremindedusofthepigmentmelanin.Ofcourseitisn'treallythesamething,wediscovered,butthenamestuck."

"Andthey'rerare?"

"Gettingevenrarer,"Louisacommentedunhappily."Atonetimewehadquiteafew,buttheseexperimentsarefastexterminatingthem."

Masonputhisfingerthroughthebarandthelittleanimalgrabbeditwithhispaws,examiningthenailcuriously."Theyhavefourdigits!"heexclaimed."Howdoyouknowtheseanimalshaven'tfarthertogo?YeeMonsaidthatlifeherehasreachedtheendofit'sdevelopment.Buthowcanyoubesosure?"

"I'mnotsureatall,"Louisasaid."Marinaisabsolutelyconvincedthatthegilashaveevolvedcompletelyandwilleitherstaythatwayorbewipedout.Shehasn'tsaidmuchaboutthemelans,butthey'resoscarcethatIguesssheimaginesthey'reontheirwayoutalready."

"Butfourdigits!"Masonfrowned."That'sveryrare,isn'tit?Whatdotheyeat?"

"Foliage.Wehaven'tfoundananimalyetonLiliththatiscarnivorous.They'reallherbivorous.Comeon,Russ,Iwanttoshowyousomething."Sheledhimbacktothedoor,openingitjustslightlysothatthelightshonethroughacrack.

AgainthepowerfulsweetsmellmadeMasoncatchhisbreath."Seethe

AgainthepowerfulsweetsmellmadeMasoncatchhisbreath."Seethemelansinthosecages?"Louisawhispered."They'veallbeenexposedtothecolorexperiment.Lookquickly,becausewhentheyseeanylightatallnowtheysetupaterrifichueandcry."Hervoicewastight."Lookatthem!"

Masonlookedandhadthatawfulsinkingsensationthatcoursedthroughhisbodywheneverhesawanimalsinpain.Heheldhisbreath,asmuchfromthesightofthewrithinganimalsasfromtheodor.

Louisashutthedoorontheroomandlookedathiminanguish."Theynevertellyouaboutthis,dothey?Nowdoyouseewhyit'sgottostop,Russ?It'sbarbaric!"Shewasneartears,andMasonhekThergentlyforamoment.

Thiswasnodeception.HehadnodoubtnowthatLouisawasonhisside,availabletohelpinwhateverwayshecould.Andhewouldneedthathelp,Masonknew,anduseit.Louisabrokeaway,andledhimthroughtheroomofcagestothelab.

Shelefthimthereanddisappeared.Infrontofhimwasalargewindowlookingintotheexperimentalroom.WhenLouisacamebackshepulledaswitchonthewallandMasonsawthatshehadplacedoneofthemelansinacagethattilteditfromthepenintotheexperimentalroom.Shepulledanotherswitch.Thewindowactedasamagnifier.Theysawthelittleanimalinalargeclose-up.

ShethenhandedMasonapairofglasses."Youmayneedthese,evenwiththewindow.Thelightisterrificallyintense,"shesaidgrimly."Ihopeyoumemorizeeverystepofthisprocess,Russ.Iwishitweren'tnecessary,butitcouldalwaysbesaidthattheanimalsinpainoutthereweresufferingfromnaturalcauses.Thiswillgiveyoutheproofthatyouneed.AndI'mnotgoingtoletthisonesuffer,"sheaddedquietly.

Masonlookedathercuriously.

"Itisn'tnecessary,"sheexplained."Thoseanimalsouttherearestillalivebecausetheyweren'tgivenfullexposure.Manydifferentcombinationshavebeentriedonthem.I'mgoingtoshowyouwhatGregsondid.Itwillkillthemelan,butwiththeatmosphereasitisnow,itwon'thavethesameexplosiveeffect."

"Waitaminute,"Masonprotested."We'veforgottensomething.Couldtheyknowinthehousewhatwe'redoingouthere?"x

"Oh,no."Sheshookherhead."There'sneverbeenaneedtosetupcontrolslikethatandthevibrationisconfinedtooneroom.Nowwatch."SheturnedtothebankofdialsonthewallandMasonwassointentonrememberingthecombinationsthatheforgottoputontheglasses.

Whenheturnedbacktowardthewindow,Louisacried,"Now!"andtheroominfrontofhimwasilluminedforamomentwithaflashofunbelievablecolor.Thelittlemelaninthecagestooduponitshindlegsandstretcheditssmallbodytothelimit,pawswavingandseemingtograbatthelight.Foraninstanthewastransparentandglowedalloverwiththesamelightandcolor.Magnified,hiseyeswerehugewithwonderandfright.AndfromacrosstheroomandthroughthewindowthoseeyesseemedtoborestraightintoMason.

Hefeltashocklikethathehadexperiencedinthecircle,andsatthereholdinghisbreathasthemelanlookedathim.ThepupilsgrewwiderandwiderandheldMasonintheirshock.Heseemedtoseethroughthem,asthemelanwasseeing.

Butwhathesaw!Likethelasttimeitwasagreatandgrowingpanoramaofhistory,butunlikeDeayban'smind,itheldnotthepast,buttheentirefutureofthemelanandofLilith.Anditlived,notinitsbrain,butineverycellofitstinybody.

Therewasahungerthere,anunformed,unthoughtgnaw>-ingofdesire.AwishsostrongthatalreadyNaturereeledinfrontofitandwouldhavetoacquiesce.Themelanalreadyhadfourfingers,andinthosestraining,determinedcells,therealreadygrewthebeginningofthenextstep,theformationofathumb.Inbackofthosecuriouseyestherelurkedanalertcunning,anabilitytoadapt,tochange,andtoadaptagain.

TheenormityofitsdesirestunnedMason.CouldManeverhavewishedsocompletelyandsopurely?Thetiniest,thehumblest,theweakestofLilith'screatures,thislittlemelanwasinsistingonitsdestiny.Itwouldtakeanyrisk,faceanyobstacle,toquenchthatburningthirstforbeing.

AndMasonsawhowitwouldslowlyevolve,becomingtaller,strongerand

AndMasonsawhowitwouldslowlyevolve,becomingtaller,strongerandmorecleverthroughtheyears.FirstthephysicalsenseswouldacquireaperfectionunknowntoMan,andthengraduallythewonderofintelligencewouldunfold,andinbackofthat,always,theinsatiablehunger.Untilthemelan,stillunsatisfied,woulddemandeternityandevenimmortalityasitsgoal.

Masonsawthetransformationfromfleshtointelligence,fromcellstolight.Themelanwouldevolvetowardlight,forthatwasthedestinyLilithheldforit.Andsoitsfoodwouldchangefromheaviertoeverlightermatter,untilatlastittookitsnourishmentdirectlyinenergyfromthesun.

Andinreturn?

Masonwasstaggeredbytheunderstandingalreadypresentinthetinybodybeforehim,forthemelanalreadyknewthatpaymentwouldbedemandedfromhim.Howcouldit,now,haveaconceptofthereciprocaldemandsoftheuniverse,ofcreation?Butitknew;ineverycellofthatsmallbodytherewasawillingnesstopay.AndMasonsawthatfinalactofsurrender,carriedoutinthefreedomofhumility.Forthemelanwouldsurrendertoanevenhigherforce,acceptingallcreationasone,andwiththathumilitywouldracetorescueanotherpartofthatcreationfromextinction.

Fasterthanlight,witharesourceofenergythatstunnedtheimagination,themelan,nowtrulysomethingakintoangels,wouldrescueManfromthetombofhisdyingsun.ItwasthemelanwhoswoopeddownonEarthinthatfinal,desperatemoment,andtookthechildrenofMantotheStars.Itwastheirbeing,theirintelligence,theirverylife,thatwasMan'shope.

MorethanthatMasoncouldnotsee.

Whenatlastthebodyofthemelanlaystillandtwistedbeforehim,theeyeslifelessandhollow,Masonsatshaken.

Noticinghisexpression,Louisawasstartled."Whatisit?"shecried,andthenseeingthatheworenoglasses,sighedinrelief."Oh,it'sonlytheshockofthecolor.Iknowitdoesstrangethings."Shelookedatthestillbodyoftheanimalandadded,"Atleasthedidn'tsuffer.Ifthisonecansavetherest,itwillhavebeenworthit."

"Theymustallbesaved."MasonrosetohisfeetandtookLouisabyher

"Theymustallbesaved."MasonrosetohisfeetandtookLouisabyhershoulders,holdingherwhilehelookedintenselyintohereyes."Ican'texplainallthisnow,butthernelansmustallbesetfree.Whatwouldhappenifweopenedallthecagesandletthemgo?"

Louisawasalmostfrightenedbyhisface."They'dbecaughtagain,"shestammered,"andprobablythere'dbeanevenlargerhuntforthem.Morewouldbedestroyedintheprocess."

"Allright."Masonwasthinkingquicklyandreadytoletthatgoforthemoment.Thatwasn'ttheway.Hemustfindanother."Howcanyouhelptogetmeoutofhere?"heaskedbluntly."I'vegottogetaway."

"Awaywhere?"

"Backtomyship.Look,Louisa,I'vegotanidea.They'llbecallingmetomorrow.UlinskisaidIwastotellthemmyreportwasn'tfinished.Thedangerinthatisthattheymightsenddownanotherreportertohelpmecompleteit.I'munderordersnowfromEckertpersonallytostopanotherreporterfromcoming.Theyleftthemethoduptome."

Hepacedupanddownthetinyroomandthenwheeledaroundsuddenly."SupposeIlefttonight,tookthelandrover.YoucouldtellthemI'ddecidedthebestwaytoplayitsafewastoreporttothemothershipfromtheport.They'llbeaboveit,anyway,whentheyradiome.Istillhavemyowntransmitter.IcouldsendfortheMirandaandleavewithoutanyoneknowing."

"They'dknow,Russ.They'dbelisteninginonthatcall."♦

"Butwhatcouldtheydoaboutit?"Masonexulted."Theycan'tholdmehereifI'minadifferentplace.I'dhavetheonlylandroverwithme.AndIdon'tthinkthey'ddaretotelltheshipnottotakeme.Itwouldlooktooodd.No,that'sit.I'vegottoleaveherenowandbebackattheportbyearlytomorrow."

"Andthenwhat?"Louisaquestionedseriously."Whatwillyoudowhenyouarebackontheship?Idon'treallyseewhatyoucandothere."

**IcanforceEckerttoseeme,"Masonsaidgrimly."AndifIcan'tgetanywherewithhim,Icangotothehighcourt!"

Louisa'seyeswidened."Youcan'tletthemknowaboutthis,"shewhisperedanxiously.

Masonwonderedifheshouldnowtellhereverythingheknew.Shewouldcertainlyunderstandthen,why,ifnecessary,hemustgotothehighcourt.Butcarryingthatknowledgewithhercouldbedangerous.Theothersmightfindawaytoinducehertotalk.NoonewouldbelievehisstoryandevenLouisamightdecidehewasactingonimaginationandweirdvisions.Itwouldbebetterifshecontinuedtothinkthathewasconcernedsimplyinahumanewaywiththeseexperiments.

Masonhadnofurtherdoubtnowaboutthevalidityofwhathehadseen.Hetrusteditcompletely.Theremightevenbeascientificexplanationofthesestrangechangesintime,ifonecoulddelvedeeplyenoughintothepropertiesofthatmysteriousbeamoflight;thesamelightthathadkilledGregsonandPlummerandtakenMasontwicethroughtime.

-PerhapsIwon'thavetogotothehighcourt,"hesaidgently."Chancesareitwon'tbenecessary.ThemainthingistogettoEckert.Now,willyouhelpme,Louisa?"

"Whatdoyouwantmetodo?"sheaskedsimply,inagreement.

"We'llhavetomovethecarsilentlyuntilit'sfarenoughfromthebuildingssoIcanstartitwithoutbeingheard.Eventheslightesthummightbedetectedifanyone'sawake.Iwantyoutoopentheshedandhelpmemoveitout.I'llmeetyouthereinalittlewhile,assoonasIgetsomethingsfrommyroom.Butquietly,Louisa,"hecautioned."Andbecareful.Remember,ifanythinghappens,thatyouhadnothingtodowiththis."

TheyleftthelabandMasonmanagedtoreachhisroomundetected.Hebegantogatheruphisthings,makingreadythesurvivalkitwhichhehadneverused.Hehadasuspicionthatthistimeitmightbeneeded.Hewasjustclosingthekitwhentherewasa^knockonhisdoor.HesworeunderhisbreathasheheardYeeMoncallsoftly,"Russ…"

Hethrewthekitunderhisbedandwenttothedoor,al-mostforgettingforamomentthathewaswearingajacket."Justaminute,"hesaid,hastilyremovingthejacketandtossingitintoacloset.HeopenedthedoorandYeeMonlooked

thejacketandtossingitintoacloset.HeopenedthedoorandYeeMonlookedathiminsurprise.

"Notasleep?"heasked.

"No."Masonsmiled,hopinghelookednatural."Toomanythingsgoingon,Isuppose.I'vebeenlyingherethinking.GuessIlosttrackoftime.Whattimeisit?"Hemanagedtoyawnalittle.

"Late,"YeeMonsaidshortly."ButI'mgladyou'reup.Iwantedtotalktoyou."HecameinandsatdownonthechairbyMason'sdesk,drumminghisfingersonthetop."I'mworried,"hestatedcarefully."Ihaveafeelingyoudon'treallyunderstandyetwhatthisisallabout.Youdon'tdoyou?^

"IthinkIdo."Masonwascautiousnow,wonderingwhereallthiswasleading.

"Well,Idisagree."YeeMontookoutacigaretteandlitit."You'vebeengivenaquickreportofthesurfacebutIdoubtifyouhaveanideaofthedepthofthisproject.That'swhatIwanttotalktoyouabout.

"Youhavetodreamupsomesortofstoryfortomorrow,"headded,somewhatirrelevantly,Masonthought."Haveyoudecidedwhatyou'regoingtosay?"

Masongroanedinwardly.ThismightgoonallnightandLouisawouldbewaitingoutthere."Yes,Ihaveanidea.Iwasplanningtosleeponitandseehowitlookedinthemorning."

He'dhavetoinventsomethingfast,hethought,andsomehowgetYeeoutofhere."IthoughtImightsaythatthereportissointricatethatanothermanonthejobwouldonlycomplycateitfurther.MaybeIcouldsaythatthejobwouldbecompletedfasterifIcontinuealone.Soundallright?"Heyawnedagainandstretchedoutonthebed,puttinghisarmsunderhishead.

YeeMoninhaleddeeplyandslowlyletoutthesmokeinalongdriftingcurl.Hedidn'tanswer.

"Ifthere'saflaw,I'llprobablyseeitinthemorning.ButbasicallyIthinkit'ssound,don'tyou?"Masonsaid.

sound,don'tyou?"Masonsaid.

"Perhaps,"YeeMonsaid,watchingthesmoke.

Wouldheneverleave?"Ifyoudon'tmind,IthinkI'llturninnow.Asyousay,it'slate."Masongotupandbegantomakemotionstowardundressing.Yeedidn'tmoveandsuddenlyMasonwasirritated."I'dliketogetsomesleep,"hesaidsharply.

"Notabadidea,"Yeeagreed."Louisaneededsleep,too.Ibelieveshe'ssleepingquitesoundlynow."Hislidsflickeredimperceptibly.

Masonstoodstockstillforaninstantandthenwentonundressing.WhateverreactionYeewanted,hewasn'tgoingtogiveittohim.

"It'sakindofunwrittenlawaroundhere,"Yeesaid,"thatwedonotgooutafterdark.UnfortunatelyMissWengerseemedtohavesomeideaofanightjourney.Perhapsjustalittlespinaround,butallthesamewedidn'tagreewithherthatitwassuchagoodidea."

Masontookadeepbreath,thankfulthathisfacewasturnedaway.Hehadneverbeenmuchofanactor,buthewouldhavetoimprovisequicklyandconvincingly.Hebeganlaughing,"Ithinkit'samarvelousidea.Wishshe'daskedmetogoalong."

"Stopit,Russ!"Yee'svoicewassharp."Weknowexactlywhatyouwereplanning."HestoodupandMasonfacedhim."No,"heansweredtheunaskedquestion,"MissWengerwasnotgoingtosayanything.However,wehadtohavethatinformationandittakesexactlysixtysecondsforashotofmeslintotakeeffect.I'msosorryyoudon'ttrustus,Mason.Allthisisreallyquiteunnecessary.Now,ifyou'llsitdowncalmly,I'msurewecancometosomeunderstanding."

Masonwasviolentlyangry.Hewasevenmoreofaprisonerthanhehadimagined.Obviouslysomeonehadbeensenttokeepaclosecheckonthecar.They'dmadeLouisatalkunderthedrug.Whatwasthenextmove,hewondered?

Hisangersurgedtobreakingpointandsuddenlyhedidn'tcareanymore.AllthelongyearsofcarefultrainingagainstviolencevanishedinaninstantaneouseruptionandhefelthisfistexplodeintoYeeMon'sbland,smilingface.Yee

eruptionandhefelthisfistexplodeintoYeeMon'sbland,smilingface.Yeestumbledandfellbackagainstthedesk,thesmilefrozeninshock.HeputuphishandstowardMasonoff,toosurprisedtocryout,andMasonhithimagain.Hefelltothefloor,crackinghisheadagainstthedesk,hiscigarettebouncingacrossthefloor.

Masonstubbedoutthecigaretteinafury,grabbedhisjacketandputiton,tookuphisemergencykitandputhisearagainstthedoor.Therewerefootstepscomingdownthehall.Hastily,heshutoffthelight,lockedthedoorandwenttothewindow.Helistenedandheardnothingmorethanthewindwhiningintheferntrees.Heopenedthewindowandjumpeddownjustassomeonebeganknockingonhisdoor.

Hestartedtoturntowardtheshedandthensawadimlightcomingfromtheentrance.Someonewasstillthere.Thatmeantthathewouldhavetoforgetaboutthelandrover.Theknockswerelouderinbackofhim.Allrightthen,he'dhavetomakeitonfoot.Glancingsharplyaround,hedartedacrossthepatharoundthebuildingandranswiftlytowardtheforestofferns.

Hepausedonceinhisflighttolookbackandsawthebuildingilluminatedasallthelightswereswitchedon.VoicescarriedacrossthepathbutMasondidn'twaittohearwhattheyweresaying.Pantingfromangeranddetermination,heranwildlythroughtheforest,stumblingoverrootsandfightingfuriouslyatthetendrilsthatcutacrosshisface.Severaltimeshefellacrossthegnarledrootsthatcutunderhisfeet,fallingintowetmossthatclungtenaciouslytohisclothesandhair.

Itwasimpossibletocontinuerunninglikethisinthedark.Masonsloweddownandbegantowalkcautiously,feelinghiswayamongthefernsandbrush.Theredidn'tseemtobeanysignofpursuit.Buthowcouldtheyfollowhiminthenightlikethis?Ofcourse,theywouldn'teventry.

Masonsatdownforamoment,breathingdeeply,exhaustedfromhisheadlongflight.Theywouldtakethelandrover,probably,andtrytointercepthimontheroadbacktotheport,figuringthathewouldgothatway.Orwouldtheysimplywaitforhimthere?Inanycase,hehadlittlehopeofinterceptingtheMirandaattheport.ForawhileMasonconsideredthepossibilityofgoingbackandtalkingitoverwithYeeMonorUlinski.

Butherealizedtherewasn'ttheslightestchanceofpersuasion.Eckert

Butherealizedtherewasn'ttheslightestchanceofpersuasion.EckertobviouslymeanttokeephimhereonLilith.But—Masonfeltastirringofhope—therewasstillachance.Eckertalsodidn'twanttheshiptoknowanythingwasamiss.WhatstorycouldhepossiblyinventifMasonfailedtoanswertheship'scall?Hesmiledwiththeknowledgethathewas,inaway,valuableproperty.

Hewasn'tworriedaboutLouisa.Theywoulddonothingmorethanquestionherfurtheronhisplans.Thankheavenhehadn'ttoldhereverything.Heshouldhaveanticipatedthepossibilityofthetruthdrug,buthehadneverthoughtsuchmeasuresmightbeused.No,shewouldbeallrightnowthattheinformationhadbeenforcedfromher.Hefacedtheproblemnowofinterceptinghisshipsomewhereorgivingupentirely.Andgivingupnowwasoutofthequestion.

Masonlayback,restinghisheadagainstatreetrunk.Hemightaswellgetafewhourssleep.Therewasn'tmuchhecoulddountildawn.Suddenlyhesatup,tensewiththerealizationthathe'dbeenallwrongaboutseeingEckert.Naively,hehadthoughtof-explainingthewholemattertohim,persuadinghimthattheexperimentsmustbestopped.ButwoulditbepossibletotalktoamanwhotooksuchmeasuresasMasonhadjustwitnessed?

Masoncursedhimselfforhisinnocence.Likeachildhehadthoughtnofurtherthangoingtotheboss,withachild'sassurancethatthebosswouldmakeeverythingright.PlainlyEckertwasnottheonetosee.AndMasonhadnowayofknowingwhowasabovehim.Thatleftonlyoneareaofpossiblehelp.Hewouldhavetogothehighcourt.He'wouldhavetoappealtoanotherIntelligence.InstinctivelyMasonshivered,knowingthatheplannedtoattemptwhatfewmenhadevertried.

Andwasn'titridiculous,hethought,thatlyinghereinthemiddleofajungleonLilith,withreallyverylittlehopeofescapeandallthingspointingtowardhisfailure,hehadnottheslightestdoubtthathewouldcompletehismission.Hesmiledagain,refusingtothinkhemightbedeludinghimself,andwenttosleep.

CHAPTEREIGHT

Onearththerehadbeenanoldexpression:Breakofdawn.Perhaps,insomedistanttime,someManhadwitnessedthemorningandthoughtthatnighthadgentlycrackedtoletthroughthesun.ButhereonLilithdawndidn'tbreak.Itflooded,withaslow,relentlessswellthatenvelopedtheworldinbreathtakingfilmsoflightandcolor.

MasonawokeandstretchedandopenedhiseyestotheskyofLilith,framedthroughthemistandfernfrondsthatwavedingreatsweepsfarabovehishead.Helaythereforawhileentranced.Atlast,reluctantly,hearoseandatesparinglyfromthefoodhehadbrought.Sometimeduringthenight,perhapsinadream,hehadunderstoodtheonlythinghecoulddo.Therewasn'ttheslightestpossibilityofgettingtotheporttoday.Evenifhedid,theywouldbethere,waitingforhim.

Hisplanwastogoinastraightanddifficultlineawayfromtheroadanduptothemountains,hopingtocontacttheshipfromthere.Eveniftheyguessedhisroute,theywouldn'tfollow.Areportwouldbesenttotheshipthismorningthathewasillorhadanaccident.Theywouldexpecttheshiptoleavebeforenightfallwithouthim.

Butthatwaswherehefelthopeful.Ashipneverleftwithoutwaitingtwenty-fourhours.Andthenitwasunlikely,toleavewithoutsendingdownanotherman.YeeMonorEckertwouldhaveahardtimetryingtodreamupananswertothatone,Masonthought,ashebeganwalkingthroughtheforest.

Itwasgoingtobeadifficulthike,andhehadnoillusionsaboutthat.Hetriedtorelaxeachmuscleashemovedandsaveasmuchenergyaspossible.Still,thedaywaswarmandsoonhehadtotakeoff-hisjacket,anextraburdentocarrybutnecessaryforwhatmightfacehimtonightinthemountains.

AsthedayworeonMasonbegantoperspireandthinklonginglyofthevalleyofpools.acrossthemountainrange.Sofarhehadn'tseenastreamorpoolandhewasbeingextremelycarefulabouthissupplyofwater.Atnoonhestoppedinagladeamongthegiantfernstorest.Thesunwasdirectlyoverheadandtheclearingshonebrightlyinarainbowofcolor.

ThebrillianceseemedtopourintoMasonashelaythere,andhefanciedhe

ThebrillianceseemedtopourintoMasonashelaythere,andhefanciedhecouldseetheactualraysofthesunshininginglancinglinesofitsspectrum.Hisownbodyseemedfilledwithlightandcolorandlookingup,thesunappearedtohimatthatmomentlikeanancientdrawing,withthejaggedtonguesoffirelickingoutalongtherim,andlinesoflightstreaminginraysdownacrosstheheavenstotheearth.Liketheoldastrologicalsunofthezodiac.

Allatoncehestoodupwithashout.Hewasn'twearinghisglassesandhewaslookingdirectlyatthesun!Masonlookedaroundwildly,asifthefernsorgrowthcouldgivehimananswer.AllaroundhimweretheviolentcolorsofLilith,shockingintheirintensitybutnolongerdangeroustoMason.Thecolorsgaveoffaspecialauraorilluminationoftheirown,andhecouldfeeltheenergyheldineachone.

Heranaroundtheclearing,weavinginandoutofthewavesoflight,feelingeachcolor.Thenhesatdowninfrontofabedofflowers,wonderingwhathadhappenedtohiseyes.Hecouldalmosttastethecoloroftheflowers.Hewasverythirsty,andashelookedatthemhisthirstgrewstronger,asitusuallydoesjustbeforeonedrinks.Hetookoneoftheflowers,pulledoffthepetalsandexaminedthestem.Justashehadsensed,therewaswaterinthethickbulbhalfwayinthemiddleofthestem.Hedrankitimmediatelywithoutworryingabouttheeffect.

Althoughhehadbeentrainedtonevertasteotherplanetaryfood,hehadnodoubtaboutthis.Hedrankfromoneflowerandthenanotheruntilthegroundwasstrewnwithpetals.Thenhereplenishedhiswatersupplyandbeganwalkingagain.Hefeltextremelylightandconfidentandhissurpriseatbeingabletoseewithoutglasseswasmodifiedbythewonderofwhathesaw.Hewasnolongerstunnedbytheimpactofcolor,ratherhewasrefreshedandexhilaratedandcouldn'tgetenoughofthemarvelouslightthatmethiseyes.

Sothiswaswhatthemelansaw,hethought.Ortheymightseeevenmore,seebeyondthecolor.Andtheotherlife—thosebirdssostartinglyplummaged,dartinglikebrightrainbowsacrossthesky—wasthiswhattheysaw,too?AndwhatwouldothermenthinkiftheycouldseeLilithpurely,asMasondidnow,insteadofhidingbehindalensthatfilteredandobscured?

Hecouldn'timagineeverhavingdislikedLilith.ThiswastrulyanEden,amagicalspotincreation,anearththatglowedasitwaitedfortheintelligencethatwouldevolvetocompleteit.

thatwouldevolvetocompleteit.

Masonknewthathisexposuretothetwoilluminations,firstinthecircleandtheninthelaboratorywhenhehadforgottentowearglasses,mustberesponsibleforthechangeinhisvision.Somehowhehadbeenaffectedinawaythatenabledhimnowtoseewhatnoothermancouldbeartolookat.Itwassolovely,somuchlovelierthananythinghehadeverdreamed,thathewalkedalonginatrance,nearlyforgettinghispurpose.

Fortherestofthedayhewalkedlikethat,pausingnowandthentoeatordrink,restingwheneverhefelttired.Bylateafternoonhewasamazedtofindthatinthisrelaxedstatehehadcoveredtwicetheamountofgroundhehadhopedtocover.Bysunsethehadcometothefoothillsofthemountainsandhestartedupwithoutpausingagain,feelingasfullofenergyaswhenhehadbegun.

Atduskhefinallystoppedtorestonarockyledgethatoverhungthevalleywherehehadjustbeen.Hewouldhavetohurrynowtoreachthetopbeforethelastraysofthesundiedaway,buthewantedthismomenttolookback.

Amisthungoverthevalley,sweepingoverthetipsofthefernforest,anditseemedtoMasonthatspiresbegantoriseabovethatmoistcloud.Hestrainedtosee,andthenbeforehiseyesavisionofacityarose.

Tallspiresandturretstouchedwithgold,glowingwiththefadingraysofthesun.Amongthespires,floatinglikewraithsinamistycity,Masonsawaprocessionofcoloredforms,lightandtransparentasair.ItwasthepeopleofLilith,Masonknew—themelansnow,andbeforehimatafurtherpointintheirdevelopment.Thespiresofthecitydarkenedandsuddenlythevisionwasgone.

Itwasdarkernowandhemusthurry.Climbingup,notstoppingnowforaninstant,Masonwonderedaboutwhathehadseen.TherehadbeensceneslikethatonEarth,heremembered,miragescausedbyrefraction.Whenlightwasbentinacertainwayitsometimescausedashiftintheappearanceofthelocationofthings.Astrongairlenslikethatwasn'tevendisturbedbyanythingmovingthroughit.

Thiswasstillamysterytoscientists;thestrange,strongforcethatmaintainsit.Andsometimesamazingthingshadbeensighted.Wholecitiesappearedhundredsofmilesfromwheretheyactuallyexisted.Peoplehadbeenseen

hundredsofmilesfromwheretheyactuallyexisted.Peoplehadbeenseen"walkingthroughair,"evenlandscapeshadbeentransportedacrossoceanstobevisibletopeopleonothercontinents.

Wasitpossibleforamiragetocrosstime?

Thatthought,withallitincludedforMason,wasenoughtokeephimoccupieduntilatlasthestoodonthehighsummitofthemountainrange,darknessblackingoutthevalleysbelowhim.Farawayinthedistanceadimlightofthelabflickered.Lookingintheotherdirection,towardtheport,Masonsawnothingtoindicateanyonewasthere.But,hereasoned,theywouldn'tshowalightunderanycircumstancesiftheyexpectedtointercepthim.Hewasquitesurenoonewouldexpecthimtobeinhispresentsituation,highinthemountains,shiveringnowwiththechangeintemperature.

Hescannedthesky,hopingtoseethelightsofthemothership,butcouldn'tdistinguishheramongthemyriadblazingstarsthatlitthenight.Hehadhadjustenoughtimebeforehereachedthesummittoseethathewasstandingonahighplateau,largeandbroadenoughtoreceivetheMirandaif—heprayedsilently—hecouldreachherbeforeanyoneonthestaffinterceptedhiscall.

Hetookouthistransmitterandbegantosend.Almostimmediatelyhesawthelightsinthespaceportilluminatethewholearea,andSimpkins'voicebrokeinashetriedtotalkwiththeradioroom.

MasonwasrelievedtohearRoyWilsononduty.Hewasaclever,intelligentboy,andmightrealizethatsomethingwaswrong.Masonhopedferventlythathewouldn'twaitforordersbutwouldsendhisshipdownimmediately.Withoutmoreexplanationthanthenoteofurgencyinhisvoice,MasontoldRoytogetafixonhispositionandsenddowntheMiranda.HeonlyhopedRoywouldunderstandwhathewassaying.

"Justsendherdown,Roy,"Masonbarkedintothetransmitter,"That'sanorder!"

AtthesametimeSimpkinswassaying,"EckerthasgivenordersthatMr.Masonistoremainhere.Hemaynotrealizethis,sowillyoupleaseinformyourcommandingofficerandrelayourmessage.It'sevidentthatMr.Masonisnotawareofourconversation.Extremelyurgent,toyourcommandingofficer."

AndMasonwenton,"Iheareveryword,Roy.Justsendherdownandquickly.NevermindcontactingCotter—justgetherdownhere."

Wilsonwasinabadposition,Masonrealized,sohewasn'tsurprisedwhenRoyrespondedwithevasiveanswers."Yes,inamomentMr.Simpkins.Iunderstandyourdifficulty."ThenMason'searsprickedupasRoywenton,"We'rehavingtrouble-hearingyou.Theremustbesomethingwrong.Now,wouldyoumindrepeatingthat,Mr.Simpkins,and■we'lltrytogetyourmessage.No,sorry,nothingisclearuphere.We'rehavingdifficultyreceivingMason,too.Sorry.Pleasetryagain."

WilsonkeptitupfortenminuteswhileMason,shiveringinhislightjacket,keptyellingintothetransmitter,strainingtogethismessageacross.Whathadgonewrong?Hechafedatthelongdelay.

Suddenly,outofthecornerofhiseye,hesawaslimshapehurtleacrossthesky,makingasweepingcurveasithomed-inalmostdirectlyabovehishead.Henearlyshoutedwithrelief,butWilsonwasstillgoingon:"Sorry,Mr.Simpkins,we'restillnotclear.Holdon."

Masoncouldhavehuggedhim.Goodboy!HewaskeepingSimpkinsbusywhileMasonhadachancetogetaway.TheMirandamadeabeautifullandingjusttenfeetawayandMasonranovertoher,hopingitwouldbeasilenttakeoff.Heduckedintothecapsule,closedthehatch,setthecontrols,andlayback.

TheMirandawouldglidequietlyupintothenight,backtotheship,andifhewerelucky,Simpkinsandtheotherswouldn'tevenknow.Masoncaughthisbreathastheyleftthegroundsuddenlywithaleapthatpressedhimbackagainsttheside.

Tenminuteslaterheunlockedthehatch,jumpedoutinthehugegarageinthebellyofthemothership,and,ignoringthereporterswhopressedaroundingreeting,ranuptherampandthroughthecorridorstotheradioroom.Hestoppedatthedoor,grinningatWilsonwhowassittingthere,hisfeetuponatable,staringattheceilingashewearilykeptuptheroutine.

"Canyouhearmenow,Mr.Simpkins?"heasked."Sorrysir,missedthatlastpart.No,wehaven'tbeenabletocontactMasoneither."Heheldthereceiver

awayfromhisearasSimpkinsblusteredloudandhoarsely.

Masonwalkedovertohimandliftedhishandsinthevictorysign.WilsongrinnedbackandbrokeinonSimpkins."Mr.Simpkins,sir.Sir—"HeshruggedhisshouldershelplesslyatMasonasSimpkinsdoggedlykepttalking.

"Mr.Simpkins,sir!"Royinterruptedloudly•andfinallytherewassilenceontheotherend."Wecan'thearyou.I'mclosingforthemoment,sir.We'llcallbackassoonasourtransmitterisfixed.Goingoffnow,sir.Pleasebepatient."Hecutoffthecallandstoodup,lookingatMasonwithagleamofamusementinhiseyes.

"Inreturnforthisbitofskulduggery,Idemandacompleteaccounting!HeavenhelpyouifwelandinCotter'sbadgraces!"ThenheshookhandswarmlywithMasonwhoclappedhimenthusiasticallyontheback.

"DidyoutellCotter?"Masonaskedurgently.

"No!"Roylaughed."Ihaven'thadachance.Whatwentondownthere,anyway?Troublewiththelocalladies?"

"No,"Masonsmiled,"nottroublewiththelocalladies.Look,Roy,you'vereallygottenmeoutofahole.It'ssoseriousIdon'thavetimetoexplainrightnow,butIpromiseyou'llhearitalloneday.NowIthinkI'dbetterseeCotterrightaway."Herantothedoor,callingback,"Youdon'tknowwhatyou'vedoneforme,Roy.Iwon'tforgetit."

"IjusthopeCotterforgetsit,"wasthemumbledreplyasMasonclosedthedoorandranforwardtoCotter'sstateroominthefrontoftheship.

Hedidn'tallowhimselftimetothink.Hewouldhavetoplayitasitcame.WithoutfurtherpreparationheknockedontheCaptain'sdoor.

StuartCotterworeanairofauthoritythatmatchedhisappearance.Hewasalong,leanmanwithgrizzlygrayhairanddarker-rimmedeyesthathadseenalifetimeofserviceinthereportingships.He'dbeenMason'sofficerforsevenyearsandtheirrelationshipwasmorethanthatofreportertoCaptain.So,inspiteofaratherforbiddingpresencethatcausedapprehensioninmenwhoknewhimonlyslightly,toMasonheappearedatthedoorlikeanoldanddearfriend,andMasonwasgladtomeetthatstrength.Ifanyonewouldunderstand,he

andMasonwasgladtomeetthatstrength.Ifanyonewouldunderstand,hesuddenlyrealized,itwouldbeCotter.

"Mason!"TheCaptainsmiledwarmlyanddrewhimintothecabin."Wedidn'texpectyouuntiltomorrow.Iwasalittleworried,"hesaid,frowningslightly."Itisn'tlikeyoutomissapickup."HelookedatMasonwithanunmistakable-demandbehindthoseinquiringeyesandMasonknewrightawaythathewouldtellCottereverything.

Itwasalongtalk,lastingfarintothenight.CotterbrokeinseveraltimeswithstrongquestionsandshowedaparticularinterestinMason'saccountofthe"visions."Masonwasparticularlyreluctantaboutrecountingthese,andpacedupanddown,saying,"Iknowitseemsincredible.Iknowit'sfantastic,but—"AndCottersatsilently,listeningcarefullytoeverywordwhileMasontrieddesperatelytoconveyhissincerity.

Atlasttheysaw,outoftheporthole,anotherdawncometoLilith,andalthoughcloudsobscuredmuchoftheplanet,thecolorbreakingthroughhereandtherewasstillbreathtaking.Cotterwenttotheportholeandlookedoutattheplanethangingtherebelowthem.

"Ifwhatyousayistrue,Russ—"HebrokeoffandMasonheldhisbreathforwhatwouldcomenext.Cotterwheeledaroundand,callingthroughtheintercom,gaveorderstoleaveLilith.Masonwatchedhimtensely.Thenhecalledagain,thistimeforbreakfast.Itarrivedastheypulledaway,leavingLilithbehind,adwindlingballinthedistance.

"Russ,Idon'tknowwhattosaytoallthis,"Cotterbegan."Itsoundslikeadream,butI'veknownyouforagoodmanyyearsandIknowyoudon'tdream.OrdinarilyI'dbeinclinedtoforgetthewholething.Butinthiscasetherearetwothingsthatputmeoff.Oneisthefactthatyouaretellingthestory.TheotheriswhatyousayaboutManintheFederation."

Hedrankhiscoffeesilentlyandsatbackinhischair,lookingoffatsomethingMasoncouldn'tsee."I'vebeguntowondermoreandmore,recently,aboutmyownorders."Hebithislipandwassilentagain.Then,frowning:"Iwantyoutogotothehighcourt,Russ!That'swhatyouwant,isn'tit?"

Masonnoddedanxiously,notdaringtobreathe.Hehadn'tknownhowhe

Masonnoddedanxiously,notdaringtobreathe.Hehadn'tknownhowhewouldgettothehighcourt,andhere,perhaps,washishelp!'

"Itrustyouenough,"Cotterwenton,"torealizethatyouaresincereinwhatyousay.AndthatregardlessofwhatIdo,you'llfindawaytogetthere."

Masonsmiledthankfullyatthecompliment."Ican'tpreventyou,"Cottercontinued,"andIcan'tbemuchhelpsinceitwouldbemuchbetterforeveryoneconcernedifIknownothingaboutthis.ButIwilldowhatIcan.Andit'sgottobefast,beforewe'regivenotherordersfromEckert.ThatwillhappenassoonasthestaffonLilithknowsyou'vegone.Now,here'swhatwe'lldo…"

PlanningMason'striptooktherestoftheday.Hewastotakealifeboatandmakethelaststagesofthejourneytothehighcourthimself.Itwasjustsheerluckthatthenextportofcallfortheshipwasnottoofarfromthatsystem.Masoncouldbedroppedoffnotmorethantwodaysawayfromtheplanet.Inthisway,itcouldbesaidthatMasonhadgonehimself;there'dbenowayofprovingthatCotterhadhelpedhim.

MasonwonderedfrequentlyaboutCotter'swords,whenhehadsaidhe'dbeconcernedabouthisownorders.WhiletherewasmuchinMason'sstoryhehadquestioned,hehadshownakeeninterestinwhatthestaffonLilithhadsaidaboutbalanceofpower.HehadevenconfessedtoMasonthathewouldbehelpinghimbymakingthistrip—ifitdidn'tturnouttobefruitless.

Truetotheirguess,ordersfromEckertarrivedafewhourslater.MasonwastobebroughtimmediatelytohimandtheCaptainhadtoexplain—hediditconvincingly,Masonthought—thatMasonhadalreadyescapedinalifeboat.AtthatnewsEckertseemedtobesetslightlyoffbalance.HeproceededtotellCottermorethanhehadintended.WhathesaidworriedMasonevenmoreanditcausedCottertobecomeevenmoreconvincedofthetruthinMason'sstory.

Eckerthintedthatthecontinuingexperimentswerenotgoingaccordingtoplan,andthereseemedtobesometrouble.Therefore,saidEckert,itwasnecessarytofindMasoniftheyhadtosendthewholefleetintodoit.HedemandedtoknowMason'splansandMasoncouldsenseCotter'sreluctancetolie.HewasplacedinanalmostuntenablepositionfortheCaptainofareportingship,andMasonhalfexpectedhimtogiveawaythewholeshowthenandthere.Instead,Cottermaintainedhispositionofignorance,andMasonrealizedtheremustbealotbehindhiswishtoseeMasonsafely.offtothehighcourt.

mustbealotbehindhiswishtoseeMasonsafely.offtothehighcourt.

ImmediatelyafterthetalkwithEckert,MasonwasledtothelifeboatandequippedwitheverythinghewouldneedforthejourneytoLegus.HowCotterwasgoingtomanagetosealthetonguesofthereporterswho,ofnecessity,hadtohelp,wassomethingMasonworriedover.ButtheCaptain,shakinghishand,sternlytoldhimtothinkonlyabouthismission.

"Leavetheresttome,Russ,anddon'tworry.Yourbig-gestproblemwillbeleavingLegus,andI'mnotsureIcanhelpyouthere.Youmayevenbepickedupbeforeyouarrive.Idon'tknowwhatEckertintends.It'seasyenoughformetosayI'munabletolocateyou,butifheputssomeothershipsonyourtrail,Ican'tanswerforthem."

"Iunderstand,"Masonsaidsolemnly.

Theysaidgood-byequietlyinthehugeunderbellyoftheship,thelittlelifeboatlookinglikeafrailmidgetintheenormousspace.Therewasatenseundercurrentintheatmosphere,andMasonwasawareofCotter'sreliefwhentheboatwassealedandtheairlockclosedbehindit.Masonwatchedoutthenosewindowasthegreatdoorinfrontofhimopenedandhewassuddenlyhurtledoutintotheblacknightofspace.

CHAPTERNINE

Nowthekewasnothingtodofortwodaysbuteat,sleepandthink.ScenesracedthroughMason'smindashestaredaheadatthecrowdeduniverse.Here,nearthecenterofthegalaxy,starswerecloseandspacewasfarfromempty.

Masonwentovereverystepofhisexperiencessofarandfoundthatmoreandmorehecamebacktotheideathathadstruckhimsoforciblybackthereonthemountain:Amirageintime.Itseemedsuchareasonableanswertohisvisions,andyethecouldn'tridhimselfoftheideathathehad,himself,traveledonthatlongjourneytoEarth.Perhaps,though,onethingdidn'texcludetheother.

Astheseconddayperioddrewtoaclose,therehadbeennosignofpursuit,andMasonfelteasier.HewouldmakeittoLegus.Butwhatwouldhefindthere?Understandingorcontempt?Thatwaswhatconfrontedhimnowashesleptioithelasttimeinthecrampedspaceinthetinylifeboat.

Timehadnorealmeaningouthere.MasononlyknewitwasmorningonLegusbyhiswatch,astheshipdovethroughtheatmosphereandhelookedforaplacetoland.Hedidnotknowthisplanetandwantedtoarriveasobscurelyaspossible.TheshipsweptoverthecontinentsandMasonslowedandflewstilllower,lookingforthegreatCapitalofLawwherehewouldfindthebuildingsofthehighcourt.

Finallyhesawit;asweepofwhitedomedbuildingsspreadingoverthecenterofagreatplainlikefrosting.Therewasnosignofaregularspaceport.Leguswasrarelyvisited,soheimaginedwhenshipsdidarrivetheymustlandjustoutsidethecity.Hefoundaclearareanotfarawayandtookthelifeboatdown.Itwaswarmwhenhesteppedoutandhechangedtheclotheshe'dwornintheship.Thenhestartedwalkingtowardthecity.

Ashestartedupthegreatcenterwalkthatledtothebuildings,hepausedforamomentapprehensivelyatthelackoflife.Therewasn'tasoularound.WasthistobearepetitionofhislandingonLilith?Hekeptwalkingaheadtotheround,domedbuildingthatcoveredacres.Itmusthousethehighcourt.

Hewalkeduptheendlessflightsofstepssurroundingthebuildingonall

Hewalkeduptheendlessflightsofstepssurroundingthebuildingonallsidesandenteredthechamber.Itwasonehuge,circularroom,vaulted,theceilingfarhigherinsidethanithadappearedfromthewalk.Hewasonabalconythatranaroundinsidethebuildinglookingdownatthechamberbelow.

Masonpeeredoverandstoppedstill,suddenlyfindingitdifficulttobreathe.Rowuponrowtheysat,farbelowhim,forhalfthebuildingwasunderground.Circlesofrowsspreadfromthecircumferencetothecenter,where,onaraiseddias,sattheChiefJustice.Theremustbethousandsofbeingsdownthere—somanymorethanhehaddreamedsatinthehighcourt.Nowonderthecityseemedinterested.Theywereallhere.

Therewasnoplacetositorhearonthebalcony.Hewouldhavetofindtheentrance.Hewentaroundthebalcony■untilhefoundarampthatdescendedtothechamberbelow.Hestillheardnothingandwentslowlydown,halfexpectingsomeonetocomeoutandstophimonhisway.

Buttherewasnothing.Downanddown,turningseveraltimesinagreatcircleuntilhefinallyreachedthelowestlevel.There,infrontofhim,wereseveraldoors,spacedregularly,allundoubtedlyopeningintothechamber.

NowMasonbegantobenervous.Hehadn'tthoughtfartherthanthis.Whatshouldhedo?Washepreparedtomeetthatvastassemblyorshouldhewaitandtrytoseeoneofthemalone?Therewouldbemeninthere,too,hesuddenlyrealized,andwonderedifhecouldtrustthem.

Allatonceaswellofsoundreachedhissears.Sincetheywerenotallhumanvoicesthenoisewasindescribable.Masonlookedaroundinstinctivelyforaplacetohideandtherewasnone.Thefloorwasasemptyasthebalconyhadbeen.Theymustbelieveinausterity,hethought,alittlehysterically,asthevoicesgrewlouderandheknewthatoneofthedoorswasabouttoopen.Whatwouldhesee?Amanwhohadneverseenanalienshouldn'tbeallowedhere,hethought.Hewasn'tprepared!

ThedooropenedandsheerinstinctsavedMasonfromahorribleblunder.Therewasfirst,beforeanything,self-preservation.Anditwasthisforcethatnowmovedhim.Herantothewallasthedoorsbegantoopen,andstoodsothathewouldbeattheirrear.Theybegantocomeout,andforcinghislegstopullhimalong,Masonjoinedthethrongandwalkedslowlyandcarefullyamong

himalong,Masonjoinedthethrongandwalkedslowlyandcarefullyamongthem.

Hedidn'tlook;hecouldn't.Hestaredstraightaheadhopingthattheymightmistakehimforoneofthemensittingincourt.Thereweresomanybeings,howcouldtheyknowthedifference?Hecouldn'thelpcatching,outofthecornerofhiseye,animpressionoffur,color,oddshapes,tendrilsescapingfromcloaks.

Justashenoticedinaswiftpanicthateveryonewaswearingthesameoutergarment,ahugepurplecloak,anarmmovedabouthiswaistandhefelttheedgeofacloakflungoverhisshoulder.Helookedsidewaysandsawakind,un-humanface—thankGoditwasaface—thatsmiledgentlyathimandthennudgedhimtotheoppositewallwhere,asifbymagic,adoorsuddenlyopened.Insidetherewassomesortofacloakroom,andtheperson—Masonalreadythoughtofhimasaperson—stoodwithhisbackagainstthedoorandtossedthecloaktoMasonwhoquicklyputiton.

ThedooropenedagainandMasonwasledthroughthestfeamofbeingswhodidn'tseemtolookhiswayatall.Theyweremovingveryquicklyandapathseemedtoopeninfrontofthemastheysurgeduptherampandoutofthebuilding.Hewasledacrossthegroundinfrontofthecourt,acrossthecenterwalktoalowbuilding.Hewastakeninside,andasthedoorclosedbehindhim,hefinallyturnedandfacedhisstrangebenefactor.

"Thatwasfoolish,"thepersonsaidinEnglish,inadeep,roughvoicethatwassomehowquitesoothing.HewasslightlytallerthanMason,almosthumaninappearance,andhadlimbslikemen.Buthewasentirelyelongatedandtherewasjustthefaintestimpressionofasoft,furlikedownthatcoveredhimandcametoitsfullestonhishead.

Hisfacewasbushy.Masoncouldthinkofnootherwaytodescribeit.Theeyebrowswerefullandreachedalmostacrosshisforehead.Underneath,hiseyeswerestartlinglylargeandclear,framedinheavylonglashes.Thenosewaslongandhismouthwasoddlywide,curlingslightlyupwardsatthecorners.Itwasthat,Masondecided,thatgavehimsuchagentleexpression.Hishands,too,wereverylongandexpressive,andcoveredmorethanhisfacewiththesoft,goldendown.Hehad,andMasonfoundhimselfnotatallshockedtoseeit,sixfingers—orrather,twothumbs.

Noticingthisandrelievedatthewayhehadtakenit,Masonsuddenly

Noticingthisandrelievedatthewayhehadtakenit,Masonsuddenlylaughedandthepersonsmiledunderstandingly."Yes,ofcoursethiswouldn'tbotheryou—"heindicatedhishands"—buttherearesomesightsthattakeslightlymorepreparationtobear.Youwereveryfoolishbutverybrave.We'vebeenexpectingyou."

Thereitwas,Masonthought,thatexpressionthatonlyappearedinbooks.UnlessEckerthadwarnedthemofhispossiblearrival.

"No,"thestrangerdeniedthisunspokenthought,"noonetoldusthatyouwerecoming.Now,"hegesturedtowardachairthatlookedreassuringlylikeanyotherchairMasonhadeverseen."Pleasesitdownandletuslearneachother'snames.IamcalledOden."

"RussellMason."Hewasalittleuncomfortableundertheobviouscontrolthestrangerhadofthesituation.

Thealiensmiled."Mr.Mason,itisnevereasytomeetanotherintelligence,andyouareatadisadvantagehere.IhavehadmuchcontactwithothermenandIknowyourracewell."HeregardedMasonquizzically."Iwonderhowwellyouwillbearit?"

"Meetingyou,youmean?Andotherbeings?"Masonasked."That'swhyI'mhere.Idon'tknowwhyyourescuedmebackthereatthecourt,butIwanttosaynowthatI'mgrateful."

"Thankyou."Odengavehimashort,almostceremonialbow,andMasonfeltevenmoreuncomfortable.Odenwasthankinghimforhisgratitude.Odd,Masonthought.

"Now,"Odencontinuedgraciously,"Iwilltellyouquicklywhyweknewyouwerecoming,andwhoweare.Iamspeakingofmyownrace,theSumdac.Wearemildlytelepathic.BythatImeanthatwecanreceiveratherlargeimpressionsofthingswhenverymuchisatstake.Butwecannotreadthoughtsasmanybelieve.Also,wearesofartheonlybeingswithanytelepathicpowersatall.Theremaybemoreonplanetsnotyetdiscovered,butsofarwearealone.

"Sowedonotknowwhyyouarehere.Weknewthatsomethinggravewasintheair—manyofusfeltadanger—andthenwereceivedtheknowledgethatsomeoneorsomethingwasonitswayhere.Wehavebeenwatching.WhenI

someoneorsomethingwasonitswayhere.Wehavebeenwatching.WhenIsawyoutoday,outsidethegreathall,Iknewyoumustbetheone.

"Frankly,"Odenpausedandlookedcuriouslyattheyoungmanbeforehim"—Ididn'tthinkitwouldbeyou;Ididn'tbelieveitwouldbeaMan."

Masonwasataloss.Herewasthisalien,asuperiorbeing,hesensedinstinctively,alreadyhintingatmanyofthethingsMasonwishedtolearnabout,andtosay.YetsuddenlyMasonfeltarepugnance,awishtobeanywherebuthere;alongingforthecomfortofotherhumanbeingsonhisownscale.Hehadawildimpulsetotellajoke,anythingtoreachanordinarylevelagain.Andjustashewasabouttosaythewholethinghadbeenamistake,herememberedUlinski'swordstoLouisaonthatawfulnightwhenhehadlearnedabouttheFederation:

"Couldyougiveupyourideaofmanasthefinalandbestimageofevolution?CouldyousubmittoalesserroleintheFederation?"Ulinskihadsaid,andMasonknewnowwhatUlinskihadmeant.Manwasn'tusedtosecondplace.Hewoulddoanythingtoavoidit.Hisentirehistoryhadbeenademandforsuperiority.Firstindividuals,thennations,andnowtheentirerace.

AndMasonfeltit,too.Thiswasgoingtobehard;harderthananythinghe'deverdone.Whathemustconstantlykeepinfrontofhim,Masondecided,wasthatpictureofMan'sdeath.Theendofhissun,andtheendofMan,unlessMasoncouldhelpnowtosavehim.Thatvisionwashisonlyhope.

"Youarereallyverybrave,"Odensaid,andMasonwonderedhowhecouldbearsuchsympathy."Braverthanmostmen.Weadmirecourage,youknow.Itis,ofallMan'squalities,oneofthemostadmirable.And,"hesmiledencouragingly,"weallhavesomethingtooffer.Eachoneofus.Weareeachunique.Youmustneverlosesightofthat.Now—"hesawthatMasonwasallrightagain"—tellmeyourstoryandperhapsIcanhelp."

MasonbeganwithhisarrivalonLilithanddescribedtheeventsthathadledhimheretothehighcourt.HeexpectedOdentobeshockedathisaccountofthedeceptionpracticedontheexperimentalplanets.But,Masonnowrealized,thesebeings,theSumdacs,weretoointelligenttobeshockedbyanything.Odenwasnotshocked;hewasdeeplyangry.

Hehadperfectcontrol,however,andsatquietlyuntilfinallyhesaidtoMason,withasmile,"Youseehoweasilywearedeceivedbyourwishes.WewishedManwell.Knowingthestrangearrangementofhisbeing,wewereevenpreparedtogoalongwithhisideaoflaw,althoughtherearefewintelligencesinthisuniversewhoneedthatsortofcourt.

"ThiswasagesturetoMan.Agrandwelcoming.Withinthisframeworkandbecause%ofhisneed,wethoughtManwouldeventuallycometohismaturity.WelikedMan,wewishedallthisforhim.Thereforeitisourfault.ItisnotMan'serror."HelookedseverelyatMason."NeverblameManforthis,Mr.Mason.Blameourwishforhim,ifyouhavetocastblameatall."

"Yes,butsomemenaren'ttoblame,"Masonsaid,thinkingofCotterandLouisa."Alargepartaren't.Thereareonlyafewmenwhoareresponsibleforthis.Itisn'ttheraceitself."

"Isn'tit?"saidOdenmildly."Ifoneofyourlimbswerebe-•ingeatenawaywithdisease,wouldyouexpecttherestofyourbodytoremainunaffected?Itisexactlythesamewithalargebodyofpeople,witharace.Aslongasthereisonewarpedmemberitmeansthatthegroupisnotyetperfected.Theyhavealittlewaytogoyet.Doyouunderstandthat?"

Masonnoddedreluctantly.

"Well,then,untilaraceisfinished,or,inotherwords,completelyevolved,theyareusuallyconfinedbynaturalcausestotheirownworlds.OnlyManhadatechnologyinadvanceofhisevolution.

"Allofus,"hesmiled,"yes,theSumdac.Doyouthinkweneverfoughtamongourselvesorgavegreatpaintoeachother?Oh,yes,thatwaslongago,andittookmanymillionsofyearstoreachourpresentstate.Butweevolvedathome!"Hestressedtheword."WewerenotoutamongthestarswherewecoulddountolddamagetotheplanetsthemselvesandtoLife.Thisisaveryseriouschargeyoubringagainstyourownrace,Mr.Mason.YoumustloveManverymuchtodoit."

HisunderstandingbroughtalumptoMason'sthroat.Odenknewwhyhewashere.Howmanymenwouldunderstand?

"AndIthinkyouareindanger,"Odenadded."Youmuststayherewithme,outofthesightofothermenuntilthisaffairissettled.FirstIwillcontactHaskellEckertandthreatenhimwithexposureunlesshecallsofftheexperimentsonLilithimmediately.ThenwewillinsistthatyougobacktoLilithtoseethatthisiscarriedout.Youwillbeinnodangerthen;Eckertwillhavetheforceofmyknowledgebehindanythinghemightattempt,andyouwillbewellprotected.

"Afterthatitbecomesourbusiness.WhatthehighcourtwilldecidetodowithMan,Idonotknow.Butwewillnotbehasty.YoumustgotoLilithwiththatassurance.Iwouldnothaveyouthinkinanyotherway.Oneotherthing,Mr.Mason.Haveyouthoughtaboutwhethertheseeffortsofyourswillbesuccessful?"

"Doyoumeanstoppingtheexperiments?"Masonasked,slightlyconfused.

"No,Iamsurethatcanbedone,withorwithoutyou.ImeanthesalvationofMankind."

MasonstaredathimwhileOdenbluntlycontinued."Youhavetoldmeoftwoseparatevisions,asyoucallthem.Tometheyhavetheringoftruth.Iwouldnotchoosetocallthemvisions.WeknowthatEarth'ssunwillonedaydie.Thatisnotafantasy.Andwhocantellwhatresultwillcomefromtheinformationyouhavebroughtme?

"IfMancannotunderstandhimselfandhisplaceamongthestars,itmayverywellbethathispunishmentwillbeexactlyasyouhavesaid:tobebanishedtohisownsolarsystemuntilhehasbecomeperfect.Itmakessense;itdoesn'tsoundlikefiction.

"Yourraceisnotconvincedoftherealityofsomeformsofperception.Wetakesuchthingsforgrantedanddonotsaythatthereareonlysomanysenses.Weknowthattherearemanylevelsineachindividual.ManylevelsinTime.Youhavecrossedsomeofthem,andIthinkyouarerightwhenyousaythatthelightfromtheexperimentswasthecause.

"Buthaveyouthoughtofwhatelsewasnecessaryforthatexperience?Whatisthereinyouthatallowedthelighttotakeyouonajourney?Didyouever

thinkthatanothermanmightsimplyhavebeenkilled,likethosetwounfortunatescientists?"

Mason'sheartbegantobeatwildly.Hehadwonderedaboutit.Buttherewasnothingdifferentabouthim,hewassure.Hisvoiceshookalittle:"'No,there'snothingdifferentaboutme.Itwouldhavehappenedtoanyonewhosteppedintothatcircle."

Odensmiled."Maybe.Ifinditinteresting,however,thatyoualsosawtheevolutionoflifeonLilith.Onevisionwithouttheotherwouldhavelednowhere.Butyousawboth.Andyounotonlysaw;youunderstoodslightly.Itledtoaction,itbroughtyouhere.Doyourealizehowdifficultitistogethere?Whywereyounotstopped?Whatisitthatallowedyoutocomesofar?Don'tyousee,Mr.Mason,howeverythingconnects?Itisallrelated."

Masonfeltslightlynumbassomethingbeyondhisordinarylevelofunderstandingbegantopenetrate.

"Yes,youmustwonderaboutallthesethings.Don'ttakeeverythingsoeasily.Andnowwemustmakearrangements.IthinkyoushouldgetbacktoLilithassoonaspossible.I'msureyouareneededthere.WewillcontactMr.Eckerttonightsothatyoumaygothereimmediately."

"WillIseeyouagain?"Masonaskedalmostshyly,andnotashamedofitnow.HehadjustbeguntounderstandhowmuchhecouldlearnfromthiscreatureOden.HefeltintheroleofpupiltoteacherandforamomentwonderedhowManwouldfareifhecouldacceptthatrole.Itwouldbeawonderfulexperience,hethought,asheunderstoodforthefirsttimethestrengthofhumility.Therewasnothinginittofear.Insteadtherewasawholenewworldreadytoopen,andMasonwishedhecouldstepintoit.

"Ofcourse,"Odenrepliedaffectionately."Iwillarrangeitsothatwemaykeepintouch.Incaseofdifficultyyouwillbeabletoreachme.Ithinkyouwillhavetodomostofthisalone,sinceifManistobesaved,itwillhavetocomefromManhimself,andyouarepartofthatpotentiallygreatrace.ButIdon'twantyoutothinkyouarecompletelyaloneorwithoutresource.Afterall,weareallbrothersinthisgreatuniverse.Andwehavemuchtothankyoufor.Wearegrateful."

Masonsleptmorepeacefullythathehadforweeks.TherewasaninfluenceofcalmaboutthebuildinginwhichOdenlived.Theatmospherewasentirelydifferentfromanythinghehadeverknown.InthemorningOdentoldhimthatCaptainCotterhadbeeninstructedtopickhimup.HewouldtakethelifeboatbacktotheshipwhichwasnowonitswaytoLegus.Oneunforeseencircumstancehaddeveloped.EckertwouldalsobeonLilithandthatwassomethingMasonwouldhavetoface.Eckerthadalmostpanickedatthethreatofexposureandinsistedonbeingatthescene.Hewantedtomakesure,himself,thattheexperimentswerestopped.

"Don'tworryaboutthat,"Odensaid."Heissincere.Outoffearandselfishness,itistrue.ButhespeakshonestlyaboutthewishtoseewithhisowneyestheendoftheexperimentsandtheresumptionofnaturallifeonLilith.Hemaydespiseyou—Iamsurehedoes—buthewillnotdoanythingtoharmyou.Heknowswhatwouldhappenifhetried."

Odenwascorrect.WhenMasonarrivedbackonLilith,therewasanentirelydifferentatmosphereaboutthespaceport.Themothershiphadbeeninstructedtowaitoverhead.ShewouldorbituntilitwastimeforthestafftoleaveLilith.CotterwasavailableifMasonneededhim,andhehadsentRoyWilsondowntoobservetheproceedings.

Cotter'sworstsuspicionshadbeenconfirmed.HeconfessedtoMasonthathisworryhadbeenbasedonacertaininsistencefromtheFederationthatallmentionoflifeonexperimentalplanetsbeavoidedinthereports.ThishadledtothemanydoubtswhichpromptedhimtohelpMasonreachLegus.HewasunderEckert'swrath,too.But,likeMason,hewasinapositionwhereEckertcoulddonothingtoharmhim.

Eckertwaslikeawolfatbay,fightingtosavehisownskin.IfhecouldcarryitouthemightsavehisplaceintheFederation.Masonwonderedwhatwasplannedfortheotherplapetswhereexperimentswerebeingconducted.Butthatwasforanothertime.Lilithwastheimmediateproblem.

Theportwasahubofactivity.Extrascientistshadbeenassignedtothetaskandhad.toworkwithoutbeinggivencompleteinformation.Theyweretoldof"accidents."ThiswasnecessarytoprotecttheFederation.OnlyMason,Eckert,Cotterandtheoriginalstaffknewexactlywhatthesituationwas.Masonwasanxioustoknowabouttheexperimentsthathadtakenplaceafterheleft.

anxioustoknowabouttheexperimentsthathadtakenplaceafterheleft.

Eckertwastheretomeetthemwhentheylanded.MasonwalkedwithRoyacrosstheporttotheshort,stockyfigurethatstrodeaggressivelyacrossthefield.Theystoodlookingateachother,MasonwithundisguisedcuriosityandEckertwitheyesfullofimpotentrage.WithWilsonpresenttheycouldnotspeakopenly.

"Mr.Mason,"Eckertgreetedhimstiffly,squintinginthesun.

"Say,thesecolorsarefantasticI"Royobserved,takingnonoticeofthescenebeingplayedbeforehim.

"You'llbegivenglasses,"Eckertsaidcurtly."Noneedforthembeforenoon."

"WhathashappenedsinceIleft?"Masondemanded.

"You'llhavetospeaktoDr.UlinskiorYeeMonaboutthat,"Eckertansweredtartly.

Masonobservedhimoutofthecornerofhiseyeastheywalkedacrossthefieldtotheflyer.Eckerthadfinallyauthorizedthem,soforoncetheywouldn'thavetospendhoursonthejourneytothesecondlab.

SothiswasthegreatHaskellEckertwhomMasonhadheretoforeregardedassomeonealmostsacrosanctintheFederation;amanwhohadformerlystoodasanimageofhumanitarianresearch,asymbolofallthatwasbestinMan.

Masonsawaround,fleshyfacewithaslightgraycasttotheskin,altogethernondescriptexceptfortheforeheadwhichwashighandslantedwiththinninggrayhairstartingfarback.Withoutthatsilver-grayhair,Masonthought,hewouldhavelookedquiteordinary.Hedidn'tlikeEckert'seyeswhichweresmallandcunningandmovedtoomuch,inafurtiveway.

Theygotintotheflyer,MasonnexttoEckertatthecontrolsandRoysittingintherear,unabletosayenoughaboutthemarvelsofLilith.OtherthanRoy'sfrequentejaculationsofwonderatthecolorandscenery,itwasasilenttrip.Eck-ertchewedhislipnervously,hiseyesdartingconstantlyoverthesurfaceofthegroundbelow.MasonwonderedifEckerthadmetOden,butrefrainedfrom

groundbelow.MasonwonderedifEckerthadmetOden,butrefrainedfromasking—thesituationwastenseenough.

Theysetdowninfrontofthelabandasthehumoftheenginestopped,Ulinskicamerunningtothemfromtheanimalpen.HeliterallyhuggedMasonashesteppedoutoftheflyer,takingnonoticeofEckert.

"Russ,I'msogladtoseeyouback!Soglad!Now,come,Iwanttotalktoyourightaway."

"HaveyoumetMr.Eckert?"Masonrestrainedhimforamoment."AndthisisRoyWilson,anotherreporterfrommyship."

"Mr.Eckert,"Ulinskisaidgravely,notdisguisinganoteofdistaste.TheyshookhandsandUlinskicalledforLouisatotakeEckerttohisroom."Wewilltalklater,"Ulinskisaid."RightnowIhavesomethingtodiscusswithMr.Mason.Youwillexcuseus?"

EckertnoddedimpatientlyandfollowedLouisa.ShelookedbackatMasonastheyleftandsmiledherreliefatseeinghimsafelyback.

"SoEckerthasn'tbeenoutherebefore?"Masonasked,surprised.

"No,he'sbeenattheportwaitingforyou.We'vebeenintouchbyradio.Now,come."Ulinskistartedtowardtheanimalpen."We'reintrouble.ButbeforeIshowyou,Russ,Iwishtothankyouforwhatyou'vedone.Therewereafewofusherewhodespisedwhatweweredoing.Nowwecanfaceourselvesanddoanhonesttask."Hestoppedand•beamedatMason,"Thankstoyou!IknowyoumusthavewonderedwhyIactedsostrangely.Nowyouknow.Weareallrelieved."

"All?"Masonaskedskeptically.

Ulinskishrugged,"Almostall.PerhapsYeeMonstillseesthingsdifferently,butNeilandLouisaandIareallelatedatthisnewdevelopment.But,"hebecamesuddenlyserious,"wehaveagreatdealtocorrecthereandit'sgoingtobeveryhard.Ievenwonderwhetherwe'llsucceed.You'llsee.

WehavealteredalifeformtothepointwhereIwonderifitwillbepossibletochange."

tochange."

"Whathappened?Whatotherexperimentsdidyoudo?"

"WetriedsomethingnewontheGilas.Anewcombinationofcolors,andithadastrongmutationeffect.Theybegantobreedmorerapidly,andtheworst—Here,lookforyourself."

Ulinskiopenedthedoortotheroomofcagesandanewandpowerfulodorsweptoverthemlikeacloud,envelopingtheroom.Butthistimeitwasnotsweet.Itwasanacridstenchofoverwhelmingintensity.

"Look!"Ulinskipointedtothecages.

Masongasped.TheGilaswerelargerthantheyhadbeenandtheircolorhadchanged.Butthegreatestshockwastoseethemfeedingonflesh.Theyhadbecomecarnivorous.And—Masoncriedoutwhenhesawit—theywerefeedingonthemelans!

CHAPTERTEN

"Stopthem!Stopthem!"Masonheardsomeonescreamingthefollowingmorning.He'dhadabadnight,tossingrestlesslyalmostuntildawn.Atfirsthethoughtitwasanightmare,butasthesoundpenetrated,herealizeditwasLouisa'svoice.Heranoutsidequicklyandfoundanominoussighttoconfronthim.TheGilas,hundredsofthem,wererunningoverthegroundsandescapingintotheforest.Manyofthemhadtakenamelanandwereholdingthemintheirmouthsastheyran.

Thesizeofthecreatureswasfrighteninginitself.Andtheywerealmostapurplecolornow—Lilith'spurple.Theymadearaspingsoundandtheairwasfilledwithnoise.

EverywhereMasonlookedhesawamassofmovingskinglintingviciouslyinthemorningsun.

Louisawastryingtoheadthembacktothepen,buttheyeitherrushedon,orturnedonherferociously.ShekeptonscreaminguntilnotonlyMasonbuttherestofthestaffandevenEckertcameoutandtriedtoheadthecreaturesback.Butitwasnouse.Everylastoneescapedintothesurroundingforest.

Louisa'shandswerebleedingandUlinskitookherinsidetobandagethem.Masonwenttothepentoseewhathadhappened.Afewofthemelanswereleftintheircages,nervousandfrightened.SomewerecoweringbackinthecornersandotherscameforwardwhenMasonentered,pressinganxiousfacesupagainstthebars.

Hesawinstantlywhathadgonewrong.TheGilashadbeenabletobreakthroughthebarswiththeforceoftheirincreasedweight.Theyhadbrokenthroughanumberofthemelans'cages,too,inordertofeed.OthershadbeencarriedoffbytheGilasintheirflight.Therewerenotmanymelansleft.

Masonsatdownonthefloorofthepen,sickatwhathehadseen.TheGilaswerenowinapositiontofeedonalltheremainingmelansinthearea.Andiftheygrewanymore,whichseemedlikely,theendofthemelanswasnotfaroff.Howcouldheconvincethepeoplehereoftheimportanceofsavingtheselittlecreatures?Theymustbeprotectedfromthemenace.How?Therewasonlyone

creatures?Theymustbeprotectedfromthemenace.How?Therewasonlyoneanswer:theGilasmustbedestroyedifevolutiononLilithweretotakeitsnaturalcourse.

ThenandtherehetookoutthecuriouslittlegadgetOdenhadgivenhimincaseofneed,andcalledhim.Howsomethinglikethiscouldworkacrossthevastoceansofspacewithoutbeinginterceptedbymonitoringstations,Masondidn'tknow.Allhecaredabout,actually,wasthatitdidwork.InamomentheheardOden'sthoughts,notinhisear,butsomewhereinhischest.ThenMasonknewthiswasn'tatransmitter.Itwassomethingentirelydifferent,designedfordirectthoughtcommunication,andprobablywouldn'tworkwithanyoneotherthanoneoftheSumdacs.

"No,youcannottelltheotherswhatyousawinthatvision."ThethoughtwasasclearasifOdenhadbeenintheroomhimself.Masonfoundthathedidn'thavetotalktosendhismessage,butsimplyframedthewordsinhishead.

Odenreplied:"Theywouldnothavetheunderstanding.Youarerighttocallme.Onthismatteryouwillneedmyhelp.IwillsendamessagetoEckerttofollowyourinstructionsabsolutely.Butthatmeansyoumusthaveaplan.Gotoworkonthatnow.Timeisshort."

ThemessagestoppedandMasonwasleftalonewiththeknowledgethatitwasnowuptohim.Howcouldhestopthiscarnage?Whatcouldhedotosavethemelans?OfcoursenoonewouldunderstandthattheywereMan'slasthope.Toanyoneelseitwouldbealaughableidea.Hewouldhavetoworkalonewiththatknowledge.Atthemomenthesawonlyonepossibility.

EckerthadalreadyreceivedthemessagefromOdenwhenMasonwentbacktothemainbuilding."Whatdoyouintendtodo?"Eckertaskedfretfully,obviouslyindignantathavingtotakeordersfromwhatheconsideredaninferior.

"We'llhavetosendoutsearchingparties,"Masonreplied,"andcatchasmanymelansaswecan.InthemeantimeIwantapenbuiltherethat'sstrongandsecureenoughtoprotectthem.Oncewe'veaccomplishedthat,IseenoalternativetodestroyingtheGilas.Perhapsthisworkondestructionmayhaveasalutaryeffectafterall,"heconcludedcryptically.

Someoftheothershadgatheredtolisten.

"Howdoyouthinkwecaneliminatethem?"askedMarina."They'vealreadybeenexposedtothemostdestructivecolorblendwehave,andthey'vebeenimpervious.Theyabsorbcolorandmutate."

"That'suptoyou,"Masonsaiddecisively."Youmustfindsomething.You'reallresponsibleforthis.Nowyou'llhavetorectifyit."Helookedaroundthelounge."Whilethemenareoutsearchingyou'llhavetoworkonthat.Ithinkyou'dbettergetstartednow."

YeeMon'scheekwasstillbruisedwhereMasonhadhithim.Herubbeditpointedlyashesaid,"I'dhatetoseeyougetdrunkwithpower,Russ.Wecandoonlysomuch.Personally,Iwouldn'tguaranteeanything.Youhavenoconceptionofthecomplicationsinourwork."

Masonrestrainedanimpulsetohithimagain.Oddthatthisman,whomhehadonceliked,hadchangedsoalarmingly.Hewonderedatthecause."YouheardwhatIsaid,Yee,"hestatedquietly."Doyourbest.Youalsohavenoconceptionoftheimportanceofthisjob.You'llhavetosearchforamiracleifnecessary."

"Butwhoareyoutotellus—"Nadiastarted,whenEck-ertsuddenlyhushedher."That'senough,"hebarked,"You'reunderMr.Mason'sdirectionnow.Youhaveyourorders."

EckertobviouslystillcarriedtheweightofauthorityfromtheFederation.Masonrealizedthathispresencewasactuallygoingtobeahelp.

Theworkwentaheadatbreakneckspeed.Eckertworkedwithfanaticalconcentration,requisitioningallthematerialsneeded,andgettingthemfast.Penswerebuiltattheportandthesecondlab.TherewasnowayofknowinghowfasttheGilaswerebreedingorhowfartheytraveledintheirquestfornewfood.Teamsweresentintothejungles,necessarilyonfoot,tocaptureallthemelanstheycouldfind.

Itwasaslow,difficultprocessuntilastrangethingbegantobenoted.Themelans,ratherthanrunningawayfromtheircaptors,begantorushtowardthemassoonasthevoicesandfootstepsofmenwereheard.Theymadenoprotest.Rather,theyseemedtoactivelyseekthiscapture.Atnightmanywouldcomefromthesurroundingforestsandwaitoutsidetheenclosureatthelabuntilthe

fromthesurroundingforestsandwaitoutsidetheenclosureatthelabuntilthegateswereopenedandtheywereletin.Itshowedanamazingintelligenceandinstinctforsurvival,andMasonhadnodifficultypersuadingtheteamsthattheselittlecreatureswereworthyofbeingsaved.

Menlikedthem,andmanyhadtheideaofmakingthempets.Butthemelansweretooindependentforthat.Theyacceptedhelpbutnotfamiliarity.Itwasasiftheircellshadalreadytheknowledgeoftheirevolutionandwhiletheyweregrateful,theycouldnot,evenatthisstage,acceptManasahigherbeing.

NoonewasawareofthissaveMason.Healoneregardedthemelansasmorethanintelligentanimals.AndhealonehadtocontrolasickeningfurywhenhesawtheremainsofamelanbreedinggroundthathadbeeninvadedbytheGilas.Itwasheartbreaking,backbreakingwork.Therewaslittletimeforrestorevenregularmeals.

ThestaffwasnotmakingmuchprogressinfindingawaytodestroytheGilasorreversethedamagecausedbytheexperiment.Masondislikedtheideaofdestroyinganylifeformatall,buttheViningsistershadassuredhimthattheGilaswerebeyondhope.Inanycasetheycouldn'thaveevolvedfurtherthantheirstageofdevelopmentbeforetheexperiments.

Itwaseasytoaccept,fortheyremindedeveryoneofsomelostcausesonEarthlikethedinosaurandotherformsthathadnecessarilybecomeextinct.Nowtherewasalsogeneralagreementthatthelittlemelansdidhaveafurtherevolution.Strange,Masonthought,thatithadn'tbeennoticedbefore.Strangeandratherhorrible.

Dayslateroneofthesearchingpartiesreturnedtothelabwithdisturbingnews.TheyhadcomeacrossthestrongestconcentrationoftheGilasyetdiscovered.Agiganticneststretchingformilesandspawningthousandsofthemonsterswho,theysaid,werelargerandmoredangerousthanthosewhohadescapedfromthepen.

MasongrabbedUlinskiawayfromthelabandtooktheflyer.HewantedtoseethisforhimselfanditseemedpossiblethatUlinski,observingthemutation,mighthaveanideaortwo.Theyfollowedthedirectionthesearchingpartyhadindicated,aboutfortymilestothenorthofthelab.

ItwasanunexploredareaandstrangetoMasonwhohadvisualizedallof

ItwasanunexploredareaandstrangetoMasonwhohadvisualizedallofLilithasbeinganextensionofwhathehadalreadyseen.Thiswasahauntedplaceofbogsandmire,steamingwithgasesthatemergedfromthegroundandbubblingpoolsofliquidthatremindedhimoflava.

Ulinskigrabbedhisarmastheycircledabove,"Lower,Russ,"hewhispered."Look!"

Masonbroughttheflyerdownandpeeredthroughthevaporthatroseinburstsofsteamaroundthem"Oh,no!"hebreathedastheysawbelowthefantasticsight.Therewerethousandsofthem—ithadn'tbeenanexaggeration.Thegroundandpoolswerecoveredwiththeanimalswhoweremuchlargerthananytheyhadseenbefore.Theirraspingvoiceswerenowascream,andatthenoiseofthemotorabovethemtheyroseandlookedup,likealivingmassofferocioushorror.

Theywerelowenoughtoseethattheanimalshadbeengorgingonacatchofmelans.Theareawascoveredwithremnantsofthelittleanimals.Shreddedfleshandfurandbloodstreakedacrossthegapingjawsofthemonsters—fortheywerenowindeedmonsters.Therewasnootherwordforthem.

"Bombthem,"Masonsaid,notinquestionbutstatement.

"No."Ulinskishookhishead."Howcouldwedare?Theremaybeotherlifeformsthere,too.We'dbekillingmorethantheGilasandtheradioactivitycouldcauseuntoldharm."

"Don'twehaveanythingthatisn'tradioactive?"Masonasked.

"No,andactuallywedon'tevenhavethat.Itwouldtakeweeksormonthstogetnuclearweaponsevenifwecould.Andbesides,Russ,killingonthisonebreedinggroundwon'tdoit.There'dstillbeotherGilas.Wehavetofindawaytowipeoutthestrainaltogether.Let'sgoback.Iwanttotrysomething.Isthisflyerstrongenoughtocarryextraequipment?"

"Some,yes,"Masonreplied,wonderingwhatUlinskihadinmind.

"Iwanttoputafocusingbeaminitandtrythesameexperimentwedidbefore."

"Butthat'swhatcausedthemutation!"Masonprotested.

"Yes,butithaskilledeverythingelse.I'mwonderingwhethernowtheyhavechangedtoapointwherethecolorwouldhaveadestructiveeffect.Itmight,now."

"Whatifitonlycausesstillfurthermutation?"

"Thenwe'vefailedandmaybeinworsetroublethanbefore.Butwehavenothingelse!"ItwasapleaandMasonrecognizedUlinski'sdesperatewishtorectifyhiserror."We'vetriedeveryothercolorcombination."

"Whydoesithavetobecolor?"Masonwantedtoknow."Whycan'tyoutrysomethingelse?"

"Thereisnothingelse,"Ulinskiexclaimedemphatically."It'sacaseofreversingwhatwe'vealreadydoneordestroyingthemaltogether.Anditjustmightbeaccomplishedbythesamethingthatcausedthis.Itmightwork."

Masoncouldseenootheralternative.And,hereasoned,howcoulditpossiblygetworse?TheGilaswereobviouslystillmutating;theirbreedinghadreachedfantasticproportionsandifsomethingweren'tdonesoon,theywouldliterallyoverruntheplanet."Allright,"hesaid.

Ulinskisighed.Itwasbothasighofreliefandofprayer.Heknew,asMasonknew,thatifthisfailedtherewaslittlehope.

MasonwonderedthatUlinskifeltsostronglyevenwithouttheknowledgeofthemelan'spossiblefuture."Ilikethosesmallcreatures,"Ulinskisaid."There'ssomethingaboutthem."

Masonsmiledgrimly.Therewasindeedsomethingaboutthem.Howmuch,Ulinskimightneverknow.

Theytrieditatnight.Theflyerwasriggedwithequipmenttofloodtheswampareawiththebeamofcolor.Itwasanintricate,complicatedjobtoremovethemechanismfromthelabandputitintheconfinedspaceoftheflyer.Whenitwascompletedtherewasroomforonlytwomen.YeeMonwasacompetentpilot,sohewentwithUlmski.MasontookLouisa,SimpkinsandNeilTropeinanotherflyer.Eckertaskedtobeexcused.Hewasn'tinterestedin

Tropeinanotherflyer.Eckertaskedtobeexcused.Hewasn'tinterestedinwatchingtheexperiment;hewasinterestedintheresults.

Theyleftinatensesilence,feelingthateverythingwasatstakeinthisonelastgamble.MasoncircledovertheswampwaitingforUlinski'ssignal.HeswitchedhisnightflyinglightstothebeamthatwouldilluminatetheareawhileUlinskidirectedhisraybelow.

Atlastthesignalcameandthistimetheyallworeglassestoshieldthemselvesfromtheshock.Masonkeptwellinbackoftheotherflyer,hoveringintheairwhileYeeMontookhisflyerintoplace.Bynighttheareabelow,splotchedwiththecoloroftheGilas,lookedlikesomethingoutofaninferno.Thewrithingmassoffeedinganimals,skinglintinginthelightfromtheflyers,thewispsofsteamcurlingupfromtheground.TheywereallheldinaghostlysilenceasYeeMonblinkedhislightsinthesignalandthenturnedthemoff.

"Now,Masonsaidnervously.Suddenlythebeamofcolorstabbedthroughthenight,flashingonthemonsterswhobeganscreaminginfrightandpain.Theshockcausedeveryonetoclosetheireyesandtheflyersquiveredforamomentintheairbeforesteadyingagain.Ulinskimovedhislightaroundthearea,shootingitagainandagainuntiltheentireswamphadbeensprayed.

Theneverythingbelowwasquiet.Themonsterslayinheapsandmounds,shudderingastheycoweredfromtheblastoflight.

"Aretheydead?"Louisawhisperedshakily.

"Idon'tknow,"Masonsaid,andhisvoicesoundedstrangetohimashespoke."Let'swatch."

TheyhoveredoverthearealikeeeriesentinelswhileUlinskiandYeeMontooktheirflyerback.Withtheirextraequipmentitwasn'tsafetostayaloftforlong.Thevigillasteduntildawn—Lilith'sbeautifuldawnthatgavebirthtoahorriblesceneintheswampbelow.

AsthesuncameuptheGilasbegantomove,theirghastlyscreamsfillingthesky.Heavilytheylumberedupandbegantomoveaway,likeamonstrousexodus,intotheforest.Masonfollowedthemaslongashecould,untilthetreetopshidthemfromsight.

"Oh,Russ,"Louisabegantocry,guessingwhatwastakingplaceunderthegiantfronds.

"It'sgoingtobeworsethanitwasbefore,"Neilspokeslowly,measuringhiswords."Youwatchandsee.Thesemonstersaregoingtomutateuntiltheybecomeamenacenotonlytothemelansbuttous.They'llbeafterusnext,youwaitandsee."

"I'dliketoleave,"Simpkinssaidalittlehysterically."I

don'tseewhywehavetostay.Ihadnothingtodowiththis.Iwasonlyfollowingorders.Isayweshouldallleaveandleavethisplanettothem.They'regoingtotakeitoveranyway."

"Theyarenotgoingtotakeitover!"Masonexclaimedangrily,withmoreforcethanhefelt."Andyou'renotgoingtoleave.Nooneis.You'regoingbacktothatlabandworkoutsomething."

"I'mnotgoingtoworkanythingout,"Neilsaidviolently.I'mleaving.Idon'tseeanypointinthiswholethinganyway.Simpkinsisright.TheFederationsentusheretodoonething,andnowwe'redoinganother.Why?Nobodyhasexplainedthat.

"Eckertdoesn'tseemveryhappy,either.SometimesIwonderwhyhe'shereandwhethertheFederationevenknowshe'shere!"HelookedarounddefiantlyandMasonwassuddenlyworried.Neilhadputhisfingerontheonepossibilitythatmightbloweverythingwideopen.IfhewentoverEckert'shead…

"SofartheFederationhasneveraskedamantodeliberatelyputhislifeindanger,"Neilwentondefensively."We'vebeenprettywellprotected.Iintendtocontinuebeingprotected,andthatmeansgettingoutofthewayofthosemonsters.Nothingisgoingtostopthem,Russ,absolutelynothing!"

TheylandedatthelabandfoundthatUlinskialreadyknewtheoutcomeoftheexperiment.Itwasreallyseriousnow.Amanononeofthesearchingpartieshadbeenbadlymangledbyoneofthemonstersleavingtheswamp.Neilhadbeenright.

Masonknewhewouldhavetofindasolutionandfinditfast.Oden?He

Masonknewhewouldhavetofindasolutionandfinditfast.Oden?Hewonderedifheshouldcontacthim.ButwhatcouldOdendo?HehadlefttheprocessuptoMason.

Hewenttohisroomandclosedthedoor.Heneededaquietplacetothink.Hehadbeensocaughtupintherecentdevelopments,sobusydoingandrunning,thathehadalmostforgottenwhy.Somewherehehadlostthesenseofhisexperiences,hehadlostthefeelingofbeingonLilith.

HemightaswellhavebeenonanyotherplanetintheFederationinthelastfewweeks.

Masonstoodinthemiddleoftheroomandthenslowlylaydownonhisbed.Somethingwaswrong.Hewasgoingaboutthisthewrongway.WhatwasitthatOdenhadsaid?"Don'ttakethingssoeasily?"AndhehadmentionedtheconnectionbetweeneverythingthathadhappenedtoMason—thestrangerelationshipsbetweenhisvisionsandtime.Hehadseenthefuturetwicebecauseofthatlight.ThatsamelightthathadhadsuchhorribleeffectsontheGilas.

Masonsatupwithastart.Thatwashisanswer.Ifhehadseenthefuturetwice,whycouldn'ttherebeathirdtime?Theanswerlayinthefuture!Ifthatmirageintimeonthemountainhadbeentrue,whythemelansmusthaveevolved!ThemenaceoftheGilaswasgone.Theymusthavebeenexterminated.

Ifhecouldonlyseeintothefutureagain,hemightseehowithadbeendone.Tohaveavisionofthatparticularmomentintimewasalottoask,butOdenhadpointedouttherelationshipbetweeneverythinghehadseen.Thatmightbejustthemomentintimehewouldsee,ifeverythingwasreallyconnected.

Ifhecouldseethefuture,orifhe,bybeinginthefuture,couldseethepast,hewouldhavehisanswer.Howcouldhecontactthatmomentintime?Therewasapparentlyapurposebehindeverythinghehadseen.Whatpurpose?Whosepurpose?Nomatter,thepointwasingettingtheanswertohowtheGilashadbeendestroyedandthemelanshadbeensaved.Howcouldhedoit,otherthanthelightagain?

HewouldaskLouisatodotheexperimentonhim.

Thesimplicityofthethought,andthehorrorofitstaggeredhim.Itwashisanswer,ofcourse.Heknewthat.Heknewhewoulddoit.Itwasalmostasifhe

answer,ofcourse.Heknewthat.Heknewhewoulddoit.Itwasalmostasifhehadalreadydoneit.Buthewasbreathlesswiththemagnitudeofit.

Howcouldhedare?Hecouldn'tpossibly.Hefeltatremorofshockrunthroughhisbodylikeacurrentofelectricityandheknewhecouldn'tdare.Buthewould.Hisheartwasracingandhecouldfeelthedifferenceinhisheartbeatandhisbreath.Hismindwasracingwithassociations,leapingfromonethingtoanother.Silly,smallthings.

Hefeltthesolesofhisfeetonthefloor.Theytingledandfeltverywarm.Thecolorandshapesofthingsintheroomsuddenlyleapedforwardathim.Hethoughthecouldseeinbackofthingstotheirotherside.Stillhismindracedonandstillhisthoughtwasactuallyinanotherplace—orratherhisknowledge,hisabsolutecertaintythathewasgoingtodothisthinginspiteofhisentirebodyandbrainandnervoussystemandheartandlungsthatsaiddifferently.

HegotupandwalkedtothedoorandwentouttofindLouisa.

MasonstoodinthesameplacethatthelittlemelanhadbeenthatnightwhenLouisahadfirstshownhimtheexperiment.Facinghim,inbackofthewindow,Louisawasnervouslyadjustingthecontrols.NowthatthemomenthadcomeMasonwasnolongerafraid,orifhewas,itwasanumbpanicburiedsodeeplythathehardlyfeltit.

HeputhishandonthesmallobjectinhispocketthroughwhichhehadjustbeenintouchwithOden.Thesensationofthemetalgavehimsomeassurance.Odenhadnotprotested.Odenacceptedtheideacalmly.Masonhadevenfeltapprovalinthethoughtsthatcamefromfaracrossthestars.ItwasthatassuranceandapprovalthathadmadeitpossibleforhimtopersuadeLouisatotrythis.

Shedidn'tknowthesource,butsheknewasshespokewithMasonthatthechoicewasoutofherhands.Shewasaninstrument,nothingmore.Hewasawareofheranxietyandsmiledreassuringlythroughthewindow.Sheknewthathecouldseenow,onLilith,withouttheprotectiveglasses,andthatfactimplementedhercourage.Itwasasmallmeasureofhope,butitallowedhertofeelthatMasonhadsomepossibilityofcomingthroughthisalive.

Slowly,shedonnedherglassesand,onehandontheleverthatwouldfocusthebeam,shelookedathim.Masonsawherdoubtinthislastsecond.Itwasthe

thebeam,shelookedathim.Masonsawherdoubtinthislastsecond.Itwasthehardestmomentandshemusn'tfalternow.Withalltheenergyhecouldmusterheraisedhisownhand,hopingthattheintensityofhisforcewouldtakethedecisionoutofhermindandcauseherhandtoreactmechanically.Hebroughthishanddownsharply.Inbackoftheglass,sodidLouisa,pullingthelever.

Masonexpectedanotheragonizingprotestfromhisbodyastherayhithim,butthistimeitdidnotoccur.Insteadhefeltagentlepeace,filledwithlight,andforamomenthewonderedvaguelyifheweredying.Thelightseemedatfirsttobeinsidehim,thenitswelledslowly,envelopinghimasifhewereencasedinabubble.

Likethetimehehadsteppedintotheredcircle,Masonfeltsuspended,buthehadnosensationoftravelingormovingorfallingashehaddonetowardEarth.Anotherpeculiaritywasthathecarriedamemoryofthoseothertimes.

Itwasallthere—EarthandthedyingsunandDeaybanandtheOldMan—andCharka—andthentheevolutionofthemelans.Before,whenhehadcontactedthislightindirectly,therehadn'tbeenroomforanythingmorethantheimmediatevision.Now,itwasallstoredandhewasabletointerpretwhathenowsawinviewofwhathehadseenpreviously.

WhathesawwasLilith.

Hesawtheplanetasawhole,asabrilliantglobespinningaroundhersun,heldbyapowerfulmagneticforce.ThenthecolorsbecamemorevividandMasonfeltthathewaspassingthroughthismomentintime—passingthroughtoafartherpoint.Hesawaviolentdisturbanceintheatmosphere,asiftheairwereatwarwiththeearth.

Forsuddenlythereweregreatfloodsastheskybrokeopenandwaterbeganfillingtheland.Thevalleyofpoolsbecameaseaofturbulent,movingwaterofthestrangestcolorsintheuniverse.Streakedandstabbedwithcolor,thewaterrosetomeetthedownpourstreamingfromtheclouds.

Buttheatmosphericdisturbancedidmorethanthat.HesawtheGilasriseandrun,somecarriedawaybytheforceofthecurrent,butothersreachinghigherground,andsuddenlywrithingundersomeunknownimpactand,assuddenly,lyingquitestiRastheydied.

Andthelittlemelansrodethecrestofthewavesmadebythisrushingflood.HesawthemcarriedsafelyawayonthewaterwhiletheGilasdiedingreatnumbersaroundthem,tobetossedandbrokenastheywerethrownagainsttreesandrocks.

Andthenhesawtheforestnearthelaboratoryasthewavesrushedtowardit,fillingthevalleysbetweenthemountainsandfloodingthroughtodrenchthisground.Masonlookedforthebuildingsandsaw—asheseemedtobecarriedhimselfbythatrisingflood—thedimshapesofsomethingforeigntothenaturalterrain.Thebuildingsofthelab?

Hestrainedtoknowthatanswerbutitwastoolate.Thewaterrosestillhigherandhefeltthathewassweptawayinamightystreamthathadnobeginningandnoend;thathewouldbecarriedinthisfloodofincrediblecoloruntiltheendoftime…

CHAPTERELEVEN

HeawokelyingontheflooroftheroomwithLouisabendinganxiouslyoverhim.Hesatupasifhehadjustbeencaughtinthemiddleofadeepdream,saying,"Butwhen?When?"

Louisakneltdownandtookhishand,rubbingitgently.Helookedatherasifshecouldgivehimtheanswer."It'sallthere,Louisa.Isawit.It'soutofourhands.They11bedestroyednaturallybysomethingintheatmosphereandtheflood—Butwhen?Yousee,ifwe'restillherewhenthathappens—"Hebrokeoffandstoodupquickly,drawinghertoherfeet."GoandgetNeilTrope,quickly,please."

"Isitallright?"shepersisted,notreadytoleavehim.yet."Whathappened,Russ?YoufelldownonthefloorandIrushedin—"

Andthatwasallthetimeittook,thoughtMason!Onesecondtoseethetruth—andthefuture—buttherewasn'ttimetoconsiderallthisnow.

"Please,Louisa,"heurgedheroutthedoor."I'llwaithere."

Hepacedupanddowntheroomwhilehewaited.Allthat.Hehadseenallthatexceptthelargestanswer:when?Thefloodcouldcomeatanytime.TheGilaswouldbeexterminated—thatwasfantasticinitselfl

ThatwhichManhadcreatedwouldbedestroyedbynature,asifpurposefully.Masonwasledtosomeconsiderationsandthoughtsthatweretoomuchtocontemplaterightnow.

Themelanswouldbesaved.AndwiththemManmightbesavedonedaywhenhissunwasdying—far,farawayfromhere;aneternityawayfromLilith.

Butwhatofthemenherenow?Howmuchtimedidtheyhave?Masonhadbeenresponsibleforbringingafarlargergroupthanthefirstsmallstaff.Hefelttheirpresencekeenlyandfeltresponsiblefortheirverylives.Hedidn'tconcernhimselfmuchnowwithhisownlife,forithadbecomesostrangetohimthathefeltitwasoutofhishands.Thingsweresimplyhappeningtohim.Hecouldn'tpossiblycontrolit.

LouisareturnedwithNeil,whostillworetheairofsuspicionhehadshownintheflyer.ApityithadtobeNeilthatMasonmustquestion.Buthehadnochoice.

"Iwantyoutodetermineascloselyasyoucanthetimespanbetweenthelasttwosunstormshere,"Masonsaid."Andgivemethedateofthenextone.Wehavetoknowwhenthatwillbe."

Neilstaredathimasifhewerecrazy."Impossible,"hestatedshortly."There'sonlybeenonestormsincewe'vebeenhere.Ihavenothingtogoon."

"Makeaguess,"Masonsaiddesperately.

"Ican't,"Neilprotested."It'simpossible.IttookyearsofresearchonEarthtodeterminesunspotcycles.IhavetodetermineaprobabilityJiere.We'dhavetowatchthissunforyearsmaybe."

"Youmeanthere'snopossiblewayofguessing?"Masonurged."It'ssourgent,Neil.Can'tyouthinkofanything?"

"Yes."ItwasLouisawhospoke,excitedly."Yes,theremaybeaway.Neil,don'tyourememberthatjustbeforethedisturbance,beforewelefttheport,therewerecolorchanges?"

"No,Idon'tremember."

"Buttherewere!Wenoticeditoutside,inthetrees.Theychangedslightly,andrightafterthatwehadtheexplosion."

"Thatmighthavenothingtodowithsunstorms."

"Thenwhywasn'titnoticedagain?"LouisaappealedtoMason."Itwasadefinitechange,Russ.InterestingenoughthatNadiastartedtoinvestigateit."

"Andwhatdidshefind?"Neilaskeddisinterestedly."Wedidn'tstaytherelongenough—"

"Let'sfindher."Masondidn'twanttowastetimearguingthepoint."Shemayknowsomething.It'sworthatry."

NadiawasinanotherroomatthelabworkingonaclassificationsystemwithYeeMon.TheywerehandingtheirreportstoUlinskiwhowasplanninganumberofnewexperimentsinhopeoffindingsomethingthatwouldhavethedesiredeffectontheGilas.Masoncouldn'ttellanyofthemjustyetthatthiswasnolongernecessary.Hecouldvisualizetheensuingpanicifhedivulgedtheirtruedanger,whichmightbeweeksormonthsaway.

"Russwantsyourreportsonthecolorchangesprecedingthelastsunstorm,"LouisatoldNadia,whoglancedaroundinsurprise.

"Sorry,they'rebackattheport.Afterapreliminarystartitseemedawasteoftime.Ididn'tcometoanyconclusion."

"Didyoufindanything?"Masonpersisted."Canyousayforsurethatthestormsareprecededbycolorchange?"

"No."Nadialookedpuzzled."Ofcoursenot.Therewasnoproof.Duringthetimeofthechangewehadnoideathatasunstormwasabouttotakeplace."

"Doyouthinkthecolorchangedoessignifyanapproachingdisturbance?"

"Well,Idon'tknow,"Nadiasaid,alittleannoyednow.

"Havetherebeenanycolorchangesrecentlythatyou'venoticed?"Masonwasrelentless."Aroundhere,forexample?"

"No,Ihaven'tbeenlookingforcolorchanges."Nadiawasexasperated."I'vebeenworkingontheexperiments,asyouknow."

"Howlongbeforethelaststormandtheexplosiondidyounoticethetreeschanging?"

"Oneday,"Nadiasighedimpatiently."ButforallIknowthestormmightalreadyhavestarted.Wedon'tknowhowlongittakeshereforsunspotstoactuallycauseadifferenceintheatmosphere."

Masonfrowned.Thatwassomethinghehadn'texpectedtohearanddidn'twanttohear.Thesunstormsmightbetakingplaceevennow,andtheywouldn'trealizeituntilthefloodsactuallystarted.HeletNadiagoandranoutofthelab,backtothemainbuildingtofindHaskellEckert.Therewasonlyonethingtodo

backtothemainbuildingtofindHaskellEckert.Therewasonlyonethingtodonow,andthatwastoevacuateLilithimmediately.

Eckertwasintheloungereading.Masonsawtheheavyredsealsplashedacrossthefaceofthedocumentandwonderedwhatitwas.Mostthingswerecommunicatedbyradioortapes,soitwasunusualtoseeanactual.bookofplasticorpages.EckertputitdownabruptlyatMason'sentrance,butMasonsawtheheading:TheConstitutionandGeneralLawsoftheFederation.

WhatcouldEckertbelookingforinthatlong,complicatedmanual,Masonwondered?OrwashefinallytakingthewordsmoreseriouslyandbeginningtounderstandwhatMan'splaceinthisvastnetworkoflifemightbe?Therewasn'ttimetoinquire,andanywayhedoubtedifEckertwouldanswer.Heplungedrightintotheessenceofhismessage.

"Wehavetoevacuateimmediately,"hesaid,watchingEckert'sexpressionwhichchangedfromtheimmediatedistastethatalwaysregisteredwhenMasonwasnear,tooneofshockandrelief.

Thenhebecamesuspicious."Whatoftheexperiments?Wehaven'tsolvedthatproblemyet."Withasuddenhope,

Eckertasked,"HaveyoubeenintouchwithOden?Aretheyhisorders?"

MasonhatedthelookofvictorywhenEckertsaidthis.ItwassoobviousthathisonlyconsiderationwassavinghisownplaceinthehierarchyoftheFederation."No,"Masonrepliedshortly,"they'remyorders.Wemustleaveasquicklyaspossible.Immediately,infact."

Eckertlaughed,"That'salargeorderfromoneyoungreporterwhohashadnoexperienceintheevacuationofplanets.Letmetellyousomething,Mr.Mason.Theseareplannedevents.Ittakesweeks.Thesalvagingofequipmentisanimmensejob.Weworkinteamsandbyrelays.Therearespecialstorageshipsthatcometocarryheavyequipment."

"Thereisn'ttimeforthatnow,"Masonsaidsoftly."Wewon'tbeabletosalvageanythingbutourselves.Ifwe'relucky.Ineedyourcooperationinorderingoutallthemenattheportandgettingeveryextraflyeroutheretotakeoff-"

Hebrokeoffashewatchedtheolderman.Hehadn'twantedtomentionthedangerthestaffwasin,butnowhesawtherewasnootherway.Nothinglessthanthethreatofpersonalextinctionwouldmovethiscynicalmanbeforehim.

"Weareabouttohaveaviolentsunstormhere,"Masonsaidcarefully."Asyouknowthelastcyclecausedtheexplosionattheportlab.Itdoesverystrangethingstotheatmospherehere.Thisstormisgoingtocauseatremendousfloodwhichwillbesofastthatwewon'thaveachanceofescaping.

"There'sonegoodthingaboutit.TheGilaswillallbedestroyed.Notonlybytheflood,butbytheatmosphere.Andtheoneswe'rehopingtosave,themelans,willbeallright.They'regoingtosurvivebecausethey'resmallandflexibleandwillfloatuntiltheycometorest.Butifwe'renotoutofherewhenthatfloodhits,Iwouldn'twanttoanswerforanyone'slife."

Eckertwentwhite."Whoseprognostication?Ulinski's?"

Masonpaused."No…"Hedidn'twanttoexplainhisvision.

"Tropefounditinhisobservations!"Eckertguessedwildly."Buthowdoyouknowabouttheflood?Areyousure?"

MasonwasabouttoagreeandletitgoatthatwhenunfortunatelyNeilcameintotheroomandEckertgrabbedhim,almostshouting."WhenMr.Trope?Whenisthisfloodgoingtohappen?"

NeilwasconfusedandMasontriedtosilencehim,butEckertwaspersistent."Butwedon'tknowthatthereisgoingtobeasunstorml"NeilregardedMasonasifhewerecrazy."AtmosphericdisturbanceonEarthoftenproducesheavierrainfallduringasunspotcycle,butthere'snoevidenceofanythinglikethathere."

"Whatdoyouknow?"Eckertdemanded.

"We'veonlyinvestigatedcolorhere,Mr.Eckert.",

"Nevertheless,"Masoninsisted,"wemustplantoleaveimmediately."

"Look,Mason,"Eckertbrokein."I'vegonealongsofar,butIcannot,inanyrealconscience,leaveLilithwithoutreturningFederationproperty!Thereisa

realconscience,leaveLilithwithoutreturningFederationproperty!Thereisalaw—"

"Allright,"Masonsaidimpatiently,"forgetthatfornow.I'llhaveOdengivetheorderreleasingyoufromthatdemand."Hestopped,notwishingNeiltohearanymore.Tropehadalreadylookedsuddenlycuriousatthementionofastrangename.

"Thismaybepremature,"headmitted."Ihavenowayofknowingexactlywhenthisfloodwillbreak,butlivesareatstakeandcan'tbegambledonthechancethatitmaycomeweeksfromnow."

"Wheredoyougetyourinformation?"Neilaskedsuspiciously,butMasonsilencedhimwithaglanceandledhimoutoftheroom.

TellingNeiltoreturntohiswork,MasonwenttohisownroomandcontactedOden.ItwouldbeonlymomentsnowbeforetheorderswouldcomethroughtoEckert.Untilthentherewasnothinghecoulddo.Masonstaredoutofhiswindowatthejungleenclosureandnoticedthatthetopsoftheferntreeswerebeginningtoglistenwithatinthehadneverseenbefore.

Secondslatereverythinghappenedatonce.OrderscamethroughforEckerttoproceedwiththeevacuationimmediately.HerushedtoMason'sroomintimetolookoutthewindowandseethattherainhadbeguntofall.Thetwomenstoodtheresilentlyasitbeganwithasoftandsteadydripthatchangedwithinmomentstoaheavydownpour.Thestaffworkingatthelabcamerunningbacktothemainhousewithsearchingpartiesfromthejunglesfollowingontheirheels.

"Howarewegoingtogetout?"Eckertshouted.

ButMasonwasalreadyoutofthebuilding,runningbacktotheanimalpens.Thefirstthingwastoreleaseallthemelanstheyhadcaught.Theymusthavethechancethemselvestoridethisflood.Heopenedthegates,noticingvaguelythatpeoplewererunningoutofthehouseandtowardthelandroversandthetwoflyers.

Heopenedthelastgateandletthelittleanimalssurgethrough.Theysniffedattheairandranoffinadirectionawayfromthemountains,theoppositewayfromtheroadbacktotheport.Alandroverwasalreadypullingoutofthe

fromtheroadbacktotheport.Alandroverwasalreadypullingoutofthedriveway.

Masonranbacktothehouse,yelling*"Notthatway!Wewon'tbeabletomakeit!Wehavetogothroughtheswamps,can'ttakethecars—"

FromthegeneralexcitementitwasobviousthatEckerthadtoldthemaboutthefloodandtheneedtoevacuateatonce.SimpkinswasrunningtowardoneoftheflyersandMasonranafterhim.

"Wait,Simpkins!Thewomenshouldbetakenoffinthat."HegrabbedhimbythearmbutSimpkinsturnedonhimwithawildlookandsuddenlyswungout,hittingMasonablindingblowinthehead.BeforeMasonrecoveredSimpkinswasintheflyerandtakingoffabovehishead.

Masonbegantoshoutandthenrealizeditwasnouse.Simpkinswasawayandhecouldseethattheflyerwasbeingbuffetedaboutinawilddancebytheforceofthedeluge.Masondoubtedifhecouldstayaloftforlong,andgaveuptheideaofusingtheotherflyer.Helookedbackinthedirectionofthemountains.Hedidn'tseeyetthatroaringsweepofwaterthatheexpectedtocomerunningdownthevalley.

Heranbacktotheothers.TheViningsisterswerecryinghystericallyandNeilTropestoodquitestill,aglazedlookinhiseyes.Ulinskiwasclenchingandunclenchinghisfists.Masonknewimmediatelywhathadhappened:theatmosphericdisturbanceagain.

Thatwild,unreasonablefear.Ithaddriventhemallclosetoinsanityonce,backattheport,andnowhereitwasagainaffectingeveryonebuthiminthesamemanner.Howcouldheorganizepeoplewhoweremomentarilystunnedandemotionallydisabledbythisstrangeforceintheair?Howcouldhereachthem?

YeeMonlookedallright,Masonsuddenlynoticed.Heseemedquitecollected."Yee,goinsideandcontacttheport.Tellthemtogetawayatonceandsendhelpfromtheshiptous.Quick!"

Yeenoddedwithagentlesmileandbegantowalkveryslowlyandmethodicallytowardthehouse.No,hewasn'tallright,Masonsaw.Hewasjustaffecteddifferently.Shovinghimaside,Masonwenttotheradioroomhimself

affecteddifferently.Shovinghimaside,Masonwenttotheradioroomhimselfandtriedtocall.Nothing.Healmostscreamed.Hestilldidn'tknowhowtooperateit.AllatonceWilsonwalkedintotheroomlookingquitesleepy.Masonstaredathimclosely.

"Roy,"hewhispered,"doyouknowhowtocontacttheport?"

"Sure,"Wilsonyawned,"what'sthemessage?"HesatdowninfrontofthedialsandlookedupatMason.

He'dbeenasleep,Masonrealized!Perhapshehadn'tfeltanythingyet.Buthowlongwouldittakefortheatmospheretoreachhim,too?Masongrabbedhisshoulder,almosttryingtofeedhimhisownsanitywhilehecalled."Tellthemwe'regoingtotrytooutrunit.Wellgonorth.Idon'tknowwherethey'llfindus,butiftheysendalifeboattheycanpickusupsomewhere."

Royblinkedathimasiftryingtogetitstraight."Call!"Masonurgeddesperately,andasifinadream,Royslowlycontactedtheport.Masongrabbedthetransmitterandgavethemessagehimself,hopingtheywereallrightontheotherend.WilsonwasalreadyactingqueerlyandbeforeMasonhadfinishedhebegantolaughinhystericalstartsandstops.Masonpulledhimoutofthehousetojointhegroupoutside.

"Wholeftinoneofthelandrovers?"heasked.

"It—itwassomeoftheextramen,"Louisamanagedtosay.Shewasgaspingandseemedtobehavingterribledifficultygettingherbreath.ButMasonwaselated.Louisawasmakingastruggle!Somehowsheretainedamemoryofthatothertime,andbysheerforceofwill,wasfightingagainstheremotions.

"Comeon,"hebeckonedtotheothers."We'llgothisway.HestartedoffwithLouisabesidehimbuttherewasnomotionfromanyoftheothers.Fromthewildhysteriathathadgrippedthemwhentherainfirstbegantofall,theywerenowheldinaparalyzingfear.

SomehowLouisamanagedtogobackandgetoneofthesisters,takingherhandandleadingherlikeachild.MasontriedtomoveUlinski,feelinghewasonewhomightbeabletosummonastruggleinhimself.ButUlinskicouldn'ttakeastep.Masonlookedatthemountainsagain.Hecouldbarelyseethe

takeastep.Masonlookedatthemountainsagain.Hecouldbarelyseetheoutlinesnow.Theworldwasaseethingmistofrain.Theyweredrenchedtotheskin.Itraninrivuletsdowntheirfaces.Dimly,Masonperceivedthefarshapeofthemountainsandthenheheardthatmightyroarbreaklikeawaveandbeginrushingtowardthem.Howlongwouldittake?Theothersstillstoodvacantly.Ifhecouldarousethatoldhysteria,perhaps—Masonpointedandyelledwithalltheviolencehecouldmuster,"Look!"Theyturnedslightlyandlookedovertheirshoulders,andthenitmusthavenudgedtheirconsciousness.Atleasttheyallsuddenlyheardtheominousrushofwater.

"Run!"Masonscreamed,leadingtheway."Runthisway!"Andnowtheydidrun,fortheirverylives.Theyraninhysteriabutatleasttheirbodieswerefunctioningagain.

Alreadypoolsofwaterwereformingbeneaththeirfeet.Masoncouldn'tseenow,fortherainwasasheetinfrontofhisface.Hehadtofightagainstit,asonewouldagainstablizzard.Butinsteadofwavesandrivuletsofclearwater,thiswasribbonsofcolorandlight.Itwaslikefightingthroughbannersandcoloredstreamersofimpossibletints.Andtheothersweren'twearingtheirglasses.Masonwonderedhowlongtheycouldbearit,untilhesawthattheywereallrunningblindlywitheyesclosedmostofthetime.

Therushofwaterraceduponthem,beatingitseemed,attheirheels.Soontheroarfilledtheworldandtherewasnothingelse.Nothingbutwaferuponthemandabovethemandinbackofthem.TheywereclosetotheswampsnowandMasonsawsomeGilasscreamingandbellowingfromfright.Theybegantoruntowardthepeoplebutatthesoundofthefloodtheyturnedandbeganrunningtheotherway.

Masonlookedforaspotofhigherground.Theycouldn'trunmuchlonger.Theswampswerefillingandthewaterwasabovetheircalves.Soonitbegantoreachtheirkneesandtheycouldonlymakeaslow,agonizingmovementahead.Masonlookedabove.Howcouldalifeboatspotthemathislevel?

Thenhesaw,inthedistance,averyhighhummock,almostasmallhill.Thewaterwaslappingaroundtheedgesbutitstillrosefairlyhighabovethat.Louisa,inbackofhimnow,wasgaspingandcrying.Hestoppeduntilshecaughtuptohim.

"There,"hepanted."Upthere."Shenodded,tooweaktospeak,andthey

"There,"hepanted."Upthere."Shenodded,tooweaktospeak,andtheywenton.Slowly,withatremendouseffort,theyreacheditandstartedtoclimbup.Theothersfollowed,crawlingupthesides,somesimplygivingupandlyingdownbeforetheyreachedthetop.MasonreachedbackandpulleduptheViningsisters.HeheavedUlinski'sdeadweighttothetop.

Theotherswerestillclimbing,almostfaintingwiththeeffort.Masontookouthistransmitterandbegantosend.Heprayedthatthelifeboathadbeencruisingtopickupasignal.

Suddenlytherainstoppedandamistrosefromthewholeearth,reachinghighintothesky,steaminginfantasticbrilliance.Everythingwasterriblyquietforamoment.Thesilencelastedforasplit-secondandthen,likeasuddenclapofthunderinthedeadquiet,theyheardit.AndsawitAmightywave,higherthanallthetrees,higherthanahill—amountainofwatermovingdownonthemwithterrifyingfinality.

Atthatmomentthelifeboatappeared,miraculously,seekingthemoutunerringlyastheyhuddledtogetherontopofthehummock.Ithoveredjustaboveandthedooropened.Masonshovedeveryoneinside,Louisahelping.TheterrorovercameYeeMonagainandhebeganfighting.MasongrabbedLouisaandliterallythrewherinside.ThenhetriedtomoveYeeMon,butitwastoolate.Thewaterwasuponthem.

SomehowMasonmanagedtoclosethedoorandknewthattheboatwasgone,soaringupintothesky.Hefelthimselfbeingswallowedbythatmountainofwater.Hislungsfilledwithit.Hebegantosinkandthenwassuddenlytossedhigh,ridingthecrestofthewaveashegaspedforair.Hesankagain,knowingitwasuselesstofight.Hewouldbesorrynottoknowtheend,nottoknowaboutLilith.

Thecurrentflunghimaroundandhebegantospininanundercurrent.Hewantedtothinkofhislifebuthewastootired.Hiseyesclosed.

CHAPTERTWELVE

[asonwokeupandthoughtforamomentthathewasinHeaven.Thenheimagineditwasadreamortheechoofadreamandheclosedhiseyes,notwantingtoletitgo.Helayonamoss-coveredmoundinalittlevalleybetweentwohighcliffsofrock.

Thejaggedcragsrosearoundhim,thereflectionofthesuncausingeachgranuleofrocktoglitterlikeatreasureofsreciousjewels.Themosswasdeepandsoftandluxurious.

Afewfeetawaythegrounddroppedprecipitouslyfromthehighcliff.Theopeningoftherocksdisclosed,likeapictureinaframe,theoceanbelow.

Masongotupandwalkedtowardit.Hismusclesachedterribly,butthevie.wwasworthmorethanthat.Awayinfrontofhimstretchedtheocean.NottheblueoceanofEarth,butaniridescent,almostphosphorescentcolorlikeblueandvioletandgreenandsilveralltogetherr.Thewavesbubbledalongtheshore,fillingthehollowsonthebeachwiththeirowneffervescentcolor.

Andtheshorewasnotsand.Itlooked,fromwhereheStood,likethesamesoftspringymossonwhichhehadlain.Helookedforawaytogetdown.Thecliffsseemedtoenclosehimcompletely,butthenhesawasmallcleftinonerockandmanagedtosqueezethrough.

Hewasinahighcavernofrocknow,andtheoceanwasclosedfromview.Buthesawwhatlookedlikeadownwardslopeandwentthroughthat.Itledhiminatwistingpaththroughtherocksuntilatlasthecameoutagainatthesea.

Thisclosetothewater,henoticedthattheodorwastellinghimsomethingdifferentthantheseasofEarth.Hedidn'tsmellsalt,andherusheddowntotheocean,tastingitandfindingthatitwasnotasaltwaterseaatall.Hedrankhisfillandsatdown.

Whatnow?HesupposedYeeMonwasdead,andassuredlySimpkinswas.Didhestillhavehistransmitter?Hurriedlyhewentthroughhispocketsandfound,nottheshipsignal—hemusthavelostthatonthehummock—butthecontactforOden.Hesmiled.Allwaswell,then.Butbeforehecalledforhelp,he

contactforOden.Hesmiled.Allwaswell,then.Butbeforehecalledforhelp,hewouldswim.Noonecouldlookatthatoceanforlongwithoutanirresistableurgetoplungein.

Masonlaughed,thinkinghowdistastefultheideawouldhavebeenthenightbefore.Hetookoffhisclothes,vaguelyawarethattheyhaddriedwithstrangerapidity,andlaidthemonarock.Then,ashestoodthereanticipatingthefirststepintothewater,hesuddenlysawhimself,asaspectatormighthaveseenhim,likeanotherAdam:theonlymanonthisplanet;theonlyhumansoulonthisvastroundglobespinningintheuniverse.

Itwasabreathtakingthought,butalthoughitshockedhim,hefeltnoneofthelonelinessonemightexpectofsuchasituation.Insteadhefeltmorealive,moreakintotheairthathebreathedandthegroundunderhisfeetthanhehadeverfeltwiththeknowledgeofothermen'spresence.Hewasabsolutelyalone.

Howwouldhefeelifhewerewithoutresourcehere,hewondered?Whatwouldbehisemotionsifheknewhecouldn'tcontactOden?Itwaspuzzling,butatthismomentMasondidn'tbelieveitwouldbotherhimmuch.Itwasn'tathoughtfornow,anyway.Hedoveintothewaterandfounditsurprisinglybuoyantforaseathatwasn'tsaltwater.Somethingmovingalongtheshorecaughthiseyeandasheswambackhesawagroupofmelanscuriouslyregardinghim.

Onlynow,herealized,itwasdifficulttothinkofthemasmelans.Itfeltwrongtousethenamemenhadgiventhem.HethoughtofthemasCreaturesofLight,forhesaw,always,theirultimatedestiny.Masonsteppedoutofthewaterandputouthishandtothem,buttheyonlycockedtheirheadstoonesideandthenmovedaway.Perhapstheywerenotofthosewhohadbeenatthepenandweremoreusedtohumans.

Theencountersoberedhim.Itwasareminderthathehadnofurtherbusinesshere.Heshouldleavethesechildrentotheirevolutionandtheirearth.NowthethoughtofleavingLilithcausedanemotionofregretthathewouldn'thavethoughtpossibleafewweeksago.HefeltapartofLilithnow,feltrelatedtotheplanet.

Nevertheless,hesatdownonthebeach,andcalledOden.

Whatastrangethingtosithereonthisshoreandspeaktosomeonelight-

Whatastrangethingtosithereonthisshoreandspeaktosomeonelight-yearsaway.MasonfeltveryquietinsideasheheardOden'sthought.

"Youhavedoneagoodwork,"thealiensaid,andMasonfeltagaintheforceofthathumilitywhichOdenalwaysevokedinhim.

"Ithinkwehavelostsomeofourmen,however,"Masonreplied."YeeMondidnotgetintothelifeboatlastnight,andI'mafraidhe'sdead.Simpkins'flyermusthavecrashed,andthereweresomemeninalandrover.Idon'tknowhowIcanverifyit,though."

"Perhapsitwillbeverifiedforyou,"Odensaid."Andtheothersaresafe.Youneedn'tworry."

"Wherearethey?"Masonasked.

"InLegus.They'reherenow."

ForamomentMasoncouldn'tthinkclearly."But,therewasn'ttime—"Hefaltered."Thefloodwasjustlast—"

"Thefloodwasoveraweekago."Oden'sthoughtwascalm."I'mafraidtheothersassumedyouweredead."

"Aweek!ButhowhaveI—Imean,Ijustwokeup!"

"Iknow.Irealizedyouwereallrightbytheabsenceofanysensethatsomethingwaswrongwithyou.Youhavebeensleepingallthetime?"

"Iguessso,"Masonwonderedaloud."Buthowcanamansleepforaweek?"

"Andwhatdoyouseenow?"Odenasked."Howdoyoufeel?"

"Ifeel—"AndMasoncouldn'tsayanymore.HeknewwhatOdenwastryingtotellhim,whathehadsensedacrossmillionsofmiles.

Masonhadgonetosleepasayouthandwakenedasaman.Heknewthatnowwitheveryfibreofhisbeing.Hemusthaveknownitwhenhewokeup,buthadn'tformulatedituntilnow.Yearshadnothingtodowithit.Hecouldhavecontinuedasayouthuntilhisoldage.ButsomethingonLilithhadchangedhim.Hewasdifferent,andhefeltaswiftthrillasheknewhimselfallatonceasa

Hewasdifferent,andhefeltaswiftthrillasheknewhimselfallatonceasaman.

"Youhaveachoicenow,Mason,"Odensaid,andhisthoughtshadadifferentqualityaboutthem,asifheweredemandingaresponsefromMasonasanequal."Wecansendyoubacktooneofyourownshipstocontinueasareporter,butIcanalsoofferyousomethingquitedifferentwithushereonLegus.Youmaycomehere,ifyouwish,tocontinuewhatyouhavealreadystartedonLilith.YoumaybeinthehighcourttowatchoverMan'sdestinyifyouchoose."

Masonstaredoutattheendlessseafoamingbeforehimasthewordsbeatinhischest.Hehadnoimmediateanswer.

Odenwenton."Youarestillveryyoungandadecisionlikethisisdifficultforyou,Iknow.Butyouwillhavetimetothink.Iamsendingashipnowanditwillbeseveraldaysbeforeyouseeit.Thinkduringthattimeandgivemeyouranswerlater.Ithinkyoushouldnotcontactmeagainuntilyourdecisionismade.Doyouunderstand?"

"Yes,"Masonnoddedinvoluntarily,asifOdenwereherebeforehim.Heknewthatthealienwasdemandingmoreofhimnow.HewasaskingMasontocometoapersonaldecisionwithallhisbestintelligence,andtocometothatdecisionasaMan,notleaningonanother'swisdom.

"Thereisonlyonemorething,"Odenadded."Sinceyouwillberequiredtotestifyhereinhighcourt,achoiceonyourparttoremainonLeguswillbetakenbadlybymanymenofyourrace,particularlyafterthedisclosuresabouttheexperimentalplanetsaremade.

"Youmaytestifysimplyasareporterandreturntoyourworkwithnomanthinkingyouacoward.Ifyoutestifyinanotherway,however,youmaywellberegardedasatraitortoyourraceandtoEarth."

OdenclosedhismessagewiththatandMasonknewhewouldhearnomorefromhimuntilhearrivedonLegus.Hesankback,pillowinghisheadonthesoftmossashegazedatthesky.ThecloudsofLilithwererisingandswelling,changingintostrange,elongatedshapesanddriftingthinlyaway.

Thesoundofthewavesontheshorewasarhythmicriseandfall,likea

Thesoundofthewavesontheshorewasarhythmicriseandfall,likeabreathbeinginhaledandexhaled.Masonhadasuddenimpressionoftheplanetasbeingtotallyalive.Hefeltthathewasrestingonalivingbody,warmandpulsating.

Hefellasleepforatimeandwhenheawokehewasterriblyhungry.Hedressedandclimbedbackupthepaththroughtherocks.Hesupposedhecouldhaveriggedupsomethingtocatchfish,orwhateveritwasthatmustliveinthefreshseas.Buthecouldn'tforageforfoodamongthelivingcreaturesofLilith,nomatterhowlowtheirlifeform.

Downthere,deepintheocean,theremightbeotherintelligencesslowlyevolving.No,hewouldhavetoseekanotherkindoffood.Rememberingtheflowersthathadheldtheliquid,hesurmisedtheremustbeotherfruitsorvegetables.Hehadnofearofeatinghere.HewassurethatinsomewayhewasnowapartofLilithandthechemistryoftheplanetwouldbeadaptabletohisownbody.

Hefoundanotherwayoutofthecliffsandcameoutfromtherockstoahighplateauthatstretchedformiles.Farinthedistancehesawthebeginninglineofaforestandguessedthatbacktheresomewherewasthelandheknewoffernsandpoolsandmountains.

Hisattentionwascaughtbyafiguremovinginthedistance.Hestrainedtosee.Itwasonlyadot,faraway,andappearedtobemovinginastrange,jerkingfashion.Helostitforamomentandthenitreappeared,staggeringacrosstheground.Hebegantowalktowardit.Therewaslittletoseekhereinthewayoffood,anyway.

Theplateauwascoveredwithfrondsofhighmossthatwavedlikegrassinthefaintwind.Heshouldhavetoentertheforestforfoodunlesshefoundsomethingalongtheway.CouldthatmovementbeaGilaslowlydying?Ifso,hehadnothingtofear.Itwouldbeinitslastdeaththroes.

Thefigureroseagainandfell.Maspngaspedandbegantorun.Itwasaman,maybeoneofthesurvivorsfromthelandrover.Heranfasterandslowlythefigurebegantotakeonshape.Itfellagainandlaystill.Masonfinallyreachedthespot.

ItwasYeeMon,lyingfacedown,hisclothingtorn,terriblerentsscratchedacrosshisback.Masonturnedhimoverandsawthathewasunconscious.Helookedaroundforaplacetotakehimintheshade,andsawthattohisright,notnearenoughtosuithim,thereseemedtobeasmalloasisofferntrees.

Hewalkedforhalfanhour,carryingYeeMonacrosshisshoulders,puttheunconsciousmandownontheground.Thenhesawwhathe'dbeensearchingfor.AstreambrokeouthereunderoneofthetreesandgrowingclosetoitwasafruitorvegetablethatlookedmuchlikethemelonsonEarth.Hepluckedonefromitsthickstemandpeeledofftheouterskin.Itwassomewhatmealyinside,notsweet,butveryfilling.Aftereatingonehefeltquitesatisfied.

HebathedYeeMonwiththecoldwaterandwashedhiscutsasbesthecould.Momentarilythemanawokeandstaredblanklyathim,mumblingsomethingsoindistinctlythatMasondidn'tunderstandthewords.Thenhefellasleep.Perhapshere,intheshade,Masonthought,inafewdaystime,hiswoundsmightheal.

FortwodaystheystayedthereandstillYeeMondidnotcompletelyregainconsciousness.Hebegantoturnviolentlyinthenightandcryout,stillinthesameindistinctmanner.Masonguessedthathehadbeensubjectedtoaterribleshock.CouldoneoftheGilashavemolestedhimduringtheflood?Thatcouldbetheanswertothoseawfulscarsonhisback.

OnthethirdnightMasonlaybackagainstthetreetrunkandtriedtofigureouthowmuchlongeritwouldbeuntiltheshipcame.Theywouldfindthemhere,heknew,fortheplanetwouldbecircleduntilMasonsaworheardtheshipandthenusedthecontactsignalOdenhadgivenhim.HewasanxiousaboutYeeMon'scondition,too.Hedidn'tseemtobeshowinganyimprovement,andMasonwishedhewereunderadoctor'scarenow.

Masonalsohadtomakethatdecision.Hehadn'twishedtoactuallythinkofit.Hehadhopedthatbynotthinking,somethingwouldoccurtohiminstinctivelythatwouldgivehimhisanswer.CouldhegiveuphisassociationwithMan?AndifhechoseLegus,wouldn'titmeanjustthat?Thathewouldhavetobepreparedtocuthimselfofffromthehumanrace?

HowmanymenwerethereonLegus,inthehighcourt?Andwhowerethey?Wouldn'tthey,too,regardhimasatraitor?Evenmore,hethought,thanthe

Wouldn'tthey,too,regardhimasatraitor?Evenmore,hethought,thantheothers.AtleastonEarth,orasareporter,hemightfindsomemenwhowouldunderstand.Cotter,forexample,andLouisa.WouldhehavetogiveupLouisa,too?

Andwhatwouldhedothere?Odenhadn'tgoneintothataspectofitatall.Hehadsaid,"…towatchoverMan'sdestiny."Whowashe,RussellMason,towatchoverMan'sdestiny,whateverthatmightmean?

Hesuddenlyfeltverytiredandfellasleepquickly.

Masonwokechokingfromthehandsaroundhisnecktryingtostranglehim.Hegrabbedthearmsandtriedtounlocktheviselikegrip.YeeMonhadamaniacalstrengthandMasongaspedforair,heavingandclawingatthefigurethatwastryingtokillhim.

Hegothiskneesupandgrippingontothehandswithallhismight,hemanagedtoshove.YeeMon'sgripbrokeandinstantlyMasonlungedathimandpinnedhimdownontheground.

"You'rewrong.Youdon'tunderstand!"Yee'svoicewasshrillandhystericalandMasonkepthisshouldersdown,kneelingontopofhimwhileYeethrashedaround.

"Yes,it'sMason.You'vebeenhurt.I'mtakingcareofyou.It'sallrightnow."Masontriedtosoothehim,thinkingthiswaspartofanightmareandareactionfromshock.ButYeesuddenlywentlimpandlaybacksmilingatMason.

"Allright,"hemumbleddistantly,"youhavewonfornow.Butnotforever.Thereareotherplaces.Youcanneverfindthemall."Hiseyeswereglazedandhesuddenlyclosedthem,hisbreathcomingslower.Masonfelthispulseandfoundthathewasstillalive.Heseemedtobenotunconsciousnow,butinadeeptrance.

Adarkshadowmovedswiftlyacrossthefield.Masonroseandranoutintotheopenawayfromthetrees.Vanishingoverthehorizon,hesawthedimoutlinesoftheship.HedrewoutOden'scontactandheldit,waiting.Minutes'latertheshipreappearedandMasonwasjustable,inthedark,tomakeouttheshapeofalifeboatemergingfromit.

Itdescendedquicklyandmadealandingonlyyardsaway.MasonranbackandpickedupYeeMon,carryinghimtotheship.Heplacedhiminacornerandstrappedhimincarefullyfortakeoff.HetookalastlookatthenightofLilith—strangetobeleavinginthedark—andthengotinandclosedthedoor.Hesetthecontrolsforre-entryandlayback.TheascentpinnedhimtightlyagainstthewalloftheshipandthentheywereaboveLilith.Alittlelaterthehugedoorsopenedandthelifeboatenteredtheship.YeeMonhadnotopenedhiseyes.

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

Yeewasputintothehospitalroom.ThiswasanalienshiprunbytheSumdacsandtherewerenoothermenaboard.TheCaptainhadgreetedhimcordiallyandgivenhimaroomthatalmostembarrassedMason.Thespaceupfront,closetothecontrolroomandCaptain'squarters,wereusuallyreservedforotherSpaceCaptains,Seconds-in-Command,oratleastforveryhighfunctionariesintheFederation.

NowMasonstoodinfrontoftheportholeastheshipcircledLilith,makingtheorbitthatwouldleadthemoutintodeepspaceandbacktoLegus.Theywerestillnearenoughtoseetheriotofcolorbelow.Theatmosphereonlyintensifiedthebrillianceofthespectrum.Masoncaughthisbreathatthatmagnificence.TheyturnedtowardthesunandagainMasonsawthelongstreamersoflight;raysthatseemedtopenetrateevenhere,beyondtheheavycasingoftheship'swalls.

Ashelookedatthatsunforthelasttime,beforethefinalsweepthatwouldtakethemaway,Masonthoughthesawthatlightagain,thatvibrationthatwasacombinationofallthespectrumtogether.Andwiththatheseemedtoexperiencethetotalityofallhisvisions.Hesawthesunasalivingbeing;afather,asLilithwasmother,tothelifehehadhelpedtosave.

TheCaptainsentamessagethatYeeMonwasnowconsciousandwishedtoseehim.Masonlefttheportholeandenteredthehospitalroom.Yeelookeddreadfullyweak,hisskinanawfulpallor,almostwhite.Hiseyesweredimbuthisvoicewasstrongagain.

"Mason,Iwishtothankyouformylife,"hebegan,andMasonnodded,wishingthattheinterviewwereover."Ithinkmybreakdownwascausedbytheatmosphere,andthenIwasattackedduringtheflood.Idimlyrememberfightingwithyou.I'msorry.Butthat'sover.WhatIwantedtosaywasthis."

Hesatupinhisbunkwithaneffort,leaningononeelbowandspeakingwithdifficulty."Youhavebeeninstrumentalinopeningupaphaseofouroperationsonexperimentalplanetsthatisgoingtocausegreatharmtoman.Idon'thavemuchtimeleft,youknow—"

MasonstartedtospeakbutYeeimpatientlysilencedhim."No,IwishtosaythatIdonotblameyoupersonallyforthis,butyouhavecommittedagraveerror.Manwillnowbesetbackforperhapshundredsofyears,afterthehearing…"

Hisvoicebecameweakerandhelaybackagain."Eck-erthadnochoice.HehopedtoavoidcompleteexposurebystoppingtheexperimentsonLilithalone.Wethoughtthatwouldbeenough.Butnowthishearingwillopenupotherphases.Ihadwishedtoavoidthat.IwaspersonallyonLilithbecauseIsuspectedtherewasunlimitedpowerthere—andtherewas."

HiseyesclosedandMasonhadtoleanoverthebunktohear."Mason,youdon'twantaworldwithManasanunderling.Youcan'twantthat.Wehavetheuniverseopentousnow.Itwouldtakeonlyalittlewhileandwecouldbemasters.Doyouunderstand?MasterslThereareplaces,otherplaceswehavediscovered…"

Heopenedhiseyesagain."Think,Mason,beforeyoutestify.IfyousaytoomuchIcan'tanswerfortheconsequences.Wealreadyhaveenoughatourdisposaltostartawar.Thegreatestwareverknown.AndManmaydoit—now—ifhefeelshisplaceisthreatened…"

ThevoicefadedawayandMasoncouldhardlyhearthelastwords.Herantosummonadoctor.Yeewasstillalivebutitwouldn'tbelongnow.Masonwentbacktohisroom,dimlyunderstandingwhathe'djustheard.Hehadguessed,duringthoselastdaysonLilith,thatYeeMonwasdirectlyconnectedwiththissearchforweaponry.NowherealizedthatYeehadbeenEckert'ssuperiorinthismadscheme.

AndYeehadadmittedthattherewereotherplanets—perhapsunknownexcepttoafewmen—whereotherexperimentsofthismagnitudewerebeingconducted.Wouldtheyactuallystartawarifthehearinginhighcourtbecameknown?OrwasYeemakingemptythreats,tryingtofrightenMasonintoadifferenttestimony?

Whenhewenttobedatlast,allhecouldseewasthatpictureengravedinhismemory,ofManfacinghisdyingsun.Hadhebeenbanishedtohissolarsystemafteraterriblewar?Wasitpossiblethatthispunishmentwouldbetheresultof

Mason'stestimony?*Or,evenworse,wouldMasonberesponsibleforbringingthewarabout?Wouldhecausethatinhisignorance?Beresponsibleforthatmonstrousendeavor,insteadofbeingresponsiblefortheevolutionofthepeopleofLilith?

Hecouldn'tsleep.Halfawake,hisdreamswerefilledwiththephantasmagoriaofnightmares.Hegotupdrenchedwithperspirationandwenttotakeashower.Washinghisfacefirst,hecaughtaglimpseofhimselfinthemirror.Ithadbeensolongsincehehadlookedathimselfthatitwasashock.Thesefeaturesstaringbackathimwerenotthesamehehadknownweeksormonthsago.Itwasadifferentfaceentirely.

Masonliterallydidn'trecognizehimself.Hischeekswereleanandtherewasthebeginningofstronglinesbesidehisnose.Hisjawwasfirmerandrubbinghishandagainsthisforehead,hesawthatitwascreasedwithsmalllines.Helaughedsuddenly,combingbackhishairwhichhadgrownsomuchlightersincehe'dbeenonLilith.Oncealightbrown,itwasnowblond,almostwhite.

Thenhedroppedhiscombandleanedforwardinamazement.Hiseyes!Hadn'ttheybeenbrown?Hestaredattheeyesbeforehimandsuddenlyfeltweak.Theywerenolongerbrown.TheywerenotevenanEarthcolor.

Hiseyesweretheclear,penetratinghueofthelightofLilith!

Ashelookedatthemhesawtheentirespectrum—andheputuphishands,unabletolookfurther.

Hewentbacktositonhisbunk,wondering,puzzlingoverthefantasticchange.Itmusthavehappenedwhentheexperimenthadbeenconductedonhim.Hadanyonenoticed?No,ofcoursenot.Hehadwornhisglassesmuchofthetimetoavoidsuspicion.

ThespectrumofLilith!

SuddenlyMasonroseandwentbacktotheshowerroom.HehadseenthefuturebeforebythelightofLilith.Couldheseethefuturenow,inhisowneyes?Couldheevokethatchange,thatparticularcombinationthatwouldleadtotheshock?Heforcedhimselftostandquitestillandlookintohiseyesasifhewerelookingatacolorwheel.

lookingatacolorwheel.

Masonstoodthereforalong,longtime.

TheyburiedYeeMonintheoceansofspace.Masonwatchedthebodyslipintothevoidandfeltatpeace,asifYeeMonhadreturnednotonlytothewombofalllife,buthadalsoreturnedtohisownindividuality.TheindividualitythatMasonhadonceknownandliked.

TheylandedsecretlyatLegusinthemiddleofthenight.TherewasnoonetomeetthemandtheCaptaintookMasondirectlytoOden'shome.Theyspokefarintothenightandthemorning,andatnoonthefollowingdayMasondonnedthepurplecloakofthehighcourtandwalkedwithOdentowardthegreathall.

Theydescendedtheramp,andthistimeMasonwasnotunnoticed,nordidheavoidnoticing.Hisfearofthealienswaspast.Helookedclearlyanddirectlyateveryonehesawandfeltinreturnanacknowledgmentthatwasgratifying.

ThedoorsinthelowerlevelwereopenedandMasonwalkedinbesideOden,lookingstraightaheadtothecenterofthegreatcircles.There,raisedonthedais,sattheChiefJustice.AndinhispresencetherewassomethingthatevokedinMasonafasterbeatingofhisheartandadifferentkindofhumilitythanhefeltevenwithOden.

Odenledhimtothecircleimmediatelysurroundingthedais.There,directlyinfrontoftheChiefJustice,theysat.Masoncouldn'tseewhatwasunderthepurplerobethatwrappedandhoodedthefigure.Allhecouldseewastheface,andhecouldn'tlookaway.

Heknewtherewasnootherbeinginthegreathallquiteliketheonefromthisrace.Heknewitinstinctively,andtheshockfromthatfacegrewuntilitfilledMason'swholepresence,andthenitsubsidedleavinghimweak,yetwithadeepinnercalm.

ThefacebelongedtoaMan.

NotaManasMasonknewmen,butanotherbeing,adistantrelative,asremotefromManasMasonwasfromanape.Andyetrelated,connected.IfMasonhadfeltlikeastudentbeforeOden,totheChiefJusticeMasonfeltlikeachildtoitsfatheroraninfanttoitsGod.InthatinstantMasonknewthathe

childtoitsfatheroraninfanttoitsGod.InthatinstantMasonknewthathewishedtositbeforethisbeingfortherestofhislife.Hewouldpayanypriceforthat.Hewishednevertoleavethatface.

Andthenhewonderedabouttheothersofhisownracehere.HowcouldtheyignorethisManwhosepresencebespoketheirownfuturepossibility?Howcouldtheythinkofsuperiorityinfrontofthisfigure?Howcouldtheideaofexperimentalplanetseverhavebegun?Nomanwhohadeverseenthatfacecouldhavethoughtofit.

Atlasthewasabletodrawawayhiseyesandlookaroundthehall.Themembersofthestaffweresittingtohisrightinthenextrow.SomewerelookingattheChiefJusticewithnothingatallintheirexpression.Otherswerecuriouslystaringattheassembly.OnlyLouisasatquietlywithheaddowncastasthoughshefeltsomethingbutwasunabletoseeit.

MasonlookedatOdenwhosmiledathimthoughtfully."Tryusingyourneweyes,"Odensuggested,barelyaboveawhisper."Ithinkyouhaveusedthemonlyonewayyet.Trytoseefromanotherview.TrytoseewhatIsee."-MasongazedathimforamomentandthenlookedbackattheChiefJustice.Hedrewinhisbreathsharply.NowtheChiefJusticewasnotaMan;hewasaSumdac.Onlya

SumdacfaraboveOdeninhisevolutionandintelligence.AndMasonsensedthatOdenwasfilledwiththesameemotionthatheldMason,thesamerelationshipofsontofather.

HetriedtoseewhattheViningsisterssaw,anddiscoveredthattheChiefJusticetothemwasareplicaofoneofthestrangerformsinthehall.NeilTropesawsomethingthatwasn'tevenintheroom,andUlinskiseemedpuzzled.Masonrealizedthatshapeswerecontinuallychangingandshiftinginfrontofhim.

HaskellEckertsawnothingatall.Underthatpurplehoodablanknessstaredathim,andEckertthoughttheChiefJusticewaswearingamask.

Louisastillrefusedtolook,andnowMasonsawwhy.She,too,sawavaguemanlikeform,butinaguiseunbearabletofaceforlong.ShesawhimasMasonmighthaveseenhimsometimeago.

HeleanedovertoOden."Whoishe?"

HeleanedovertoOden."Whoishe?"

"HeisakintoaMan,"Odensaid."Youareright.Isensewhatyouhavethoughtandseen.Butyouaretheonlyonewhohaseverseenhimashereallyis.Icannot.Tomeheappearslikemyselformyfather—andtoothersinlikemanner.Andthemenofyourraceseehimverydifferently,eachone.NeverasaMan.Theycouldn'taccepthim.Heisnotoneofyou,youknow."

"Iknow,"Masonsaid."Butweareoneofhim.Somedaywemaybelikehim."

Sohehadseenwhatnobeinghadeverseenbefore.Masondidn'tquestionit.HeknewithadsomethingtodowiththelightofLilith,butmoreimportantly,withwhathehimselfwishednow,andhadwishedbefore,forMan.Hiseyeshadchanged.Orhadhiswayoflookingchanged?Herecognizedthedemandthismade.

Hedidn'twonderwherethisManwasfrom,orhowhisraceofManwasdistantlyrelated,orwhythisbeing,Man,satinthecenterofthatgreatcircle.Heonlyknewthatithadessentialimportanceforhim;thathiswishhadbeentrue;thattherewaspurpose,afterall,inrescuingManfromhisdeath.IfthiswaswhatManmightbecome…

TheChiefJusticespoke.Hespokeinonetongueandyeteveryoneunderstood.HesaidthattheymustdiscussthestateofManandre-examineMan'splaceintheFederation.Nomore.Hemadenomentionofanythingthathadhappenedintheexperimentalstations.Then,withalookthatitwasdifficulttofathom,hecalleduponMason.

Masonstoodupandturnedtofacetheassembly.Heunderstoodnowthatnotonlydidhehavetheopportunityofspeakinglikeasimplereporterwhohadcomeacrosscertainexperimentsunaware.Hehadalsotheopportunitytosaynothing.Hecouldstandhereandpretendthatnothinghadhappened.TheChiefJusticehadleftitalluptohim.

Hefeltinthatmomentthathewasinthecenteroftheuniverse,forhereweregatheredbeingsfromthefarcornersoftime.Andyetheknewthatbeyondtherestretchedmoreandmorecreation,lifeformingandevolving.Forwhatpurpose?TogatherhereandmakerulesandregulationsformulatedbyMan,whoknewhowtodothatmuchbutlittlemore?

whoknewhowtodothatmuchbutlittlemore?

OutofsympathyandfaiththesebeingsallowedManhispresenceinthisgreathall,andnowMasonstoodbeforethem,aninfinitesimalspeckinthegreatcreation,holdingthepowerwithinhimtoalienatehisownracefromtherestoftheuniverse.

Herememberedwhathehadseeninhisowneyesinthemirrorontheshipandknewthattherewouldnotbewarnow.Already,fromwhathehadseen,fleetsofshipswereontheirwaytoalltheexperimentalplanetstostopthepreparations.No,therewouldnotbewar.ButafteraninterludeManwouldbegintoprepareforwaragain.Anditwouldbemanymillionsofyearsbeforehereachedmaturity.

Masonhadnowtochoosehisloyalty.WoulditbetoMan?TosaveMan'splacehere?Toallowhimtocontinueasamemberofthisvastbody?Orwouldhisloyaltybetotheuniverse,ofwhichhewassuchasmallpart?

Hehadmadehisdecisionlongago.

HisloyaltywastoMan.

HisloyaltyhadbeentoManeversincethebeginning,eversincehehadfacedthethreatofMan'sextinction.

HisloyaltywastoManandthereforetoMan'sevolution,whichcouldcomeonlyfromthetruthabouthimself.Evenifthattruthmeantbanishment.Masonknewhewouldstayheretoseekthattruth.

AndheknewthesearchmustbeginnowwiththefactsofMan'sterribleerror.Thefactsoftheexperimentalstations.Thefactsofpreparationsforwar.ThefactsofMan'smeddling.

Masonnolongercaredwhatothermenmightthinkofhim.Hisloyaltywastoostrongforthat,hishopeforMan'spotentialtoograveanddeep.Hecouldn'tconsiderhimselfinthatway.Notnow,Nothere.

Helookeduponcemoretothatfaceonthedaisbeforehebegantospeak.