Lost Pages

Page i

Lost Pages Page ii Also by Paul Di Filippo

Fractal Paisleys Ribofunk The Steampunk Trilogy Page iii

Lost Pages

by Paul Di Filippo

Four Walls Eight Windows New York/London Page vi

To all the writers whose lives have provided the templates for the stories in this book; to John Oakes, Crosstemporal Publisher without peer; and to Deborah, in this and every time line. Page v

Ta ble of Co nt en ts

Int ro du cti on

Th e Tw en tie s

The Jackdaw's Last Case

Th e Th irti es

Anne

The Happy Valley at the End of the World

Th e Fo rti es

Mairzy Doats

Campbell's World

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Int ro du cti on — " W ha t Kil led Sci en ce Fic tio n? "

by Dr. Jos iah Ca rbe rry , Pr ofe sso r of En glis h, Br ow n Un ive rsit y at Sa n Di eg o

Re pri nte d wit h per mis sio n fro m Th e Jo ur nal of Po pul ar Cu ltu re, Vo l. X X XI No . 9, Se pte mb er 19 98.

ABSTRACT :

The nearly extinct publishing and cinematic genre once known as "science fiction" was born in 1926 and reached its pinnacle in the year 1966, after which a series of unforeseeable catastrophes, both literary and extraliterary, led to its steep decline and virtual disappearance.

Ha rd as it is to bel iev e tod ay, in our cur ren t me dia lan ds ca pe de voi d of wo rks of fan tas tic sp ec ula tio n, the wo rld s of lite rat ure an d cin em a on ce ba de

Page 2 sev eri ng of a ge ner ati on al lin k, in fac t, rep res ent s on e of the ma in hur dle s to the res urr ect ion of the ge nre .

Pe rha ps a ver y bri ef sur ve y of SF 's glo ry da ys is in or der firs t, bef ore ex am inin g the fac tor s in its qui ck an d inf am ou s ex pu ng em ent .

W he na W els h im mi gra nt ent rep ren eur na me d Hu gh Go rm sb ec k lau nc he d his ma gaz ine A ma zin g St ori es in Ap ril of 19 26, he gat her ed a dis par ate

Co nc urr ent ly, SF be ga n to infil trat e oth er me dia . Ra dio dra ma s lik e Th e Sh ad ow La dy an d Di me nsi on X Sq ua re d thri lle d mill ion s. Da ily ne ws

Th e en d hal f of the 19 50 s wa sa par tic ula rly ex citi ng tim e for SF , as the Re d Ch ine se lau nc h of the firs t arti fici al sat ellit e birt he da wi der int ere st in

Wi th the da wn of the 19 60 s, SF ap pe are d pri me d to ex plo de as a tru e ma ss po p ph en om en on. Cu lt cla ssi cs suc h as Ro ber t He inle in's Dr ift er in

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em bra ce d by bot h old er an d yo un ger rea der s, flirt ing wit h the lo we r ran ks of be stsell er list s. (T he sa me ha pp y fat e wa s pre dic ted by kn ow led ge

All loo ke d bri ght the n for SF as the de ca de rea ch ed its mi dw ay poi nt. Bu t un be kn ow nst to all, do om for the fiel d in all its ma nif est ati on s wa s jus t aro

An d the na me of SF 's ne me sis wa s St ar Tr ek.

Se pte mb er 8, 19 66, 8:3 0 PM EDT

. Sel do m bef ore has it be en po ssi ble to nail do wn so ex act ly a hist ori cal tur nin g poi nt. Bu t in ret ros pe ct it wa s cer tai nly this

A Ho lly wo od stal wa rt be st kn ow n for his afo re me nti on ed res pe cta ble De sti na tio n Or bit , Ge org e Pal ha d mo ve d to the me diu m of tel evi sio n aft

Pal 's firs t an d big ges t mis tak e wa s in the cas tin g of his sta rsh ip cre w. Ni ck Ad am s pla ye d the hist rio nic Ca pta in Ti m Dir k as a thir d-r ate Ja me s De

Page 4 ant ine utr on" dri ve. Le sse r par ts we re fille d wit h sim ilar wi nc epr ov oki ng ch oic es.

Pal 's ne xt ma jor mis tak e wa s to insi st on wri tin g all the firs t sea so n's scr ipt s hi ms elf, as a mo ne y-s avi ng me asu re. Ra nsa cki ng ev ery clic he of SE as we

Gi ve n the se tw o ma jor stri ke s ag ain st it, the oth er fac tor s mit iga tin g ag ain st St ar Tr ek 's suc ces s — pri mit ive sp eci al eff ect s, ridi cul ou s vill ain

Ne arl y ev ery TV vie we r of the req uisi te ag e ca n rec all wh ere he or she wa s wh en tha t inf am ou s firs t epi so de of St ar Tr ek (an ultr a-c onf usi ng tim e-t

Th e ne xt da y fou nd ridi cul e un ani mo us an d at a hig h sca thi ng pit ch. Ne ws pa per col um nist s an d edi tori alis ts ha da he yd ay wit h the sp ect ac ula r

Un wis ely , N B C, wo we d by Pal 's ling eri ng pre stig e, ha d alr ea dy co ntr act ed for a full thir tynin e epi so de s of the ne w ser ies. An d rat her tha n ba ck

W ee k aft er we ek, the vie wi ng pu bli c wa s tre ate d to on e stin ker of an epi so de aft er an oth er. Nu me rou s tag line s fro m the ser ies (" He 's — he' s de

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not a Ch rist ian Sci ent ist! "; "Bl ee p me up, Sp ott y"; "Hi ghl y no na xio ma tic, Ca pta in." ) be ca me the iro nic stu ff of ev ery da y co nv ers ati on. An d the n the ine

Wr itte n SF be ca me tar red wit h the sa me bru sh.

Lat ent pre jud ice ag ain st "all tha t Bu ck mi nst er Ro ger s stu ff," ne ver far fro m the sur fac e of pu bli c co nsc iou sne ss, res urg ed. To be see n rea din g an SF bo ok

As sal es of bo ok an d ma gaz ine SF plu m me tte d, fair -w eat her rea der s an d wri ter s be ga n to de ser t SF in dr ov es. Ba nkr upt cie s — bot h per so nal an

Fin ally , by 19 68, lon g aft er St ar Tr ek 's de mis e — br ou ght on by a det er mi ne d lett erwri tin g ca mp aig n org ani ze d by tru e SF fan s — yet wh ile

Th ere is littl e do ubt tha t SF ha d the ca pa cit y, lite rari ly, to rec ov er fro m ev en a tra ge dy of this di me nsi on. Th e fiel d ha d al wa ys be en pre y to bo

Fir st an d for em ost ca me the Ap oll o 11 dis ast er in 19 69. W he n the Lu nar Ex cur sio n M od ule fail ed to de par t the M oo ns sur fac e, the wh ole wo rld wa s

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or wr on gly , SF ha d lon g be en eq uat ed wit h nu cle ar po we r in the pu bli c's per ce pti on, an d this sea bo ard -c ont am ina tin g cat ast ro ph e ma de SF syn on

On e fin al str ok e of ba d luc k ap pe are d in the sha pe of an un der gro un d sixt ee nmill im ete r fil m tha t ha d the mis for tun e to gai n not ori ety sh ortl

Ne arl y tw o de ca de s aft er the se var iou s de ba cle s, SF re ma ins a for m pra cti ce d onl y by a ha ndf ul of ec ce ntri c am ate urs , ap pe ari ng in mi

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Th e Ja ck da w' s La st Ca se

"What ever advan tage the future has in size, the past compe nsates for in weigh t. . . ." —The Diarie s of E K.

Pal e ligh t the col or of old str aw tro dd en by un eas y cat tle po ole d fro m a lon e str eet la mp ont o the gre asy we t co bbl es of the em pty str eet . Fe ele rs of

Sh ortl y aft er the toll ing of the clo ck, a riv etstu dd ed ste el do or op en ed in on e of the fac tori es, an da tric kle of we ary wo rke rs flo we d out in sp urt s an d

Th e pat h of ma ny of the wo rke rs too k the m pa st the mo uth of a dar k alle y se par ati ng tw o of the fac tori es lik ea we dg e in a log . No ne of the tire d

W he n it see me d the last wo rke r ha d def init ely pa sse d, on e of the glo om -cl ois ter ed lur ker s wh isp ere d to the oth er. "A re yo u sur e she 's still co mi ng ?"

Page 8 ''Y ea h, ye ah, do n't sw eat it. Sh e's al wa ys lat e for so me rea so n. M ay be tos sin g the bo ss a qui cki e or so me thi ng. "

"Y ou' d bet ter be rig ht, or our go os e is co ok ed. W e pr om ise d M ad am e W u we 'd ba g her on e last da me . An d the bo at for Sh an gh ai lea ves on the

"D on' t get ant s in yo ur pa nts , fer chr iss ak es! Jes us, yo u'd thi nk yo u'd ne ver kid na pp ed a br oa d bef ore ! Ai n't the wh ite sla ver y rac ket a lot bet ter' n sec

"I gu ess so. Bu tI jus t got this cre ep y fee ling ton igh t— "

"W ell, ke ep it to yo urs elf! Yo u got the chl or ofo rm rea dy ?"

"S ure , sur e, I'm not go nn a scr ew up. Bu t the re' s so me thi ng — "

"Q uie t! I he ar foo tst ep s!"

Cl os er the lon ely clic kcla ck of a wo ma n wa lki ng in he els so un de d. A bar e wh ite ar m an da ski rte d leg sw un g int o the fra me of the alle ymo uth .

"O K, she 's out ! Yo u get her leg s, I'll tak e her ar ms . On ce we 're in the jal op y, we 're go od as the re — "

Su dd enl y the nig ht wa s spli t by an od d cry , hal f avi an, hal f hu ma n, a spi netin glin g ulul ati on rip e wit h sar do nic , ca usti c der isio n.

Th e kid na pp ers dr op pe d the ir un co nsc iou s bur de n to the pa ve me nt an d be ga n to tre mb le.

"O h, shit , no! No t hi m! "

"W her e the hell is he! Qu ick !"

"T her e! I see hi m! Up on the ro of! "

Sta ndi ng in silh ou ett e on a hig h par ap et loo me d the eni gm ati c an d fea rso me ba ne of evil do ers ev ery wh ere ,a he art -st op pin g ico n of jus tic e an d

Th e Jac kd aw .

Th e fig ure wa s tall an d ca da ver ou s. On his he ad per ch ed a wi de -br im me d, spli t-c ro wn felt ed hat . An eb on y fea the red ca pe, fas ten ed aro un d his ne

Page 9 "D on' t jus t sta nd the re! Bla st hi m! "

Th e frig hte ne d ye ggs dre w the ir pis tol s, too k ai m, an d sna pp ed off sev era l sh ots .

Bu t the Jac kd aw wa s no lon ger the re.

Fa cin g out wa rd, the for got ten wo ma n be hin d the ir ba ck s, an d swi veli ng ner vo usl y ab out lik e ma lfu nct ion ing aut om ata on a Go thi c to wn -sq uar e bar

"W e did it! W e sca red off the Jac kd aw ! He ain' t suc h hot shit aft er all! "

"O K, qui t bra ggi ng! W e still got ta get this br oa d to the do ck s — "

"I thi nk not , ge ntl em en. "

Th e kid na pp ers sw un g vio len tly aro un d, tee th ch att eri ng. Be stri din g the un co nsc iou s wo ma n, the Jac kd aw ha d twi n pis tol s clu tch ed in his yell ow -gl

Th e kid na pp ers ha d tim e onl y to sla p at the dar ts em be dd ed in the ir ne ck s bef ore cru mp ling to the gro un d.

Wi thi na tric e, the Jac kd aw ha d the me n ho gti ed wit h sto ut cor d un wr ap pe d fro m aro un d his wa ist. Pic kin g up the girl an d hoi stin g her in a fire ma n's

Wi th this ob ser vat ion the Jac kd aw plu ck ed a sig nat ure fea the r fro m his ca pe an d dr op pe d it bet we en the rec um be nt me n. Th en, wit ha rep etit ion of his fier ce

W he n Mi ste r Fr an k Ka fka rea ch ed the offi ce of his em plo yer at 19 26 Br oa dw ay on the mo rni ng of Jul y 3, 19 25, he fou nd the ent ire sta ff

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tra nsf or me d fro m the ir nor ma lly stai d an d pla cid sel ves int oa mill ing , ch att eri ng ma ss res em bli ng a co ve y of agi tat ed ro ok s, or per ha ps the inh abi

Ha ngi ng his da pp er Ho mb urg on the wo od en co atr ac k tha t sto od out sid e the do or to his pri vat e offi ce, Ka fka wi nc ed at the lou d voi ces bef ore rel uct ant ly

Th e clo t of hu ma nit y ap pe are d an od d mu ltili mb ed org ani sm co mp os ed of ele me nts of ma le an d fe ma le ac co utr em ent s: sta rch ed det ac ha ble col lar

"M illie , go od mo rni ng. W hat 's this upr oar ab out ?"

Mil lie Jan sen tur ne d to fix her int erl oc uto r wit h sp ark ling , mis chi ev ou s ey es. A yo un g wo ma n in her ear ly tw ent ies wit h wa vy dar k hai r par ted do

"W hy, Fr an k, I sw ear yo u live in an oth er wo rld ! Ha ve n't yo u he ard yet ? Th e str eet s are jus t bu zzi ng wit h the ne ws ! It's tha t my ste rio us vigi lan

Ka fka ya wn ed ost ent ati ou sly. "O h, is tha t all? I'm afr aid I ca n't be bot her ed ke epi ng cur ren t wit h the doi ngs of ev ery Ha ns, Er nst , an d Ad olf wh o wa nts

"O h, Fr an k!" Mil lie po ute d pre ttil y "Y ou' re suc ha cy nic ! W hy ca n't yo u sh ow a littl e ide alis m no w an d the n? If yo u rea lly wa nt to

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kn ow , the Jac kd aw br ok e up a wh itesla ver y rin g! Im agi ne —t he y we re ab du cti ng hel ple ss wo rki ng girl s jus t lik e me an d shi ppi ng the m to the

Ka fka smi led in a wo rld -w ear y ma nn er. "It all see ms rat her a sh ort -si ght ed an d un ne ces sar y wa ste of tim e an d eff ort on the par t of the se out la w int ern

Mil lie be ca me ser iou s. "Y ou stri ke this po se all the tim e, Fr an k, but I kn ow it's not the rea l yo u."

"In de ed, the n, Mil lie, yo u kn ow mo re ab out me tha nI do my self ."

Ka fka ya wn ed ag ain , an d Mil lie stu die d hi m clo sel y. "Di dn' t get mu ch sle ep last nig ht, did yo u?"

"I fea r not .I wa s wo rki ng on my no vel ."

" Bo he mi a, isn' t tha t the titl e? Ho w's it goi ng ?"

"I dra w the wo rds as if out of the em pty air. If I ma na ge to ca ptu re on e, the nI ha ve jus t this on e alo ne an d all the toil mu st be gin an ew for the ne xt."

"T ou gh sle ddi ng, hu h? W ell, yo u ca n do it, Fr an k, I kn ow it. An yb od y wh o ca n wri te tha t lon ely he art s col um n the wa y yo u do — we ll, yo

"A s yo u wis h. Alt ho ug hI ca n't im agi ne wh at it co uld be. "

Th e pai r wa lke d acr oss the lar ge op en ro om to Mil lie' s de sk. Th ere , she op en ed a dra we r an d too k out a sm all gail y wr ap pe d pa ck ag e.

"H ere , Fr an k. Ha pp y birt hd ay. "

Ka fka see me d trul y tou ch ed, his self -c om po sur e dis tur be d for a mo me nt. "W hy, Mil lie, this is ver y ge ner ou s. Ho w did yo u kn ow ?"

"O h, I ha pp en ed to be ro oti ng aro un d in the per so nn el file s the oth er da y an da cer tai n dat e an d na me jus t ca ug ht my ey e. It's yo ur for tyfirs t,

"C orr ect . Alt ho ug hI ne ver im agi ne d my self ev er att aini ng this ad va nc ed ag e."

Mil lie smi led co yly "Y ou sur e do n't loo k tha t old , Fr an k." Page 12

"E ve n int o my lat e tw ent ies, I wa s still bei ng mis tak en for a tee na ger ."

"W as tha t ba ck in Pr ag ue ?"

Ka fka co ck ed his he ad ale rtly . "N o. I left my nat ive cit y in 19 02, wh en I wa s onl y nin ete en. Th at wa s the ye ar my Un cle Lo wy in M adr id too k me un

"A nd tha t's wh at led to all tho se ye ars of tra veli ng the glo be as a civi l en gin eer , bui ldi ng rail wa ys? "

"Y es. " Ka fka fix ed Mil lie wit ha pie rci ng gaz e. "W hy this su dd en inq uisi tio n, Mi ss Jan sen ? It see ms pur po sel ess an d un wa rra nte d."

"O h, I do n't kn ow .I lik e yo u, I gu ess .I wa nt to kn ow mo re ab out yo u. Is tha t so str an ge ? An d yo u'r e so clo semo uth ed, it's a ch alle ng e. Ev en aft

Ka fka see me d ab out to rep ly wit h so me ha bit ual reb uff, the n hes itat ed as if su m mo nin g fre sh wo rds . "T her e is so me ver aci ty to yo ur per ce pti on s, Mil

Mil lie sto od wit h ja w ag ap e bef ore say ing , "Ji mi ny, Fr an k —t hat 's de ep! An d see , it did n't hur t too mu ch to sha re tha t wit h me , did it?"

Ka fka sig he d. "I su pp os e not , for wh ate ver it ac co mp lish ed. Yo u mu st ac kn ow led ge tha t if I am not al wa ys agr ee abl e, I stri ve at lea st to be be ara ble

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Mil lie thr ew her ar ms aro un d Ka fka , wh o sto od rigi d as a gar de n be an pol e. "D on' t wo rry , Fr an k! Ev ery bo dy fee ls a littl e lik ea ca ge d ani ma l

"N ot as I do. Ins ide me is an alie n bei ng as dis tin ctl y an d invi sibl y hid de n as the fac e for me d fro m ele me nts of the lan ds ca pe in a chil d's pic tur e pu

Rel eas ing Ka fka , Mil lie ste pp ed ba ck. "G ee, tha t is a we ird wa y to fee l, Fr an k. W ell, an yh ow , are n't yo u goi ng to op en yo ur pre sen t?"

"C ert ainl y."

Dis car din g the col ore d pa per an d bo w, Ka fka del ica tel y op en ed the bo x rev eal ed. Fr om wit hin a nes t of ex cel sio r, he wit hdr ew a sm all car vin g.

"V ery nic e, Mil lie. A fig uri ne for my de sk, I pre su me ."

"D o yo u rec og niz e it?"

Ka fka twi rle d the obj ect , sh ow ing no em oti on. "A bir d of so me sor t, ob vio usl y. A cro w? "

"A jac kd aw , act uall y. Ho w do yo u say tha t in Cz ec h?"

"W hy, so me thi ng tell s me yo u alr ea dy kn ow , Mil lie. Ba ck ho me we say ,' ka vk a.'"

Sm ilin g as if she ha d jus t be en aw ard ed a tro ph y, Mil lie rep eat ed, "' Ka vk a.'" Th en, rat her ala rmi ngl y, she fla pp ed her ar ms , cro we d sof tly, an d wi nk

Cl osi ng his offi ce do or ge ntl y be hin d hi m so as not to ma ke a lou d rep ort tha t wo uld dis tur b his ac ute ly sen siti ve he ari ng, Ka fka be sto we da lon g ap

Ka fka set ab out cle ani ng up the me ss. So on he ha da sta ck of un op en ed ma il, on e of int ero ffic e me mo s, an d an oth er of mis cell an eo us do cu me nts . Fin

Ho we ver , jus t as so on as he ha d po siti on ed hi ms elf be hin d the wri tin g ma chi ne, ivo ryha ndl ed lett er op en er in on e ha nd an d fai ntl y per fu me

Sig hin g, Ka fka urg ed ent ran ce in a mil d voi ce.

Ca rl Ro ss, the offi ce bo y, wa sa fre ckl ed yo uth wh os e per pet uall y ink -s me are d fac e bo re a co nst ant smi le of im pis h go od will . "B oss wa nts yo u, Mr

"V ery we ll. Di d he say wh y?"

"N op e. He see me da tad ste am ed tho ug h."

"U nd ou bte dly at me . W ell, the fau lt is pr ob abl y all mi ne. I sha ll not rep roa ch my self , for sh out ed int o this em pty da y it wo uld ha ve a dis gus tin g ec ho. An

"C rip es, Mr . Fr an k, wh y do yo u wa nt to go an d be at up on yo urs elf lik e tha t for , bef ore yo u ev en get call ed on the car pet ? Let the Bo ss do it if he'

Ka fka sto od an d ad va nc ed to lay a ha nd on Ca rl's tou sle d he ad. "G oo d ad vic e, Ca rl. Pe rha ps we sh oul d tra de job s. W ell, the re' s no poi nt put tin g

At the en d of a lon g, bla nk cor rid or wa sa do or wh os e gilt lett eri ng sp elle d out the na me of Ka fka 's em plo yer : Be rn arr M acf ad de n. Ka fka kn oc ke d

Be rna rr M acf ad de n —t hat pr olif ic aut hor , self -pr om ote r, not ori ou s nu dis t an d mu scl em an, pu blis hin g ma gn ate , sta ger of be aut y co nte sts, inv ent

As if to rei nfo rce Ka fka 's dir e wh ims y, M acf ad de n no w bel lo we d, "H av ea sea t an d ha ng in the re, Fr an k! I'll be do ne in a co upl e of sec on ds!

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Ka fka did as or der ed. Tr ue to his wo rds , in onl ya mo me nt or tw o M acf ad de n br ok e his sw am i's po se, coi ling for wa rd in a def t so me rsa ult tha t br ou

"T her e! No wI ca n thi nk cle arl y ag ain ! Su re wis hI co uld get yo u to joi n in wit h me on ce in a wh ile, Fr an k!"

"I ap pre cia te yo ur int ere st, sir. Ho we ver ,I ha ve a nig htl y co urs e of ex erc ise s of my ow n de visi ng wh ich ke ep me fit."

"W ell, ca n't arg ue wit h suc ces s!" M acf ad de n sna tch ed up a sto pp ere d va cu um bot tle fro m his de skt op an d ges tur ed wit h it at Ka fka . "C are for a gla ss

"N o, tha nk yo u, sir. "

"N o ma tter , I'll ha ve on e." M acf ad de n po ure d hi ms elf a gla ss of the chil led foo d-t oni c. "A ny ho w, I mu st co nfe ss yo u'r e loo kin g mi ght y fit. Yo

"In de ed. "

"G oo d, go od. Yo u we re on the roa d to go dd am n rui n wh en yo u firs t ap pli ed for a job her e. I ca n't bel iev e yo u ev er fell for Fle tch eri sm ! Ch ew ev

Ka fka co ug he d in a div ers ion ary ma nn er. "A s yo u say , sir. Uh ,I bel iev e yo u ne ed ed to sp ea k to me ab out a wo rkrel ate d ma tter .. .?"

M acf ad de n gre w sol em n. He pr op pe d on e lea n but toc k on the cor ner of his ex pa nsi ve de sk. "T hat 's rig ht, so n. It's ab out yo ur col um n."

"S o the n. I ass um e tha t 'As k Jos ep hin e' is losi ng po pul arit y wit h the rea der s of Tr ue St or y. Or per ha ps yo u'v e ha da sp eci fic co mp lain t.. .?"

"N o, no, no, not hin g lik e tha t. Yo ur co py' s as po pul ar as ev er, an d no on e's co mp lain ed. It's jus t tha t yo ur ad vic e to the rea der s is so — so ec ce ntri

"I' m afr aid I do n't see — " Page 16

"D on' t see ! W hy, ho w do yo u jus tify this ? 'A nxi ou s in Ak ron ' as ks for yo ur ad vic e on wh eth er she sh oul d ha ve mo re tha n on e chil d. He re' s yo

"V ery cle ar, I tho ug ht."

"Cl ear ? It's po siti vel y luri d!"

Ka fka smi led wit h his typ ical de mu re sar do nici sm . "A ch arg e yo u yo urs elf ha ve fre qu ent ly ha d lev ele d at yo ur ow n wri tin gs, sir. "

"H aru mp h! W ell, yes , tru e. Bu t har dly the sa me thi ng! W hat ab out this on e? 'Pi nin g in Pitt sb urg h' wa nts to kn ow ho w she ca n get her rel uct ant be au to po

Fo ra sp ac e of tim e Ka fka wa s sile nt. Th en he sai d, "It' s be st, I thi nk, not to rai se fals e ho pe s. . ."

M acf ad de n sla m me d do wn the ma gaz ine fro m wh ich he ha d be en rea din g. "F als e ho pe s! M y go d, bo y, tha t's har dly the iss ue her e! Wi th suc h mu

Page 17 Ka fka see me d stu ng. "T he rea der s ap pe ar to tak e ad eq uat e sol ac e fro m my par abl es. "

"I'll gra nt yo u tha t if so me on e's he art sic k en ou gh the y ca n fin d co mf ort in an y old gib ber ish. Bu t tha t's not wh at we 're ab out at M acf ad de n ent erp

Ris ing to his fee t, Ka fka sai d, "I will do my be st, sir. Alt ho ug h my nat ure is not tha t of oth er me n."

M acf ad de n got up als o, an d put an ar m aro un d Ka fka 's sh oul der s. "T hat bri ngs me to an oth er poi nt, so n. Yo u kn ow I lik e to ke ep a fat her ly ey

Du rin g this sp ee ch M acf ad de n ha d be en esc orti ng his su bo rdi nat e to the exi t. No w, op eni ng the do or, he sla pp ed Ka fka wit h he art y bo nh om ie on

"H av ea ye ast pill , so n, an d get ba ck in the har nes s!"

Sil ent ly, Ka fka ac ce pte d the off ere d tab let an d de par ted .

Ba ck in his offi ce, Ka fka de po site d the ye ast pill in a dra we r co nta inin g sc ore s of oth ers . Th en he pic ke d up the en vel op e the slitt ing of wh ich ha d be

"D ear Jos ep hin e," the lett er be ga n. "I har dly kn ow wh ere to sta rt! M y sic k, eld erl y par ent s are ab out to be evi cte d fro m our far m be ca use the y ha da nu

Page 18

virt uo us sta nd mu ch lon ger , an d I'll ha ve to eit her be nd to his will or be fire d! I'v e ma de my self sic k wit h wo rry ab out this , ca n't sle ep, ca n't eat , etc .,

Ka fka roll ed a she et of pa per int o his typ ing ma chi ne. Att em pti ng to ke ep M acf ad de n's ad vic e in mi nd, he mo ve d his fin ger s del ica tel y ov er the ke ys.

"D on' t de sp air, not ev en ov er the fac t tha t yo u do n't de sp air. Jus t wh en ev ery thi ng see ms ov er wit h, ne w for ces co me ma rch ing up, an d pre cis ely tha

Se ate d in the stu dy of his Fift h Av en ue ap art me nt at a de sk tha t wa s the tid y twi n to its offi ce ma te, wit h the du sk of an oth er ev eni ng ma n flin g

Dearest Ottla,

I am gratified to hear that you are finally feeling at ease in your new home and environs. The claws of our "little mother" Prague are indeed difficult to disengage from one's skin. Sometimes I envision all of Prague's more sensitive citizens as being metaphorically suspended from the city's towers and steeples on lines and flesh-piercing hooks, like Red Indians engaged in ritual excruciations. Although I myself have been a wandering expatriate for some two decades now, I still recall my initial disorientation, when Uncle Alfred took me under his wing and forcibly launched me on my globe-circling career. I think that my strong memories of Bohemia and my intense feelings for our natal city were what prevented me from settling down until recently. Although, truth be told, I soon came to enjoy my peripatetic mode of existence. The lack of close and enduring ties with other Page 19 people was not unappealing, neither were the frequent stimulating changes of scenery.

Of course, all that changed after "The Encounter," which I have expatiated about to you in, I fear, far too copious and boring detail. That meeting in the rarefied reaches of the Himalayas with the Master—hidden like a pearl of great worth in his alpine hermitage—and my subsequent revelatory year's tutelage under him has finally resulted in my settling down to pursue a definitive course of action, one calculated to make the best use of my talents. My adopted country, I feel confident in saying, is now Amerika, practically the last country unvisited by me in an official engineering capacity, yet one of which I have often dreamed—right down to spurious details such as a swordwielding Statue of Liberty! It is here, at the dynamic new center of the century, that I have finally planted sustainable roots.

As for your new role as wife and mother, you must accept my sincerest congratulations. You know that I esteem parenthood most highly—despite having many reasons well known to you for the likely development of exactly the opposite opinion. Once I actually dared dream of such a role for myself. But such a happy circumstance was not to be. For although there have been many women in my life, none seemed equal to my idiosyncratic needs. (Any regrets I may have once had regarding my eternal bachelorhood are long extinguished, of course.) Curiously enough, my employer, Herr Macfadden, saw fit to accost me on this very topic today. Perhaps I shall take his blunt advice to heart and resume courting the fair sex, if only for temporary amusement. Although the rigors of my curious manner of existence have grown, if anything, even more demanding than before . . . .

Fle shi ng out his lett er wit h an oth er pa ge or tw o of triv ial an ec dot es an d pol ite do me stic an d fa mili al inq uiri es, Ka fka pa use d at the clo sin g en de ar me

Page 20

Bu t the n, inst ea d of ret urn ing to his ap art me nt or exi tin g ont o the bu sy M an hat tan str eet , Ka fka mo ve d to an inn oc uo us do or in a forl orn co me r

A wa nly lit flig ht of stai rs led do wn wa rd. So on Ka fka wa s in the ba se me nt. Cr oss ing tha t nig hte d rea lm, Ka fka rea ch ed an oth er set of stai rs. Wi thi n sec on ds,

Thi s un der gro un d kin gd om see me d ev en dar ker tha n the lev el ab ov e, sav e for a dis tan t flic ker ing glo w. Ka fka mo ve d to wa rd this par tiall y shi eld ed ligh

He at mo unt ed. On the far sid e of a ga p-s latt ed wo od en par titi on, Ka fka ca me fac e to fac e wit h an en or mo us, M olo chlik e fur na ce. Its do or wa s op en,

Fo r so me tim e Ka fka wa tch ed the bra wn y sw eat ing ma n wo rk. He kn ew nei the r the ma n's na me nor his hist ory . Ka fka ass um ed he live d her e, wit hin rea ch of

Th e co ngr ue nc e wit h his ow n situ ati on did not go unr eg ard ed by Ka fka .

On the flo or sto od a pai l of cin der -fle ck ed wa ter wit ha dip per in it. Ka fka too k up the dip per an d rai se d it to the sto ker 's lips . Wi tho ut sto ppi ng his sh ov elin g,

Fe elin g fre e no w to ten d to his ow n bu sin ess , Ka fka ste pp ed aro un d the bul k of the fur na ce. Be hin d this as be sto s-c lad mo nst er wa s an oth er do or,

An d int o the Jac kd aw 's san ctu m.

Str an ge ma chi nes an d de vic es bul ke d in the sha do ws not ent irel y dis pel led by sev era l lo wwa tta ge bul bs. An exi t lea din g wh okn ow swh ere co uld be

Page 21

Wi th ling eri ng, al mo st feti shi stic ple asu re, Ka fka do nn ed his dis gui se. A tra nsf or ma tiv e sur ge pa sse d thr ou gh hi m, ren der ing hi m so me ho w lar ger tha n

Em itti ng a mil d sot to vo ce ver sio n of his shr ill cry , the Jac kd aw ste pp ed to a tic ker -ta pe de vic e. Pic kin g up the trai ling pa per , he be ga n to sca n its

"H m m m. .. Th e M ou seh ole Ga ng sus pe cte d in dar ing da ylig ht ba nk ro bb ery , but pol ice on the cas e. .. Do gfa ce Ba rto n in pri so n bre ak, but lik ely hid

Th e do or to Ka fka 's offi ce op en ed an d Mil lie Jen sen ent ere d, car ryi ng a she af of pa per s. Sh e sto od qui etl y for a mo me nt, reg ard ing the aff ect ing sig ht

Ka fka 's fac e res ted ins ens ibl y on a sur fac e def init ely not int en de d for suc ha pur po se: the un co mf ort abl e ke ys an d pla ten of his Co ron a typ ing ma chi ne.

Mil lie trie d aw ak eni ng hi m by tap pin g her foo t. W he n this me tho d pr od uc ed no eff ect , she be ga n to co ug h, at firs t fe mi nin ely , the n wit h inc

He r plo y wo rke d at last , for Ka fka jolt ed aw ak e wit ha sta rt, al mo st lik ea ca ge d da ng ero us be ast , tak ing in his situ ati on wit ha sin gle wil dey ed gla

"A h, Mi ss Jen sen , ple ase ex cus e my ina tte nti on. I wa s ins pe cti ng the me ch ani sm . Its per for ma nc e wa s uns atis fac tor y — "

"O h, yo u do n't ne ed to ma ke ex cus es wit h me , Fr an k," sai d Mil lie, not un kin dly . "I kn ow yo u'r e ex erti ng yo urs elf nig ht an d da y to ac co mp lish —

Page 22

"Y es, qui te cor rec t. M y, um , no vel is pre sen tin g me wit h cer tai n intr act abl e diff icul ties . Im po rta nt line s of the plo t ref use to res olv e the ms elv es —

"Y ea h, got ch a, kid do. " Mil lie reg ard ed Ka fka slyl y an d wit ha hu mo rou s glin t in her gre en ey es. "S ay, did yo u ev er thi nk tha t by rel axi ng a littl e, yo u

Ka fka smi led . "W hy, Mil lie, yo u so un d po siti vel y lik ea dis cip le of He rr Fr eu d."

"O h, a girl lik es to ke ep abr eas t of the lat est fad s. Bu t I'm ser iou s. Yo u lik e the mo vie s, do n't yo u?"

"I bel iev e tha t the cin em a rep res ent sa vali d ne w sen sor y ex per ien ce aki n to the ext eri ori zati on of on e's dre am s."

"A nd the ir po pc orn ge ner ally ain' t so ba d eit her . W ell, it's a Fri da y, an d the ne w Ch apl in is pla yin g do wn to wn . Th e Go ld Ru sh. W an na cat ch

Ka fka del ibe rat ed mo me nta rily bef ore bri ght cui ng an d givi ng a sur pri sin gly he art y an d col loq uial ass ent . "M illie , I'm yo ur ma n!"

Tu rni ng to lea ve — or so tha t she co uld reg ard Ka fka co qu etti shl y ov er on e sh oul der — Mil lie rep lie d, "T hat re ma ins to be see n!"

Str ea mi ng out fro m the do ors of the Na tur e Th eat er of Ok lah om a — a po pul ar be ge m me d mo vie pal ac e ow ne d by the mo st fa mo us an d suc ces sful

Aft er a pr otr act ed sile nc e, Mil lie chi rpil y as ke d Ka fka , "S o, Fr an k, wh ad da' d yo u thi nk ? W hat a riot , hu h?"

Mil lie' s dat e see me d los t in tho ug ht, his dar k fea tur es enr apt in a fug ue of co nst ern ati on. "T hat sce ne wh ere Ch apl in is sta rvi ng an d for ce d to eat his ow

Page 23

"R eall y? Go sh, I fee l ple nty ba d for yo u, Fr an k. Lo ok at yo u — yo u'r e wo un d up so tig ht yo u'r e rea dy to bur st to pie ces ! W hat yo u ne ed is a

"If yo u sp ea k of ma rria ge, Mi ss Jen sen ,I fea r tha t suc ha nor ma l mo rtal lux ury is for ev er de nie d me .A for ma l uni on wit ha wo ma n wo uld res ult not onl

"H oly cat s, Fr an k, yo u'v e be en rea din g the fak e so b sto rie s in our rag too mu ch! Or ma yb e yo u'v e ev en be en dip pin g int o We ird Ta les ! Lif e jus t

Ka fka did not dis en ga ge, but inst ea d, see mi ng to tak e so me sm all en co ura ge me nt fro m the sim ple hu ma n co nta ct, ma na ge d to pul l hi ms elf tog eth er wit

"I' m sor ry to be suc ha we t bla nk et, Mil lie, wh en all yo u so ug ht wa sa ga y nig ht out . Tr uth full y, I ha ve not felt so me lan ch oly for ne arl y tw ent y ye ars

Sin ce Ka fka wa s at lea st co m mu nic ati ng ag ain , Mil lie' s nat ura l ex ub era nc e rea sse rte d itse lf. "O h, bo sh an d piff le, Fr an k! Ev ery on e get sa do

"T hat so un ds fin e, Mil lie. Bu t if yo u'd rea lly lik e to kn ow wh at I enj oy — "

"Y es, yes , Fr an k —t ell me !"

"I lik e to co nte mp lat e the Br oo kly n Bri dg e. Mr . Ro ebl ing' s ma ste rpi ec e re mi nd s me of so me of the hu mb ler co nst ruc tio ns I my self wa s

Page 24

on ce res po nsi ble for . So me tim es tho se no ble but tre sse s alo ne see m en dur abl e an d wit ho ut sha me to me , am ids t all the cit y's ch ara de. Bu tI do n't su

"Fr an k, I'd lov e bri dg ewa tch ing wit h yo u! Let 's go! "

Wi th Mil lie for cef ully tug gin g on her co wo rke r's ar m, the mis ma tch ed co upl e be ga n to mo ve up Br oa dw ay. So on, the y we re wit hin sig ht of Cit y Ha ll an

As the y cro sse d the sm all par k in fro nt of Cit y Ha ll, the shr ill scr ea m of a hys teri cal wo ma n br ou ght the m to an abr upt hal t. Thi s initi al call of ala rm wa

Ka fka rac ed to wa rd the so urc e of the noi se, Mil lie trai ling be hin d.

A gro wi ng, gro wli ng, agi tat ed cro wd lift ed its gaz e sk yw ard . At op the ver y ro of of Cit y Ha ll sto od an om ino us fig ure . Di mi nui tiv e yet po we rful , wit

"T he Bla ck Be etl e!" sh out ed an onl oo ker .

"W her e'r e the co ps ?" yell ed so me on e els e.

"W her e's the Jac kd aw ?" yell ed an oth er.

Ka fka sto od qui ver ing be sid e Mil lie lik ea do g on a lea sh fac ed wit h an im pu de nt rac co on or sq uirr el.

Th e Bla ck Be etl e be ga n to har an gu e his au die nc e in a slig htl y ac ce nte d En glis h, sh ow eri ng the m wit h inc om pre he nsi ble slo ga ns an d de ma

"D ow n wit h all ant i-S em ites ! Up wit h Zio nis m! Pal esti ne for the Je ws ! Th e M ufti of Jer usa le m mu st die ! A me ric a mu st su pp ort the Zio nist ca use ! If

Th ere wa s not hin g eq uiv oc al or es ote ric ab out the rou nd bo mb wh ich the Bla ck Be etl e no w pr od uc ed fro m so me wh ere on his per so n. Th e sig ht of its

Page 25 "L on g live the Ste rn Ga ng! " sh out ed the Bla ck Be etl e as he hur led his ex plo siv e de vic e.

Ka fka kn oc ke d Mil lie to the gro un d an d co ver ed her bo dy wit h his lan ky for m.

Th e bo mb we nt off, filli ng the ir wo rld wit h noi se an d the ree k of gu np ow der , hur tlin g shr ap nel , flyi ng ce me nt chi ps, an d clu mp s of so d.

Im me dia tel y aft er the det on ati on, Ka fka lea pe d to his fee t an d sur ve ye d the situ ati on. By a mir acl e of Pr ovi de nc e, it ap pe are d tha t no per so n

As for the Bla ck Be etl e —i n the co nfu sio n, he ha d ma de go od his esc ap e.

Ka fka slu mp ed in de sp air, mu tter ing , "U sel ess , use les s, all am biti on. An d yet wh at joy , im agi nin g ag ain the ple asu re of a kni fe twi ste d in my he art. ..

Mil lie ha d reg ain ed her fee t an d wa s bru shi ng her clo the s cle an. "Fr an k — are yo u O K? "

Ka fka str aig hte ne d. "M filie , our nig ht tog eth er is ov er. I tru st yo u ca n fin d yo ur ow n wa y ho me ?I ha ve — I mu st be goi ng. "

"W hy, sur e, Fr an k. Se e yo u in the offi ce. "

Ka fka hur rie dly de par ted . Mil lie hu ng ba ck unt il he tur ne da cor ner . Th en she slip pe d aft er hi m, al wa ys ke epi ng a shi eld of pe de stri ans bet we en the m.

Sh e foll ow ed her qu arr y as far as Ti me s Sq uar e. Th ere , in a sq uali d do or wa y ap art fro m the mo re wh ole so me foo t-tr affi c, as Mil lie wa tch ed fro m co

"O h, Fr an k! W hy ?" Mil lie ex clai me d, an d be ga n to we ep.

Dearest Ottla,

I write to you today hoping to clarify my own thoughts on one particular matter, that being our shared ancestry and heritage. A disturbing incident of late has unleashed a savage pack of old feelings and recriminations I thought long tamed. I have always admired at a

suitable distance your passionate embrace of an ultra-modern synthesis of our old family religion—perhaps strictly for its certitude—although I could never myself feel comfortable in its suffocating clutches. Perhaps your perspective will aid me in seeing my own status afresh.

We are Jews, of course. Jews by birth, an inescapable heritage of the blood. You have affirmed this ancient taint wholeheartedly, passionately enlisting in such causes as the rescue of the Ostjuden and the formation of a Jewish homeland in the Palestine protectorate. I, on the other hand, have violently abandoned any such affiliations and attitudes, a decision enforced not solely by my rational intellect and the study of comparative cultures enabled by my extensive travels, but equally by my gut.

How you ever maintained any religious feeling, raised in our household as you were, I cannot imagine. Dragged by him, we went to synagogue a bare four times a year, and it was a farce, a joke. No, not even a joke. I've never been so bored in my life, I believe, except later on at dance lessons. I did enjoy the small distractions, such as the opening of the Ark, which always reminded me of a shooting gallery where, when you hit a bull's-eye, a door flips open the same way, except that at the gallery something interesting popped out, while here it was always the same old dolls without heads.

Later, I saw things in a slightly less harsh light and realized what could lead you to believe. You had actually managed to salvage some scraps of Judaism from that small, ghettolike congregation. For me, it was not to be, and I firmly affixed a Solomonic seal to the whole stinking corpse of my incipient, puerile Judaism and buried it deep.

But now, this old specter has arisen again, lashed into an unnatural afterlife by the chance meeting with a Zionist demagogue.

What I humbly request from you, dearest sister, are two things. First, a well-marshalled explanation and defense of your own faith. Second, and perhaps more vitally, some information regarding the chief figures of the European Zionist scene, specifically any particulars concerning a certain crook-backed firebrand . . .

Th e do or to Ka fka 's offi ce wa s thr ust op en so vio len tly tha t it sw un g thr ou gh a full hal f-ci rcl e of arc to ba ng ag ain st the wa ll in wh ich it wa s hu ng, ma

Ka fka cla pp ed his ha nd s to his ear s an d wi nc ed. "M illie , wa s tha t stri ctl y ne ces sar y?"

Mil lie sn ort ed, the n sto mp ed acr oss the ro om . "T hat 's 'Mi ss Jen sen ' to yo u, Mr . Ka fka !" Sh e flu ng an ar mf ul of pa per s do wn on Ka fka 's de sk an d

Ka fka sto od an d mo ve d to her sid e. "M illie — or if yo u insi st, Mi ss Jen sen .I rea lize tha t our dat e did not en d in a par tic ula rly sati sfyi ng fas hio n, an d tha

Mil lie' s jad e ey es flar ed wit h an ger . "O h, sur e, rig ht till we ne arl y got blo wn up thi ngs we re hu nk ydo ry. Bu t wh at ca me aft er wa s the rea l sh oc

"Af ter ?I do n't un der sta nd — No , sur ely yo u co uld n't ha ve — "

"B ut I did , Mr . Ba rn Ve ev e-a nt, Fill yder -jo y Ka fka ! An d let me jus t tell yo u this , bu ste r! An y gu y wh o'd pa ss up so me he av y pet tin g wit h

An d wit h tha t ob scu re ass erti on, Mil lie de par ted as noi sily as she ha d co me .

Ka fka sat do wn at his de sk an d cra dle d his he ad in his ha nd s. Th ere ca me a pol ite kn oc k, foll ow ed by the ent ran ce of offi ce bo y Ca rl.

Ka fka loo ke d up. "T he Bo ss? "

Ca rl sim ply no dd ed, his ex pre ssi on an d de me an or co nv eyi ng the ut mo st sol em n sy mp ath y.

On ce mo re Ka fka sto od bef ore the for bid din g do or to Be rna rr M acf ad de n's offi ce. Dis spi rite dly he kn oc ke d, we aril y ent ere d wh en bid de n.

M acf ad de n wa s em plo yin g an ap par atu s of ste el spr ing s an d Ba kel ite gri ps m ex erc ise s int en de d to str en gth en his up per bo dy. Se ate d be hin

lik ea de me nte d ca nd ym ak er fig hti ng rec alci tra nt taff y. Sw eat dri pp ed fro m his agr ess ive mu sta ch e as, gru nti ng, he no dd ed Ka fka to a sea t.

W atc hin g in hor rifi ed fas cin ati on, Ka fka so ug ht wit hin hi m for so me last unt ap pe d res our ce of str en gth .A phr ase of the M ast er' s ca me ba ck to hi m un

Fin ally Ka fka 's su per ior fini she d his ex erti on s. Dr op pin g the de vic e, he wi pe d his br ow an d the n po ure d hi ms elf so me br ow n slu dg e fro m his flas

M acf ad de n be ga n to lec tur e, on a top ic of see mi ngl y sm all rel ev an ce.

"I' m not on e of yo ur hy po crit ical , ch urc h-g oin g, pri est -w ors hip pin g, nar ro wmi nd ed Ba bbi ts, Fr an k. Fa r fro m it! Op enmi nd ed tol era tio n an d

"N o, sir. W hat ?"

"Bl as ph em y!" thu nd ere d M acf ad de n. "Bl as ph em y of the sor t co nta ine d in the se gall eys of yo urs , wh ich I too k the pre ca uti on of sec uri ng a loo k

"Si r, to wh at are yo u ref erri ng ... ?"

"T his ans we r of yo urs to 'D ou bti ng in De nv er.' 'If we we re po sse sse d by onl ya sin gle de vil, on e wh o ha da cal m, unt rou ble d vie w of our wh ole nat ure ,

W ea kly , Ka fka rep lie d, "Y ou mis co nst rue my me ani ng — "

M acf ad de n cru mp led the gall eys sav ag ely "M isc on str ue, hell ! It's the mo st bla tan t de ca de nt Sat ani sm I'v e ev er see n! Th at po or girl !I Page 29

hat e to im agi ne ho w her life co uld ha ve be en rui ne d by the se ab ber ant Ni etz sch ea n gut ter -s we epi ngs of yo urs ! No , Fr an k, yo u'v e ha d yo ur ch

Ka fka sai d not hin g in his ow n def ens e. He kn ew tha t all he co uld say wo uld ap pe ar qui te inc om pre he nsi ble to M acf ad de n, an d tha t wh eth er a go od

No w tha t he ha d ve nte d his spl ee n, M acf ad de n sof ten ed so me wh at to wa rd his exem plo ye e, to the poi nt of off eri ng ad vic e. "M ay be yo u sh oul

Ka fka left wit ho ut a wo rd.

On his wa y fro m the bui ldi ng, he wa s for ce d to thr ea d an un we lco me , alb eit ge ner ally frie ndl y ga unt let of his exco wo rke rs. M ost of the m utt ere d sy

Th e ulti ma te fac e in the ser ies bel on ge d to Mil lie. Se em ingl y ge nui ne tea rs of sor ro w ha d sna ile d her ch ee ks.

"O h, Fr an k, I ha d no ide a — "

Ka fka ca me ale rt, str aig hte nin g his ba ck. "M illie ,I reg ret an yth ing I ha ve do ne to ca use yo u dis tre ss. Fo ra tim e, I act ed lik ea los t she ep in the nig ht an d

"W hat 's tha t, Fr an k?" snif fle d Mil lie.

"T o let my ow n de vil full y po sse ss me ."

An d wit h tha t, Ka fka wa lke d wit h wh at he ho pe d wa sa pa ssa bly ere ct car ria ge thr ou gh the do or. Page 30

A wri nkl ed, disi nte gra tin g ne ws pa per , hal f so aki ng in the we t gut ter, hal f dra pe d ov er the gra nit e cur b, bo re lar ge he adl ine s jus t legi ble un der the

JACKDAW TERRORIZ ES UNDERWO RLD! POLICE HARD PUT TO JAIL ALL MALEFAC TORS DELIVERE D TO THEIR DOOR! COURTS CLOGGED! "WHAT IS HE AFTER?" ASKS PUBLIC COMMISSI ONER O'HALLOR AN SPECULAT ES: "IT SEEMS HE HAS A GRUDGE AGAINST THE BLACK BEETLE"

A bo ote d foo t gro un d do wn up on the dis car de d tab loi d, pul pin g its su bst an ce. Th e foo t mo ve d on, foll ow ed by its ma te, car ryi ng the ir ow ner wit h

Th e Jac kd aw stu die d the str uct ure bef ore hi m. His ke en ey es ca ug ht sig ht of a line of orn am ent al car vin gs ab ov e the sec on d-s tor y wi nd ow s. De ftly the

Ins ide , me n clu ste red aro un da tab le on wh ich bo mb -m aki ng ma teri als we re sca tter ed. Co nsu ltin ga pla n an d arg uin g am on g the ms elv es, the y we re obl ivi

Ch uc kli ng sof tly to hi ms elf, the Jac kd aw sto od. Tu ggi ng the ro pe sec ure d ab ov e hi m to tes t its sta bili ty, he ne xt lea ne d ba ck wa rd int o she er sp ac

As he hit, gla ss an d wo od ex plo din g in wa rd, the Jac kd aw em itte d his ner vesha tter ing cry .

It wa s en ou gh. Th e bo mb ma ker s fell co we rin g to the flo or, faili ng ev en to rea ch for the ir we ap on s. Page 31

"W e giv e up! Do n't kill us! Ple ase !"

Th e Jac kd aw pic ke d up on e of the spi nel ess hir elin gs of the Bla ck Be etl e wit h ma nia cal for ce. "W her e is he! Th e Bla ck Be etl e! Tal k!"

"L ow er Ea st Sid e! In the ba se me nt of Sc hni tzle r's M ark et on De lan ce y Str eet ! Th at's his he ad qu art ers ! Ho nes t!"

"V ery we ll! No w, yo u ge ntl em en loo k as if yo u co uld use a littl e na p bef ore yo ur rid e in the Bla ck M ari a — "

Th e pic k in the loc k of the rea r do or to Sc hni tzle r's M ark et tic kle d the tu mb ler s as del ica tel y as a vir gin toy ing wit h the str ap of her ca mis ole in so

As he twi ste d its ha ndl e, the re ca me a noi se fro m ab ov e of ratt ling ch ain s.

Wi th a tre me nd ou s cra sh a lar ge ca ge fell , tra ppi ng the Jac kd aw !

Ga s his se d out fro m hid de n no zzl es.

Co nsc iou sne ss de par ted fro m the Jac kd aw lik e an off en de d cus to me r off ere d inf eri or go od s huf fily exi tin ga car ria getra de est abl ish me nt.

W he n he aw ok e, the Jac kd aw fou nd hi ms elf lyin g bel ly do wn on so me kin d of pa dd ed pla tfo rm, sec ure d at wri sts, wa ist, an d an kle s, an d stri pp ed of

Int o the Jac kd aw 's vie w no w wa lke da ma n.

Th e Bla ck Be etl e, be nt of ba ck, bul gin g of sk ull.

"S o, we me et ag ain aft er so lon g, Fr anz Ka fka !"

Ev en in ext re mis , his car efu l del ibe rati on of sp ee ch ha d not de ser ted Ka fka . Fa r fro m blu rtin g out a ple a for me rcy or a use les s thr eat , Ka fka no

An oo ze of fals e sin cer ity an d hol lo w bo nh om ie dri pp ed fro m the Bla ck Be etl e's voi ce. "A h, but of co urs e! I am still ma sk ed. Ho w dis co urt eo us! All ow

Page 32

tha t the att ac he d pie ce of his suit wit h its ant en na e hu ng do wn his ba ck lik e an im pr op erl y mo lte d ski n. Ka fka sa w the gn om ish fac e of a str an

"I see yo u are still pu zzl ed by my ide ntit y," co nti nu ed the Bla ck Be etl e. "N atu rall y, the re is no rea so n for yo u to re me mb er suc ha no ne ntit y as M ax Br

"M ax Br od ? W ere n't yo u at the Ah sta dte r Gy mn asi um wit h me as a yo uth ? Bu t tha t wa s ov er tw o de ca de s ag o, an d we har dly ev er sp ok

"O f co urs e we ne ver sp ok e! W ho wo uld bot her to see k out co nv ers ati on wit ha cri ppl ed, gra cel ess ov era chi ev er suc h as I wa s the n? No t the ha ug hty

Th e str ain on Ka fka 's ne ck wa s be gin nin g to na use ate hi m. "A nd — an d ha ve yo u tra ck ed me do wn the n onl y to sat e yo ur un nat ura l ob ses sio

Br od lau gh ed so url y. "E ve n no w yo u cas t all ev ent s wit h yo urs elf at the ce nte r! Fa r fro m it, Mr . Va unt ed Jac kd aw ! Thi s vic tor y is me rel ya

"At firs t, I alli ed my self wit h on e of yo ur old bu ddi es, W elts ch, an d his jou rna l Sel bst we hr. Bu t he pr ov ed too me ek an d mil d for my tas tes , an dI so on

Page 33

this dis gui se. No wI an d my co mr ad es wa ge a wo rld wi de ca mp aig n of ter ror an d co erc ion wit h the ai m of est abl ishi ng a Je wis h sta te in Pal esti ne. Yo

"A nd no w wh at will yo u do wit h me ?"

Fr om so me wh ere on his per so n, Br od pr od uc ed a cri sp cri ms on ap ple . Aft er pol ishi ng it on his sle ev e, he be ga n to cru nc h it, ch ew ing avi dly , as

"T he Ha rro w fea tur es tw o kin ds of ne edl es arr an ge d in mu ltip le pat ter ns. Ea ch lon g ne edl e has a sh ort on e be sid e it. Th e lon g ne edl e do es

"I see . An d wh at tex t ha ve yo u ch os en to ins cri be on my fles h?"

"A po rtio n of the Tal mu d de alin g wit h trai tor s to the Je wis h rac e!"

Dis car din g the cor e of his ap ple , Br od mo ve d out of Ka fka 's vie w. In the ne xt sec on d, Ka fka felt his gar me nts bei ng slit op en to ex po se his ba ck.

"I am sor ry yo u will not sur viv e yo ur ree du cat ion , my de ar Fr anz . Bu t the pr oc ess , to be eff ect ive , mu st be rep eat ed hu ndr ed s of tim es ov er ma ny

Ka fka wa ite d ten sel y for the sta rt of the ph ysi cal tor tur e. Bu t wh at ca me ne xt wa s the last thi ng he ex pe cte d.

"B y the wa y," sai d Br od wit h fie ndi sh gle e, "yo ur bel ov ed fat he r sen ds his usu al sen tim ent s!"

Ka fka sw oo ne d str aig ht aw ay

W he n he reg ain ed co nsc iou sne ss, the ree du cat ion ma chi ne wa s alr ea dy in act ion . Page 34

W hat felt lik ea be d of nail s no w tou ch ed Ka fka 's ba ck, an d he wa s inst ant ly re mi nd ed of en dur ing a sim ilar sen sati on un der the M ast er' s tut ela ge. Ye

Ka fka str ain ed ag ain st his bo nd s, to no av ail.

"P erh ap s yo u'd car e to ve nt tha t ridi cul ou s cry of yo urs on ce mo re? No ,I tho ug ht not . Ve ry we ll, pre par e yo urs elf — "

Su dd enl ya lou d cra sh so un de d fro m ab ov e the m, foll ow ed by the cla mo r of urg ent gru ff voi ces .

"D am nat ion ! W ell, I see I mu st lea ve my fun . Bu t not bef ore wit nes sin g the firs t pri ck! "

Do zen s of da nci ng ne edl es pie rce d Ka fka as if he we re Sai nt Se ba stia n, an d he sw ore his ski n co uld int erp ret the ag oni zin g sha pe s of the He bre w lett

Fo ots tep s gall op ed do wn a flig ht of wo od en stai rs. Th e ne edl es co nti nu ed the ir cru el an d arc an e tar ant ella . Sh ots ran g out . Ka fka los t his sen ses

He sw am up out of bla ck nes s ap par ent ly onl y mo me nts lat er, an d felt tha t his ble edi ng for m wa s fre ed fro m the Ha rro w an d cra dle d in a sof t em bra

"O h, Fr an k! Tel l me yo u'r e goi ng to ma ke it!"

Ka fka gro an ed. "T he pal im ps est of my hid e still has ro om for a fe w mo re pa ssa ges ... "

Mil lie be nt to kis s hi m. "T ha nk Go d! I wa s sur e we 'd be too lat e! I'v e be en ha unt ing the pol ice sin ce the da y yo u we re fire d, tryi ng to co nvi nc e

A cer tai n lifel on g ten sio n inh ere nt in his ver y sin ew s an d mu scu lat ure see me d to ha ve be en dra ine d fro m Ka fka alo ng wit h his blo od. M om ent aril y,

Page 35 "M illie ?"

"Y es, Fr an k?"

"H av e yo u ev er co nsi der ed wh at ma rria ge to me mi ght ent ail? "

Mil lie kis se d hi m ag ain . "W ell, yo u'r e not hin g to cro w ab out — "

Ka fka wi nc ed. "M illie , ple ase , my wri ter' s sen sibi litie s ha ve not be en ext ing uis he d — "

"B ut yo u'd be a fea the r in an y girl 's ca p!" Page 37

An ne

Th e nig ht trai n fro m Fr an kfu rt wa s lat e.

No thi ng we nt no wa da ys as it sh oul d.

Th e sim ple bu sin ess ma n aw aiti ng the arri val of the Ge rm an co ac hes at A ms ter da m's Ce ntr al Sta tio n be ga n to gro w ner vo us. Th e tel egr am in his po ck

A chil l De ce mb er wi nd ble w in off the He t Ij, the A ms ter da m Ha rb or. To the ma n sta ndi ng on the ex po se d pla tfo rm, it sm elle d lik e the bre ath of a

No thi ng co uld be co unt ed on in this ba d ye ar of 19 38.

Th e ma n's an xie ty inc rea se d. His ch est felt fille d wit h san d. Thi s sim ple del ay — un do ubt edl y inn oc ent — wa s so me ho w dri vin g ho me to hi m wit h

W hat a res po nsi bili ty, to car e for a fa mil y, a wif e an d tw o da ug hte rs, un der suc h co ndi tio ns!

He ha d tho ug ht the y we re saf e in Ho llan d. Fo r fiv e ye ars the y ha d live d her e in rel ati ve sec urit y. He ha d be en abl e to co nvi nc e hi ms elf tha

Su dd enl y he wa s po sse sse d by a flas h of pre sci en ce, a mo me nt of rev ela tio n of Ol d Te sta me nt pr op orti on s. Page 38

If the y sta ye d her e, the y wo uld all die . So on er or lat er, de spi te all po ssi ble del ayi ng tac tics , all the tric ks an d do dg es of the pur sue d, the Ge rm ans wo

Un der the im pa ct of the visi on, the ma n be ga n to we ep. Th e arri val of the Fr an kfu rt trai n br ou ght hi m ba ck to hi ms elf. He dri ed his tea rs on his co atsl ee

Th ere the y we re!

"H ans , Di etri ch, ho w go od to see yo u ag ain !"

"A nd yo u, Ott o."

Th ey em bra ce d, the n ste pp ed ap art.

Ott o sai d, "It' sa wa lk of a mil e or tw o ho me . Do yo u mi nd ? It wo uld sav e trol ley far e. ... "

"N ot at all, " sai d Ha ns. "It will fee l go od to str etc h our leg s aft er the lon g jou rne y."

"A nd it will giv e us tim e to tal k," ad de d Di etri ch. "M an to ma n, wit ho ut tro ubl ing Edi th or the girl s."

"I un der sta nd. "

Th ey de par ted the sta tio n an d so on pic ke d up the Oz Vo or bur gw al so uth .

"W e live in the Riv er Qu art er, So uth A ms ter da m," ex pla ine d Ott o. "M an y Je wis h fa mili es ha ve gat her ed the re. "

Fo r so me mi nut es the br oth ers br ou ght Ott o up to dat e on the aff air s of tho se rel ati ves an d frie nd s wh o re ma ine d in Fr an kfu rt. Th e ne ws wa s

At last , wit hin sig ht of the to wn hall , Ha ns br oa ch ed the rea l me at of the ir dis cus sio n.

"W e are not set tlin g her e, Ott o, de spi te yo ur kin d off er. W e are det er mi ne d to mo ve on. In fac t, we ha ve alr ea dy pur ch ase d pa ssa ge to A me ric a."

Ott o wa s stu nn ed. "A me ric a. .. W hy so far ? W e'll ne ver see yo u ag ain . An d wh at will yo u do the re? "

Di etri ch ans we red , "T o my mi nd, it's jus t far en ou gh. Let us not foo l our sel ves , Ott o. Th e Na zis will not sto p unt il the y'v e co nq uer ed all of Eu ro pe. It's

Page 39

Ev en En gla nd is not saf e. As to ho w we sha ll ma na ge — we ll, we are skil led Ge rm an opt ical cra fts me n. Su rel y suc h tal ent s are in de ma nd ev ery wh ere .''

Th ey cro sse d the A ms tel Riv er. Ice flo es res em bli ng par tiall y sur fac ed Ubo ats pa sse d be ne ath the ma ny bri dg es. Ott o did not sp ea k. He co uld not bri ng hi

As the y cro sse d Pri nse ngr ac ht Di etri ch sai d, "W ill yo u an d Edi th an d the chil dre n joi n us, Ott o? Th ere are so me ste era ge ber ths left on our shi p. It's not too

"I do n't kn ow .. .. It me ans sta rtin g fro m scr atc h. Lif e wo uld be har d at firs t. I'm not sur e tha t Edi th wo uld lik e A me ric a. . .. An dI ha ve an obl iga tio

Ott o's voi ce qu av ere d. "I jus t do n't kn ow wh at's ne ces sar y. It's all too co nfu sin g — "

De itri ch int erv en ed. "H ans , ple ase . Ott o will ma ke up his ow n mi nd. All we ca n do is off er our ad vic e." He loo ke d ke enl y at Ott o. "A nd let me reit era te,

Thi s po ssi blit y ha d ne ver oc cur ed to Ott o. "S plit up the fa mil y? I co uld n't — "

"T hin k on it. W e co uld pre sen t it to the girl s as a littl e va cat ion wit h the ir tw o red isc ov ere d un cle s. No t up set tin g in the lea st. Co me , ma n! If

Th ey we re sile nt the res t of the wa y ho me .

Nu mb er Fo rty -Si x M er we de ple in wa s bri ght ly lit. W he n the do or wa s op en ed a gus t of wa rm air, sce nte d wit h he av enl y od ors of co oki ng, wa she

Page 40

Att rac ted by the noi ses , an ad ole sce nt girl we ari ng gla sse s em erg ed fro m the par lor. Sh e wa s foll ow ed clo sel y by her sist er, so me thr ee ye ars yo un ger .

Ott o rei ntr od uc ed the girl s to the un cle s the y ha d not see n in ma ny ye ars .

"T his is M arg ot, " he sai d, ind ica tin g the eld er. "M arg ot, giv e yo ur un cle sa kis s."

M arg ot did so.

"A nd this is An neli ese M ari e."

Th e yo un ger girl ha d dar k hai r an d gre y gre en ey es wit h gre en fle ck s. Di mp les we re pr om ine nt in her ch ee ks an d chi n. Sh e ha da slig ht ov erb

No w her int ere stin g ey es flas he d. "Pi m," she sai d for thri ght ly an d wit h gre at dig nit y, usi ng her fat her 's nic kn am e, "yo u kn ow I pre fer to be call ed An ne.

He r un cle s lau gh ed at her ser iou sne ss. "V ery we ll," sai d Ha ns. "Li ttle Mi ss An ne Fr an k it sha ll be. "

Th urs da y, Ju ne 14, 19 39

On Tu es da y, Jun e 12t h, I wo ke up at six o'c loc k, an d no wo nd er; it wa s my firs t scr ee n tes t.

Oh , yes , it wa s my ten th birt hd ay als o. At the bre akf ast tab le, I wa s tre ate d to a rou sin g ch oru s of "H ap py Bir thd ay" fro m Un cle Ha ns, Un cle Di etri ch,

Bu t the cel ebr ati on co uld not tak e my mi nd off the up co mi ng tes t. I co nfe ss I wa sa littl e ner vo us an d ke pt fus sin g wit h my hai r at the mir ror for so lon g

Ri din g to the stu dio in our big Pa ck ard ,I sat bet we en the un cle s up fro nt, a rar e tre at. No rm ally M arg ot an dI are co nsi gn ed to the ba ck. Page 41

Un cle Ha ns, dri vin g, sai d, "A re yo u sur e yo u wa nt to go thr ou gh wit h this , An ne ? Aft er all, yo u'r e still qui te yo un g to be thi nki ng of a car eer ."

"O nly a ye ar yo un ger tha n Shi rle y Te mp le," I rep lie d. "A nd she has be en ma kin g fil ms for ag es. An d aft er all, it's be en my onl y dre am for ye ars an d ye

"V ery we ll," he sai d. "B ut do n't set yo ur ho pe s too hig h. Th ere are do zen s of pre tty yo un g girl s for ev ery rol e. I see the m arri ve at the stu dio ev ery da y, an

"N ot me , Un cle .I am gra tef ul jus t for this ch an ce to au diti on. If I fail ,I will go ba ck ha ppi ly to my stu die s. W hy, the re'r e lot s of oth er car eer sI co uld ha

"I am gla d to fin d yo u so sen sibl e, An ne. I ha d to call in ma ny fav ors to get yo u this op po rtu nit y, but it is still far fro m a sur e thi ng. "

So on we we re thr ou gh the stu dio gat es. Th e lot wa s bu stli ng wit h gla mo rou s pe opl e, an dI tho ug ht to my self , Litt le An ne, yo u ha ve cer tai nly co me a

Al mo st bef ore I kn ew it, we we re on the so un dst ag e. Th e ligh ts, the mi cro ph on es, the ca me ras , an d the sp ect ato rs, alt ho ug h jus t as I ha d al wa

Un cle Di etri ch ha d go ne to wo rk alr ea dy, but Un cle Ha ns wa s wa itin g for me .

"D o yo u kn ow wh o tha t wa s wh o as ke d yo u to sin g?"

"N o. W ho ?"

Un cle' s voi ce ass um ed a rev ere nt ton e. "T hat wa s Lo uis M ay er hi ms elf! "

Ac co mp an yin g Un cle to the wo rks ho p, wh ere I wo uld sp en d the da y (w hat blis s!), I act uall y sa w in the fles h the be aut iful La ne Sis ter s, Lol a, Ro se ma

Lol a an d Ro se ma ry we re bu sy ch atti ng gail y wit h so me me n, but Pri scil la — my fav orit e — wa s kin d en ou gh to be sto w a wa rm smi le on me .

To thi nk tha t on ce, ba ck in A ms ter da m, I ha da fan tas y of Pri scil la La ne be co mi ng my sp eci al frie nd — An d no w it mi ght act uall y co me tru e!

Sa tur da y, Ju ne 16, 19 39

I ha ve n't wri tte n for a fe w da ys, be ca use I wa nte d firs t of all to thi nk ab out my dia ry. I do n't wa nt to set do wn a ser ies of bal d fac ts in a dia ry lik

I sha ll sta rt by sk etc hin g out my life sin ce M arg ot an dI arri ve d in A me ric a, un der the gu ard ian shi p of our un cle s.

W e lan de d, of co urs e, in Ne w Yo rk. So on, we we re livi ng wit h Je wis h frie nd s on the Lo we r Ea st Sid e. Un for tun ate ly, wo rk wa s har d to fin d, ev

"B efo re our sav ing s are eat en aw ay, we int en d to try our ha nd at life in Ca lifo rni a, girl s. Th ey say Ho lly wo od ne ed s lot s of ca me ra tec hni cia ns an d rep

"H oll yw oo d!" I sh out ed. "H urr ay! Oh , tha nk yo u, tha nk yo u, de ar un cle s!"

"O h, An ne, " sai d M arg ot, so me wh at sni ppi ly, "pl eas e sp are us. Do n't ma ke it so un d as if our un cle s are cat eri ng to yo ur foo lish ob ses sio n. It's stri ctl

Yo u see , dia ry, ev er sin ce I wa s in kin der gar ten ,I ha d be en ent hra lle d by the cin em a. Th e wa lls of my ro om ba ck in A ms ter da m we re po siti vel y

W ell, we pa ck ed our me ag er bel on gin gs an d set out on the we st wa rd trai n jou rne y, rat her lik e the har dy so uls in Jo hn Fo rd' s St ag ec oa ch. I wa s mu

Page 43

Up on arri val , jus t as we ha d ho pe d, Ha ns an d Di etri ch qui ckl y fou nd job s. An d not jus t wit h on e of the "P ov ert y Ro w" stu dio s eit her , but wit

M G M has tw ent y dir ect ors , sev ent y-fi ve wri ter s an d tw ohu ndr ed -fif ty act ors an d act res ses on per ma ne nt pa yro ll! La st ye ar, its pr ofit s we re ov

An d, dia ry — yo ur frie nd, An ne, wa s jus t sin gin g to its he ad, Lo uis B. M ay er!

M on da y, Ju ne 18, 19 39

De ar Pri scil la,

I har dly kn ow wh ere to be gin .

Ho nes tly, livi ng in A me ric a ag es on e ent irel y be yo nd on e's ye ars ! (A nd alt ho ug h mo st pe opl e wo uld not cre dit it, ple asa nt ex per ien ces ca n so me

I kn ow I'v e al wa ys be en a pre co cio us chil d. (H av en' t Pi m an d M um s for ev er del igh ted in sc old ing me for it?) Bu t sin ce co mi ng to Ho lly wo od,

Bu tI am cir clin g aro un d the im po rta nt iss ue I ha ve to rel ate . It see ms tha tI am afr aid to set it do wn on pa per , lest it pr ov e the me res t so ap bu bbl e

To da y, Mr . M ay er off ere d me a rol e!

An d not jus t an y old rol e, but the sta rrin g rol e in a ne w fa mil y fil m. (M r. M ay er al wa ys say s he will ne ver put his na me on a pic tur e he' s ash am

It ha pp en ed lik e this .

At eig ht this mo rni ng, the ph on e ran g. W he n Un cle Ha ns hu ng up, he wo re a stu nn ed ex pre ssi on.

"T hat wa s M ay er' s sec ret ary , An ne. He wa nts to see yo u in his offi ce at ten ."

I wa lke d aro un d the ho use in a da ze. Th e dri ve to the stu dio pa sse d un not ice d by me . Th e ne xt thi ng I kn ew ,I wa s sitti ng in Mr . M ay er' s

Page 44 "S o, Mi ss Fr an k — yo ur un cle tell s me yo u'd lik e to be co me an act res s."

"Y es, sir. I'v e be en tol dI ha ve a tal ent for mi mi cry .I co uld al wa ys imi tat e my frie nd s ba ck ho me . Str an ger s too ."

"Y our tes t sh ow s pr om ise, rea l pr om ise. No rm ally , we 'd sta rt yo u out sm all, a bit par t her e an d the re. Bu t it jus t so ha pp ens tha t so me thi ng' s

"M r. Fr an k Ba um 's bo ok ? Of co urs e."

"W ell, we 're fil mi ng it. Or at lea st, we 're tryi ng to. I do n't kn ow wh at's the ma tter wit h this pr oje ct, but at tim es it see ms cur se d. I wa nte d to be gin it last ye

"It wa sa hor ribl e ac cid ent ," I sai d, tho ug hI fea r my wo rds we re littl e co ns ola tio n. "I cri ed wh en I rea d ab out in Ph ot opl ay ."

Mr . M ay er loo ke d ap pr ovi ngl y at me . "I ap pre cia te tha t, An ne. No t onl y wa s it wr en chi ng for me , but als o for the stu dio . Ju dy' s de ath in tha t

Mr . M ay er got up an d ca me aro un d to sit on the ed ge of his de sk. "A nn e, I thi nk yo u'd be per fec t for the par t of Do rot hy. Th e mo re I tho ug ht ab out it,

I co uld har dly bre ath e. Ye t so me ho wI ma na ge d to rep ly.

"In ter est ed ? Mr . M ay er, I'd die for suc ha par t!"

Mr . M ay er sla pp ed his ha nd s on his kn ees . "G rea t! It's set tle d the n. No w, all I'v e got to do is line up so me on e to rep lac e Eb sen ."

Un cle Ha ns an dI got up to go, but a wo rd fro m Mr . M ay er sto pp ed us. Page 45

"O h, on e mo re thi ng, kid . Th at last na me . It's got to go. To o Je wis h. Ge rm an too . Yo ur ac ce nt's al mo st un not ice abl e, an d les so ns'l l cle an up the

I ad mit I wa s tak en so me wh at ab ac k, ne ver ha vin g tho ug ht of my her ita ge as an yth ing to be ash am ed of. Bu tI rec ov ere d qui ckl y.

"P erh ap sI co uld use my un cle' s na me ?"

"H oll an der ? Ki nd a lon g. Sa y, wh at if we sh ort en it? Ho w do es 'A nn e Ho llan d' gra b yo u?"

I co nsi der ed it for onl ya mo me nt bef ore agr eei ng. "S ou nd s sw ell. "

Mr . M ay er smi led , an d ca me to sha ke my ha nd. "Ki d, I ca n see we 're goi ng to get alo ng fin e."

Tu es da y, Ju ne 26, 19 39

De ar Pri scil la,

M y firs t da y of fil mi ng wa sa hu ge suc ces s, but mo re we ary ing tha nI ev er co uld ha ve im agi ne d. I got off on a go od foo tin g wit h my co sta rs, dis ar

I ha ve be en ass ign ed a ch ap ero ne an d tut or to ac co mp an y me on the set . (H ow I wis h M um s co uld ha ve tak en this rol e; per ha ps it wo uld ha ve

W he nI co ntr ast her wit h yo u, Pri scil la, my dre am frie nd, ho w co ars e she ap pe ars !

Fa nc y this : att em pti ng to giv e me a ma th les so n dur ing lun ch, she Page 46

sai d, "Y our fig ure co me s firs t, ho ne y, but it do n't hur t to kn ow fig ure s too . Els e ho w yo u go nn a co unt yo ur dia mo nd s?

"Di am on ds! As if tha t's wh y I'm doi ng this !

Oh , we ll, be st to ke ep all this bet we en yo u an d me , Pri scil la, as I do wit h ev ery thi ng.

Su nd ay, Se pte mb er 2, 19 39

De ar Pri scil la,

Ple ase for giv e me . Fil mi ng has ke pt me so bu sy tha tI ha ve n't wri tte n to yo u in all the se da ys. Bu t yes ter da y's ev ent s co mp el me to. Hit ler has inv ad

Oh , wh at will be co me of my de ar Pi m an d M um sie, not to me nti on all my oth er frie nd s? Pet er, Mi ep, Elli , Lie s, Jo pie , Sa nn e — Fo r no w, the y are

All M arg ot an dI ca n do her e in A me ric a is pra y. I ca nn ot im agi ne wh at life mu st be lik e in Eu ro pe no w. M y da ys in A ms ter da m see m so far aw

Th urs da y, Ap ril 30, 19 40

De ar Pri scil la,

Te n mo nth s of fil mi ng. W ho co uld ev er ha ve pre dic ted it wo uld tak e so lon g? I fee l as if I'v e pa sse d thr ou gh a kin d of fire tha t has bur ne d aw ay

"It' sa wr ap. "

M y firs t fil m is in the ca n. It tur ne d out to be the stu dio 's mo st ex pe nsi ve pr oje ct to dat e. In fac t, mo nth s of po stp ro du cti on wo rk still aw ait, so

Page 47 en ou gh to eat . Bu t Mr . M ay er thi nk s it will go ov er big wit h the pu bli c, an dI tru st his jud gm ent .

I gu ess it's as To by sai d, "S we eti e, yo u'r e on yo ur wa y to the top no w! "

Fri da y, M ay 10, 19 40

De ar Pri scil la,

Ho llan d, de ar Ho llan d, my na me sa ke, has be en inv ad ed! Th e un cle s, M arg ot an dI we re glu ed to the rad io all da y. (L uc kil y, the re wa s no sh oot ing sch

I sha ll as k Mr . M ay er for his ad vic e.

We dn es da y, Ju ne 12, 19 40

De ar Pri scil la,

W hat sh oul dI rec eiv e for my birt hd ay fro m Mr . M ay er but the mo st fab ulo us pre sen t im agi na ble !

Fo x stu dio s has ha da pr oje ct on hol d for so me tim e, wh ile the y ga ug ed pu bli c sen tim ent to wa rd the wa r, an d Mr . M ay er has bo ug ht it for me .

I am to pla y the da ug hte r of the fe ma le lea d in I M arr ied a Na zi. I'v e rea d the scr ipt, an d it's a cor ker ! In the en d, I get to de no un ce my "fat her "

Fri da y, Se pte mb er 15, 19 40

De ar Pri scil la,

To nig ht wa s the be st nig ht of my life .

I att en de d the pre mi ere of Th e Wi zar d of Oz at Gr au ma n's Ch ine se Th eat er.

Ste ppi ng fro m the lim ou sin e, adj usti ng my mi nk (a be aut iful sto le by Ad ria n) aro un d my sh oul der s as the flas hb ulb s po pp ed, I co uld har dly bel iev e tha tI

Page 48

na me wa s ass oci ate d wit h suc ha fin e pic tur e, on e tha t will ,I am sur e, last for ge ner ati on s an d ser ve as an ins pir ati on of ho w co ura ge, bra ins, an d

An d, de ar Pri s, jus t to sh ow yo u tha tI am still , un der my ne w ext eri or, the sa me littl e fan I on ce wa s, I mu st ex clai m tha t the pre mi ere wa s sim ply stu dd

As the mu sici ans say , "T he y'r ea gas !"

Su nd ay, De ce mb er 2, 19 40

De ar Pri scil la,

Th e qu eer est thi ng ha pp en ed to me yes ter da y, an dI fee lI mu st tell yo u ab out it.

Ha vin g de vel op ed a he ad ac he on the set ,I call ed a hal t to fil mi ng an d as ke d for a fe w mi nut es to rec ov er my self by lyin g do wn . Op eni ng my dre

I ma de no rep ly an d wa s so on alo ne in the ro om ,a col d co mp res s on my for eh ea d.

I co uld n't get the im ag e of To by, pre sse d do wn by the gri p, out of my mi nd. A mi x of rep ulsi on an d attr act ion fille d my bo so m.

I ha ve ha d the se kin ds of fee ling s su bc on sci ou sly bef ore I ca me her e, as we ll as mo re rec ent ly. I re me mb er tha t on ce wh en I sle pt wit ha girl frie

Page 49 so wo nd erf ul an d ex qui site tha tI ha ve diff icul ty in sto ppi ng the tea rs roil ing do wn my ch ee ks.

A mI too yo un g for suc h fee ling s? So me tim es I fee l as if my wh ole life tha t wa s to be has be en ac cel era ted be yo nd all co mp reh ens ion by for ces be yo nd my

If onl yI ha da bo yfri en d too !

Th urs da y, Ju ne 12, 19 41

De ar Pri scil la,

Ye t an oth er ma rve lou s pre sen t fro m Un cle Lo uis ! (T his is be co mi ng a reg ula r tra diti on ... .)

He pla ns to rev ive the An dy Ha rd y ser ies of fil ms , wh ich has be en in ab ey an ce sin ce Ju dy Ga rla nd' s de ath . An dI am to pla y in the m, op po site Mi ck

I ca n't tell yo u ho w ex cit ed I am to be wo rki ng wit h Mi ck ey. He 's so cut e!

Do n't be jea lou s of me , Pri s!

M on da y, Jul y 1, 19 41

De ar Pri scil la,

At the od de st mo me nts , the pli ght of my po or par ent s will rec ur to me , sha tter ing my mo od of the mo me nt an d ma kin g me for get my line s. So me tim es I fee

W oul dI ha ve ac co mp lish ed as mu ch wit h my life ha dI sta ye d in A ms ter da m? Th at is a qu esti on I will ne ver ha ve the ans we r to, alt ho ug h so me tim es,

Page 50 M on da y, Jul y 8, 19 41

De ar Pri scil la,

I'v e rea d the scr ipt for Lo ve Fi nd s An dy Ha rd y an d mu st say tha t sev era l tim es I blu she d. No t tha t the re' s an yth ing ind ec ent in it —f ar fro m

Yo u see , I'v e fall en in lov e wit h Mi ck ey!

It's tru e, Pri s. On e me eti ng wa s all it too k. Th at's wh at an ad ora ble littl e ch ar me r he is! (N ot tha t he flirt ed wit h me at all. He 's the per fec t ge ntl em

I wa s co mp let ely up set by the dre am s. W he n Un cle Ha ns kis se d me this mo rni ng, I co uld ha ve cri ed out , "O h, if onl y yo u we re Mi ck ey! "I thi nk

W ho ca n hel p me no w? I mu st live on an d pra y to Go d tha t wh en Mi ck ey so me da y rea ds the lov e in my ey es he will say , "O h, An ne, if I ha d onl

Su nd ay, De ce mb er 7, 19 41

De ar Pri scil la,

W ell, we are in the wa r no w for sur e. Th e de str uct ion at Pe arl Ha rb or has fin ally aw ak en ed the slu mb eri ng gia nt, A me ric a. Alr ea dy Ho lly wo od is shif tin

Th urs da y, Fe br ua ry 14, 19 42

De ar Pri scil la,

A val ent ine fro m Mi ck ey! Is he jus t bei ng co nsi der ate , or ca n it be tha t— ?

To by ad vis es, "D on' t thr ow yo urs elf at hi m lik e yo u'r e de sp era te, kid . Ke ep hi m gu ess ing an d ha ngi ng on a littl e lon ger ."

It see ms lik ea cru el an d sne ak y tac tic, but per ha ps I sh oul d he ed To by' s gre ate r ex per ien ce. Page 51 M on da y, M ar ch 3, 19 41

De ar Pri scil la,

W het her it wa s To by' s ad vic e or my ow n pur e he art, I do n't car e to kn ow . Suf fic e it to say tha t Mi ck ey has kis se d me !

It ha pp en ed lik e this .

W e ha d jus t fini she da ver y em oti on al sce ne an d we re ref res hin g our sel ves wit h so da s fro m the stu dio co m mis sar y, sta ndi ng out sid e in a sec lud

Is it rig ht tha tI sh oul d ha ve yiel de d so so on, tha tI am so ard ent ?

I sim ply do n't car e. M y ha ppi nes s is co mp let e.

Su nd ay, Ju ne 14, 19 42

De ar Pri scil la,

At ag e thir tee n, my life is ov er.

Mi ck ey has jus t be en dra fte d. No stri ngs tha t Un cle Lo uis ca n pul l ha ve be en abl e to get hi m a def er me nt.

Th e lov e wh ich has so rec ent ly blo om ed bet we en us mu st no w un der go the im me nse str ain of se par ati on an d an xie ty wh ich so ma ny oth er co upl es are ex

W hat , oh, wh at is the use of wa r? W hy ca n't pe opl e live pe ac efu lly tog eth er? W hy do the y ma ke still mo re gig ant ic pla nes , still he avi er bo mb s? W hy sh

I ha ve no ans we rs. All I kn ow is tha tI sha ll wa it for ev er for Mi ck ey to ret urn . Page 52 Th urs da y, Oc to be r 16, 19 44

De ar Pri scil la,

W e ha ve jus t ha da lett er fro m Pi m an d M um sie !

Aft er rec eivi ng a call -u p not ice fro m the SS , the y res olv ed to fle e Ho llan d. By ma ny tor tur ou s str ate ge ms , the y ma de the ir wa y to Sw itze rla nd, wh

I am so reli ev ed. I do ubt the y wo uld ev er ha ve ma de it, if the y ha d be en bur de ne d wit h M arg ot an d me . Fin ally the wis do m of our un cle s' ad vic

No w, if onl yI ha d fre sh ne ws of Mi ck ey He sur viv ed DDa y, but the wa r is har dly ov er yet .. ..

Sa tur da y, No ve mb er 12, 19 44

De ar Pri scil la,

Mi ck ey is co mi ng ho me .

He has los ta leg .

Tu es da y, Ja nu ar y 3, 19 45

De ar Pri scil la,

Th e wa r has ch an ge d Mi ck ey so mu ch. Go ne is the car efr ee bo yI fell in lov e wit h. Th e hor ribl e sig hts he wit nes se d, the ev ent s he par tici pat ed in, ha

Ev en I, saf e at ho me , ha ve be en de epl y sha ke n by the ne ws out of lib era ted Ge rm an y of the socall ed co nc ent rati on ca mp s. ... All the frie nd s of my

I still lov e Mi ck ey, of co urs e, an d for ev er sha ll. Bu tI kn ow tha t the bri ef chil dli ke int erl ud e we enj oy ed will ne ver ret urn . Aft er we are ma rrie d, we sha

I res olv e no w to de vot e the res t of my life to tak ing car e of Mi ck ey.

An d of co urs e, to my art.

Fri da y, De ce mb er 19, 19 49

De ar Pri scil la,

W hy do I wri te no w, aft er all the se ye ars of sile nc e, dur ing wh ich I wa s Page 53

so bu sy wit h so ma ny thi ngs tha tI ne gle cte d my old est , my de are st frie nd ? On ly to me nti on tha t M arg ot has em igr ate d to Isr ael , to be wit h M um sie

Ho wI wis hI co uld bel iev e in so me thi ng, an yth ing , as fer ve ntl y as M arg ot do es. Bu tI fea r my fait h in an yth ing out sid e the glo rio us arti fic e of the so

I ne ver rea lly ac kn ow led ge d to M arg ot ho w mu ch her pre sen ce me ant to me . W e fou ght , as sist ers will , but be ne ath it all wa sa de ep un der sta ndi ng

Sa tur da y, Ju ne 12, 19 51

De ar Pri scil la,

Th e div orc e is fin al.

Th e pr oc ee din gs we re ext re me ly me ssy — vile , in fac t. In ac cor da nc e wit h Ca lifo rni a sta te la w, I wa s for ce d to pr ov e me nta l cru elt y ch

Bu t the nI tak ea co upl e of Mil to wn s, str aig hte n my sea ms , an d go on lik e the tro up er I'v e lon g be co me . An yw ay, Mi ck ey' s la wy er in ret alia

Stil l, the wh ole aff air wa s inc red ibl y co mp lex , wa ste ful of bot h my tim e an d mo ne yI still so me tim es ca n't bel iev e wh at my life has be co me the se da ys.

Page 54

Oh , Pri scil la, if onl yI ha d sta ye d wit h Pi m an d M um sie in A ms ter da m! Su rel y, we co uld ha ve esc ap ed tog eth er to Sw itze rla nd! Su rel y aft er the

Bu t the hor ror s I'v e jus t de scr ibe d are my onl y life no w. Th ere is no oth er pat h.

Ye t— yo u kn ow wh at?

De spi te ev ery thi ng, wa y do wn de ep, be ne ath the pa nc ak e ma ke up, I still bel iev e in the go od nes s of ma n. Page 55

Th e Ha pp y Va lle y at th e En d of th e W orl d

In the cut -a drif t Bri tish col on y of Ke ny a, Ea st Afr ica , Ye ar of our Lo rd 19 39, be ne ath the sha do ws of the Ab erd are M ou nta ins, by the sh ore s of tre ac her

At a sm all re mo ve fro m the lar ge pill are d an d po rtic oe d ho use an d its ma ny out bui ldi ngs an d gu est cot tag es, sev era l lov ingl y ten de d em era ld pol o

"Jo lly nic e pla y!" "Bl oo dy hell !" "I say , yo u ca d!'' "W ell do ne! " "Q ue en' s kni ck ers !" "Bi t of all rig ht the re! "

In the mi dst of this fre net ic, sw eat y ga me a lo w dr oni ng noi se as of an ag gri ev ed hor net , sw elli ng in int ens ity, ev ent uall y ma de itse lf obt rus ive . On e

Sh adi ng his ey es, Jos s Err oll, an ov erp ow eri ngl y ha nd so me ma n in his thir ties , str aig ht pal e gol d hai r bru she d up int o wi ngs on eit her

Page 56 sid e of his he ad, sp ok e. "I see it no w. By Go d, it is a pla ne. Fir st on e in, wh at, ten mo nth s? Th ere , ab ov e tha t pe ak — "

His wif e M oll y, pet ite, au bur n-h air ed, sai d, "W ho ca n it be ?I tho ug ht all the loc als we re gro un de d, by or der of de ar old G wl ad ys. .. ."

A tall , cru eley ed fell ow , Jo hn Ca rbe rry , ma ste r of the ran ch at se midis tan t Ny eri call ed Se re ma i ("P lac e of De ath " in M asa i), sai d wit h lan gui

Us ed to Ca rbe rry' s self -sli ght ing inv ect ive , his co mp atri ots ign ore d hi m.

Ali ce de Tr aff or d, a slig ht, elfi shl y be aut iful wo ma n, po sse sso r of hig h ch ee kb on es an d vio let ey es, sai d, "Li zzi e, yo u'v e got the be st sig ht am on

Juli an "Li zzi e" Le zar d, on e of the au die nc e, a bu mb le-f oot ed, unt idy , uns ha ve n, yet so me ho w attr act ive yo uth wit h the air of a per pet ual sch ool bo y cut

As the bu zzi ng pla ne rap idl y ap pr oa ch ed, ev en the un aid ed ey e co uld so on dis cer n tha t its mo de of pr ogr ess ion wa s ala rmi ngl y err ati c. Its wi ngs dip

"Fi ve po un ds say s it cra she s!" call ed out Ca rbe rry .

"Y ou' re on! " ans we red Jos s.

No w so ari ng ab ov e the rin g of tre es sur rou ndi ng the pol o fiel ds, the pla ne wa s so lo w its lan din g ge ar cli pp ed the lea fy cro wn s. Th e uns ee n pil ot

Page 57 "S cat ter !" call ed out Jos s, sp urri ng his ow n hor se.

At ap pr oxi ma tel y on e hu ndr ed mil es per ho ur, the pla ne plo we d int o the sof t la wn , dra wi ng a lon g loa my go ug e. So vio len t wa s the im pa ct tha

Sil en ce rei gn ed for a mo me nt. Th en Ca rbe rry sp ok e.

"P ay up, old ma n."

"O f co urs e," rep lie d Jos s san gui nel y. "B ac k at the ho use . M ea nw hile ,I su pp os e we sh oul d ha ve a loo k at our visi tor ."

"O h, he' s de ad, " Ca rbe rry ma int ain ed in a ho pef ul ma nn er. "N o on e co uld sur viv e tha t."

As if on cu e, the ma ngl ed co ck pit do or of the cru mp led ste am ing wr ec k em itte da hid eo us gra tin g sq ue al as it wa s pu she d op en fro m wit hin , falli ng

Fr om insi de, a bul ky fig ure in blo od -st ain ed co ver alls unf old ed itse lf. Cl utc hin g so me thi ng, lev eri ng hi ms elf on e-h an de dly an d pai nfu lly thr ou gh the do or

Th e pla yer s an d sp ect ato rs rus he d ov er to hi m. Ha nd s tur ne d the avi ato r ov er ont o his ba ck. In his gri p wa sa hat bo x wh ich , op en ed, pr ov

Ki ki Pr est on, an A me ric an, bla ck she ep of the W hit ne y cla n, sai d in her ine ffa bly ga y ma nn er, "W hy, it's tha t fab ulo us fly bo ywri ter -w hat ch am ac all-

Jos s dis mo unt ed, too k off his ne ck erc hie f, we t it on his ton gu e — sev era l wo me n sig he d me lod ra ma tic ally — an d da bb ed ge ntl y at the avi ato r's un

Sta ndi ng, Jos s sna pp ed his fin ger s an d wa s inst ant ly sur rou nd ed by ric hly uni for me d ser va nts .

"Y es, B wa na ?"

"Fi x up a str etc her an d car ry our gu est to the Ea st be dr oo m. Se nd a car to Na iro bi for Do cto r Vi nt."

"Y es, B wa na. " Page 58

"Li ste n!" cri ed Ki ki wit h del igh t. "H e's tryi ng to say so me thi ng! "

Sai ntEx up éry 's fee bly mu rm ure d wo rds so un de d lik e no nse nse . "T ay ara bo um -b ou m, tay ara bo um -b ou m ... "

"H e's att em pti ng to sin g!" clai me d Liz zie. "T a-r a-r abo om -d e-a y!"

Jos s sh oo k his he ad wit h wr y dis dai n. "I thi nk not , Liz zie. Bu t we 'll fin d out for cer tai n if he sur viv es. "

Aft er Sai ntEx up éry ha d be en car rie d off, Jos s re mo unt ed.

"W ell, co nsi der ing all the wa ger s pla ce d, I pr op os e we co nti nu e our ga me on the adj oin ing fiel d, as this on e is no w de cid edl y uns uit abl e. Wi ll so me on

La dy Idi na, Jos s's exwif e, gall op ed ov er an d, be ndi ng do wn fro m the sa ddl e wit ho ut sto ppi ng, sc oo pe d up the bal l. Re tur nin g, she hel d it alo ft: a pol ish

"It loo ks as if old Pla yfa ir is ab out rea dy for reti re me nt," La dy Idi na sai d blit hel y. "I kn ow he as ke d us to ke ep hi m par t of the ga me as lon g as we co uld

Jos s smi led at his for me r wif e. "I dar esa y the re'l l be oth er ca ndi dat es so on en ou gh. "

An toi ne de Sai ntEx up éry — To nio Sai ntEx to his ext ens ive net of frie nd s an d fa mil y — aw ok e to a var iet y of sig hts , so un ds, an d sm ells .

Ga uzy cur tai ns flut ter ed at a tall op en wi nd ow , wh en ce po ure d in sun shi ne re mi nsc ent of the glo rio us ligh t tha t on ce dre nc he d his mo the r's ho me at

Sai ntEx lev ere d hi ms elf up inst inc tiv ely , the n col lap se d ba ck up on the cri sp cle an she ets wit ha lou d gro an. His ent ire bo dy wa sa ma ss of ac hes an d pai

It all wa she d ov er hi m in an inst ant . Fu elin g the Si mo un hi ms elf at de ser ted Le Bo urg et fiel d (pu shi ng asi de the blo od -dr en ch ed Page 59

cor ps e of a me ch ani c, a frie nd, wh o ha d col lap se d acr oss the pu mp ). Ta kin g off do wn the bo dy -st re wn run wa y wit ho ut be nef it of we ath er for ec

An d the n, sig hti ng the gre en fiel d he pra ye d wa s at lea st so me wh ere ne ar his de stin ati on. Fig hti ng for co ntr ol of the pla ne wit h flic ker ing co nsc iou sne ss,

Sai ntEx dra gg ed on e big ha nd wit h its oilstai ne d cut icle s acr oss his rug ge d, not un allu rin g co unt en an ce, an d mo nki sh ton sur e, the latt er a pr od uct not

Page 60

ar mo ire à gla ce, or "hu lki ng bru te" ) wa s sp orti ng gre en silk paj am as wit ha cre st on the bo so m. Inc red ibl e! On ce ag ain his luc k ha d hel d.

Ho w ma ny for ce d lan din gs an d cra she s ha d he sur viv ed ? Th e mi nor on es we re inn um era ble an d for get tab le, jus t par t of the job , but the lar ger on es

Th ere ca me a pol ite kn oc k on the be dr oo m do or, int err upt ing Sai ntEx' s sa d rev eri e. He trie d to call out a we lco me , but dis use d sp ee ch ap par atu s

Ta ke n as ass ent , his cro ak ca use d the do or to swi ng op en. In ste pp ed a ha nd so me blo nd e wh ite ma n we ari ng a pla id ski rt, foll ow ed by a stri ng of

"Jo ss Err oll, " sai d the wh ite ma n. "S erv ant s he ard yo ur ex cla ma tio n an d su m mo ne d me . Ho w are yo u fee ling ?"

Th e sm ell of the foo d br ou ght a fre she t of sali va to his par ch ed thr oat , an d Sai ntEx fou nd sp ee ch rel uct ant ly ret urn ing . "I be g yo ur par do n, M' sie u'

Ins tan tly swi tch ing lan gu ag es, Jos s co nti nu ed in a so me wh at fra ctu red pat ois . "O f co urs e. Sai ntEx up ery 's lov e an d ma ste ry of his nat ive ton gu e is

Jos s ca me to sit on the be d be sid e Sai ntEx. Th e clo se pre sen ce of the epi ce nel y go od -lo oki ng str an ger ma de the avi ato r un eas y, an d he str ug gle d

Page 61 Set tle d, Sai ntEx as ke d, "W her e am I? W hat ha pp en ed ?"

Jos s rec ou nte d Sai ntEx' s abr upt an d ne ar fat al arri val int o Ha pp y Va lley , co ncl udi ng, "Y ou' ve be en un co nsc iou s for sev era l da ys, but Do cto r Vi

Thi s ap pe al to Sai ntEx' s leg en dar y rep uta tio n ha d its pre dic tab le eff ect , lifti ng his spi rits co nsi der abl y "I ha ve a gu ard ian an gel , M' sie u' Err oll.

Jos s smi led . "Y ou wo n't fin d ma ny of the latt er her ea bo uts ,I wa ger ." His ho st lai da sof t ha nd on Sai ntEx' s for eh ea d, sta rtli ng hi m. "Y our fev er see

"I co uld do jus tic e to at lea st six bre akf ast s!"

Jos s sto od. "V ery go od, sin ce tha t's jus t wh at we 've br ou ght ." Th e ski rte d ma ste r of Dji nn Pal ac e sna pp ed his fin ger s, an d ser va nts so on tur ne d

"W e'v e pa wpa ws , ba co n na ma yai , par trid ge, frie d ba na nas , eg gs. Co ffe e, of co urs e, fro m Thi ka — W ell, yo u ca n see for yo urs elf. Be sur e to

M ent ion of Eu ro pe br ou ght a clo ud to Sai ntEx' s co unt en an ce. "T he pla gu e, the dyi ng wo rld —t hat 's wh y I'v e co me !I ha ve a sch em e, a pla n for

Sai ntEx ma de as if to get up, but wa s res trai ne d by Jos s.

"C an' t res tor e civi liza tio n on an em pty sto ma ch no w, ca n we , To nio ? M ay I call yo u To nio ? Of co urs eI ma y! I'm the lor d of the ma nor her e, aft er

Si mu lta ne ou sly mo llifi ed an da trifl e irk ed by his ho st's levi ty, Sai ntEx de cid ed his ad vic e wa s no net hel ess so un d. Lift ing up a for k, he wa s str uc k wit

Page 62 "M y pa per s, tha t bo ok — !"

"Al l saf e an d so un d, ma n! Do n't fret , the y'r e rig ht on yo ur nig hts tan d. I'm goi ng to lea ve yo u no w. Th e bo ys her e will gro om an d dre ss yo u wh

Jos s mo ve d to exi t, the n sto pp ed an d tur ne d wit h an inq uisi tiv e loo k. "M ay I as k yo ua qu esti on ? Rig ht aft er yo u cli mb ed fro m the pla ne, yo

Sai ntEx po nd ere da mo me nt. "O h, I mu st ha ve hall uci nat ed I wa s ba ck in Lib ya, aft er an oth er cra sh. It wa s the nI tol d the Be do uin s wh o fou nd Pr ev

"S ple ndi d! I bel iev eI sha ll go col lec t on a sm all bet no w. Enj oy yo ur me al."

Al on e, Sai ntEx sw oo pe d do wn on his foo d lik ea fa mis he d bir d of pre y. W he n he ha d stu ffe d hi ms elf to the limi t, he ea ger ly ass em ble d his pa

"A h, M' sie ur W ells —t og eth er, yo u an dI will set thi ngs rig ht! "

W he n Sai ntEx aw ok e for the sec on d tim e in his ne w be d, it wa s to syr up y dar kn ess mit iga ted by a sin gle lit ca ndl e an d to the un mis tak abl e co

He wa s lyin g ato p the co ver lets , dre sse d in a wh ite tux ed o. Aft er bre akf ast , aft er the sile nt yet effi cie nt ser va nts ha d bat he d an d sha ve d an d kitt

Sai ntEx got to his fee t. Inv ent ory ing his po we rs, he wa s sur pri se d to fin d hi ms elf fee ling rat her we ll. All the ac co unt ing of old pai ns wa s the re, wit h ne w

Pic kin g up the ca ndl e an d his co py of Th ing s to Co me , Sai ntEx ve ntu red fro m his be dr oo m. Page 63

Fol lo wi ng mu sic an d voi ces , he fou nd stai rs an d de sce nd ed.

A par lor, lit by oil la mp s, co nta ine da do zen or mo re pe opl e of mi xe d sex es, sea ted on ele ga nt Eu ro pe an fur nit ure an d hid e-s tre wn tile d flo or. Sai ntEx

Up on Sai ntEx' s ent ran ce, sh out s of jub ilati on an d ass ort ed go od -na tur ed cat call s we re rai se d.

"A ne w wa rm bo dy for the ga me !" "Br ing tha t ch ap a dri nk! " "Pi nk gin for the bra ve flie r!" "Gi n Pal ac e for ev er!' ' "Pi nki es all aro un d!"

M aki ng littl e sen se of the En glis h phr ase s, Sai ntEx ca me int o the ligh ted cir cle , bo we d an d wa ite d for his ho st to ob ser ve the pr op riet ies.

Jos s sp ok e up. "O ur ne w gu est wo uld be gra tef ul to he ar co nv ers ati on in his nat ive ton gu e. Pe rha ps if yo u co uld all intr od uc e yo urs elv es — "

All the En glis hm en an dwo me n see me d fair ly we ll co nv ers ant in Fr en ch, jud gin g by the ir op eni ng re ma rks , an d Sai ntEx bre ath ed a sig h of reli ef.

A ser va nt ap pr oa ch ed wit ha gla ss. Sai ntEx, no foe of a frie ndl y dri nk hi ms elf, his lar ge fra me abl e to sur rou nd lite rs of wi ne wit h no ap par ent di mi nut

"Fr ien ds, citi zen s of this sa d ne w wo rld we no w inh abi t, I ha ve ma de the per ilo us trip to yo ur ho spi tab le lan d be ca use I he ard ru mo rs tha t yo ur bra ve

Page 64

ers of lar ge for ces of loy al nat ive s. To get her , bet we en us, we ha ve the po we r an d the will to rai se the wo rld up La zar uslik e fro m its gra ve!

"L et me sta rt to det ail wh at we mu st do. Fir st — "

"S ho w us a car d tric k!"

Sai ntEx pe ere d int o the cir cle of fac es. Se ver al pe opl e we re stifl ing ya wn s. Th e wo ma n call ed Ki ki ha d act uall y no dd ed off.

"W ho sai d tha t?"

Th e pu pp yis h yo uth wh o ha d na me d hi ms elf Liz zie thr ust his ha nd up lik e an ea ger sch ool chil d an d sai d, "I co nfe ss! Th at wa s me ! It's sim ply tha

"It is tru e, I am ca pa ble of ext rao rdi nar y fea ts of leg erd em ain wit h an or din ary de ck of pla yin g car ds — "

"Br ing the m out !" "L et's see so me ne w tric ks! " "I'll be his ass ista nt!' ' "H uss y! Yo u will not !" "L adi es, lad ies, ple ase — re me mb er the last tim e!"

Th e upr oar ha d aw ak en ed Ki ki. "I ha ve to visi t the littl e girl 's ro om ," she sai d lan gor ou sly. "W ho els e wa nts to co me ?" Sh e an d Ali ce de Tr aff or

A ser va nt wa s sta ndi ng by Sai ntEx, pr ofe rrin ga sea led de ck on a silv er sal ver . Au to ma tic ally , Sai ntEx too k it up.

"V ery we ll. Bu t onl ya fe w ... "

Tw o ho urs lat er, his bra in spi nni ng fro m the dia bol ical pin kie s, Sai ntEx fou nd hi ms elf rec lini ng at his full len gth of six -fe ettw o inc hes , wit h his he ad res tin

"Ti me to pla y Bl ow the Fe ath er! " call ed out La dy Idi na dur ing a mo me nta ry lull in the roi ste rin g.

Ki ki lea pt up, lett ing Sai ntEx' s he ad thu mp to the ze bra -hi de rug . Un per tur be d, he roll ed ov er on his sid e to ob ser ve.

A be d she et wa s br ou ght out an d unf old ed. Kn eeli ng in a rou gh cir cle , the par tyg oer s too k up the she et by its ed ges , hol din g it at ch est -le vel .A fea the

Page 65 shr iek ed an d lau gh ed. Ev ent uall y the fea the r wa fte d up to set tle on on e wo ma n's sh oul der .

A hus h fell . La dy Idi na put a fin ger to her lips as if in de ep co nte mp lati on. "P atri cia Bo wl es, " she plu m mil y pr on ou nc ed. "N ow , wh o ha ve n't yo u

Th e pla yer s ap pla ud ed as Jun e an d Pat rici a sto od, cla sp ed ha nd s an d kis se d.

"T ak e the Os tric h Be dr oo m, de ars . No w, let' s res um e — "

Sai ntEx ha d be en slo w to per cei ve the rea lity of the ga me , bef ud dle d as he wa s wit h dri nk. Bu t wh en un der sta ndi ng da wn ed, he wa s out rag ed. Le api

"W hat de ca de nc e! Ha ve yo u no sha me ? Th e wo rld is ble edi ng int o the gut ter, an d yo u am use yo urs elf thu s? I — I ca nn ot — "

Diz zin ess su dd enl y ov ert oo k hi m, fati gu e, wo un ds, an d dri nk co ns piri ng. His col lar an d shi rtfr ont see me d to tig hte n, an d he felt hi ms elf be gin nin g

On ce mo re Sai ntEx aw ok e, this tim e wit ha thr ob bin g sk ull. He ke pt his ey es clo se d ag ain st the bri ght sun ligh t he va gu ely sen se d be yo nd his lids .

"H ere , old ch ap. Tr y so me of this . It'll hel p in a jif."

Sai ntEx ris ke da loo k. He fou nd hi ms elf out str etc he d on a sof a in a ro om litt ere d wit h dis car de d clo thi ng, em pty gla sse s, hal f-e ate n foo d an da po

W hat ev er the liq uid wa s, it co uld onl y im pr ov e his co ndi tio n. Sai ntEx too k an d qu aff ed the be ver ag e. Tr ue to Jos s's pr om ise, the avi ato r felt qui ckl

Page 66 "In de ed. Ge nui ne Cr av en A's . Enj oy it, for so on we sha n't see the ir lik e ag ain in our life tim es. "

Sai ntEx sw un g his leg s do wn so as to sit upr igh t. His wh ite tux ed o wa s blo tch ed wit h var iou s stai ns. " M' sie u' Err oll, yo u see m lik e the mo st sen sibl

Jos s wa ve da ne glig ent ha nd, scr aw ling a line of sm ok e in the air. "T uttut, it's all ap pe ara nc es. It onl y co me s fro m bre edi ng an d her edi tar y res po nsi bili

"S cot lan d. Th at wo uld ex pla in — "

Jos s lift ed the he m of his kilt , rev eali ng a tra diti on al ab sen ce of un der gar me nts . "D o yo u lik e the cla n col ors ?I fin d the m fet chi ng. "

" M' sie u' Err oll, ple ase ! Ca n we dis co urs e not lik e chil dre n, but lik e gro wn me n? On e ca nn ot re ma in a littl e bo y for ev er, aft er all, as ch ar mi ng

Jos s smi led rue full y "I' m afr aid I'm not mu ch of a lea der her e, To nio . No t tha t my fell ow set tler s co nse nt mu ch to be led an yw ay Lo rd De la me re an d

Sai ntEx sh ot to his fee t. "It' s the yI mu st see the n! W e mu st be gin at on ce to ass em ble Wi ngs ov er the W orl d!"

"I' m not qui te sur e wh at yo u int en d, To nio . Bu t if it has an yth ing to do wit h flyi ng, yo u ca n rul e it rig ht out ."

"R ule it out ? Bu t wh y?"

"G wl ad ys has iss ue d an edi ct ba nni ng flyi ng, in or der to co nse rve fue l for our lan d ve hicl es. No on e's ma kin g an y mo re of it, aft er all. Or if the y are ,

Sai ntEx spl utt ere d. "B ut, but —t his is idi oti c! Av iati on is the ke y to res tori ng civi liza tio n. Wi tho ut it, we sha ll rev ert to sav ag ery !" His ey e fell on Th ing s

Page 67

wit h alc oh ol. "L oo k, the wh ole ans we r is in her e! Yo ur ow n H. G. W ells out line d this ent ire sce nar io fou r ye ars ag o, bef ore an y of it be ga n. I me t the ma

Jos s gre w refl ect ive . "A h, yes . Ha vin g on e's sol die rs an d civi lian s an d pol itici ans , as we ll as tho se of on e's en em y's, tur n int o lea ky sac ks of blo

Sai ntEx wa s br ou ght up sh ort . "W hy, yes ,I wo uld ."

"B asi call y, we we re alr ea dy im mu niz ed, jus t as the sav ag es we re. Thi s co unt ry bo ast s bla ck wa ter fev er, ma lari a, dy sen ter y, ch ole ra, typ hoi d, bu bo nic

Sai ntEx rec alle d his ow n bo uts wit h ma ny dis eas es, bot h Afr ica n, Asi an, an d So uth A me ric an. "It ma ke s as mu ch sen se as an y oth er the ory I ha ve en

"T oni o, this lot her e — an dI full y incl ud e my self — has sp ent tw ent y ye ars livi ng out the ir mo st mo rbi d an d self -in dul ge nt fan tasi es lik e pa sha s in the lap

"I ref use to bel iev e tha t ev ery on e sha res this atti tud e! I will sc our this lan d unt il I fin d pe opl e ca pa ble of gre at de ed s an d self les s act ion !"

Jos s ya wn ed. "N ow yo u be gin to so un d lik e old Be ryl — "

"B ery l? No t Be ryl M ark ha m? Bu tI tho ug ht she wa s still in A me ric a — "

"W ell, if she is, the re' sa da mn ed go od im po ste r livi ng on her ran ch at Nj or o." Page 68

" M' sie u' Err oll, yo u mu st len d me a car im me dia tel y."

"H aw !I thi nk not , To nio . Yo u'v e alr ea dy co st me a we ek' s pet rol jus t to fet ch Do cto r Vi nt. Bu t yo u ar e we lco me to a hor se. No t on e of the

"B ut I ha ve ne ver rid de n bef ore !"

"B ett er get use d to it, the n. It's the wa ve of the fut ure ."

"N ev er! I rej ect suc h pe ssi mis m utt erl y!"

A wo ma n's voi ce cri ed, "Br av o! Br av o!"

A bar efo ot, tou sle -ha ire d, paj am a-c lad Ki ki Pr est on sto od in the do or wa y. "W hat sp un k! W hat pe p! Ta ke me wit h yo u, To ny! Fly me to the mo on, yo u gor

"W hat is she say ing ?" Sai ntEx as ke d his ho st.

Jos s smi led . "I bel iev e she is off eri ng to be yo ur co pil ot, or to fill so me alli ed po siti on. "

"C an she fly ?"

"N o. Bu t she ow ns a pla ne. "

"V ery go od ! Tel l her she will so on ha ve a ch an ce to pla y her par t."

"N ot ne ces sar y. Sh e al wa ys do es an yw ay. "

Th e lan ds sur rou ndi ng Nj or o we re at sev entho usa nd fee t of ele vat ion , on the M au Es car pm ent :a mi x of op en, tall -gr ass ed pa stu res an d de nse for est s

No ne of this sp ect ac ula r sce nar y, ho we ver , hel pe d to alle via te Sai ntEx' s ac hin g but toc ks an d thi ghs . To the co ntr ary , all the mo cki ng be aut y ha

"T o thi nk tha tI co uld ha ve flo wn ov er this sa me dis tan ce in un der an ho ur! I, wh o on ce tho ug ht not hin g of so ari ng the len gth of the Page 69

An de s! Ho w are the mi ght y fall en! No t jus t I, of co urs e, but the wh ole gra nd, sci ent ific dre am of the tw ent iet h ce ntu ry. Al as, wh at use in wis hin g thi ngs we re

No ont im e sa w Sai ntEx cro ssi ng the bo rde r of cul tiv ate d lan ds pla nte d in fla x an d gro un d ma ize. An ho ur lat er he ca me up on a we ll-e sta blis he d

"C urs e all be ast s of bur de n! Gi ve me a stu rdy , reli abl e ma chi ne an yti me !"

No wh ite per so n wa s in sig ht, onl y nat ive s mo vin g wit h slo w del ibe rati on on err an ds an d ch ore s. Tr yin g his Fr en ch on the m, Sai ntEx wa s me t wit

Cu rsi ng, he urg ed his lim pin g hor se — an oth er wis e tra cta ble ma re iro nic ally (an d, he bel iev ed, pre cis ely so ch os en) na me d Wi ng ed Vi cto ry — on wa rd.

Aft er an oth er nin ety mi nut es (D ela me re' s hol din gs, Eq uat or Ra nc h, co nsti tut ed on e-h un dre d-s ixt y-t ho usa nd acr es, an d Sai ntEx wa s cut tin g acr oss a

Ro un din g the cor ner of an out bui ldi ng, Sai ntEx sa w Be ryl M ark ha m — gre y fla nn el pa nts , wh ite blo use , br ow n de ni m jac ket — sta ndi ng wit ha we

Page 70 Pa ngs of sex ual lon gin g in his loi ns be ga n to co mp ete wit h the pai ns of ridi ng.

Be ryl M ark ha m wa s tw o ye ars yo un ger tha n Sai ntEx, bo rn in 19 02 to his 19 00, an d ne arl y as tall , gra zin g six fee t. Wi th her wa vy blo nd hai r, flas

Th e onl y wh ite chil d on the ran ch of Ch arl es "Cl utt" Cl utt erb uc k, Be ryl Cl utt erb uc k ha d be en rai se d by a bu sy far mi ng fat her mo re kn ow n for his

Th en, in 19 36, in an air cra ft bo rro we d fro m the ver y Jo hn Ca rbe rry Sai ntEx ha d jus t me t at Na iva sha , its co ck pit ne arl y fille d wit h jur y-r igg ed fue

All this an d mu ch mo re Sai ntEx kn ew ab out Be ryl, tha nk s to a co nti nui ng int ere st ma nif est ed in a lon g cor res po nd en ce, mu ch lik e Page 71

tha t he ha d car rie d on wit h An ne Lin db erg h. Sai ntEx ha d me t Be ryl onl y on ce in per so n, in 19 32 at the Ki ng' s Cu p air rac es in En gla nd.

Bu t tha t on e me eti ng ha d im pre sse d her im ag e an d ess en ce on his he art. Be ryl wa s his dre am wo ma n, bot h ph ysi call y an d in her ch ara cte r, un

An d no w, her e the y me t at last on ce mo re in the mir ac ulo usl y sp are d fles h, am ids t the rui ns of the glo be!

Sai ntEx rai se da ha nd in a frie ndl y wa ve, cat chi ng the ey e of the nat ive . Th e ma n tug ge d at Be ryl' s sle ev e, she tur ne d to tak e in the sig ht of the

Sai ntEx un der sto od a bit mo re En glis h tha n he let on (pr ete nd ign ora nc e wa sa use ful rus e at tim es) . Bu t suc ha situ ati on wa s rat her eas ily int erp ret ed

Be ryl ad va nc ed wit h tha t pe culi ar, sex y, bal l-o f-t hefoo t lop e of her s tha t she ha d lea rne d fro m the Na ndi hu nte rs. "Y ou da mn ed idi ot, ridi ng a hor

Th e an gry wo ma n, no w onl y fee t fro m Sai ntEx, fro ze, gu n dr op pin g to the turf , her fac e tra nsf or mi ng fro m wr ath to joy . "T oni o! Ca n it rea lly be

"O nly a mo me nt mo re an dI mi ght ha ve be en, " sai d Sai ntEx dry ly.

Be ryl hur led her self int o his ar ms . "O h, To nio , yo u kn ow I wo uld ha ve onl y be sto we da fles h wo un d for suc h rel ati vel y mi nor mis tre at me nt of a

Page 72 she iss ue da str ea m of inst ruc tio ns in the nat ive' s lan gu ag e to her ass ista nt, wh o bo we d an d led the hor se aw ay.

"A rap Ra tu, my br oth er, will see tha t the ma re full y rec ov ers ."

"Y our br oth er? "

"W e we re rai se d tog eth er, Ra tu an d I. Th ere 's mo re of a bo nd bet we en us tha nI sha re wit h mo st of my blo od rel ati ves ."

"A nd wh at of the m? " as ke d Sai ntEx del ica tel y.

Be ryl see me d un per tur be d by the qu esti on an d del ive red her ans we r pla inly , wit ho ut em oti on. "M oth er an d Ric har d we re in En gla nd, of co urs e, wh ere

"Y our situ ati on is ide nti cal to mi ne. " Sai ntEx gre w sol em n for a mo me nt, co nsi der ing all the de ad, his ow n an d tho se mill ion s un kn ow n to hi m. Be ryl

"O f co urs e! An da fiel d to lau nc h it fro m! No t tha t it do es me mu ch go od, wit h this fue l em bar go old G wl ad ys has im po se d. W oul d yo u car e to see

"B y all me ans !"

Be ryl co nd uct ed her gu est to a lon g gra ssy lan din g stri p wh ere sat her pri de an d joy :a str ea mli ne d Ve ga Gu ll ide nti cal to the on e she ha d pil ote d acr

"Is n't she a be aut y! Sti ng y old Ca rbe rry ha d to bu ya ne w on e wh en I rui ne d the firs t. Yo u sh oul d ha ve he ard hi m sw ear ! Bu t he' s giv en up

Sai ntEx ran his ha nd ad mir ingl y ov er the fus ela ge. "A be aut y. Lik e her gla mo rou s ow ner , she is a co mb ina tio n of — "

Sta rtle d by the su dd en ap pe ara nc e of a bo y's wh ite fac e in the co ck pit wi nd ow , Sai ntEx pul led ba ck. "W ho is tha t?" Page 73

Be ryl lau gh ed. "O h, tha t's jus t Jim my His ow n par ent s die d of the flu x. Th ey ha d jus t be en tra nsf err ed her e by the hus ba nd' s co mp an y fro m Sh an

Be ryl op en ed the co ck pit do or. "Ji m my , co me out ple ase ." Sh e tur ne d to Sai ntEx. "1 sh oul d wa rn yo u, he' s rat her a str an ge chil d, es pe cial ly sin

A ga wk y, lon g-li mb ed yo un gst er in sh ort s an d stri pe d shi rt ca uti ou sly em erg ed. He ha d the loo k of a hu nte d ani ma l or visi tor fro m an oth er wo rld.

Aft er Jim my ha d ret urn ed to his fan tas y flig ht, Be ryl an d Sai ntEx he ad ed ba ck to the ma in ho use .

"I ca n off er yo u ple nty to eat , as lon g as yo u do n't mi nd to m mi e me at — "

"N o, I ha ve trie d it on ce alr ea dy an d fin d gaz elle qui te pal ata ble , if ac co mp ani ed by a de ce nt wi ne. "

Be ryl lau gh ed. "G oo d, go od ! W e'v ea fin e cell ar. An d the re'l l be a hot bat h wa itin g for yo u, as we ll as fre sh clo the s." Fo r the firs t tim e, a slig ht

Sai ntEx too k her ha nd. "I agr ee, my flo we r, wit h on e co ndi tio n. Th at we sha ll als o sp ea k of the fut ure ."

"O h, To nio , yo u sca re me , but it fee ls go od !"

"H ow so ?" Page 74

''It' s be en so lon g sin ce I co uld im agi ne an y of us ha d suc ha thi ng as a fut ure !"

Aft er the me al wit h its wi ne ac co mp ani me nt an d bra nd y ch ase rs, Be ryl an d Sai ntEx swi tch ed to pin kie s, del ive red to the m in the ca ndl e lit, tro ph y

Be ryl tos se d on e ar m ba ck wa rd in a dra ma tic ges tur e. "S o the n Bu nn y say s to Pet al, if it's go od en ou gh for Co ckl e an d So nn y, the n wh o

Sai ntEx lau gh ed he arti ly. Be ryl wa sa vivi d sto ryt elle r.

"Di d yo u ev er co nsi der put tin g yo ur ad ve ntu res do wn in pri nt, Be ryl de ar? "

Sh e swi rle d her dri nk. "Li ke yo u? Oh ,I su pp os e I'v e bri efl y co nte mp lat ed it no w an d the n. Ka ren Bli xe n wa s goi ng to hel p me at on e poi nt,

"M y ow n ma in sp ur for co mp osi tio n! Bu t it is not too lat e, yo u kn ow . In fac t, I am wo rki ng on a ne w ma nus cri pt my self ." Sai ntEx ind ica ted on e of his

"N ow yo u are car ryi ng opt imi sm too far, To nio ! W ho' s goi ng to pri nt this bo ok or rea d it? Su ch civi lize d am eni ties are ext inc t."

"C om e no w, Be ryl! Yo u ex ag ger ate tre me nd ou sly ! Hu ma nit y has be en in mu ch wo rse fix es tha n this . Ta ke the Mi ddl e Ag es, for inst an ce. "

Page 75 " Yo u tak e the m. I my self pre fer Pa ris aro un d 19 25. "

"W ho do es not ! Bu t my poi nt is tha t life will go on. An d it will unr oll mu ch sm oot her wit h our hel p."

Sai ntEx sto od an d fet ch ed his sat ch el, fro m wh ich he wit hdr ew Th ing s to Co me . "H ere , yo u mu st rea d this . Im me dia tel y, wit ho ut del ay. "

"O h, To nio , I'm too sm ash ed — "

"R ea d it, Be ryl. Or I am go ne. "

Hu ffin g pre ttil y, Be ryl too k the bo ok an d dre w a ca ndl e clo ser . Wi th me lod ra ma tic mo tio ns, she op en ed the bo ok an d tur ne d the pa ges . So on, ho

Jus t as he ha d so oft en do ne wh ile wa itin g for frie nd s to fini sh rea din g his firs t dra fts, Sai ntEx pa ce d the ro om dra ma tic ally , sm oki ng an d dri nki ng.

Tw o ho urs lat er, Be ryl set the bo ok do wn . Te ars we lle d fro m her blu e ey es. "I do n't kn ow wh at to say . It's all so tru e an d tra gic , yet fan cif ul an d

Sai ntEx fell to his kn ees bef ore Be ryl, tak ing bot h her ha nd s in his. "B ut it ca n be, Be ryl! To get her , yo u an dI an d the oth er pil ots in Ke ny a ca n be co me

Th ey we re kis sin g the n, fra nti call y, ton gu es an d mo uth s on ea ch oth er lik e thir ststri ck en de ser t tra vel ers fac e firs t in an oa sis spr ing . Be ryl rip pe

"M oth er of Go d, girl ! Yo u are a sav ag e!"

"Y ou' re not the firs t to tell me tha t! An d yo u wo n't be the last ! No w, get tho se fla nn els off !" Page 76 Sai ntEx felt it wis est to co mp ly

Th en tal k ce ase d.

Th ey fini she d co upl ed lik e sp oo ns. Sai ntEx felt ev ery mi nut e of the ext ra tw o ye ars an d ad diti on al cra she s he hel d ov er Be ryl. W he n his bre ath ing

Sle epi ly, Be ryl rep lie d, "P ad dy, the Elk ing ton 's pet lio n. W he nI wa s ten , he att ac ke d me ."

"W hat a hor ror ! An d we re yo u sca red ?"

"O f co urs e not , sill y Cl utt wa s ne arb y An d be sid es, I ha d alr ea dy kill ed on e my self by the n."

Na iro bi, at lo we r ele vat ion s, wa s mu ch wa rm er tha n the W hit e Hi ghl an ds. Sta ndi ng out sid e the M uth aig a Co unt ry Cl ub in the hot sun ligh t, sw eat sp

"B ery l— is it stri ctl y ne ces sar y tha tI we ar this mo nk ey suit ? Yo u kn ow my pre fer en ce for inf or ma l atti re. "

"D o yo u thi nk I'm an y ha ppi er in this get up in the mi ddl e of the da y? Bu t if we wa nt to get Lo rd De la me re on our sid e, we ca n't aff or d to loo k lik ea

Sai ntEx did as he wa s tol d. Thi s see me d to be the ne w pat ter n of his be ha vio r aro un d Be ryl, sin ce the ir inti ma te reu nio n nin e da ys ag o. Us ed to

Page 77

Thi s me eti ng wit h Lo rd an d La dy De la me re see me d on e suc h mo ve. As Be ryl ha d ex pla ine d ba ck at Nj or o, bef ore the ir lon g we ari so me hor se

"A re yo u trul y rel ate d to the De la me res ?"

"N ot by blo od. Bu t I'v e kn ow n Un cle Hu ghi e sin ce I wa s thr ee. He an d Au nt Flo ren ce we re aw full y go od to Cl utt an d me , an d I'v e trai ne d

"Y ou flat ter me , Be ryl. "

"O h, do n't try to kid me , Mr . Sai ntEx !I kn ow yo ur not ori ou s wa ys wit h the lad ies per fec tly we ll. An d do n't thi nk I wo n't ha ve my ey e on yo ur ev

"A nd a mo re ch ar mi ng ey e on e co uld not im agi ne. "

"N ow wh o is flat teri ng wh om , he y?"

Th e M uth aig a Co unt ry Cl ub, a spr aw ling , mu lti wi ng ed, par tly col on na de d str uct ure , wa s co mp ris ed of hu ge sto ne blo ck s co ver ed wit h pin k

Sta ndi ng no w on its do ors tep , Sai ntEx bra ce d hi ms elf for his ass aul t on the Qu ee n Be e.

Be ryl wa s gre eti ng an em plo ye e in En glis h. "H ull o, Phi lip. Thi s is my gu est , Mr . Sai ntEx up éry ."

"N ot a Je w by an y ch an ce, is he ?"

Sai ntEx un der sto od the qu esti on. "A Je w? Wi th the fab ric of the wo rld rot tin g aro un d us, he wo nd ers if I am a Je w! Thi s is ins an e! An d wh at if I we re? W ere

Phi lip smi led ap pr ovi ngl y. "Y our frie nd see ms the ex cit ea ble typ e. He 'll fit rig ht in. Ha ve a nic e me al, Mr s. M ark ha m." Page 78

Be ryl too k Sai ntEx' s ar m an d she ph erd ed hi m thr ou gh the bu sy, co ol int eri or of the clu b, wit h its cre am an d gre en wa lls an d par qu et flo ors . Sai

All the gu est s we re im pe cc abl y atti red , Sai ntEx not ed, jus t as if not hin g in the wo rld ha d ch an ge d, an d he felt a su dd en sen se of unr eali ty, un abl

"T oni o, yo u we re mu ch too ve he me nt wit h Phi lip. It's tru e he' s jus ta ser va nt, but yo u mu st rei n yo urs elf in. Re me mb er our mis sio n."

"V ery we ll, ver y we ll! Bu t wh en Air Co m ma nd is run nin g thi ngs , we sha ll insi st on an d enf orc e lib ert y, frat ern ity, an d eq uali ty! "

"L et us cra wl bef ore we try to run , tho ug h."

In the din ing ro om , Be ryl ste ere d str aig ht for a cer tai n tab le wit h tw o din ers sea ted . On ce the re, she intr od uc ed Sai ntEx.

"L or d De la me re, ma yI pre sen t the fa mo us Fr en ch avi ato r, An toi ne, Co unt de Sai ntEx up éry ."

Sai ntEx wa s em bar ras se d by the use of his titl e, but trie d not to sh ow it. He stu ck out his ha nd for Lo rd De la me re. Th e ma n sto od, a sm all, on cemu scu lar

"B ery l, yo u sca mp ! Ho w dar e yo u tak e an y tim e off fro m trai nin g my na gs! Ho w will I sw ee p Ra ce W ee k if yo u co nti nu e so slo thf ul? W ell,

Lo rd De la me re tur ne d his att ent ion on Sai ntEx. "Gl ad yo u co uld esc ap e tha t me ss ba ck on the Co nti ne nt, lad . Ke ny a ne ed s all the go od wh ite me

Be ryl tra nsl ate d. Sai ntEx rep lie d, "I am gla d to he ar yo u sp ea k so, Lo rd De la me re, as this is my ver y pur po se in co mi ng to Afr ica ."

"A nd this is G wl ad ys, La dy De la me re, M ay or of Na iro bi." Page 79

Sai ntEx tur ne d to co nfr ont a wo ma n in her ear ly for ties . Pal es kin ne d, dar khai red , pet ula nt, an d puf fyfac ed, hal f ag ain as ma ssi ve as her eld erl y

Ta kin g her off ere d ha nd, Sai ntEx pla nte da kis s on it. "S uc ha co mb ina tio n of ma na ger ial skil l an d be aut y do es not see m stri ctl y fair to the res t of Ev

La dy De la me re titt ere d, an d Sai ntEx co uld tell she ha d alr ea dy be en dri nki ng for so me tim e. "W hat a ch ar me r! 1 ho pe yo u will not ke ep yo urs elf sec

Sai ntEx fou ght a gri ma ce. "C ert ainl y not no w, tha tI ha ve see n the attr act ion s of Na iro bi."

La dy De la me re titt ere d ag ain , an d Sai ntEx vis uali ze d, im pr ob abl y, a dru nk en fro g.

Th e ne wc om ers sat , an d the me al co m me nc ed wit h Lo rd De la me re bel lo wi ng out to the So ma li sta ff, "B oy! M ore ch am pa gn e!"

Du rin g the fish co urs e, Sai ntEx co uld co nta in hi ms elf no lon ger an d be ga n to dis cus s bu sin ess . He out line d his dre am of Wi ngs ov er the W orl d, str ess

"A nd Ke ny a is ide ally fitt ed to pr ovi de the nu cle us of suc ha for ce. I bel iev e tha t this co unt ry bo ast s mo re pla nes an d livi ng pil ots tha n an y oth er in the

Lo rd De la me re ba ng ed a wit her ed fist on the tab le. "Y es, but wh at of the pet rol situ ati on, da mn it! W e'v e bar ely en ou gh for rud im ent ary gro un d tra ns po rt,

Sai ntEx trie d to sp ea k as co nvi nci ngl y as he co uld , div idi ng his gaz e bet we en hus ba nd an d wif e. "T her e are de pot s her e an d the re wh ich we co

"W hat are yo u get tin g at ex act ly? " La dy De la me re as ke d.

Sai ntEx lea ne d for wa rd. "I am as kin g yo u for en ou gh pet rol to get to Ba sra an d ba ck. Thi s firs t flig ht sha ll be a sim ple rec on ais san ce

Page 80

mis sio n. I sus pe ct tha t the fac iliti es lie un att en de d, our s for the plu cki ng. If the re are Ar ab s pre sen t, po ssi ble sur viv ors of the pla gu e, the y will sur ely we lco

La dy De la me re see me d du bio us. "I do n't kn ow , it all see ms so ch an ce y. W hat if yo u me et so me kin d of op po siti on ... ?"

Sai ntEx too k the ma yor 's ha nd s in his. "G wl ad ys, I pr om ise yo u, it will be a pie ce of ca ke! I sta ke my na me on it! W hat do yo u ha ve to los e?"

"W ell, I su pp os e it's a sm all en ou gh ga mb le. W e ca n sp are a fe w hu ndr ed gall on s of fue l. W e'll jus t ha ve to cut ba ck on the saf ari sa bit, I su

Un der the infl ue nc e of the bu bbl y, Lo rd De la me re ha d be en gro wi ng visi bly sle ep y. Be ryl gri pp ed the dr ow sy ma n's elb ow an d sh oo k hi m ge ntl y.

Th e res ults of this int erv ent ion we re dra ma tic. Lo rd De la me re roc ket ed to his fee t. Fr om a hol ste r be ne ath his jac ket he pr od uc ed a Co lt .32 pis tol.

"In tru der s? W her e are the y? Lo os e the ho un ds! "

Fix ati ng on his ow n mo ve me nts in the mir ror be hin d the lon g bar acr oss the ro om , Lo rd De la me re rai se d his gu n. Wi th a sa ng -fr oid tha t be sp ok e

Sai ntEx wa s am aze d at the un co nc ern ex hib ite d by the oth er pat ron s of the M uth aig a. W hat kin d of lun ati cs ha d he cas t his lot wit h?

La dy De la me re too ka lon g sip of ch am pa gn e, the n sai d, "I thi nk yo u'v e rou se d Lo rd De la me re' s sen se of ad ve ntu re, Co unt . At lea st it

Page 81

wa sn't as ba d as the tim e he do use d the clu b's pia no wit h par affi n an d set it afir e. Stil l, he'l l be rat her a ha ndf ul for the ne xt fe w da ys. De spi te tha t, I

Dr ess ed in co mf ort abl e, ru mp led dirt y co ver alls , he ad un der a rai se d co wli ng on Be ryl' s Ve ga Gu ll, his ar ms sm ear ed wit h gre ase to the elb ow s, Sai

Be ryl pul led out fro m be ne ath the rai se d hin ge d me tal en gin e co ver , her fac e str ea ke d wit h shi ny bla ck. "D on e! W hat ab out yo u?"

" M oi au ssi, ma ch éri e."

"L et's eat , the n. I'm fa mis he d!"

Sitt ing be ne ath the wi ngsha de cas t by the full y fue led pla ne, the y ate the ir frui t an d san dw ich es qui etl y for a tim e, the n enj oy ed a refl ect ive sm ok e, bef

"Y ou kn ow ,I al wa ys bel iev ed tha t the im po rta nt, the ex citi ng ch an ges in on e's life too k pla ce at so me cro ssr oa d of the wo rld wh ere pe opl e me t an d

Sai ntEx too k Be ryl' s ha nd ten der ly. "A h, my sw eet , ho w gla dI am to sha re this co m mo n an d disi nte res ted ide al wit h on e suc h as yo u. Tr uly , yo

Page 82

"W ell, I do thi nk this gre at wo rk we are att em pti ng is wo nd erf ul an d ex citi ng. Of co urs e, it's als o our ob vio us res po nsi bili ty, es pe cial ly sin ce we avi ato rs

At firs t Sai ntEx co uld lite rall y not par se this last tho ug ht. It see me d lik e the she ere st gib ber ish. W he n its me ani ng pe net rat ed, he still co uld not fat ho m wh at

Sp yin g his co nfu sio n, Be ryl sai d, "S ure ly yo u ha ve he ard the the ory bef ore , To nio .I thi nk it qui te the mo st lik ely . Th e he mo rra ghi c flu x ob vio usl

Sai ntEx felt so me thi ng sha tter wit hin hi m. Wi tho ut will ing it, he wa s on his fee t. Be ryl ros e too an d hu gg ed hi m to her .

"T her e, the re, To nio , it hit me har d als o the firs t tim e. Bu t yo u ca n't let the kn ow led ge par aly ze yo u. No on e livi ng has ha nd s un blo odi ed. W e'r e jus

Fin din g his ton gu e, wh ich felt lik ea wh eel ch oc k, Sai ntEx sai d, "Al l— all my life I ha ve de spi se d wa r an d killi ng. An d no wI lea rn I am on e of the big

"Pr eci sel y, de ar. So let' s get gro wi ng. "

Be ryl' s cle ar voi ce ran g out fro m insi de the pla ne at da wn . "S wit ch es on! Co nta ct! "

An ex per ien ce d Ar ap Ru ta sp un the pr op an d ju mp ed ba ck. Th ere ca me a spl utt er, a str an gle d co ug h lik e the pre ma tur e stir rin g of a

Page 83 sle ep -sl ug ge d lab ore r. Th en the full roa r of the mi ght y en gin e as Be ryl thr ottl ed up.

Th e Me sse ng er II be ga n to tax i do wn the sh ort Nj or o air stri p. Th e gre en ma rge of bru sh rus he d at the m wit h ast oni shi ng sp ee d, unt il, wit h onl

Ins ide the co ck pit, Sai ntEx tur ne d to Be ryl —l oo kin g ex ce edi ngl y attr act ive in her sig nat ure ge ar of fur -tri m me d lea the r jac ket , wh ite silk shi rt, cra vat

"I do n't rec og niz e the idi om , To nio ."

"A h, let me see —' by the clo th of on e's tro use rs' ?"

"S eat of the pa nts ?"

" Ou i, c'e st vr ai! "

Be hin d the co upl e we re sta ck ed var iou s su ppl ies for the ir trip , mo stly bo xes of foo d, wa ter, me dic ine s, an d am mu niti on, all co ver ed wit ha tar p. Th eir vo

Alt ho ug h Sai ntEx det est ed the co pil ot' s ch air — he ex per ien ce d he ad ac hes alo ft if he we re not in su pre me co ntr ol — he ha d def err ed out of chi val ry

Ye ste rda y's rev ela tio n, tha t in all pr ob abi lity the glo bal pla gu e ha d be en spr ea d by the act iviti es of de dic ate d, tec hn op hili c, fat ally ign ora nt me n lik e hi

An d yet , up in the air on ce ag ain , Sai ntEx fou nd it har d to be too mo ros e. Wi th suc ha stal wa rt co mp ani on be sid e hi m, on e po sse sse d of dé br oui

Page 84 mis sio n, a fin e cra ft, the ele me nts pla cid , the vist as br oa d — ho w co uld an y ma n fee l blu e?

Ca stin g his ey e aro un d the cra mp ed co mp art me nt (w he n Be ryl ha d flo wn in this pla ne' s du pli cat e acr oss the Atl ant ic, jur y-r igg ed fue l tan ks ha d fille

''B ery l, I do n't rec all pa cki ng this . Ou r rifl es, yes , but not this we ap on ... "

"O h, no, tha t's jus t par t of the Me sse ng er' s sta nd ard eq uip me nt. It's for the ant s."

"T he ant s?"

"D o yo u kn ow the sa ns evi eri a? A wa ste of we ed s tha t jut up lik e an en dle ss cro p of sa ber s ne ar the co ast ? A cra sh lan din g the re sk ew ers yo

"B ut I do n't see ho w the gu n — "

Be ryl fix ed hi m wit h her ste ely gaz e, an d Sai ntEx sai d, "O h, of co urs e. Qu ite pr op er. "

Fo r ma ny mil es aft er wa rd the y we re sile nt, rap t in the dre am of flig ht. Sli pp ed fro m the tra m me ls of the wo rld, sur rou nd ed by a bu bbl e of noi se an d clo

So on, Sai ntEx' s sto ma ch — wh ich he wa s ne ver loa th to pa mp er, wh en dut y per mit ted — co m me nc ed to ru mb le. "B ery l, de ar, wit h yo ur per mis sio nI

Lift ing hig ha cor ner of the tar p, Sai ntEx wa s ast ou nd ed to co nfr ont the sq uin t-e ye d fac e of a yo un g bo y.

"T he sun ," sai d Jim my Bal lar d wit ha sc ow l. "It' s too bri ght — "

"Ji m my !" ex clai me d Be ryl, mo me nta rily no npl uss ed. "W hat co uld yo u ha ve be en thi nki ng! " Page 85

Jim my smi led in his ab str act ed wa y. "I wa nte d to see wh ere the dre am s co me fro m."

"T his is unt en abl e," Sai ntEx pr on ou nc ed. "N ot onl y do es it thr ow off our fue l cal cul ati on s, but the da ng er — "

Be ryl see me d les s dis agr ee abl e to the ir sto wa wa y. "O h, To nio , co me off it. Yo u kn ow yo u wo uld ha ve do ne the sa me thi ng at his ag e if yo u ha d

Sai ntEx fu me d for a wh ile, but ev ent uall y ma na ge d to rec on cile hi ms elf to the ne w situ ati on.

No w the flig ht ass um ed a mo not on y of for wa rd mo tio n tha t ga ve the illu sio n of a fix ed ve hicl e ab ov ea spi nni ng bal l of a wo rld. Tr adi ng off dut ies, Be

At the pu mp s the thr ee flie rs dis em bar ke d, the ad ults ar me d, Be ryl wit h rifl e an d Sai ntEx wit h ant -gu n tuc ke d int o his wa ist ba nd. A vas t inh um an

"Ji m my ! Sta y aw ay fro m tho se de ad me n!"

"B ut Au nt Be ryl, I jus t wa nte d to see the smi les be ne ath the ir fac es. .. ."

As so on as the ir tan ks we re top pe d off, the y we re in the air ag ain , wit h Sai ntEx at the co ntr ols . No w tha t the y ha d left Be ryl' s sto mp ing gro un d

Page 86

Th ey pa sse d the ted iou s ho urs in var iou s wa ys. Sn ac ks we re tak en, cat na ps sna tch ed, an d Sai ntEx intr od uc ed Be ryl to the ad dic tiv e "ga me of the six -let

"T ha nk Go d we bot h lik e to fuc k," she sai d dril y.

"B ery l, ple ase , the inn oc ent chil d — "

Jim my , ho we ver , wa s un he edf ul of the ir tal k. Se ate d in Be ryl' s lap , ha nd s on the de co upl ed du al co ntr ols , ey es riv ete d on clo ud scu lpt ure

It wa s co mi ng on du sk wh en the y rea ch ed the he ad of the Pe rsi an Gu lf, lea vin g wa ter for lan d. Dr op pin g bel ow a tho usa nd fee t to ga ug e loc al co ndi

Su ch san gui ne for ec ast s, ho we ver , we re so on rev eal ed to be pre ma tur e.

Bel ow the m, ca mp fire s ca me int o vie w. Tet her ed hor ses clu ste red aro un d Be do uin ten ts. Th e so un d of the Ve ga Gu ll br ou ght the oc cu pa nts of the ten ts

"A h, my old co mr ad es, the trib es of the san ds. W ell do I rec all the ir lan gu ag e an d wa ys. Ce rtai nly the ir ran ge has ex pa nd ed sin ce the da ys wh en I wo uld

Sh ots be ga n to rin g out .A bul let pin ge d off a str ut.

"Y es, jus t as frie ndl y."

Sai ntEx pul led ba ck on the stic k an d the Me sse ng er rea red up lik ea stal lio n. Co nti nui ng nor th, the y left the Ar ab s be hin d.

"I thi nk the y we re sa ddl ing up, " sai d Be ryl.

"A h, the foll ies of ma nki nd. Th e on e un de via tin g sta nd ard in a ch an gin g uni ver se. " Page 87

Sai ntEx insi ste d on co mp leti ng the ir mis sio n by ov erfl yin g the refi ner ies, de spi te the pot ent ial thr eat off ere d by the Ar ab s left be hin d. Mi rac ulo usl y, the inst

"H ere is the roc k wh ere on I sha ll bui ld my ch urc h," Sai ntEx de clai me d gra ndi os ely .

"H ere is the roc k on wh ich yo u'll cr as h, unl ess we for get the sp ee ch es an d fue l up so on, mo n vie ux ."

Sai ntEx ca nte d the pla ne aro un d an d he ad ed for the Ba sra aer od ro me , so on set tin g the m do wn ne atl y

"I am not so fa mili ar wit h this lay out ... ."

Un lik e the for got ten refi ner ies, the air po rt ha d be en the sce ne of mu ch ins an e act ivit y; as pe opl e so ug ht ma dly an d use les sly to fle e. He re wa s mu ch

"I he ar ho ov es — "

Ou t of the twi ligh t po ure d the raf fia of ulul ati ng rid ers . Ste ppi ng out bol dly int o the op en on the pa sse ng er' s sid e of the pla ne, Be ryl br ou ght her rifl e up to

"K ee p pu mp ing ," or der ed Be ryl ste rnl y

"I wa s not pla nni ng to sto p!"

By the sh out ed arg um ent s, it wa s cle ar tha t the co nfu se d Be do uin s we re pla inly wo rki ng out so me lea der shi p pr obl em s. Bu t the y wo uld not de sist for

"D on' t bot her to fill the tan ks, To nio . Let 's jus t get out of her e!"

Sai ntEx hur rie dly un co upl ed ho se fro m tan k. He rus he d to the pil ot' s sid e of the pla ne.

At tha t mo me nt the Ar ab s ch arg ed, car bin es bla stin g.

"G et in," urg ed Be ryl. "I'll hol d the m off. "

"N o, I insi st, aft er yo u, Al ph on se! "

Be ryl lau gh ed, the n tur ne d to fire at the att ac ker s. Go lde n hai r Page 88

str ea mi ng in the du sk bre eze (S ain t-E x wa s aut om ati call y cal cul ati ng tak eof f ve cto rs), she re mi nd ed the Fr en ch ma n of a Va lky rie. Dr aw ing his pis tol,

A bul let too k Be ryl in the sh oul der an d she yel pe d, spi nni ng an d falli ng.

Sai ntEx ga ve a wo rdl ess ho wl, rai se d his ant -gu n an d sq ue eze d the trig ger .

A ma gni fic ent roa r lik e the res urg en ce of the Re d Se a aft er its par tin g fille d his ear s, an da clo ud of bitt er sm ok e en gul fed hi m.

W he n his sen ses ret urn ed, Sai ntEx sa w bef ore hi m an ast oni shi ng sig ht. Tw o hor ses an d the ir rid ers ha d be en tur ne d int o par tiall y gro un d ha mb urg

Sai ntEx sta red inc red ulo usl y at his pis tol. Th en he loo ke d be hin d hi m.

Pr otr udi ng fro m the pla ne' s ca bin we re the en or mo us twi n ste am ing bar rel s of a full -b ore ele ph ant gu n, hef ted by yo un g Jim my .

"T he y wa nte d to see he av en, an dI let the m," sai d the bo y.

Wi tho ut furt her hes itat ion , Sai ntEx hoi ste d Be ryl qui ckl y int o the pla ne, the n ran to its fro nt.

"Ji m my ! He lp me !"

Th e bo y slid will ingl y be hin d the co ntr ols . Sai ntEx sp un the pr op, the en gin e ca ug ht, an d he scr am ble d in. He edl ess of the livi ng or the de ad, he zip pe

Jim my wa s cra dli ng the un co nsc iou s wo ma n's he ad in his lap . On her sh oul der blo om ed a gre ed y red ros e.

"W ill Au nt Be ryl ev er pla y wit h us ag ain , Un cle To nio ?"

"W e ho pe, " sai d Sai ntEx in En glis h. "W e ho pe a lot. "

Th e big bal din g ma n sat on a pia no sto ol in the ca ndl e illu mi nat ed par lor of the Dji nn Pal ac e. Ba ref oot , cla d in Ke ny an for ma l din ner paj am as, he clu

Page 89 on the ma n's he ad. It ran do wn the sid e of his fac e an d he dar ted out his ton gu e to cat ch the rill.

" Tr ès bo n! No w, att en de z-v ou s! De bu ssy !"

Usi ng on e ora ng e for the bla ck ke ys an d on e for the wh ite, the ma n pr od uc ed a sur pri sin gly me lod ic mis hm os h tha t ind ee d res em ble d mi nor De bu

Th e list eni ng cro wd ap pla ud ed wil dly Th e ma n sto od abr upt ly, as if to tak ea bo w, ne arl y up set tin g his rid er, wh o shr iek ed, dr op pe d her bur de ns an

"I am bli nd! W ho tur ne d out the ligh ts? Ar e we no w to pla y 'Pi n the tail sur un ân e? Ve ry we ll!"

Th e big ma n be ga n to car eer aro un d the ro om , ar ms ext en de d, tak ing full ad va nta ge of his pli ght to gro pe all the wo me n, no ne of wh om ma de an y ser

Fin ally ev en his gre at str en gth falt ere d un der the wo ma n's we igh t, an d he set her do wn on a tab let op. Sp otti ng an em pty co uc h, he hur led hi ms elf ont o it wit ha

"M ore wi ne! An d bri ng me mo re shr im p! Sh elle d, s'il vo us pla ît!"

A pai r of bar e hai ry leg s ma teri aliz ed at the ma n's ey ele vel . He loo ke d up to a fa mili ar, wo rld -w ear y fac e.

"I' m gla d to see yo u fin ally enj oyi ng yo urs elf, Sai ntEx, " sai d his ho st, Jos s Err oll. "Al l wo rk an d no pla y ma ke s Jac qu es a dul l bo y."

"A h, wo rk, " ex clai me d Sai ntEx me lod ra ma tic ally "W or k do es not exi st an ym ore . W e are no w in a fin al ag e of self -in dul ge nc e wh ich ev en my

"A nd yo ur dre am s?" inq uir ed Jos s ge ntl y in a ton e not ent irel y cy nic al.

"G on e wit h the sn ow s of yes ter ye ar. An d go od rid da nc e."

"B ut," sai d Jos s eni gm ati call y, "at op a mo unt ain pe ak all the sn ow s of yes ter ye ar still re ma in." An d he wa lke d off.

"P ah! " sai d Sai ntEx. Re stin g an ar m acr oss his ey es an d te mp ora rily bli ndi ng hi ms elf ag ain , he let his mi nd wa nd er wh ile he aw ait ed the ser va nts wit

Th e flig ht ba ck ha d be en as ard uo us an d ner vewr ac kin g as an y in his ex per ien ce, ev en incl udi ng the thr ee da ys fro m Pa ris to Afr ica . On ce sta ble

Page 90

co ntr ols for a mo me nt wh ile he att en de d to Be ryl. Str ipp ing her of jac ket an d shi rt, he fou nd the Ar ab bul let still lod ge d in the wo un d. Fe ari ng to pr ov ok

By Ad en, aft er a da y an da hal f in the air wit ho ut mo re tha na ho ur' s sca tter ed sle ep, he felt his mi nd cru mb ling . He dar ed not res t, for fea r of Be ryl' s co ndi

By the en d of the trip , it wa s onl y Jim my 's wo rdl ess cro oni ng ov er Be ryl' s res tles s, fev ere d for m tha t ke pt hi m aw ak e.

He lan de d on ce mo re by the sh ore s of La ke Na iva sha , this tim e ke epi ng pla ne an d bo dy int act . On this oc cas ion he int err upt ed a rou nd of cro qu et (pl

Bu t Jos s's ten der ha ndl ing of Be ryl bel ied his mo ck ind ign ati on.

Sai ntEx sle pt aro un d the clo ck an d aw ok e wit h im me nse dej a vu in the sa me be d an d ro om tha t ha d she lter ed hi m — co uld it be onl y tw o we

"Y ou sha ll so on ha ve all the pet rol yo u wis h, ma n! Yo u ca n fill yo ur swi m mi ng po ol wit h it! Let us not qui bbl e ab out a fe w gall on s!"

In the cit y Sai ntEx tra ck ed do wn G wl ad ys, La dy De la me re, ma yor of Na iro bi, in the co ol ro om s of the M uth aig a Cl ub. Dr op pin g un bid de n int oa

"M y go od Co unt ," she fin ally ve ntu red as Sai ntEx sat ex pe cta ntl y, "w e ap pre cia te all yo ur eff ort s to est abl ish a toe hol d for Ke ny a in the Mi ddl e Ea

Page 91 tha t yo ur ne ws of ar me d op po siti on at Ba sra , co mb ine d wit h ne w de vel op me nts her e, ren der suc ha for ay mo st unli kel y."

"U nli kel y! Bu t, ma da me , the fut ure of civi liza tio n res ts on suc ha ca mp aig n!"

La dy De la me re fan ne d her self no nc hal ant ly. "O h, I thi nk not , Co unt . Ke ny a has ple nty of nat ura l res our ces oth er tha n oil on wh ich to bui ld a ver y co

Sai ntEx thu mp ed the tab le. "A nd wh at the n! W hat of all the chil dre n, bo rn an d yet to co me ! Th e fut ure M oz art s an d Lin db erg hs? "

La dy De la me re snif fed ha ug htil y. "A s yo u mi ght ha ve ob ser ve d, Co unt , we are not a pr ole tari an cla n tha t ten ds to rep ro du ce ov er mu ch. "

Str ivin g to rep res s his nat ura l ind ign ati on, Sai ntEx as ke d, "W hat are the se ne w de vel op me nts loc ally , if I ma y inq uir e?"

La dy De la me re ha d suf fic ent tatt ers of co nsc ien ce left to loo k slig htl y ab ash ed. "It' s the fish ing at La ke Vi cto ria. Su dd enl y, Lo rd De la me re' s frig htf ully

Sai ntEx wa s stu pef ied . "L ad y De la me re, yo u are thr ow ing aw ay yo ur her ita ge. Fut ure ge ner ati on s sha ll cur se yo ur na me !

"A nd the n he sto rm ed out .

All the wa y ba ck to Dji nn Pal ac e, Sai ntEx ha d rav ed to Jos s, wh o list en ed att ent ivel y. W he n the Fr en ch ma n fin ally su bsi de d, the Sc otti sh lor d ha

Sai ntEx gro wl ed.

"It wa s fra mi ng yo ur ap pe al to all our socall ed bet ter inst inc ts. Sa me mis tak e old He rbe rt Ge org e W ells ma de wit h all tho se dre adf ul uto pia s of his. W e

"I tho ug ht I wa s." Page 92 "N o, not at all. "

"B ah! Yo u are all hy en as! "

"M ay be so. Bu t we 're yo ur pa ck of hy en as no w."

At the ma nsi on, Sai ntEx rac ed to Be ryl' s be dsi de, fin din g her aw ak e an d tak ing so me br oth as her firs t no uri sh me nt.

" M a ch éri e, yo u loo k al mo st yo ur old for mi da ble self !"

Be ryl did not smi le or gre et hi m, but co nti nu ed sip pin g her br oth .

"W hat tro ubl es yo u?" Sai ntEx as ke d, dr op pin g ont o the be d be sid e her .

Be ryl pin ne d hi m wit h her ste ely loo k as if he we re ins ect sp eci me n. "Y ou left me alo ne, To nio .I wo ke up an d yo u we ren 't her e. I do n't car e for tha t

Sai ntEx sla pp ed his for eh ea d. " M on die u! I wa s pur sui ng our co m mo n go al, Be ryl! Tal kin g to tha t wit ch in the cit y — "

"E vid ent ly yo ur sch em es are mo re im po rta nt tha n my we ll-b ein g."

"Y es, of co urs e! Th ey are mo re im po rta nt tha n my ow n life als o!"

"W ell, I'm no lon ger sur e ab out ho wI fee l. W he nI wa s in my fev er, I dre am ed of all tho se be ast s we sa w in our flig ht. To see ten tho usa nd ani ma ls unt am ed an

"S ure ly my ear s bet ray me ! Thi s is pur est def eat ism ! Th ere ca n be no tur nin g ba ck on the roa d of pr ogr ess . W hat are the tw o hu ndr ed ye ars of the hist ory

Be ryl set do wn her cu p an d tur ne d aw ay fro m hi m. "T oni o, yo u tro ubl e me . Go aw ay no w. Ple ase ."

An d so he ha d go ne fro m her ro om . An d Be ryl ha d ret urn ed sev era l da ys lat er to Nj or o wit ho ut say ing far ew ell.

Th en ha d Sai ntEx plu ng ed full y int o the he edl ess life at Dji nn Pal ac e. Page 93 "Y our shr im p, sir. "

Sai ntEx un bli nd ed hi ms elf, sa w the wa itin g So ma lian ser va nt. Th e gu est pat ted his sto ma ch to ind ica te the tra y's pr op er res tin g pla ce. Aft er the ser va nt

A sni pp et of tal k wi ng ed int o Sai ntEx' s ear . "W hy, she lov es je we lry so mu ch, do yo u kn ow wh at she say s wh en she cro sse s her self ? 'Ti ara , br oo

W he n Sai ntEx wa s fini she d he got to his fee t, sen din g the tra y slid ing to the flo or wit ha cla tter . W oo zily , he be ga n to wa nd er the ma ze of the Dji nn

In on e dar k cor ner , he sp ott ed tw o fe mi nin e sha do ws sea ted on a lov ese at. M ovi ng clo ser , he wa s abl e to dis cer n the bo un cy A me ric an Ki ki

"B ea utif ul lad ies, wh at frig hte ns yo u?" Sai ntEx inq uir ed in a gall ant ma nn er sp oil ed onl y by a ter mi nal bel ch. "P oin t out an y mo nst ers tha t ne ed sla yin

Ali ce see me d the mo re co mp os ed of the tw o. "Y ou ca n't sla y this mo nk ey, Co unt . He fee ds onl y on ma gic po wd er, an d the les s he has , the str on ger he

Sai ntEx wa s pu zzl ed. "I do n't co mp reh en d — "

Su dd enl y Ki ki hur led her self at the Fr en ch ma n lik ea wil dc at. "S ou py, So up y, So up y, yo u'v e got to fly me to Po rt Sai d! I'v e got a pla ne, ha ve n't I?

Sai ntEx dis ent an gle d the girl 's cla m my lim bs fro m his ow n, an d she col lap se d ba ck acr oss Ali ce' s lap .

Pet tin g the oth er wo ma n's hai r, Ali ce sai d, "Fr an kie Gr es wo lde Wi llia ms . Th e col on y's co nn ect ion for her oin . He did n't ma ke it ba ck Page 94

fro m his fin al run , an d no w al mo st all the sm ac k in Ke ny a is go ne. Ex ce pt of co urs e for La dy De la me re' s sta sh.' ' Ali ce' s voi ce ass um ed a ma

Sh ak en, ap pal led , co nfu se d, Sai ntEx sta gg ere d off, fee ling as if he we re am bli ng thr ou gh Da nte .

Th e firs t do or he ca me to, he gra bb ed the kn ob, twi ste d it, an d ent ere d.

Th ere wa sa yo un g tee na ge girl , ent irel y na ke d, do ubl ed ov er the ba ck of a ch air, her ru mp hig h. Ov er her to we red the lea n clo the d fig ure of Jo hn Ca

Wi th a swi sh an d th wa ck, Ca rbe rry br ou ght the wh ip do wn on her sca rre d but toc ks.

"I'll tea ch yo ua thi ng or tw o, yo un g mis s!"

In the ne xt sec on d, Sai ntEx ha d sp un the ma ste r of Se re ma i aro un d an d pla nte da soli d rou nd ho use pu nc h on his ja w. Ca rbe rry we nt flyi ng acr oss

" M am 'sel le, are yo u hur t?"

Wi tho ut ch an gin g po siti on, the girl tur ne da tea ry fac e to Sai ntEx an d sai d, "H e ca n't hur t me , rea lly. No t yo ur ow n ba sta rd Da dd yI onl y tak e it

Sai ntEx spr an g ba ck in sh oc k. W hat a nes t of vip ers !

Fr om be hin d Sai ntEx ca me Ca rbe rry' s voi ce. "I sai d yo u we re de ad wh en yo ur pla ne arri ve d. Un for tun ate ly, I wa s wr on g. No wI sha ll cor rec t the

Th e de ath -fa ce d ma n hel da gu n cal ml y poi nte d at Sai ntEx. Wi tho ut furt her ora tor y, he be ga n to sq ue eze the trig ger .

Sai ntEx lun ge d.

A roa rin g fille d his ear s, bitt er sm ok e his no stri ls, dar kn ess his sig ht.

Fo r the thir d tim e aft er rec ent gre at tra vail , Sai ntEx aw ok e in the sa me sun -fl oo de d be dr oo m at the lun ati c asy lu m by the sh ore s of La ke

Page 95 Na iva sha . He felt bo un d on so me wh eel of co nti nu ou s, du pli cat ive suf feri ng. W oul d he ev er esc ap e this pla ce ?

Th e voi ce of Jos s Err roll int err upt ed his mu sin gs. "Bl oo dy lot of sh oot ing last nig ht. Ca n't say I ap pr ov e. De uc edl y har d to cle an up all tha t blo od. "

His unf lap pa ble ho st ca me acr oss the ro om fro m wh ere he ha d be en sitti ng an d put a ha nd to the sid e of Sai ntEx' s he ad.

"O uc h! W hat a pai n!"

"O h, yo u ov erg ro wn chil d, it's jus ta fles h wo un d. Ev en I co uld rec og niz e tha t. Da mn sw ell of yo u to sav e me the tro ubl e of fet chi ng Do cto r Vi nt

Sai ntEx sh ot bol t upr igh t. "T he De la me res ! W hat ha pp en ed ?"

"T he y we re fou nd by tw o mil k bo ys at firs t da ylig ht. Sitt ing in the ir Bui ck at the int ers ect ion of the Ka ren an d Ng on g roa ds. Sh ot in the he ad, bot h of

"B ut, but —t his ch an ges ev ery thi ng! W ho has aut hor ity no w her e?"

"R ath er pre cip ito us, old ch ap, to tal k pol itic s bef ore the bo die s of the old kin g an d qu ee n are ev en col d, do n't yo u thi nk ? No mo urn ing for the de ad ?

"A nd wo uld yo u —t hat is, ca nI co nvi nc e yo u — ?"

Jos s hel d up a ha nd. "Di dn' tI jus t say I try to ple ase ev ery on e, To nio ?" He dr op pe d his ha nd to Sai ntEx' s kn ee. "If onl y ev ery on e co uld try to ple

Sai ntEx wa s ag has t, but hid his fee ling s. Aft er no res po nse , Jos s lift ed up his ha nd an d sig he d me lod ra ma tic ally . "W ell, I ha d to try. Yo u res t no

At the be dr oo m do or, Jos s sto pp ed. "Di dI ev er tell yo u wh at de ar Page 96

littl e Ali ce on ce did ? Sh ot her ch eat ing hus ba nd rig ht in the mi ddl e of a Pa ris trai n sta tio n. 'Fa ste st gu n in the Ga re du No rd' wa s wh at we call ed her

Wi lso n Air wa ys ha d be en the de fac to Ke ny an fla gsh ip line . Co fou nd ed by the sa me To m Bla ck wh o tau ght Be ryl to fly, Wi lso n po sse sse d the be st fac

Thi s bri ght mo rni ng, so me tw o we ek s aft er the mu rde rs of the De la me res , the run wa ys we re on ce ag ain , as of old , full of pla nes , the ir bur nis he d

He re wa s the nu cle us of Wi ngs ov er the W orl d, su m mo ne d fro m acr oss Ke ny a an d ne arb y loc aliti es.

M ost ly Bri tish an d Fr en ch mo del s, har dly an y tw o we re ali ke. Th ere we re sev era l diff ere nt Gi ps y M oth s an da Pu ss M oth , as we ll as a fe w

An d of co urs e, the re wa s Be ryl M ark ha m's Ve ga Gu ll, the Me sse ng er II.

On ly the pil ots out sh on e the pla nes in Sai ntEx' s ey es.

In a loo se clu ste r the y sto od no w, at mis sio n's sta rt, lea the r-j ac ket ed, ins ou cia nt, bra sh, go ggl es pu she d up on the ir br ow s. Th ey we re his to co m ma

To m Wi lso n wa s pre sen t, ch atti ng wit h his go od frie nd s, the hus ba nd an d wif e tea m of Jim an d A my M olli so n. Sy dn ey St. Ba rbe , for me r inst ruc

Page 97 (C arb err y hi ms elf ha d ret rea ted to Se re ma i to sul k an d lic k his wo un ds, an d Sai ntEx ha d bre ath ed a sig h of reli ef.)

All the pil ots ha d Sai ntEx' s ap pr ob ati on. Bu t the re we re tw o (w ell, thr ee, alt ho ug h on e fe ma le still wa sn't sp ea kin g to hi m) wh o ha da clai m on

Th e tw o ha d ap pe are d in Na iro bi sev era l da ys ag o, an d the ir reu nio n wit h Sai ntEx ha d be en a tea rful car niv al. W he n Sai ntEx ha d be en

Sai ntEx ha d im me dia tel y ap poi nte d the m his sec on d an d thir d in co m ma nd.

Int ern ati on alis m wa s all we ll an d go od, but the re wa s — wo uld ev er be — onl y on e Fr an ce!

No w Sai ntEx cli mb ed ato p an up en de d cra te an d lift ed his ar ms for sile nc e. Th e ma sse d avi ato rs of Ha pp y Va lley tur ne d to fac e hi m. In the rea

" Me s am is," be ga n Sai ntEx, the n swi tch ed to En glis h. "T od ay, we ma ke so me hist ory , no ? He re are so me wo rds to thi nk on, fro m M' sie u' W ells ."

Lift ing his bat ter ed co py of Th ing s to Co me , Sai ntEx rec ite d.

"T he firs t ma n in this dra ma say s, 'M y Go d! Is the re ne ver to be an ag e of ha ppi nes s? Is the re ne ver to be res t?' His co mr ad e ans we rs, 'Re st en ou gh

Page 98 Sai ntEx clo se d the bo ok wit ha sha rp sla p. So me on e snif fle d in the cro wd . Th en ca me the bu mp tio us voi ce of Juli an "Li zzi e" Le zar d.

"I say ! Do an y of yo u blo ke s kn ow wh ich en d of this blo od y dy na mit e on e ligh ts? "

Ea ch pla ne wa s to car ry a no nfli er su per car go wh os e job wo uld be to bo mb the rec alci tra nt Ar ab s int o su bm issi on. As mu ch as Sai ntEx wis he d for W

W he n the lau ght er die d do wn , Sai ntEx call ed out ," All on s! W e fly! "

Ju mp ing do wn , Sai ntEx he ad ed to wa rd Ki ki Pr est on' s pla ne. Th e sca tter bra ine d hei res s wa s alr ea dy on bo ard , her joi de viv re full y res tor ed wit

"Y oo ho o, So up y! Do n't for get the bra nd y!"

Sai ntEx pat ted his hip po ck et sig nifi ca ntl y.

"If I fin d so mu ch as a sin gle hai r on yo ur col lar wh en this is ov er, I'll scr atc h the ey es out of tha t littl e ba gg ag e. W hat I'll do to yo u will be uns pe ak

Be ryl str od e be sid e hi m, leo nin e hai r cat chi ng glin ts of sol ar rad ian ce. Sai ntEx pre ten de d not to ha ve he ard her .

Fr om her Ve ga Gu ll, Jim my Bal lar d po ke d his he ad out an d call ed, "A unt Be ryl, hur ry! W e mu sn't ke ep our ne w frie nd s wa itin g!"

No w Sai ntEx fei gn ed to see Be ryl for the firs t tim e. "O h, M am 'sel le M ark ha m. I am so gra tef ul yo u co uld sp are us tim e fro m yo ur bel ov ed hor ses . Is

"C hil d wit ha lolli po p! W hy, I'll sh ow yo u!

Gr ab bin g hi m by the chi nst rap of his lea the r hel me t, Be ryl tug ge d Sai ntEx' s he ad do wn the inc h or tw o ne ces sar y to rea ch her lev el. He r bre ath wa

W he n the y un clin ch ed, the wh ole co mp an y br ok e int o ap pla use .

"B ery l, my pri nc ess ."

Sh e po ke d his po nd ero us sto ma ch. "Pr inc ess ! An d yo u'r e — wh at? Oh ,I ha ve it! M y littl e pri nc e? Page 99

M air zy Do ats

Ta pe d to the wa ll ab ov e the big ato mi cpo we red Un der wo od typ ew rite r wa sa pa ge tor n fro m an iss ue of Lif e ma gaz ine . He ld in pla ce by cur ling ma

Henry Gallagher 1212 Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn, New York

Sex Slave of the Spaceways by Carter Burrows

Th e typ ew rite r car ria ge qui ver ed, as if ea ger ly wa itin g for the firs t wo rd of the sto ry to ap pe ar. In fac t, the wh ole typ ew rite r see me d to thr ob wit h the

Page 100

A rad io wa s on, del ive rin g the pla yby -pl ay for a Do dg ers ga me . "A nd no w, a wo rd fro m ow ner Br an ch Ric ke y — " Th e Do dg ers we re aw ay fro

A lou d bel ch eru pte d ov er the sta tic, foll ow ed by the so un d of a ca n — pre su ma bly of be er; pre su ma bly Rh ein gol d — bei ng cru she d.

A ma n stu mb led ov er to the Phi lco rad io an d lea ne d on the hu ge ca bin et for su pp ort . Th e wo od of the ca bin et wa s wa rm fro m the Syl va nia va cu um

Th e ma n wo re a wh ite sle ev ele ss un der shi rt an d ba gg y GI -su rpl us kh aki s bel ted tig htl y aro un d his sli m wa ist. His fee t we re bar e. His bla ck hai

"I lov e this fuc kin ' so ng, " he sai d dru nk enl y an d tur ne d up the vol um e. "T he M err y M acs , the re' sa fuc kin ' ba nd! " He be ga n to jitt erb ug clu

"C' mo n in!" yell ed the ma n.

Th e do or wa s op en ed by a yo un g wo ma n. Sh e wo re a ligh t pin k an gor a sw eat er, ma dra s ski rt, pin k an kle so x, an d sa ddl e sh oe s. He r

Th e ma n gra bb ed the wo ma n aro un d the wa ist an d be ga n to wh irl her ab out .

"Li ttle La mb sie Di ve y, Litt le La mb sie Di ve y!" he call ed out , as if tha t we re her na me .

Th e wo ma n see me d ex as per ate d, but all ow ed the ma n to spi n her aro un d. Ev ent uall y she sta rte d to par tici pat e will ingl y. Th e ma n sw un g her leg s

Page 101

fee t an d qui ckl y sh ot her ba ck wa rd bet we en his out spr ea d leg s. He sp un aro un d to fac e her , an d she ju mp ed up to wr ap her leg s aro un d his wa

"L et's scr ew , Litt le La mb sie Di ve y," sai d the ma n.

Pu shi ng hi m aw ay, Litt le La mb sie Di ve y sai d, "O h, Ha nk, for get it. Yo u'r e dru nk ag ain , an d yo u kn ow ho wI fee l ab out tha t."

"A m not ," Ha nk sai d pet ula ntl y.

Litt le La mb sie Di ve y wa ve d at the eig ht cru she d be er ca ns on the flo or. "W ho dra nk the se? "

"Li ttle gre en me n."

"Li ttle gre en me n ca n kis s my ass ."

"I bet the y'd jus t lov e to. " Ha nk lun ge d at Litt le La mb sie Di ve y, but she roll ed aw ay off the be d an d to her fee t, lea vin g Ha nk clu tch ing the pill ow inst ea

Litt le La mb sie Di ve y bru she d the fol ds of her ski rt int o pla ce. Ha nk lay still wit h his fac e in the pill ow .

"O h, Els ie, my he ad hur ts. ... "

Els ie loo ke d do wn at Ha nk uns ym pat het ical ly. "It' s yo ur ow n fau lt. I'm goi ng to ma ke so me inst ant M ax we ll Ho use for us. M ay be it'll pe p yo u up. "

Els ie wa lke d to wa rd the kit ch en. On her wa y pa st the tab le tha t bo re the typ ew rite r, she sto pp ed to rea d the pa ge in the ma chi ne. Sh aki ng her he ad, she tog

Th ere wa s the so un d of run nin g wa ter an d the sof t igni tio n of a gas fla me on the Cr osl ey ran ge, foll ow ed by the op eni ng of the do or of the Ke lvin ato r ref

"Si t up an d tak e this ."

Ha nk slo wl y ass um ed as mu ch of a ver tic al po siti on as he co uld , unt il he sat wit h for ear ms on his thi ghs , ha nd s da ngli ng bet we en his kn ees , spi ne

Els ie wr ap pe d his fin ger s aro un d the mu g. "D rin k," she or der ed. Ha nk co mp lie d. Els ie sat do wn be sid e hi m. Page 102

To get her the y sip pe d at the ir cof fee in sile nc e for a mi nut e or so.

"H an k. W hat 's the ma tter ?"

"Y ou kn ow dar n we ll."

"T he wri tin g?"

"W hat the hell els e?"

"W ell, wh y do yo u ke ep on ch urn ing out tha t aw ful stu ff? 'Se x Sla ves of the Sp ac ew ays .' Yo u kn ow as we ll as I do tha t it's all jun k."

"T her e's a ma rke t for it, an d it pa ys the ren t. Six ty dol lar sa mo nth , do n't for get ."

"B ut it's killi ng yo u. Fa ce fac ts. Yo u hat e it."

"E ver yo ne hat es the ir job ."

"I do n't mi nd mi ne so mu ch.

"Y ou we re de stin ed for it. Go dd am n par ent s na me d yo u aft er tha t fuc kin ' car too n Bo rde n's co w."

"A dv erti sin g is ho nes t wo rk. "

"S o's sell in' do pe. "

"Li ste n, let' s for get my job . W hy do n't yo u sta rt on tha t no vel yo u ke ep tal kin g ab out ?"

Ha nk loo ke d up wit h wil d ey es. "N ov ell Sw ell ... W ho' d bu y it? No t the ma gaz ine s, not if I do it rig ht. If I get do wn on pa per hal f of wh at I'v e got in my

Page 103

Ha nk wa s sta rin g up at the ceil ing no w, as if see ing the tex t of his no vel en gra ve d in fier y lett ers on the fla kin g pla ste r. Els ie rea ch ed ov er to hol d his ha

"O h, Ha nk, I lov e yo u so mu ch wh en yo u let yo ur rea l self shi ne thr ou gh. Fo rge t wh eth er yo u'll ev er sell the no vel or not an d jus t wri te it!"

"I do n't kn ow , Els ie, I jus t do n't kn ow . So me tim es I thi nk I'm a ge niu s, oth er tim es I thi nk I'm jus t res tati ng the ob vio us, the stu ff tha t's all aro un

Ha nk be ga n to riffl e the pa ges . He re wa sa ne w fog ma chi ne tha t spr ay ed the wo nd er ins ect ici de D DT mo re effi cie ntl y A smi ling girl in a bik ini ate her

Sla ppi ng the ma gaz ine clo se d, Ha nk sai d, "A nd I ha ve n't ev en be gu n to tal k ab out the ch an gin g cul tur al val ues yet . Thi s ne w sex ual per mis ive nes s

"O h, Ha nk, kis s me ... ."

Th e cre sce nt dia l on the str ea mli ne d Phi lco glo we d wa rml y. Lo uell a Pa rso n's voi ce iss ue d fro m the clo thco ver ed sp ea ker s, tal kin g of Br oa dw ay

Th e so un ds of sle ep — ste ad y bre ath ing , the slo w un co nsc iou s shu ffle of lim bs acr oss she ets , the slig ht sm ac kin g of lips — wa s Page 104

co unt erp oin ted by the so ngs of Spi ke Jo nes an d his orc hes tra. W ash tub , ha nd sa w, sir en ...

A pol ite per sist ent tap pin g on the do or to Ha nk' s ap art me nt gra du ally ma de itse lf he ard in a bri ef int erv al of rad io sile nc e.

''H an k, Ha nk, wa ke up, the re' s so me on e kn oc kin g."

"H uh, wh at, wh at's the ma tter ? Oh , all rig ht, hol d on, I'm co mi ng. Jes us, yo u'd thi nk the y'd ha da do se of Sal He pat ica or so me thi ng. "

Ha nk wa lke d to the do or. He wa s bar ec hes ted , an d his un bu ckl ed bel t flo pp ed lik ea do g's ton gu e.

On the far sid e of the do or sto od a bla ck ma n. Of an ag e wit h Ha nk an d Els ie, he ha da bri ght , aff abl e fac e be ne ath clo secro pp ed hai r. He wo re the

"O h, D wi ght , it's jus t yo u."

"Y ow zuh , Mi stu h Be nn y, it's jus' ol' Ro ch est er. "

"D wi ght ."

"Y ow zuh ?"

"S hut up an d co me in."

D wi ght ste pp ed int o the ap art me nt. His sha rp ey es too k in the ac cu mu lat ed dis or der , an d he clu ck ed his ton gu e dis ap pr ovi ngl y.

"H enr y, yo u live wo rse tha n the fol ks we 're hel pin g up in Ha rle m. I do n't kn ow ho w yo u sta nd it. He llo, Els ie." Els ie loo ke d up fro m zip pin g her ski rt.

"I sh o nuf f do n't dig all the m big wo rds , Mi stu h Ga llag her , but I sp oz e if'n yo u say so — "

Ha nk sn ort ed. "D wi ght , did yo u co me her e jus t to bu st my bal ls? "

"N o wa y, He nry . Lo ok. " D wi ght re mo ve da zip per ed Ko ros eal po uc h fro m his po ck et.

"R eef er, " sai d Els ie in aw e.

"Is it an y go od ?" as ke d Ha nk.

"It' s the sa me stu ff Ro ber t Mi tch um sm ok es, " sai d D wi ght .

"W ell, wh at are we wa itin g for ?" Page 105

Ha nk tos se d so me cus hio ns to the flo or an d the frie nd s flo pp ed do wn . Pr ett y so on the ro om wa s wr eat he d in blu ish sm ok e an d sm elle d lik ea

"I fee l so dre am y," sai d Els ie. "Li ke I'm a so ng by Sin atr a."

Ev ery on e no dd ed in agr ee me nt, smi ling sle epi ly.

"T his stu ff is bet ter tha n Ca me ls for yo ur TZo ne, " sai d D wi ght .

Th ey all bur st int o gig gle s an d lau ght er.

D wi ght sai d, "H ey, her e's a go od on eI he ard at wo rk tod ay. W hat 's the mo st po pul ar so ng in Pa ris rig ht no w? "

"I giv e up, " sai d Els ie. "W hat ?"

"'G lo w, Litt le Gl ow wo rm. '"

"O h, tha t's sic k!"

"H ow 's the wo rk, D wi ght ?" as ke d Ha nk aft er he ha d rec ov ere d fro m lau ghi ng an d ha da fe w mo re co nte mp lati ve puf fs.

"G oo d, go od. W e'r e tea rin g do wn the m slu ms , ma n, an d bui ldi ng nic e ne w ho usi ng for all the po or fol ks. Yo u kn ow wh o wa s the re at the op eni

Th e thr ee we re sile nt for a mo me nt. Th en D wi ght sai d, "H enr y, wh y do n't yo u joi n the CS C? Th e hit ch is onl y tw o ye ars , an d the ch an ge mi

"S cre w yo u, D wi ght . Yo u ha ve n't lik ed an yth ing of mi ne sin ce tha t firs t sto ry yo u rea d tha t ma de yo u co me visi t me ."

Els ie int err upt ed "H an k, yo u kn ow so me thi ng, tha t mi ght not be suc ha ba d ide a. Th e tim e aw ay fro m wri tin g mi ght do yo u go od. "

"Y ea h, list en to the lad y, He nry . Be sid es, do n't yo u wa nt to vot e, it bei ng an ele cti on ye ar an d all? "

"N o. No t un der tho se ter ms . Yo u kn ow tha t's the on e thi ng I do n't agr ee wit h our bel ov ed pre sid ent on. Re stri cti ng the vot e to mili tar y vet s an d tho

Page 106 wh ole hist ory of this co unt ry. No , for get it. M e an d the CS C jus t wo uld n't jiv e."

"M y thr oat 's dry ," sai d Els ie. "I' m goi ng to get us so me be ers ."

"G oo d ide a."

Els ie we nt int o the kit ch en. He r voi ce, mu ffle d by pre sen ce of her he ad insi de the Ke lvin ato r, so on ca me ba ck to the me n.

"H an k, yo u'r e out of Rh ein gol d."

"W hat els e is the re? "

"H am m's , Pa bst , Re d Ca p, Bla tz ... "

"Gi m me a Bla tz."

"I'll tak ea Ha m m's , Els ie."

Els ie ret urn ed wit h thr ee col d bot tles an da ch urc h ke y. Jus t as she fini she d pry ing the last lid off, the re ca me a kn oc kin g at the do or.

"Je sus Ch rist ," sai d Ha nk, cli mb ing uns tea dil y to his fee t. "W hat is this , old ho me we ek ? W ho is it!"

"W est ern Un ion ."

Ev ery on e flin ch ed wit h the inv olu nta ry refl ex es ac qui red dur ing the rec ent wa r ye ars , wh en the arri val of a tel egr am usu ally me ant the col d ne ws of de ath .

Th e ma n wh o sto od the re ap pe are d un co m mo nly old to be a me sse ng er. A W est ern Un ion na me tag ide ntif ied hi m as H. Mil ler. Se em ing to sen se Ha nk'

"I'll see wh at I ca n do, " sai d Ha nk, tak ing the tel egr am . He ret rea ted int o the ro om an d bu m me da dol lar off Els ie.

"T ha nk s, bu dd y," sai d H. Mil ler.

Al on e ag ain , the thr ee frie nd s sta red at the tel egr am .

"O pe n it, Ha nk, op en it."

Its en vel op e slit, the tel egr am rea d: GRE ETI NGS FRO M THE PRE SID ENT OF THE UNI TED STA TES OF AM ERI CA: PUR SUA NT TO THE PRO VISI ONS OF THE HO AGWA LDO ACT, YO UR SER VIC ES ARE REQ UIR ED BY THE COU NTR Y. PLE ASE BE REA DY TO LEA VE WIT H GOV ERN ME NT ESC ORT AT

Page 107 "W hy, tha t's onl y an ho ur fro m no w," ex clai me d Els ie.

Ha nk ap pe are d she llsh oc ke d. "I ca n't bel iev e this . W hat co uld the y wa nt a wa she dup ha ck lik e me for ?"

"I do n't kn ow , Ha nk, but yo u'd bet ter get rea dy. "

D wi ght an d Els ie esc ort ed Ha nk int o the bat hro om . Th ey stu ck hi m un der a col d sh ow er an d left hi m to so ber up. Wi th the aid of Gill ett e Blu e Bla

To we l wr ap pe d aro un d his mi drif f, Ha nk ca me ba ck int o the fro nt ro om . Els ie ha d lai d out his be st clo the s: an Ar ro w Ra yo n "S um ara Sp ort

As he wa s tyi ng his sh oe s the fou rth kn oc k of the da y so un de d.

D wi ght we nt to op en the do or.

Tw o M ari ne M P' S sto od the re, im ma cul ate fro m the ir ep aul ets do wn to the ir spi t-p olis he d bo ots . Th ey we re ob vio usl y har dy vet era ns, ea ch we ari

"M r. Ga llag her ?" sai d on e of the M ari nes .

"N os uh, no wa y, not me , dat 's hi m, dat 's the gu y yo u'r e loo kin g for , yo wz uh. "

Th e tro op ers ent ere d an d clo se d the do or.

"D o the pic ku p or der s sp eci fy the se oth er tw o?" on e sai d to the oth er.

"N op e."

"W hat do yo u thi nk we sh oul d do wit h the m? "

"I do n't kn ow . I'v e ne ver see n suc ha hig h sec urit y co de on a pic ku p bef ore ... ."

"I say we bri ng the m too . Be tter saf e tha n sor ry. "

"O K. " Th e sen ior M P tur ne d to fac e the thr ee frie nd s. "M iss, Pri vat e Ho wa rd — I'm afr aid yo u'll ha ve to ac co mp an y Mr . Ga llag her . Ch an ces are

Ha nk sp ok e up. "C an I at lea st as k wh ere we 're goi ng ?"

"I thi nk yo u'r e ent itle d to kn ow tha t. W e'r e goi ng to the ca pit al."

"D en ver ?" Page 108 "T hat 's rig ht. Mr . Ga llag her ,I sug ges t yo u bri ng yo ur too thb rus h."

Pa rke d in fro nt of the bui ldi ng wa sa lar ge bla ck Pa ck ard , the lat est mo del . Po we red by its ow n nu cle oni c en gin e, sp orti ng twi n rad ar co nes on its fro

On e M ari ne op en ed the rea r do or, wh ile the oth er got in be hin d the wh eel . Ha nk, Els ie, an d D wi ght cla mb ere d stif fly insi de. Ha nk' s too thb rus h, stic kin

Th e do or sla m me d, the sec on d M P cli mb ed insi de, an d the y we re off.

Th e traf fic wa s fair ly thi ck at this ho ur. Fla tbu sh Av en ue wa s fille d wit h Na she s, Cr osl eys , Stu de ba ker s, M erc ury s. All the '48 mo del s we re ato mi c-

Th e sid ew alk s we re fille d wit h ch eer ful citi zen s: fed ora -to pp ed me n, bo ys we ari ng clo th Jug he ad hat s, littl e girl s in frill y pin k dre sse s, wo me n in the

Lo oki ng ner vo usl y up thr ou gh the car wi nd ow , Ha nk sa w a gia nt fou r-e ngi ne Pa n A m Cli pp er so ari ng thr ou gh the ski es.

"A re we dri vin g to De nv er? " he tho ug ht to as k.

Th e M ari nes ch uc kle d. "N o wa y, Mr . Ga llag her , it's firs t-cl ass for yo u."

Do wn to the Br oo kly n Na vy Ya rds the y mo tor ed, pa ssi ng thr ou gh a sec urit y ch ec k an d fin ally pul ling up alo ngs ide a do ck.

Flo ati ng in the wa ter wa s an en or mo us wo od en air pla ne, the cre ati on of Hu gh es Air cra ft an d kn ow n joc ula rly as the Sp ru ce Go os e. Co nst ruc ted sh ortl

Page 109 "T he y sai d it'd ne ver fly, " on e of the M P's co m me nte d. "B ut the y did n't rec ko n wit h nu cle oni cs. "

Ha nk an d his co mp ani on s no w asc en de da ga ng wa y up int o the ma in pa sse ng er co mp art me nt of the tita nic pla ne. On ce insi de, the M ari nes for ma lly tra

"Pl eas e be sea ted an d fas ten yo ur res trai nin g str ap s," sai d on e of the cur va ce ou s Gu ard s.

Ha nk, Els ie an d D wi ght too k thr ee hor seh air -c ov ere d sea ts in a ro w. De sig ne d to hol d sev enhu ndr ed -fif ty pa sse ng ers , the em pty pla ne — wit h

"D o yo u thi nk we 're goi ng to me et the pre sid ent hi ms elf ?" as ke d Els ie.

"E ver yth ing sur e poi nts to tha t," sai d Ha nk.

"If we see the ma n," sai d D wi ght , "I' m goi ng to tell hi m ho w he upl ifte d the rac e by ma kin g Du Bo is sec ret ary of ho usi ng. "

"I thi nk we 'd be st let the pre sid ent dic tat e the co nv ers ati on, " sai d Els ie.

Th e for ces of ac cel era tio n ste adi ly inc rea se d as the gia nt pla ne tax ied do wn the ba y, an d the pa sse ng ers we re pre sse d int o the ir sea ts. Th e mo me nt

"W e'r e pa ssi ng ov er the rui ns of W ash ing ton no w, wh ich ca n be see n out the sta rb oar d wi nd ow s." Page 110

Ha nk, Els ie, an d D wi ght has ten ed to loo k. Ev en fro m the ir hei ght , the y co uld see the ov erg ro wn cru mb led bui ldi ngs , de str oy ed in the last -di tch Na zi att

"D o yo u thi nk it'll ev er be reb uilt ?" as ke d Els ie.

"I do ubt it," sai d Ha nk. "I he ar the pre sid ent lik es De nv er too mu ch. "

So on the no vel ty of the flig ht tra nsf or me d itse lf ine xpl ica bly int o bo red om , an d the frie nd s sat de sult oril y in the ir sea ts, ea ch pri vat ely wo nd eri ng wh

Mi dw ay thr ou gh the flig ht, the W A C' S ser ve da rou gh me al co nsi stin g of Tr eet san dw ich es on W on der Br ea d an d ch oic e of Ro yal Cr ow n Co la or

Th ey aw ok e ma ny ho urs lat er, fee ling co nsi der abl y ref res he d. Th e Gu ard s we re rea dy wit h hot cof fee , an d the ne ws tha t the y wo uld sh ortl y be lan

"T he Go os e is too he av y for its lan din g ge ar, " on e W A C tol d the m, "so we 'll be tou chi ng do wn in La ke Lyl e, an arti fici al bo dy of wa ter on the out ski

Th eir uns ee n pil ot wa s so on ex per tly gui din g the m to a lan din g, plo wi ng a hu ge fur ro w in the bo dy of La ke Lyl e. It wa s nig ht in De nv er. Th e

Fr om the pla ne no w ste pp ed the ma n wh o ha d ob vio usl y be en the ir pil ot. W ear ing an avi ato r's wh ite sca rf, lea the r bo mb er jac ket , an d Ra yBa n

"O K, cat s an d kitt ens ," sai d the pil ot in a flip pa nt ma nn er, "ho ld on to yo ur tail s. I wa s fig hti ng a he ad wi nd all the wa y out her e, an d it's pa st the

Page 111 To ggli ng on the ir rad ar an d en ga gin g the ge ars , the pil ot roa red off in a ste nc h of bur nin g rub ber .

Th rou gh the str eet s of the mo unt ain -e mb rac ed cit y the y sp ed. Pa st the Mi nt, the ho use s of Co ngr ess , the inn um era ble bui ldi ngs of les ser go ver nm ent ag en

Ha nk, D wi ght , an d Els ie so on fou nd the ms elv es sitti ng ner vo usl y in an ant ero om out sid e the Ov al Off ice , fla nk ed by sev era l of the Pr esi de nti al Gu ard

Fr om 19 39 wa s the tin y not ice an no un cin g his firs t ele cto ral vic tor y: wi nni ng a sea t in the Ca lifo rni a Sta te As se mb ly.

Th e ne xt fou r ye ars we re rep res ent ed by inc rea sin gly lar ger he adl ine s in the Ca lifo rni a pre ss, all det aili ng the bol d initi ati ves the yo un g ass em bly ma n ha d

In 19 43 the bra sh, ant im ac hin e ne wc om er ha d sta ge da fan tas tic up set ov er Ea rl W arr en, be co mi ng go ver nor of Ca lifo rni a.

Th e ver y ne xt ye ar he ha d be en ch os en as FD R's run nin g ma te, as the her oic an d cri ppl ed wa rti me lea der em bar ke d on his ca mp aig n for an un pre ce

Th e tic ket co mb inin g yo uth an d ex per ien ce ha d wo n ha ndi ly Th en, tra ge dy On Ap ril 12, 19 45, Ro os ev elt ha d die d, tra nsf or mi ng a ma n wh os e

Th e res t wa s hist ory .

Th e do or to the Ov al Off ice sw un g par tw ay op en, an da Gu ard po ke d out her he ad.

"T he pre sid ent will see Mr . Ga llag her an d his frie nd s no w."

Ha nk an d the oth ers shu ffle d ner vo usl y in. An act ive tel evi so n rec eiv er sat in on e cor ner of the offi ce, tun ed sof tly to a lat e ne ws br oa dc ast . Ed wa rd

Se ate d co nfi de ntl y be hin d his br oa d de sk, loo kin g as bri ght -ey ed Page 112

an d en erg eti c as if he ha d jus t wa ke ne d fro m a go od nig hts sle ep, sat Pr esi de nt He inle in. A smi le blo om ed be ne ath his fa mo us pe ncil -thi n mu sta

"Ci tize ns, tak ea sea t. I kn ow yo u'r e wo nd eri ng wh y I'v e dra gg ed yo u hal fw ay acr oss the co unt ry, so I'll get rig ht do wn to bra ss tac ks. Mr . Ga llag her — I

Ha nk wa s baf fle d. "E xp edi tio n? W her e to? "

"T o the M oo n, Mr . Ga llag her . Ol d Mi str ess Lu na, tha t is."

"T he M oo n? Bu tI tho ug ht — "

Pr esi de nt He inle in hel d up a ha nd. "I kn ow wh at yo u tho ug ht, Mr . Ga llag her , be ca use it's wh at ev ery on e thi nk s. Bu t re me mb er, if ev ery on e

"N ee d it? W hy ?" as ke d Ha nk.

"M r. Ga llag her —t her e are oth ers wh o als o rec og niz ed the val ue of sp ac e tra vel . Th ey sa w its utili ty ear lier tha n we , but onl y its mili tar y ap pli cat ion

Page 113 "Y ou ca n't me an — "

"Y es, Mr . Ga llag her . I'm tal kin g ab out the Na zis. To jo, Ax is Sal ly, Go erri ng, per ha ps ev en the he ad ma dm an hi ms elf. Th ey did not per ish, as we bel iev ed in the

Ha nk' s he ad wa s spi nni ng. "Al l rig ht, Mr . Pr esi de nt, I ca n see all tha t. Bu t wh at's my par t in suc h an ex pe diti on ?"

"I wa nt so me on e alo ng wh o rea lly un der sta nd s the me ani ng of sp ac e for hu ma nit y an d ca n chr oni cle this hist ori c flig ht in an ex citi ng ma nn er. Mr

He re the pre sid ent wi nk ed br oa dly at his au die nc e. "A nd in an ele cti on ye ar lik e this on e, wh en I'm fac ing so me stif f co mp etit ion fro m He nry W alla ce an

Ha nk loo ke d to Els ie, an d the n to D wi ght . Re tur nin g his gaz e to the pre sid ent , he str aig hte ne d his ba ck in his ch air.

"M r. Pr esi de nt — I ac ce pt. "

"G oo d, go od, I kn ew my jud gm ent wa s so un d. No w, the re re ma ins the pr obl em of yo ur frie nd s her e." Th e pre sid ent lea ne d ov er an d sp ok e int o

Sh ortl ya wo os h an da thu mp sig nal ed the arri val , via pn eu ma tic tub e, of the pa per s in qu esti on. Pr esi de nt He inle in re mo ve d the ca ps ule fro m the del ive ry

"H m m, yes , yes , go od par ent s, co m me nd abl e civi c sen se — I thi nk Page 114

the y'll do. Pri vat e Ho wa rd, Mi ss Lo ng, wo uld yo u car e to ac co mp an y yo ur frie nd Mr . Ga llag her on yo ur co unt ry' s bu sin ess ?''

Els ie an d D wi ght no dd ed sol em nly , an d the pre sid ent flas he d his be nef ice nt smi le on ce mo re.

"W on der ful. No w, I rea lize a mo tio n to adj our n is al wa ys in or der , but I wo uld jus t lik e to intr od uc ea fe w of yo ur tra veli ng co mp ani on s wh o ha

Th e pre sid ent pu she da but ton an d int o the ro om ste pp ed thr ee pe opl e: the ma n wh o ha d flo wn Ha nk, Els ie, an d D wi ght fro m Ne w Yo rk, ac co mp ani

Ind ica tin g the ori gin al pil ot, the pre sid ent sai d, "Ci tize ns, let me intr od uc e tw ent y-fi veye arold Co m ma nd er Ch uc k Ye ag er, an ac e pil ot dur ing the wa r

Ev ery on e sh oo k ha nd s all aro un d, alt ho ug h Ha nk wa s sin gle d out wit ha kis s fro m Mi ss Rh ein gol d, wh o wh isp ere d so me thi ng in his ear tha t

Wi th a ges tur e the pre sid ent dis mis se d the fly bo ys an d ent ert ain er. "A ny oth er qu esti on s, bef ore our av e at qu e val e?"

"W he n do we lea ve ?" as ke d Ha nk.

"T om orr ow . No w, if tha t do es it, yo u'll be sh ow n to yo ur qu art ers for a go od nig ht's res t. Re me mb er, as my fell ow Mi sso uri an Ge ner al Tr um an sai d,

Page 115

Wi th the stir rin g wo rds of Pr esi de nt He inle in rin gin g in the ir ear s, the trio we nt off to a sur pri sin gly unt rou ble d sle ep, co nsi der ing all the ex cit em ent the y

In the mo rni ng the y we re co nd uct ed on ce ag ain to the flo ati ng Sp ru ce Go os e. Thi s tim e the pla ne wa s loa de d to ca pa cit y wit ha co mp le me nt of

"I do n't see no oth er bla ck fol ks, " sai d D wi ght . "It ap pe ars I'm goi ng to be the sol e rep res ent ati ve of Ne grit ud e on this mis sio n. It's a he av y bur de n."

"I'll try to co nv ey yo ur im po rta nc e ad eq uat ely in my ma nus cri pt, " sai d Ha nk dril y.

Els ie wa s sta rin g int ent ly ah ea d at the far bul kh ea d, be hin d wh ich Co m ma nd er Ye ag er an d Co pil ot Ca ssa dy we re ev en no w goi ng thr ou gh the

"I'v e ne ver see n an yo ne so self -as sur ed as tha t Ne al Ca ssa dy, " she sai d dre am ily, but wit ha cal cul ati ng gle am in her ey e.

No w it wa s Ha nk' s tur n to gla re. D wi ght jus t lau gh ed.

Th e pla ne lift ed off, a bit mo re rel uct ant ly wit h its full loa d, an d be ga n wi ngi ng we st. Ha nk fail ed to lea rn the ir de stin ati on fro m his nei gh bo rs an d

Aft er ma ny ho urs of flig ht, sev era l Pr esi de nti al Gu ard s be ga n cir cul ati ng, dis pe nsi ng fur -lin ed jac ket s ob vio usl y int en de d for arc tic co ndi tio ns.

Ou t the wi nd ow s onl y oc ea n wa s visi ble . Th en in the dis tan ce ap pe are da wh ite sm ud ge. Cl os er, clo ser , unt il it res olv ed itse lf int oa hu ge flo ati ng

Page 116

Ri din g wit h Ne al Ca ssa dy, the wi nd pu shi ng ba ck the ir ho od s, Ha nk he ard the co pil ot ex pla in to Els ie, wh o wa s hol din g his ar m an d ha ngi ng on

So on the y we re ato p the tre me nd ou s ice ber g an d insi de a chil ly Qu on set hut . Th ere , the y un der we nt a bri ef lec tur e by a trio of exNa zi sci ent

Th en, wit h sca rce ly a sec on d to col lec t the ir tho ug hts , aft er ch an gin g the ir civi lian clo the s for utili tari an co ver ails an d ma gn eti c sh oe s, an d rec

As the y file d acr oss the fro zen sur fac e of the gla cie r, the roc ket loo me d hu ge ov er the m. A dul l gre y mo nol ith tap eri ng to a ne edl e poi nt, it res ted on thr

On ce on bo ard , the trio we re co nd uct ed to adj ac ent co uc hes , thi ckl y pa dd ed to ac co mo dat e the tre me nd ou s ge e-f orc es tha t wo uld bui ld up dur ing

Els ie tur ne d her he ad to gaz e at Ha nk.

"I' m sor ry if I ma de yo u jea lou s wit h Ne al, Ha nk. I do n't kn ow wh at ca me ov er me . Pr ob abl y jus t the wa y tha t pin up girl An ita wa s pra cti call y

Page 117 mis sio n. Im agi ne ha vin g the res po nsi bili ty for pre ser vin g the det ails of this hist ori c trip for all of po ste rity ."

"A nd yo u'r e the mo st im po rta nt wo ma n, Els ie. At lea st to me ."

"M an, I thi nk I'm go nn a thr ow up, " sai d D wi ght .

"W e'r e not ev en mo vin g yet ," Ha nk re mi nd ed hi m.

"I kn ow ."

Ov er the shi pb oar d lou ds pe ak ers a co unt do wn wa s initi ate d, the cal m voi ce of Ne al Ca ssa dy rec itin g the nu mb ers . At the ma rk of thr ee, wit h an aw es

Th e gro wl of the nu cle oni c mo tor s sur ge d, an d the roc ket be ga n to rip itse lf aw ay fro m the gri p of the Ea rth. At the hei ght of the ge efo rce s, Ha nk an d

W he n the y ca me to the y we re we igh tles s. Lo oki ng aro un d, the y sa w oth ers risi ng fro m the ir co uc hes an d so qui ckl y fre ed the ms elv es.

Fr om the int erc om ca me the voi ce of Co m ma nd er Ye ag er. "G oo d ol' M am a Ea rth' s be hin d us no w, fol ks. ET A on a nes t of Na zi rat s ap pr oxi ma tel

Th ere wa sa rou sin g ch eer fro m the sp ac esh ip tro op ers , an d as the co me ly Pr esi de nti al Gu ard s be ga n to pa ss out the pr om ise d dri nk s, the ca bin

Th e res t of the trip pa sse d in a dre am for Ha nk. So bu sy ma kin g co pio us not es for his nar rati ve, he har dly not ice d wh en Els ie dis ap pe are d for a tim e, coi nci

"T his is the fut ure we 're livi ng in no w, D wi ght . M ora ls ha ve to ch an ge wit h the tim es, not jus t tec hn olo gy. "

"Y ou' re so me kin d of sai nt, ma n."

Ha nk smi led . "H ard ly, D wi ght . Bu tI fig ure tha t aft er wh at An ita an dI jus t did in the sp ac esu it loc ker ,I ca n har dly co mp lain ab out Els ie

Page 118 ha vin ga littl e fun . Be sid es, I kin d of lik e tha t Ne al Ca ssa dy too . He see ms lik ea rea l ma n's ma n."

D wi ght scr atc he d his he ad an d gri nn ed slyl y "I thi nk I'm go nn a tal k to Mi ss An ita an d as k her opi nio n ab out im pr ovi n' rel ati on s bet we en the

Ha nk tos se d D wi ght his re ma inin g saf eti es, wh ich flo ate d slo wl y thr ou gh the ca bin air. "D on' t for get the se, bu dd y"

At mi dp oin t, the mi ght y roc ket tur ne d ma jes tic ally for de cel era tio n, so tha t its jet poi nte d to wa rd the ir de stin ati on. Th e gh ost ly mo ttle d wh ite sp her

Aft er this , the re wa s littl e of not e for Ha nk to rec or d, sav e for a clo se bru sh wit ha rog ue ast ero id, fro m wh ich onl y the yo uth ful refl ex es of Ye ag er an

At last the y we re in or bit aro un d the M oo n an d str ap pe d do wn to the ir co uc hes in ant ici pat ion of lan din g. Th e int erc om bet we en pa sse ng ers an d

"L oc ke d on to the co or din ate s for Sc hic kel gru ber 's ba se, Ch uc k."

"A do pt ev asi ve ma ne uv ers , Ne al. No telli ng wh at def ens es the y'v e got ."

"C he ck. Sa y, rad ar do esn 't rev eal an y siz abl e str uct ure s wh ere the Bo ss tol d us the y'd be. "

"T he y'r e pr ob abl y du g int o the roc k, Ne al. Wi th an y luc k we 'll set do wn rig ht on top of' em an d bur n the nes t out . Sa ve our bo ys an d girl s an

"Y ea h, but wh at ab out the ir roc ket ?I do n't get a rea din g on no ves sel — "

Slo wl y the A me ric an roc ket lo we red itse lf lik ea ca uti ou s ov er we igh t ma tro n to the grit ty Sel en e sur fac e. Ha nk felt a sm all we igh t

Page 119

ret urn ing to hi m. On ly wh en the ato mi c mo tor s ha d be en shu t off did ev ery on e rea lize ho w the y ha d for me da per ma ne nt ba ck gro un d noi se to the

"In co mi ng tra ns mis sio n, fol ks. An d it's on the pre sid ent ial ch an nel . Ho ld on, I'm rou tin g it to all ca bin tel evi sio n scr ee ns. "

Th e gra iny bla ck -an dwh ite fac e of Pr esi de nt He inle in ap pe are d. Be hin d hi m wa s the Pr esi de nti al Se al.

"Ci tize ns an d sol die rs, co ngr atu lati on s on yo ur saf e arri val on the M oo n.

"It is wit h the de ep est sy mp ath y — an d at the sa me tim e, the pr or ou nd est ha ppi nes s —t hat I no w wis h to inf or m yo u tha t yo u will not be ret urn

"T he ex per im ent al ma teri al lini ng yo ur jet tub e has det eri ora ted dur ing the trip to the poi nt of use les sne ss. Un for tun ate ly, it's a littl e pr obl em our sci ent ists ha ve

"T hat 's cor rec t. Yo ur col on y.

"Ci tize ns, the re are no Na zis on the M oo n. Th ey did ind ee d all die in the du stin gs. Th at par tic ula r thr eat no lon ger fac es us. Ho we ver ,a mu ch mo re su btl e, yet

"T hat thr eat is ine rtia . Sh eer stu bb orn hu ma n lazi nes s. Sat ed wit h the ma teri al co mf ort s of our po st wa r ec on om y, the av era ge citi zen has no int ere st wh

"B ut an yth ing I ha ve to en dur e wa s wo rth it. Hu ma nit y ca nn ot ke ep all its eg gs in on e ba sk et. Th e sol ar sys te m mu st be po pul ate d. Wi th the

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"Al l of yo u ha ve be en sec retl y ch os en for yo ur skil ls an d ge net ic pe dig ree . Yo u are pri me col oni st ma teri al, the eq uiv ale nt of the pio ne ers wh o set tle

"If yo u ch ec k yo ur car go hol ds, yo u'll fin d the y'v e be en sto ck ed wit h ev ery thi ng yo u'll ne ed unt il yo u get on yo ur fee t.

"S o, Ea rth me n — or sh oul dI say , Lo oni es? — sta rt dig gin g yo ur ne w ho me s!

"I' m sur e the re'l l be an oth er shi p alo ng in a fe w ye ars , on ce the pu bli c wis es up. "

Pr esi de nt He inle in dis ap pe are d fro m the scr ee n, to be rep lac ed by a tes t pat ter n.

Els ie sig he d. "W ell, Ha nk, I gu ess we 're rea lly livi ng tha t fut ure yo u we re so ex cit ed ab out no w."

Ha nk thr ea de d his fin ger s thr ou gh his Va seli neton ick ed hai r. "I gu ess ."

D wi ght see me d un per tur be d. "S ee ms lik e Mi ss An ita an d me still got a ch an ce to hit it off. "

Th e tel evi so n scr ee ns su dd enl y flar ed int o life .

Co m ma nd er Ye ag er mu st ha ve ma na ge d to pic k up a we ak co m me rci al br oa dc ast .

It wa s the M err y M acs , sin gin g "M air zy Do ats ." "If the wo rds so un d qu eer , An d fun ny to yo ur ear ,A littl e bit ju mb led an d jiv ey, Sin g, 'M are s

Page 121

Ca mp bel l's W orl d

Ca mp bel l wa s de ad.

Ev en no w, sitti ng her e list eni ng to on e tea rful , so ulf ul eul og y aft er an oth er, I co uld n't qui te bel iev e it. Th e ma n ha d be en too big to die , the re

I sto pp ed my self . W hat wa sI thi nki ng ? Ca mp bel l sur ely wo uld n't ha ve wa nte d me to fee l this wa y. He ha d ha d no fea r of de ath , no reg ret s at

M y ey es fou nd a me dit ati ve foc us, a big om eg a-s ha pe d flor al wr eat h wit ha ba nn er be ari ng Ca mp bel l's na me an d dat es: 19 01 –1 98 7. I sta rte d

So ma ny pe opl e ow ed Ca mp bel l so mu ch. No t lea st of all the eig hte enye arold Na va ho bo y na me d Ja ke Hi gh wa ter, co nc eal ed no w insi de the bo dy

It wa s Se pte mb er 30, 19 37. Th e dat e is en gra ve d for ev er on my he art.

I sto od out sid e the Str eet an d Sm ith bui ldi ng in M an hat tan . It wa sa mil dly wa rm da y, but tha t did n't ex pla in the sw eat dre nc hin g my be st shi rt an d ill-f

Page 122 ma nila en vel op e sec ure d wit ha stri ng cla sp. M y bo dy wa s not rea cti ng to the he at, but rat her to a lar ge cas e of ner ves .

In a fe w mi nut es, if all we nt we ll, I wo uld be sta ndi ng in the pre sen ce of the ne w edi tor of As to un din g St ori es, a ma n na me d Ca mp bel l wh o ha d

I ha d be en rea din g As to un din g for fou r ye ars , ev er sin ce Str eet an d Sm ith ha d res urr ect ed the old Cl ayt on pul p. Fir st, jus t the od d iss ue or tw

I kn ew not hin g ab out this Ca mp bel l; he ha dn' t ev en pr od uc ed an iss ue by wh ich I co uld get so me sen se of hi m an d his tas tes .I ha d onl y lea rne d

"M r. Tr em ain e is edi tori al dir ect or for the wh ole Str eet an d Sm ith ch ain no w. W hic h ma gaz ine do es yo ur bu sin ess co nc ern ?"

"U h, As to un din g — "

"T he ma n in ch arg e the re no w is Mr . Ca mp bel l," the swi tch bo ard op era tor inf or me d me bri skl y. "S hall I put yo u thr ou gh ?"

Th e ne ws tot ally un hin ge d my car efu lly pla nn ed sp ee ch pra isin g Tr em ain e's wo rk.

"U h, no, "I sta m me red , "th at's O K. I me an — "

An d the nI hu ng up.

W her e or ho wI ha d fou nd the co ura ge to sh ow up a we ek lat er on the act ual do ors tep of the ma gaz ine I ad ore d, I ca nn ot no w rec all. It ha d tak en me

Su dd enl y co nsc iou s of the da ma ge my sw eat y ha nd s we re doi ng to my roll ed -u p ma nus cri pt, I tuc ke d it un der on e ar m, str aig hte d Un cle Re dbi rd'

Page 123

Th e ele vat or op era tor br ou ght me up. Th e ma gni fic ent thu mp of the pre sse s so on sur rou nd ed me , for mu ch of Str eet an d Sm ith' s pr od uct ion wa s do ne

So on I wa s sta ndi ng in fro nt of Ca mp bel l's sec ret ary . Th e na me -pl aq ue on her de sk ide ntif ied her as Mi ss Er dm an, an d she wa s ex oti call y gor ge ou

"M ay I hel p yo u?"

"I — I'd lik e to see Mr . Ca mp bel l. Th at is, if he' s not too bu sy. "

"H e is rat her pre sse d for tim e. M ay I as k wh at it's in ref ere nc e to? "

"I'v e got a sto ry to sh ow hi m."

He r smi le wi de ne d, the n pol itel y shr an k to bu sin ess lik e di me nsi on s. "O h, we ll, in tha t cas e. .. W oul d yo u mi nd wa itin g?" Sh e ind ica ted a

"N o, of co urs e not ." I wa s pre par ed to wa it all da y, so lon g as she wa s the re.

Pe opl e ca me an d we nt, bu stli ng or leis ure ly. Th e glo rio us, gla mo rou s Mi ss Er dm an de alt wit h on e an d all effi cie ntl y an d wit h go od hu mo r. In

Sh e wa sa da nc e stu de nt wit h so me on e na me d M art ha Gr ah am , wo rki ng her e onl y to pa y the bill s. He r fa mil y wa s ric h — she ha d rec

An d wh at, I as ke d, did she thi nk of her ne w bo ss?

He r fac e wa s tra nsfi gur ed as if by sun ligh t, an d my he art san k. It wa s pla in tha t no ma n wo uld ev er co me up in her esti ma tio n to this my ste rio us ne

"O h, Mr . Ca mp bel l is jus t wo nd erf ul. He 's so sm art ! He has his ma ste rs fro m Co lu mb ia, yo u kn ow — me die val stu die s. He 's be en to Eu ro pe, me t

Page 124 He r es ote ric clu es left me co mp let ely in the dar k, an d my fac e mu st ha ve sh ow n it.

''O h, we ll, ne ver mi nd. Yo u'll fin d out as so on as yo u me et hi m, ev ery on e do es. He jus t kin d of rad iat es this an cie nt po we r, a po we r of ide as — "

I wa nte d to say so me thi ng ab out the ne w edi tor' s int ere sts. Bu t all the na me s she ha d tos se d out so de vo utl y me ant not hin g to me , an dI wa s ash

"I su pp os e he' s not mu ch of a sci en ce ma n the n?" I sai d, ho pin g to cut hi m do wn to siz e.

"O h, no, " Mi ss Er dm an sh ot ba ck, "ju st the op po site . He thi nk s sci en ce is ver y im po rta nt. He wo uld n't ha ve got ten the job oth er wis e. An d jus ta fe

I ma de on e last sta b. "I gu ess he' s on e of tho se eg gh ea d pr ofe sso r typ es the n."

Mi ss Er dm an gig gle d. "N ot ent irel y. He wa s on the Co lu mb ia tra ck tea m. He ca me wit hin tw o sec on ds of set tin ga wo rld rec or d for the hal fmil e."

I kn ew wh en I wa s be ate n. Thi s Ca mp bel l so un de d lik e so me kin d of go d. Sitt ing ba ck in my ch air, I ass um ed a cre stf alle n sile nc e.

Ho urs pa sse d. Pe opl e wit h ap poi nt me nts we nt in an d out of Ca mp bel l's offi ce, but I ne ver sa w the ma n hi ms elf. Un til jus t aro un d fou r o'c loc k.

A tall fell ow in his mi d-t hirt ies ap pe are d at the inn er do or. Co pio usl y wa vyhai red , lar geno se d, str on g-j aw ed, he re mi nd ed me of the big , blu ff Iris h

Bu t tha t firs t im pre ssi on wa s par tiall y dis pel led wh en he sp ok e in a cul tiv ate d voi ce, fir m yet co mp ass ion ate .

"M iss Er dm an, I'm afr aid I wo n't be tak ing an y mo re ap poi nt me nts tod ay — "

I sh ot to my fee t an d wo rds rus he d inv olu nta rily for th. Page 125 "B ut sir, I'v e be en wa itin g all aft ern oo n — !"

Ca mp bel l op en ed his mo uth , an dI kn ew he wa s goi ng to fob me off. Bu t the n his gaz e ha pp en ed to fall on my bel t.

Th e bu ckl e wa sa ma ssi ve tou rqu ois e-s tud de d on e fro m the res erv ati on.

Th e ne xt wo rds out of Ca mp bel l flo ore d me , for he gre ete d me in Na vaj o.

Se nsi ng my utt er co nfu sio n, Ca mp bel l ad va nc ed. Put tin g an ar m aro un d my sh oul der , he smi led , the n tur ne d to ad dre ss his sec ret ary .

"A sI wa s say ing , Mi ss Er dm an, this yo un g ma n is goi ng to be my last ap poi nt me nt of the da y"

Mi ss Er dm an flas he d tha t be wit chi ng smi le. "I'll ma ke sur e yo u'r e not dis tur be d."

An d the nI wa s insi de As to un din g's inn er san ctu m, be hin d the do or wit h the fre sh gol dle af sp elli ng out the ne w edi tor' s na me .

Jo se ph Ca mp bel l.

Aft er ush eri ng me to a lea the r-p ad de d sea t, Ca mp bel l per ch ed hi ms elf on the ed ge of his de sk, on e foo t res tin g on the flo or. A run ner 's mu scl es def

At last I fou nd my voi ce. "Y ou sp ea k Na vaj o — "

Ca mp bel l lau gh ed, a he art y bo om ing . "H ard ly Jus ta fe w wo rds . Pic ke d the m up in my rea din g. Be en rea din g ab out A me rin dia ns sin ce I wa sa

Su dd enl y, I wa nte d not hin g mo re tha n to rea d this El me r Gr eg or, ev en tho ug h he wo uld do ubt les sly ha ve not hin g to tell me ex ce pt sec on dha nd inf

Ca mp bel l zer oe d in on my ma nus cri pt, wh ich I ha d for got ten I wa s hol din g. "T hat so me thi ng yo u wa nt me to rea d?"

W or dle ssl yI pa sse d it ov er. Ca mp bel l ret rea ted to the far sid e of his de sk an d sat . Page 126

"' M oth er to the W orl d.' Ni ce, ver y nic e."

He pic ke d up a red pe ncil . "Y ou do n't mi nd if I ma rk it up a bit, do yo u? I'm afr aid tha t un der lini ng is my for m of me dit ati on. "

I hur rie d to sha ke my he ad no, an d he smi led an d got to wo rk.

Tw ent y mi nut es lat er, he loo ke d up. His dar k ey es bo red int o mi ne, an dI felt na ke d.

"T his is ba se d on on e of the leg en ds of Est san atl ehi , 'th e wo ma n wh o ch an ges ,' is it not ? Th e on e wh ere she cre ate s ma nki nd fro m sliv ers of her

I kn ew no wI wa s in the pre sen ce of a sha ma n. Thi s ma n co uld rea d so uls.

Gu lpi ng, I trie d to rep ly "Y uhye ah. I me an, yes , sir, it is. Yo u see ,I tho ug ht tha t the old leg en d so un de d lik e mo der n tiss ue cul turi ng. So I im agi

Ca mp bel l hel d up a ha nd to sto p me fro m rec itin g the wh ole sto ry. "Y our inst inc ts are go od, Ja ke, " he sai d, tak ing my na me fro m the firs t pa ge of my ma

"W ait a mi nut e, so n. Ar en' t yo u int ere ste d in ho w mu ch we 're pa yin g?"

I fro ze. "P ayi ng ?"

"A s so on as yo u ma ke tho se ch an ges I'v e pe ncil ed in, tha t is. Re typ e it, bri ng it ba ck, an d I'll cut the ch ec k. On e hu ndr ed dol lar s, tw o ce nts a

Ne rve les s, I dr op pe d ba ck int o the ch air.

"T her e's onl y on e cat ch. Yo u'v e got to list en to a littl e lec tur e firs t."

I sna pp ed my ja w shu t, an d du mb ly no dd ed.

Ca mp bel l sto od an d be ga n to pa ce the offi ce. He wa s pla inly rec itin ga we ll-r eh ear se d sp ee ch — at the sa me tim e tha t he wa s usi ng my rea cti on s

"Y ou see , Ja ke, I too k this job ov er an off er to tea ch at Sa rah La wr en ce col leg e — ev en tho ug h it pa ys mu ch les s —f or on e rea so n an d on e rea

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"O ur cul tur e is in tro ubl e, Ja ke. W e'r e stu ck sm ac k da b in the mi ddl e of a sta ge tha t Sp en gle r has ide ntif ied as on e of cri sis an d disi nte gra tio n.

"T hes e ne w my ths are goi ng to ha ve to tak e mo der n sci en ce he avil y int o ac co unt . Yo u ca nn ot de al wit h the wo rld of A.D.

20 00 wit h the sci en ce

"I ca n't aff or d to pu blis h an yth ing ina uth ent ic, an y sto rie s tha t do n't ari se fro m de epl y felt we llsp rin gs wit hin the aut hor 's ow n bre ast . I'm tal kin g

Ov er the ne xt fiv e de ca de s, I wa s to he ar this sp ee ch or so me var ian t of it mo re tim es tha nI co uld co unt . It wo uld ne ver fail to mo ve me , so me tim es rek

"T her e's goi ng to be a cle an sw ee p her e at the ma gaz ine ," Ca mp bel l co nti nu ed. "H ac kw or k will no lon ger fin da ho me her e, an d I'm ch an gin g the na

"A ny of the old er wri ter s wh o ca n ma ke the tra nsit ion will be we lco me . Bu tI rea lly do n't ex pe ct ma ny of the m to un der sta nd wh at I Page 128

wa nt, or be ca pa ble of pr ovi din g it. Th at's wh yI ha ve to fin d ne w wri ter s, me n lik e yo urs elf, Ja ke. Wr iter s fro m ev ery po ssi ble cul tur e, on es wh o

I mu st ha ve blu she d, for Ca mp bel l ton ed do wn his rhe tori c.

"Ja ke, we ha ve a ch an ce wit h this ma gaz ine to put W est ern civi liza tio n ba ck in tou ch wit h the ess ent ial gro un d of all ph en om en a, the voi d out of wh ich ev

At tha t poi nt, I wo uld ha ve gla dly de sce nd ed lik e Or ph eus to Ha de s itse lf for Ca mp bel l. I ju mp ed to my fee t an d gra bb ed his ha nd.

"Y ou ca n co unt on me , Mr . Ca mp bel l!"

His qu esti ng mi nd ha d alr ea dy mo ve d on to oth er ma tter s. "G rea t, gre at, gre at," he int on ed, lea din g me out an d hail ing his sec ret ary . "Je an, wh y do n't yo

Mi ss Er dm an — Jea n —j um pe d up, sq ue alin g wit h gle e, the n hu gg ed me an d kis se d me on the ch ee k.

Di dI say Ha de s? Yo u co uld 've ad de d in the hell s of Da nte , Mil ton , an d Bu ny an too .

Thi s wa s the sta rt of my fift y-y ear ass oci ati on wit h As to un din g an d Jos ep h Ca mp bel l an d his qu est to re ma ke the wo rld ne are r to his he art' s de

Th e Jul y 19 38 iss ue of As to un din g in wh ich my firs t sto ry did ev ent uall y run is ge ner ally ac kn ow led ge d to be the be gin nin g of Ca mp bel l's fin est per

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the Na vaj o my ths ab out the tw o br oth ers , Na ye nez ga ni an d To ba dzi stsi ni, the fa mo us sla yer s of mo nst ers . M y tw o her oe s we re int erp lan eta ry

An d thr ou gh out ,I wa s tre ate d to Ca mp bel l's vie ws on ev ery thi ng fro m mo vie s ("d ida cti c po rno gra ph y wit ho ut an y spi ritu alit y") to sex ual mo res ("st

M uc h to my joy , Ca mp bel l see me d to reg ard me as a so n, es pe cial ly wh en he he ard my ow n fat her wa s de ad of alc oh oli c kid ne y fail ure .

"Y es, yes ," he sai d, reg ard ing me ke enl y, "th e or ph an, the jou rne y, the old pat ter ns of the mo no my th rep eat for ev er . .. ."

Aft er tha t, he wa s ev en kin der , if suc h we re po ssi ble .

Ea rly in 19 39, tw o im po rta nt thi ngs ha pp en ed. Ca mp bel l ma rrie d Jea n Er dm an, wh o wa s al mo st tw ent y ye ars yo un ger tha n he. I did n't rea lize ho

Bu tI wa s onl y tw ent y an d he ale d fas t. Or so I tho ug ht. Jea n re ma ine d at her job , an dI ma na ge d to ch at bre ezil y wit h Mr s. Ca mp bel l ea

Ad mit ted ly, the ma rria ge wa sa big ch an ge for all of us. Bu t it wa s onl ya per so nal on e. La rge r for ces , ho we ver , we re at wo rk in the wo rld.

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On e da yI wa lke d int o Ca mp bel l's offi ce an d fou nd hi m ab sor be d in tha t da y's Tri bu ne. No tici ng me , he tos se d the pa per do wn wit ha sn ort of dis

"W hat do yo u ma ke of the situ ati on in Eu ro pe, Ja ke ?" I mu mb led the co nv ent ion al wis do m, ab out ho w Hit ler co uld be pla cat ed wit ha littl e ter rito ry. Bu t

"N o, Ja ke, the ma n is a sor cer or, a bla ck ma gici an. To an yo ne wh o kn ow s the my ths , it's pla in as da y. Do n't for get wh ere Fa ust hail ed fro m. No , Hit ler wo

Wi th the co cki nes s of an ap pre nti ce, I sai d, "A nd yo u an d As to un din g are the onl y on es wh o ca n sto p hi m, rig ht? "

Ca mp bel l kn oc ke d his ch air ov er as he sh ot to his fee t. "T hat 's it! Ja ke, yo u'r ea ge niu s!"

Th at ver y nig ht, he wa s on a trai n for W ash ing ton .

I ne ver lea rne d till ye ars lat er ho w he got an int erv ie w wit h FD R. Tu rne d out on e of his old Co lu mb ia pr ofe sso rs ha d be co me an un der sec ret ary in

Ho we ver it ha pp en ed, tw o mo nth s lat er As to un din g wa s pu blis hin ga Ge rm an edi tio n.

No ne of the sto rie s, ho we ver , we re tra nsl ati on s. Th ey we re all ori gin als, co mp os ed in par t by Ca mp bel l an d in par t by a gro up of Ge rm an ex pat

I rea da fe w of the sto rie s in En glis h, but the y me ant not hin g to me asi de fro m the sur fac e plo ttin g. I re me mb er tha t on e in par tic ula r wa s all ab out pig

"O f co urs e the y do n't pu sh yo ur but ton s, Ja ke. Th ey' re sla nte d to wa rd the Te uto nic mi nd. Th e mo no my th tak es the for m of El em en -

Page 131 tar ge da nk en sp eci fic to ea ch cul tur e. Bu t bel iev e me , the se sto rie s are hitt ing the Ge rm an pe opl e lik e bul lets ."

An d of co urs e he wa s rig ht, as I lea rne d wit ha sh oc k wh en the ne ws of Hit ler' s ass ass ina tio n rea ch ed A me ric a. Th e wir e ph oto of the de ad ass

Th e Na zi Pa rty, falli ng pre y to int ern eci ne sq ua bbl ing , ma na ge d to re ma in in po we r for a fe w mo nth s, but we re so on de po se d se mi pe ac efu

Bu t it wa s not to be.

Jo e, Jea n, an dI we re cel ebr ati ng the do wn fall of the Na zis wit ha bot tle of ch am pa gn e in the offi ce wh en the ph on e ran g. Ca mp bel l pic ke d up.

"H ell o? Ye s! Ye s, sir. Wi ll do !"

He hu ng up, loo kin g as da ze d as I'v e ev er see n hi m. "T hat wa s the pre sid ent . He wa nts to see a mo ck up of a pa nAsi an iss ue of the ma gaz ine as so

It wa s ab out on e hu ndr ed iss ues lat er tha t Jo e de cid ed on his ow n to initi ate yet an oth er for eig n ver sio n of the ma gaz ine . Thi s tim e, be ca use co ndi

Bu t he left Jea n at ho me .

Ba ck a we ek ear ly fro m Le nin gra d, he wa lke d in on us na ke d in his be d.

Ov er wh el mi ng mo rtifi cat ion an d guil t sw ept ov er me .I co uld n't ev en re me mb er ho wI ha d en de d up her e. It ha d be en as if I we re mo vin g in a

"Jo e," I be ga n, loo kin g to an un per tur be d Jea n for su pp ort , "I do n't kn ow ho w to ex pla in — "

Ca mp bel l lau gh ed sof tly an d ap par ent ly wit ho ut bitt ern ess or iro ny.

"Ja ke, I ne ver tol d yo u, did I, tha t 'S F' co uld sta nd for ' sh ak ti Page 132

fict ion ' as we ll. Jea n is my sh ak ti, the livi ng em bo di me nt of fe mi nin e po we r, my fou nt of en dle ss en erg y. Th ere is an alc he mi cal ma rria ge bet we en us wh

An d the n he hu ng up his hat an d joi ne d us.

Six mo nth s lat er the ne oCz ari st Re vol uti on br ok e out . Six mo nth s aft er tha t, Sta lin wa s ha ngi ng fro m a la mp po st in Re d Sq uar e.

Th e foll ow ing ye ars we re the bu sie st of my life . Th e str an ge rel ati on shi p am on g Ca mp bel l, Jea n, an dI did ind ee d sp ur my wri tin g. I be ga na ser ies

Re ad ers hip of As to un din g in A me ric a wa s no w sec on d onl y to tha t of Lif e ma gaz ine , an un he ard -of sta tur e for a fict ion pul p. W e we nt glo

Ca mp bel l's co mp etit ors ha d trie d to em ula te hi m, wit h mi xe d res ults . M ost ly, the y fail ed, lac kin g his pur ity of visi on an d mo tiv es. Th ere wa s no on

No on e in the fiel d of lite rat ure , tha t wa s.

Ca mp bel l wa s call ed bef ore M cC art hy' s H U A C in Se pte mb er 19 53, on ch arg es of "pr om ulg ati ng for eig n fair y tal es me ant to su bv ert A me ric an

I ha ve ne ver see na ma n so utt erl y hu mili ate d an d de str oy ed by "m ere " me tap hor bef ore or sin ce. Th e tel evi se d he ari ngs ev ent uall y ca ptu red the att

Page 133 M cC art hy co uld bar ely fra me a co mp let e sen ten ce wh ile Jo e wa s co ol as Sh adr ac h in the fur na ce.

Th e co nfe ssi on the y fou nd on M cC art hy' s cor ps e, tho ug h spl att ere d wit h the sen ato r's self -sh att ere d bra ins, wa s still rea da ble en ou gh to bri ng Vi ce

As the sixt ies da wn ed, I fou nd the vei n of my wri tin g pet eri ng out .I ha d de alt wit h ev ery sig nifi ca nt Na vaj o my th, an d no oth er ma teri al ap pe ale d to

M y blo ck wa sn't hel pe d by the ch an ges at the ma gaz ine . Fir st, Ca mp bel l act uall y ren am ed it ent irel y: it wa s no w call ed An an da My thi c Fi cti on My

Th en the re we re all the ne w wri ter s co mi ng in, yo un g kid s lik e Bal lar d an d De lan y an d Zel azn y wh o ha d be en rai se d on the wo rk of me an

Th e da yI tol d hi mI wa s lea vin g Ne w Yo rk is al mo st as sha rp in my mi nd as tha t da y in '37 , alt ho ug h the y sto od ov er tw ent y-fi ve ye ars ap

"S o it's ba ck to the res erv ati on for yo u, Ja ke ? W ell, I ca n't say I bla me yo u. A ma n ne ed s to get ba ck to his ro ots at a cer tai n poi nt. Yo u'v e got

"It' s ab out tim eI use d so me of tha t ob sce nel y hig h mo ne y yo u'v e pai d me ov er the ye ars , Jo e. I'm goi ng to plo w it ba ck int o im pr ovi ng co ndi

I tap ere d off. Th ere wa s not hin g els e to say . Page 134 Ca mp bel l an dI sh oo k ha nd s, an dI wa lke d out .

Th ere wa sa yo un g girl at Jea n's de sk — I for get her na me no w. Jea n ha d left the job on ce she an d Jo e got ric h, to co nc ent rat e on her da nci ng, an d she

"D on' t for get my ad dre ss if yo u wri te an yth ing ne w — so n," call ed out Jo e, an d the nI wa s in the hall .I did wri te thr ee or ten or tw elv e mo re pie ces in the

Bu t the ma gic of tho se ear ly ye ars wa s go ne, ne ver to be rec apt ure d.

M ost cer tai nly not no w, no w tha t Ca mp bel l wa s de ad.

Th e last sp ea ker wa sa bar ebre ast ed pri est ess for the Te mp le of the Go dd ess .I ca me out of my rev eri e an d fou nd a ha nd ker chi ef to dry my ey es jus t as

Jea n, still be aut iful un der the we igh t of her ye ars , led the cor teg e out of the Os iria n ch urc h, we ari ng the cro wn of Isis .

W e car rie d the cof fin pa st the ass em ble d dig nit ari es, be ne ath the ey es of all the tel evi sio n ca me ras an d the int ern ati on al au die nc e. I rec og niz ed the wo

Page 135

kin g of Br azil or the sult an of Pe rsi a. W e bur ied Ca mp bel l at the sp ot ne ar his chil dh oo d ho me tha t he ha d ch os en, be ne ath a lar ge tre e.

Th en, wh en it wa s ov er, I kis se d Jea n, cli mb ed int o my fly er, kic ke d in the ant igr av, an d let the aut opi lot tak e me ho me . Page 137

In sta bili ty

[w ritt en wit h Ru dy Ru ck er]

Jac k an d Ne al, loo se an d bla ste d, sitti ng on the ste ps of the ra ms ha ckl e po rch of Bill Bu rro ug h's Te xas sha ck. Bu rro ug hs is out in the yar d, cat ato nic in his

Bu rro ug hs ris es to his fee t lik ea fig ure in a we ll-g rea se d Sw iss clo ck. "T her e is a scr ab bli ng, " go es Bill . "T her e is a scr ab bli ng be hin d the di me nsi

"I rea d it in jail ," say s Ne al, sec retl y pr ou d. "Di g, Bill , yo ur me nti on of tha t do cu me nt ties in so ex act ly wit h my mo st rec ent tho ug ht mo de tha t old

"M hw eehe eehe ee, " say s Jac k. "T he Sh ad ow kn ow s."

"I' m tal kin g ab out this bo mb foo lish nes s," har ru mp hs Bu rro ug hs, stal kin g stif f-le gg ed ov er to sta nd on the ste ps. "T he pa per on the flo or in the roa dh ou se joh

Page 138

M cC art hy an d Ha rry J. An slin ger , poi se d to sto mp out the red s 'n' qu eer s 'n' do pef ien ds. Sci en ce bri ngs us this .I wi pe my qu eer jun kie ass wit h sci en ce,

"Y ou me an Dj an go Rei nh ard t," go es Jac k, sto ne d an d rud e. "M an, this is yo ur life , the ir life , my life ,a do gs life , Go d's life , the life of Ril ey. Th e Ar

Ne al go es, "Jo an Cr aw for d, Jo an Cr aw fish , Jo an Fis hh oo k, Jo an Ra ws ha nk s in the fog . Mc Vo uti e!" He 's tok ing a hy dra nt roa ch an d his jay wr ap pin

Jac k wa rps a bru tal mo od swi ng. Th ere 's no wi ne. Ti Ja ck co uld us ea wi ddl y su p po ur bo n pe ek, lik e ple as e, yo u ill cat s, get me off thi s Ea rth ...

"A nd fuc k the chi ck en gib lets ," ch ortl es Ne al ob scu rel y, joy ou sly, in the re, an d the n sug ges ts, by act ion s as mu ch as by wo rds , is he re all y tal kin g, Ja

Jac k cra bc ak es slid ew ays on fin ger tip s an d he els to Ne al's elb ow an d the y be gin to lov ingl y cra ft an d fas hio n an d cro on up on an d ev en it wo uld

Th ey get off go od.

M ea nw hile Bill Bu rro ug hs is sla ck ed ba ck in his roc ker , refi xe d an d not qui te on the no d be ca use he' s per sist ent ly irrit ate d, bot h by the tho ug ht of the

So Do cto r Mi rac le an d Litt le Ric har d are bar reli ng alo ng the Ari zo na hig hw ay, he adi ng eas t on Ro ute 40 out of Ve gas , the ir po ck ets full of

Page 139

silv er car tw he els fro m the gri nd s the y'v e thi mb leri gg ed an d als o wa llet s bul gin g wit h hide no m bill s the y de ma nd ed wh en cas hin g in the ir chi

Do cto r Mi rac le sp ea ks. He att em pts pre cisi on, to co mp ens ate for the Hu ng ari an ac ce nt an d for the alc oh ol-i nd uc ed spr ea d in ba nd wi dth .

"V e mu st re me mb er to zen d Sta n Ul am a po stc ard fro m Lo s Al am os, rep orti ng za zuc ces s of his M ont e Ca rlo mo del ing me tho d."

"It wo uld a wo rke d ev en bet ter ov er in Eu ro pe, " go es Litt le Ric har d. "T he y got no do ubl e-z ero slo ts on the ir wh eel s."

Do cto r Mi rac le no ds sag ely . He 's a plu mp gu y in his fifti es: thi nni ng hai r, co zy chi n, far aw ay ey es. He 's dre sse d in a do ubl ebr eas ted suit , wit ha bri ght

Litt le Ric har d is yo un ger , ski nni er, mo re Je wis h, an d he has a thi ck po mp ad our . He 's we ari ng ba gg y kh aki s an da wh ite Tshi rt wit ha pa ck of

It is not im me dia tel y ap par ent tha t the se tw o me n are AT O MI C WI ZA R DS , Q U A N TU M SH A M A N S, PL UT O NI U M PR O PH ET S, A

Do cto r Mi rac le, me et Ric har d Fe yn ma nn. Litt le Ric har d, say hell o to Jo hn ny vo n Ne um an n!

Th ere is a cas e of ch am pa gn e sitti ng on the rea r sea t bet we en the m. Ea ch of the Asci ent ists has an op en bot tle fro m wh ich he swi gs, wh ile the ir car — a bra

Th ere is no on e dri vin g. Th e fro nt sea t is em pty

Vo n Ne um an n, Fir st An noi nte d M ast er of Au to ma ta, has rig ge d up the wo rld' s pre mi er aut opi lot, yo u dig . He ne ver co uld dri ve ver y we ll, an d no

Page 140 Ho ller ith sor tin g ro ds, a me ch ani cal bra in tha t tra ns mit s cy ber net ic im pul ses dir ect ly to the ste eri ng, gas , an d bra ke me ch ani sm s.

Th e Tril ate ral Co m mis sio n has rul ed tha t the bra in in the Ca d's tru nk is too co ol for Jo e Bl ow , mu ch too co ol, an d the self -dr ivin g car isn' t goi ng to ma

''S o wh ad da ya thi nk of my ne w me tho d for sc ori ng sh ow girl s?" as ks Fe yn ma nn.

"Di cki e, alt ho ug h za initi al tria ls ver e en co ura gin g, ve mu st ha ve mo re poi nts on za gra ph bef ore ve ca n ext rap ola te," rep lies vo n Ne um an n. He loo ks sa

"W aa'l l," dra wls Fe yn ma nn, "I got a fav e nit ecl ub in El Pa so wh ere the girl s are hot ter' n ga m ma ray s an d pre tty as par ity co nse rva tio n. Yo u'll get wh at yo

"El Pa so, " mu tter s vo n Ne um an n, tak ing a ga dg et out of his inn er jac ket po ck et. It's ... THE FIRS T POC KET CAL CUL ATO

! Thi ng' s the siz e of a vol um e of the Bri tan nic R

"Y ou' re qui te rig ht, Di cki e," he an no un ces pre sen tly, still co unt ing the cry pti c flas hes of the cal cul ato r's ligh ts. "V e ca n do as yo u zay an d Page 141

ind ee d eef en ret urn to za bar rac ks bef ore M on da y zun ris e. Ve nn is za tes t sch ed ule d, ma yI as k?"

"Ei ght Ac k Em ma Su nd ay mo rni ng. "

Vo n Ne um an n's mo uth br oa de ns in a live r-li pp ed gri n, "H ow zyn chr oni stic . Ve 'll be pa ssi ng W hit e Sa nd s jus t zen .I haf f not wit nes se da bo mb tes

Fe yn ma nn cra wls ov er the fro nt sea t wh ile the car co nti nu es its ma d car ee nin g do wn the diz zy int ers tat e, pa ssi ng cra wli ng tou rist Bui ck s an d mo m' n'd

"I' m tire d of plu ggi ng ch ust me tal so ck ets , Ric har d. Viz za ne xt girl ,I go firs t."

No w it's nig ht an d the sto ne d be ats are dru nk an d hig h on be nni es, too . Ne al, his fac e all cro ok ed, slo pe s thr ou gh Bu rro ug hs' s sha ck an d pic ks Bill

Bu rro ug hs the be at mo rph inis t, wh os e we ary dis dai n has sha de d cat ast ro phi call y wit h the be nze dri ne an d alc oh ol int o frie d im pat ien ce, dra ws the sk

" W he w, no do ub t," go es Ne al, tos sin g Bu rro ug hs the ke ys.

"H av e ye har d dri nk, mi ne ho st? " go es Jac k, tryi ng to de cid e if the gu n rea lly we nt off or not . "P erh ap sa pin t of wh isk ey in the wri tin g de sk, old top ?

Page 142

"T o co nti nu e my aft ern oo n fit of tho ug ht," say s Bu rro ug hs, po ck eti ng the ke ys. "I wa s tal kin g ab out the rm on ucl ear de str uct ion an d ab out the fut ure

Ne al sig hs an d hu nk ers do wn to wa il on the bo mb er Jac k's lit off a sm old eri ng scr ap of sh otg un wa ddi ng. Be for e lon g he an d Jac k are far int oa rap ,

"Y es, " go es Jac k, "th os e Do om ed Sai nts of Ch ao s, loo se d on the wo rka da dd y wo rld to scr am ble the Ch arl es Di ck ens car k an d swi nk of BL O O D

"Bi ll is M oe, " say s Ne al, hot on the be am , bat tin g his ey es at Bill , wh o wo nd ers if it's tim e to she d his ch ara cte r-a rm or. "M r. Se rio us Ad mi nist ere r

"A h yo u Ne al," go es Jac k, "yo u'r e Cu rly, an geli c ma dm an sai nt of the un ca ug ht mo teb ea m fly bu zz fly! "

"A nd Ke rou ac is La rry ," rhe um s Bu rro ug hs, we ary wit h the kn ow led ge. " M op pie -li pp ed, lis pe d, mu xe d an d co mp let ely flu nk is the phr ase , eh Jac

"B orn to die ," go es Jac k. "W e'r e all bo rn to die , an dI ho pe it do be co ol, Big Bill , if we go am tak e yo ca h. Vo oti eoh -o h." He hol ds out his ha nd s for

"F uc k it," say s Bill . "W ho ne ed s this noi se? " He ha nd s Jac k the ke ys an d bef ore yo u kn ow it, Ne al's at the wh eel of the tw o-t on bla ck

Page 143 Bui ck, gu nni ng tha t str aig hteig ht mill an d bur pin g the clu tch . Jac k's at his sid e an d the y'r e on the roa d wit ha lon g ho nk go od by e.

In the nig ht the re' s ree fer an d plu sh sea ts an d the rad io an d Ne al is pa st sp ac ed, off in his ow n pri vat e lan d tha t fe w but Jac k an d All en ca n

"T his car is a fro nt ro w sea t to the Abla st."

"W hat say ?"

"W e'll bal l this jac k to W hit e Sa nd s, Ne w M exi co, de ar Jac k, rig ht on tim e for the bo mb tes t Su nd ay eig ht ayem .I sto le so me of Bill 's M, ma n, we

In Ho ust on the y sto p an d get gas an d wi ne an d be nn y an d Bul l Du rha m cig are tte pa per s an d ke ep flyi ng we st.

So me tim e in the nig ht Jac k sta rts to fad e in an d out of hor ror dre am s. Th ere 's a lot of ov erti me det ox dre am wo rk tha t he' s log ge d off of for too lon g. On

" — be en oh roc k 'n' roll go sp ele d in on the bo mb fo oli sh ne ss ... " Ne al is goi ng wh en Jac k scr ea ms an d fall s off the ba ck sea t he wa s str etc he

"G o," say s Jac k fee bly , fee ling aro un d on the ba ck sea t flo or. Sh ort me tal bar rel, ligh tly oil ed. Big flat dis k of a ma gaz ine . Fu cki n' cra zy Bu rro ug hs. It's a

"A nd oh Jac k, ma n, I kn ew yo u'd kn ow pa st the sui cid al nor m, No rm an Ro ck we ll, tha t it wa s. . .. De Vo uti e!" Ne al fish es a Ba kel ite oc ari na out of his shi rt

Page 144

Gi ggli ng Le da At om ica tug s at the sh oul der of her lo wcut pe asa nt blo use wit h the dar ling pet itp oin t flor al em br oid ery , tryi ng to co nc eal the ver tigi no us de

Le da ha d be en tok ing roa dsi de Al bu qu erq ue mo no xid e till ele ve n-fi fty -fiv e this Sat urd ay nig ht, thu mb out str etc he d an d ski rt hik ed up to mi dth igh , on

"T hat the re wa s the onl y bir d lik e tha t in Ari zo na, " yell ed Oa the r. "W hy din tch a lat ch the pe n?"

"M ay be pe opl e wo uld sta rt pa yin' to wa tch yo u lic k my but t," sai d Le da ev enl y. "It' s ab out all yo u'r e go od for , lim pdi ck. "

Et cet era .

Aft ern oo n an d ear ly ev eni ng traf fic wa s sp ars e. Th e dri ver s tha t did pa ss we re all up sta ndi ng fa mil y me n in sen sibl e Ply mo uth s, ho nes t sal es

Sta ndi ng the re at the roa dsi de, Le da al mo st ga ve up ho pe. Bu t the n, jus t bef ore mi dni ght , the glo om par ted an d her e co me s so me kin d of bar rel -as sin

W he n the rad ars hit Le da' s bo ob s an d ret urn ed the ir ec ho es to the co ntr ol me ch ani sm , the cy ber net ic bra in ne arl y ha d an an od e an eur ys m.

Page 145

co nc eal ed sir ens we nt off, an d Ro ma n ca ndl es mo unt ed on the rea r bu mp er dis ch arg ed, sh oot ing rai nb ow fou nta ins of glo ry int o the nig ht.

" SKI RT ALE RT

!" wh oo pe d Do cto r Mi rac le an d Litt le Ric har d.

Be for e Le da qui te kn ew wh at wa s ha pp eni ng, the cy ber net ic Ca dd y ha d bra ke d at her ex act sp ot. Th e rea r do or op en ed, Le da an d her cas e we

Le da kn ew she wa s ho ok ed up wit h so me qu eer fell as as so on as she not ice d the em pty dri ver 's sea t.

An d she wa sn't rea ssu red by the pai r's ha bit of rec itin g ba ck wa rds all the sig ns the y pa sse d.

"P ots !"

"E gre m! "

"S ag! "

Bu t so on Le da too ka shi ne to Do cto r Mi rac le an d Litt le Ric har d. Th eir per so nali ties gre w on her in dir ect pr op orti on to the am ou nt of bu bbl y she do wn

"Dl eiy !" cro on s Do cto r Mi rac le.

"D ae ha thg il ciff art !" go es Fe yn ma nn, all we ase led in on Le da' s oth er sid e.

"K cuf em wo n, sy ob !" say s Le da, wh o's go ne sev en dry we ek s wit ho ut the str aig hton lov ing the se sci ent ists are so cle arl y rea dy to pr ovi de.

So the y pul l ov er to the ne xt tou rist ca bin s an d get na ke d an d fin d out wh at fac tori al thr ee rea lly me ans .I me an ... do the y get it on, or wh at? Th os

An d the n it's ne ar da wn an d the y ha ve bre akf ast at a gre asy sp oo n na me d Bo ng o's an d the n the y'r e on Ro ute 85 so uth . Jo hn ny' s got the bra in

Page 146

do wn to the poi nt wh ere the Ca d will act uall y cru ise pa st gro un d zer oa fe w mi nut es bef ore eig ht AM

igni tio n, an d nes tle itse lf be hin d the ob ser vat ion bu nk

Rig ht bef ore the tur nof f to the W hit e Sa nd s roa d, vo n Ne um an n de cid es tha t thi ngs are get tin g dul l.

"Di cki e, act iva te za jac ks! "

"Y ow suh !"

Fe yn ma nn lea ns ov er the fro nt sea t an d flip sa swi tch tha t's bre ad bo ard ed int o the da sh. Th e car sta rts to bu ck an d rea r lik ea wil d br on co, its fro nt

As the Ca dd y po rp ois es do wn the hig hw ay, its thr ee oc cu pa nts are lau ghi ng an d falli ng all ov er ea ch oth er, pla yin g gra ba ss, ch am pa gn e spil ling fro m an

Su dd enl y wit ho ut wa rni ng an OO GAOO GA

kla xo n sta rts to bla re.

"C olli sio n im mi ne nt! " sh out s vo n Ne um an n.

"H old ont o yo ur tus h!" ad vis es Fe yn ma nn.

"B e car efu l!" scr ea ms Le da an d wri ggl es to the flo or.

Fe yn ma nn ma na ges to get a swi ft gli mp se of a nig htb lac k Bui ck dri vin g do wn the tw o lan e roa d's ex act ce nte r, he adi ng str aig ht to wa rds the m. No on

Th en the roa d dis ap pe ars , lea vin g onl y blu e sk y to fill the wi nd shi eld . Th ere is a tre me nd ou s scr ee ch an d roa r of rip pin g me tal, an d the Ca dd

W he n Fe yn ma nn an d vo n Ne um an n pe er out the ir rea r wi nd ow the y see the Bui ck sto pp ed ba ck the re. It is mis sin g its ent ire ro of, wh ich lies cru mp

Fo r all Ne al's bra ggi ng, M' s not so me thi ng he' s not tot ally use d to. He has to sto p an d pu ke a co upl e of tim es in El Pa so, ear ly ear ly wit h the sk y goi

Page 147

hi m; he kn ow s he ou ght to put it in the tru nk in cas e the co ps ev er pul l the m ov er, but the da pp er ne ss of the we ap on is mo re tha n Ne al ca n res ist.

No rth of La s Cr uc es the sun is al mo st up an d Ne al is get tin ga ba d dis co nn ect ed fee ling ; he fig ure s it's the mo rph ine we ari ng off an d de cid es to fix

Th e cra sh tea rs op en the dre am s of Jac k an d Ne al lik e so me hor ribl e fat ma n's ca n op en er att ac kin g oil y sm ok ed sar din es. Th ey wa ke up in an

Jac k's slu ggi sh an d sta ys in the car , but Ne al is out on the roa d doi ng da nc e inc ant ati on tryi ng to av oid the de ath tha t he fee ls so thi ck in the air. Th e Th

Slo wl y bla ck -te mp ere d Jac k op ens the hol ey Bui ck do or, fee ling Go d it's so hor ribl e to be aliv e. He blo ws ch un ks on the me ani ngl ess as ph alt. Th e tw o str

Page 148

90 in mo the r's mil k. Be nt do wn wi pin g his mo uth an d ste alin g an out la w loo k at the m, Jac k flas hes tha t the se ne w gu ys ha ve pic ke d up the ir he av

"E ver yo ne hat es me but Jes us, " say s Ne al, wa lki ng ov er to the Ca dill ac, spi nni ng the em pty Th om ps on aro un d his call ou se d thu mb . "E ver yo ne is Jes us

"Hi ," say s Fe yn ma nn. "I' m sor ry we wr ec ke d yo ur car ."

Le da ris es up fro m the flo or bet we en vo n Ne um an n's leg s, a fac t not los t on Ne al.

"W e'r e on our wa y to the bo mb tes t," cro ak s Jac k, lur chi ng ov er.

"V e hel pe d inv ent za bo mb ," say s vo n Ne um an n. "V e'r e ric h un d im po rta nt me n. Of co urs e ve vill pa y yo u rep ara tio ns, an d ad diti on ally off

Th e Ca dill ac is ob edi ent ly idli ng in par k, its ro bot -br ain ha vin g ret rac ted the jac ks an d go ne int o sta nd by mo de aft er the oil pa n-s cra pin g col lisi on wit

Vo n Ne um an n flic ks the RE SE T cy ber swi tch in the rea r sea t co ntr ol pa nel , an d the Ca d roc ket s for wa rd, pre ssi ng the m all ba ck int o the de ep cus

"Zi s car 's br ob abl y as zm art as yo u are ," vo n Ne um an n ca n't hel p bit chcat tin g. Ne al lets it slid e.

7:4 9 AM .

Th e Ca d ma ke sa har d sq ue alin g rig ht tur n ont o the W hit e Sa nd s ac ces s roa d. Th ere 's a ch ec kp oin t furt her on; but the sol die rs rec og niz e vo n

Page 149

Ne al fire s up a last ree fer an d be gin s be ati ng out a rhy th m on the da sh wit h his ha nd s, gro ovi ng to the pul se of the pla net , his pla net aw aiti ng its sav ior.

A to we r rea rs on the hor izo n off to the left an d all at on ce the sm art Ca d ve ers off the em pty tw o-l an e roa d an d ra ms its wa y thr ou gh a ch ainl ink fen

"Bl eas e ste p on za gas ma nu ally a bit, " say s vo n Ne um an n, uns urp ris ed. He pr ogr am me d this sh ort cut in. "I still va nt to go un der za to we r, but is onl y

It is ind ee d 7:5 7.

Ne al dra pe s hi ms elf ov er the wh eel no w, sto ne co m mit ted to this last hol y foll y. Fe elin ga wa ve of ser en e, yet ex ult ant res ign ati on, Jac k say s, "G o. Go ,

Th e Ca dd y, its on ce lust rou s sid es no w rak ed of pai nt by the tor n fen ce, hur tles on lik e Go d's ow n thu nd erb olt me sse ng er, ov er pe bbl es an d we ed s,

7:5 8.

"G et rea dy, Un cle Sa m," wh isp ers Ne al. "W e'r e co mi ng to cut yo ur bal ls off. Ho ld the bo ys do wn , Jac k."

Jac k bo dyr olls ov er the sea t ba ck int o the lap s of Fe yn ma nn an d vo n Ne um an n. Ca n't ha ve tho se ma d sci ent ists fid dli ng wit h the co ntr ols wh ile Ne

Po or inn oc ent Le da still thi nk s she 's on a joy rid e an d she co zie s up to Ne al's bic ep s, an d for an ete rna l sec on d it's jus t the wa y it's su pp os ed to

Page 150 bo mb wit ha lus cio us bru net te sq ue eze d up ag ain st hi m clo ser 'n ch ew in' gu m.

An d no w, bef ore the gu ys in ba ck ca n do mu ch of an yth ing , Ne al's cli pp ed thr ou gh the to we r's so uth ern leg . As the to we r sta rts to col lap se, Ne al, flyi

No Fat Bo y, this ga dg et rep res ent s the ulti ma te to dat e in mi nia turi zati on: it's onl y ab out as big as a fift y-g all on oil dru m, an d ab out as we igh ty. It cru nc hes

An d no, it do esn 't go off. No t yet .

7:5 9.

Ne al ai ms the mi ght y uns top pa ble Ca d at the sq uat co ncr ete bu nk er hal fa mil e off. Thi s is an im po rta nt tes t, the last ste p bef ore the Hbo mb , an d all the

Ki ng Ne al flo ors it an d do es a co wb oy yo del , Jac k is lau ghi ng Ho Tai -st yle an d elb ow ing the sci ent ists , Le da' s scr ea mi ng luri dly , Di cki e is tal kin

8:0 0.

Th ey im pa ct the bu nk er at 80 MP

, fol din g up ac cor dia nwis e, but not fee ling it on e bit as the sim ult an eo us mu shr oo m blo om s, an d the ato ms of the m H

Ti me for ks.

So me wh ere , so me wh en, the re no w exi sts an Ea rth wh ere the re are no nu cle ar ars en als, wh ere nat ion s do not wa ste the ir su bst an ce on mis sile s an d bo mb

Fo r yo u 'n' me . Page 151

W orl d W ar s III

''Is history personal or statistical?" —T. Pynchon

Thi s ha pp en ed in Ha mb urg on the ev e of JDa y, the nig ht of tha t no w leg en dar y US O trip le bill: the Be atl es op eni ng for the Su pre me s an d Elv is. So

Ha lf the No rth Atl ant ic fle et, it see me d, ha d put in at Ki el tw o da ys bef ore , for ref ueli ng an d pr ovi sio nin g. All ha nd s we re for bid de n sh ore lea ve.

Th os e we re our ch an ces , tha t is, if the pat roli ng Ru ssk ie su bs did n't sin k us firs t en rou te.

Thi s pr os pe ct did not sit we ll wit h Pig Bo din e an d me . It wa sn't so mu ch tha t we we re sca red of dyi ng. Ge e wh iz, no. Th ree ye ars of bat tle ha d cur ed us

"I see n the Be atl es bef ore the wa r," sai d Pig , "rig ht in Ha mb urg , at the Sta r Cl ub. M an, the y co uld roc k. I tho ug ht the y we re goi ng Page 152

so me wh ere , but I ne ver he ard an ym ore ab out the m. I did n't ev en kn ow the y we re still pla yin g tog eth er. "

Bo din e wa s lyin g up sid e do wn on his bu nk, he ad ha ngi ng flo or wa rd, tryi ng to get a ch ea p — an d the onl y av aila ble — hig h fro m the rus h of blo od

Pig 's en or mo us hai ry sto ma ch wa s ex po se d bel ow — or, mo re pre cis ely , ab ov e — his dirt y shi rt; his na vel wa s plu gg ed wit h so me dis gus tin g sm

Bo din e's na vel ja m fas cin ate d me at the sa me tim e it rep elle d me . Co mi ng fro m a wh itebre ad ba ck gro un d, illu stri ou s Pu rita n for eb ear s an d all tha

I ha d kn ow n Bo din e for ten ye ars no w, sin ce I ha d dr op pe d out of Co rne ll an d enli ste d in the Na vy in '55 . Pe ac eti me . It see ms so lon g ag o,

Bo din e ha d be en my co nst ant co mp ani on thr ou gh all tha t tim e, ev en wh en I ha d ma de it bri efl y int o offi cer s' ter rito ry, bef ore bei ng bu ste d ba ck.

"I thi nk I he ard so me thi ng ab out the m a ye ar or tw o ag o," I rep lie d, im agi nin g Pig 's mo uth as oc cu pyi ng his for eh ea d an d his ey es his chi n. It

Page 153 "M cC art ne y," int err upt ed Pig .

"W hat ev er. He wa s arr est ed on a mo ral s ch arg e. Go t ca ug ht wit h so me jail bai t. An d the n his bu dd y, Le mo n — "

"L en no n."

"Al l rig ht alr ea dy wit h the tea ch er riff. Do yo u wa nn a he ar the sto ry or not ? Le nn on sta rte d sh oot ing her oin wh en the wa r br ok e out an d ha d to

"I co uld use a littl e cu m ba ck my self ," sn ort ed Pig .

"L eft too mu ch in the last po rt! Sn urg , sna rf, hy uc k!" Thi s last ap pr oxi ma tin g Pig gy lau ght er. "G od, I'm goi ng shi pcra zy! I got ta see tha t sh ow an d get lai

"Y ea h, wh y?"

"Ju st liss en — "

An d so, sev era l ho urs lat er, all tric ke d out , we pre par ed to bre ac h our ow n for ce' s def ens es.

It wa s dar k, an d Be nn y Yo yo dy ne, slo we st of the slo w, wa s on dut y gu ard ing the ga ng wa yI wa s we ari ng the SP ar mb an d, har nes s, an d nig hts tic

"H alt! " sai d Yo yo dy ne, bra ndi shi ng his rifl e lik e so me An na pol is fro sh. "N o on e's per mit ted to dis em bar k."

"It' s O K, Be nn y. Th ey jus t ne ed Bo din e on sh ore for his co urt -m arti al to mo rro w."

Yo yo dy ne lo we red his gu n an d scr atc he d un der his ca p. "C our tma rtia l? Ge e, I'm sor ry to he ar tha t. W hat 'd he do ?"

"Y ou kn ow the so up we ha d last we ek ? Th e on e tha t tas ted so gru ng y? He pis se d in it. Th ey dis co ver ed it wh en the y sa w the dis tin cti ve uri ne cor

Yo yo dy ne tur ne d six sha de s of gre en. "G oo d Ch rist ! wh at a — a pig !"

"C' mo n, Bo din e, it's tim e to me et yo ur fat e."

Pig sta rte d str ug glin g. "N o, no, I wo n't go, do n't ma ke me , Ge ner al Le M ay will ha ng me by the bal ls!"

Yo yo dy ne pr od de d hi m wit h the rifl e. "Q uit fig hti ng an d tak e it lik ea ma n. Yo u ca n do at lea st on e no ble thi ng in yo ur mis era ble life ."

Pig str aig hte ne d up. "Y ou' ve ma de me see the err or of my wa ys, Be nn y C' mo n, To m, I'm rea dy no w." Page 154

I ma rch ed Pig do wn the ra mp to the do ck. He ex ud ed suc h an air of hol y ma rty rd om tha tI fou nd my self al mo st fee ling sor ry for hi m.

As so on as we rou nd ed the cor ner of a wa reh ou se, Pig uns na pp ed the sha ckl es fro m his wri sts an d col lap se d ato pa bar rel, rac ke d by lau ght er.

"A s Bu gs Bu nn y wo uld say ," I co m me nte d, "'E hh h, wh at a ma ro on! '"

"H e rea lly tho ug ht I wa s lik e all ref or me d in an inst ant . Jes us, so me gu ys de ser ve the Na vy. Let 's hit the roa d, Jac k Ke r-o hwa ck! "

It wa sa sw eet wa rm Jul y ev eni ng, we we re inst ant ly an d unf org iva bly A W O L, an d the Ki ng wa s pla yin g the ne xt nig ht ab out a hu ndr ed mil es to the

I ha d ne ver felt mo re aliv e, nor ev er wo uld .

Ki el wa s cra wli ng wit h SP 's an d M P' S (S & mp ;M P's on e an d all, fer shu re) , stri din g im per iall y am on g the cro wd s of ref ug ees , bla ck -m ark

Pig an dI ha d to dar t fro m sha do w to sha do w, do wn rub ble -fill ed alle ys, int o do or wa ys tha t we re all tha t re ma ine d of the bui ldi ngs the y ha d be en

Th e dri ver wa sa blo nd e En glis h lieu ten ant na me d Jan e "S ug arbu nn y" La ne. He r cu ddl y co pil ot wa sa dar khai red Ro ma nia n exil e wit h the ha ndl

Page 155

for ces . Ri bb on s fro m a do ubl e ha ndf ul of ca mp aig ns: the Co ng o, Pa na ma , Al ger ia, Fin lan d, M an ch uri a ... Ex per ien ce d, the se tw o! Be en in

"S o wh at kin d of me rcy mis sio n to the po or dis pla ce d per so nty pe s is this ?" as ke d Pig aft er a swi g, sq ue ezi ng Su gar bu nn y's thi gh as she dr ov e. To

"Is tha ta bill yg oat clu b in yo ur pa nts , or are yo u jus t bei ng gla d to see me ?" the Ro ma nia n ba be res po nd ed, sen din g Pig int o gal es of vo dk a-s ce nte

"Y ea h, wh at's in the ba ck ? Bla nk ets , me dic ine s, po wd ere d eg gs? "

Su gar bu nn y smi led . "S om eth ing ev en mo re vit al. Pr op ag an da. Na me ly, co mi cs. "

M y he art ne arl y sto pp ed. "A me ric an ?" I as ke d, not dar ing to ho pe. "N ew ?"

Vi ori ca no dd ed. "A me ric ans ki co mi cs, yes . An d ver y mu ch rec ent ly up -to -d ate ."

"St op the tru ck rig ht no w." Se nsi ng the urg en cy in my voi ce, Su gar bu nn y did as I as ke d. In les s tim e tha n it tak es to tell ,I wa s ba ck in the ca b wit ha

Page 156

tru ck to del ive r so me be ets to the bo rsh t fac tor y an d the y ma ke a sid etri p to blo w up the tan k fac tor y, alo ng the wa y pul ling a tru ckl oa d of be aut

Wi th tre mb ling ha nd sI rip pe d the shr ink -w rap pin g off.

Th e Fa nta stic Fo ur ha d be en enli ste d on the Mi ddl eEa ste rn fro nt. Th e sig ht of the Hu ma n To rch zip pin g thr ou gh Re d Eg ypt ian jet s, hot me tal spl att

So en gro sse d ha dI be co me tha tI bar ely not ice d wh en the tru ck pul led off the roa d, int o the gro un ds of an ab an do ne d far m.

"Di bs on the bar n!" yell ed Pig , pul ling Su gar bu nn y by the ha nd to wa rd tha t rel ati vel y uns cat he d str uct ure full of mo lde rin g but co mf ort abl e an d so on

"I sur viv e co nsc ript ion wo rk in So vie t mu niti on s fac tor y at Ti mis oar a, unt il I ca n tak e no mo re. I sne ak acr oss the bo rde r of my so on -to -b e-e x-c ou

Page 157 "N ot Na pal m Ni ght ?"

"Y ou bet . W hol e cit y an d ple nty of citi zen s bur ne d up by fla mi ng Ru ssi an Va seli ne. So me kin d of big me ss. " Th at ab out su m me d up the wh ole wo

In the mo rni ng we we re aw ak en ed ear ly by a ro ost er' s arr og ant ass erti on tha t life wa s wo rth livi ng. W e tra ck ed hi m do wn , fou nd his har em , an d

Ba ck on the roa d, we rac ed ov er the re ma inin g mil es to Ha mb urg . Th e tan ks an d tru ck s an d Jee ps an d AP C's we pa sse d we re all he adi ng to wa rd

"M ak e me a sta r!" sh out ed Pig as we zip pe d by.

Th e gal s dr op pe d us off in the ce nte r of the wa r-t orn to wn we ll bef ore no on. "W e'v e got to get the se ca pit alis t col or cat ec his ms to the pe opl e wh o

"L ad y Jan e," I sai d, tryi ng my be st to so un d lik e Jag ger , "m ay I kis s yo ur ha nd ?"

Sh e ext en de d it gra cio usl y out the dri ver 's wi nd ow .

"Y ou co uld a ha d mo re tha n tha t to kis s if yo u as ke d," sai d Pig . "N yu ck, hy uc k, snu rt."

"Pi g, it wo uld ins ult the ent ire sp eci es to call yo ua sor ry ex am ple of hu ma nit y."

"H ea ds up for ant ipe rso nn el mi nes ," Vi ori ca ad vis ed as Su gar bu nn y shif ted ge ars . "Iv an pla nte d ple nty bef ore he ret rea t!"

M ad e wa ry by Vi ori ca' s par tin g wo rds , we pic ke d our wa y gin ger ly do wn the ce nte r of the em pty str eet , tw o ca uti ou s co ck s co me to Cu xh

"W hat no w? "I as ke d Pig .

"G et dru nk, of co urs e. Th at wa s hal f the rea so n for goi ng A W O L, re me mb er? " Page 158

W e fou nd a fun cti oni ng rat hs kel ler, the Iro n Ste in, oc cu pyi ng the ro ofe dov er ba se me nt of a bui ldi ng tha t did n't exi st an ym ore . Ins ide , pat chil y

Pig , on my rig ht, slu rpe d do wn tw o boi ler ma ker s to my ev ery on e an d wa s so on sn ori ng ge ntl y on the bar .I do ubt ed he ha d got ten mu ch sle ep wit

Th e fell ow on my left gra du ally be ca me the foc us of my att ent ion . He wa s an old er ma n, eas ily pa st sixt y, but in go od sha pe. Be ard ed, dre sse d in a kin d of

"M r. He mi ng wa y, I pre su me ," I sai d lifti ng my gla ss in mo ck rec og niti on.

"S orr y, so n, he' s got the gla mo ur ass ign me nt wit h the oc cu pyi ng for ces in Cu ba. "

I co uld tell by his voi ce tha t he wa s co mp let ely so ber , per ha ps the onl y suc h so ul in the ro om . "Y ou are a wri ter, tho ug h?"

"Y es. He ral dTri bu ne. An d yo u?"

An ine xpl ica ble shi ver unz ipp ed my spi ne. W as I mis int erp reti ng his qu esti on ? An d if not , wh y ha d he as ke d suc ha thi ng ? M y uni for m wa s ob vio us

"A nd ho w ca n yo u be so cer tai n?"

He gra bb ed my sle ev e an d sta red me do wn . "I'll tell yo ua go od sto ry, so n an d let yo u de cid e."

He let me go, an d the n be ga n.

Page 159 "I wa s eig hte en in 19 85 — "

I ha d to int err upt . "T we nty ye ars in the fut ure ."

"Y our fut ure . On ce my pre sen t. No w, no bo dy' s fut ure . An yw ay, shu t up. I do n't tell this on e oft en an d mi ght ch an ge my mi nd. I wa s eig hte en in 19

"S om eth ing to do wit h ato ms ,I bet ," I ma na ge d to wis emo uth .

"T hat 's rig ht. Ex plo siv e de vic es tha t spli t ato ms to unl eas h uni ma gin abl e de str uct ive po we r. Th ey we re inv ent ed dur ing W orl d W ar II — "

"T he y we re? "

"In my wo rld, yes , the y we re. An d aft er the wa r, tho usa nd s we re ma nuf act ure d an d mo unt ed on roc ket s — "

"R oc ket s no w," I sai d. "T his is qui te a sto ry. I'v e al wa ys lik ed roc ket s, but I'v e ne ver see n an y big en ou gh to car ry a bo mb .A fire cra ck er, ma yb

"B elie ve me , the y ca n be bui lt big en ou gh to cro ss co nti ne nts . Ca n yo u pic tur e suc ha wo rld ? He ld ho sta ge by tw o ins an e su per po we rs wit

M eg ato nn ag e? I tho ug ht. Ec os ph ere ? A ma dm an' s glo sso lali a ... Bu t the put ati ve nut cas e ran rig ht pa st my sp ec ula tio ns wit h his sto ry.

"W ell, in 19 85 it fin ally ha pp en ed. Th e So vie t pre mi er wa s Yu ri An dr op ov, a me an ba sta rd, for me r K G B ma n. Th e Ru ssi ans we re losi ng in Af

"Af gh ani sta n? Di dn' t the Bri tish ha ve so me thi ng to say ab out tha t?"

"T he Bri tish Em pir e fell to pie ces aft er my Se co nd W orl d W ar. Th ey me ant not hin g. No , the ge op olit ical sce ne wa s stri ctl y the US ver sus Ru ssi a. Th ey we

"I wa s ass ign ed as a sim ple gu ard in the co m ma nd ce nte r un der the Ro cki es. Th at's ho w de adl y tho se bo mb s we re — we ha d to hid e our

Page 160

ass es un der the we igh t of mo unt ain s jus t to sur viv e. W ell, in the firs t fe w mi nut es of the wa r — an d it onl y last ed an ho ur or tw o — ev ery thi ng we nt lik

Th e ma n be ga n to we ep at the cat ast ro ph e tha t ha dn' t ha pp en ed yet an d ap par ent ly ne ver wo uld . His fac e wa s bri efl y co nto rte d wit h an

Te ars in his be ard , the old rep ort er pul led hi ms elf ba ck tog eth er, ob vio usl y dra wi ng on so me im me nse res erv oir of will . He ca ug ht me by the elb ow , an dI

"T he car na ge wa s aw ful. It dr ov e tec hni cia ns an d sol die rs ali ke ma d. No bo dy ha d pre dic ted this . Th ere wa s mu tin y, reb elli on, fire -fig hts , an d sui

"I co uld n't tak e sid es. M y mi nd wa s par aly ze d. Ins tea d, I dr op pe d my rifl e an d fle d, de ep er int o the en or mo us bu nk er.

"W he nI ca me to my self ag ain ,I wa s in a lab . Ev ery on e the re wa s de ad, sui cid es. I sla m me d the do or, loc kin g my self in.

"T her e wa s an ap par atu s the re. It wa sa tim e ma chi ne. "

"Je sus !" I sh oo k his ha nd off an d loo ke d aro un d me for hel p in de alin g wit h this ma dm an, but ev ery on e wa s bu sy get tin g dru nk, ex ce pt Pig , wh o

"I do n't ex pe ct an yth ing . Jus t list en. As so on as I dis co ver ed wh at the de vic e wa s — an ex per im ent al, on ewa y, last -di tch pr oje ct tha t ha d ne

Page 161

''I wa nte d to live out mo st of the ce ntu ry ag ain , up to the ye ar the fin al wa r ha d br ok en out , so I set the ma chi ne for sev ent y ye ars in my pa st, 19 15.

"T her e we re sp ati al set tin gs as we ll. I put my self in Ne w Yo rk. Ins tan t tra nsit ion , ver y ele ga nt. Th ere I sto od, dre sse d all wr on g, eig hte en ye ars old ,

"V ery qui ckl y, I est abl ish ed my self as a rep ort er. It's am azi ng the sc oo ps yo u ca n del ive r wh en the fut ure is an op en bo ok. Th en I be ga n sys te ma tic ally

"Ei nst ein wa s firs t. He ha d alr ea dy pu blis he d so me pa per s of co urs e, but I sta ge d his de ath so as to dis cre dit his wo rk as mu ch as po ssi ble . Tr av

"W ale sa? "I hal f-h ear ted ly qui pp ed. He ign ore d me . "Af ter suc h an ob vio us tar get ,I be ga n wo rki ng thr ou gh a list of ev ery on e wh o ha d ha da ha nd

"B ohr , La wr en ce, Fe rmi , Dy so n, Al var ez, Fe yn ma nn, Pa nof sk y, Tel ler, Op pe nh ei me r, Go dd ard , Sa kar ho v, the Joli otCu rie s, vo n Br au n, Wi gn

Page 162 ha d not hin g on me , an dI ev ent uall y be at the ir sc ore . Bu t for the sal vat ion of the wo rld !"

No ne of the na me s he ha d me nti on ed me ant an yth ing to me , ex ce pt Ein stei n's, wh om I rec alle d as a cra zy Je wis h ph ysi cist wh o ha d die d in dis gra

"T oo mu ch ine rtia . Th e pol itic s ha d be en in pla ce for de ca de s, ce ntu rie s. Th e sci en ce wa s jus t bei ng bo rn. An d it wa s the sci ent ists ' fau lt an

"Hi sto ry re ma ine d pre tty mu ch as I re me mb ere d it, rig ht up till the Se co nd W orl d W ar. Nu cle ar ph ysi cs jus t did n't ha ve mu ch im pa ct on life unt il

"N atu rall y, my act ion s me ant a hu ge los s of A me ric an live s in the inv asi on of Ja pa n. Hu ndr ed s of tho usa nd s of ext ra de ath s, all dir ect ly attr ibu tab le

Page 163 Na gas aki , an d, lat er, ev ery cit y on the glo be. Bu t the sca le al wa ys tip pe d the sa me wa y. At om ic de str uct ion wa s infi nit ely wo rse ."

He wa s tal kin g al mo st to hi ms elf no w, mo re an d mo re fra nti c, tryi ng to jus tify his life , an d my inc om pre he nsi on me ant not hin g. By my sid e, Pig ha d

"Af ter the wa r, tho ug h, ev ent s rea lly be ga n to div erg e fro m wh at I kn ew . It all slit her ed out of my co ntr ol. Th e per ma ne nt A me ric an pre sen ce in a de

I co uld onl y sta re. He gra bb ed my shi rtfr ont . "I fuc kin g sav ed yo ur ass fro m fryi ng, " he his se d. "I' m big ger tha n Jes us! Yo u all ow e me , yo u suc ker s. I

Th ere wa sa sh ot, foll ow ed by scr ea ms an d the so un d of cla tter ing ch air s an d sha tter ing gla sse s. Th e tim e-t rav ele r's ha nd s loo sen ed an d he fell to the

"M y fuc kin g da d die d in the inv asi on of Ja pa n," sai d Pig .

"B odi ne, "I opi ne d, "I thi nk yo u'v e jus t kill ed Go d."

"T his is wa r, ma n. W hy sh oul d Go d get off fre e?"

W e spli t fas t fro m Th e Iro n Ste in bef ore an yo ne co uld gat her the ir wit s to det ain us. W e fou nd Su gar bu nn y an d Vi ori ca an d sha ck ed up in a

Th e Be atl es pla ye d su per bly , es pe cial ly Pet e Be st on dru ms . Th e wh ole cro wd for got the ir JDa y jitt ers an d be ga n to gro ov e. Du rin g the ir

Page 164 Bu t Pr esl ey' s sin gin g ma de my wo rld see m rea l en ou gh ag ain an d mo re im po rta nt tha n ev er bef ore .

Aft er the co nc ert the fou r of us am ble d off ha nd -in -ha nd thr ou gh the nig hte d str eet s, lit onl y by the sta rs so im po ssi bly hig h ab ov e, wh ere no "ro ck et"

Ye t so me ho wI felt co nte nt.

"W her e to, bo ys? " as ke d Su gar bu nn y.

"T he fut ure ," I sai d. "W her e els e?"

"N yu ck, ny uc k," snu ffle d Pig . "H ow ab out trip pin g int o the pa st? I'd lik e to be in tha t bar n ag ain ."

"If yo u get the ch an ce, ple ase do n't ev er try re ma kin g the pa st, Pig . Liv ing in a wo rld cre ate d by a mo ral ide alis t is ba d en ou gh. On e ma de by an am ora

Th e girl s we re pu zzl ed. Pig so ug ht to ex pla in by go osi ng the m sim ult an eo usl y so the y sq ue ale d.

"C oul d it be wo rse , To m? Co uld it be ? Sn urg , sna rf, hy uc k!" Page 165

Li nd a an d Ph il

1.

Th e du ck sp ok e no w in lifel ike ton es co mp let ely unli ke its nor ma l dig itiz ed sp ee ch. Its me ch ani cal be ak, ho we ver , co nti nu ed to mo ve in the arti fici al

"W ub nes h. Ca n yo u he ar me ? It's tim e to fle e."

Th e yo un g bla ck girl ad dre sse d by the du ck re ma ine d unr es po nsi ve. Dr ess ed in a col orl ess , styl ele ss shif t, her dul l hai r inst itut ion ally tri m me d, she

Re cei vin g no res po nse , the du ck cla ck ed its be ak in agi tati on. Th e flo we r-d ec ora ted str aw hat ato p its he ad, fas ten ed be ne ath its lo we r ja w wit ha bo

Ad dre ssi ng a pre sen ce not visi ble , the du ck sai d, "S he re ma ins in her aut isti c fug ue. Ho w sha ll I pr oc ee d? Ye s? Ve ry we ll, the n, I will try. "

W ad dli ng in ac cor da nc e wit h its ho me ost ati c rou tin es acr oss the ro om , the du ck wa s so on wit hin pe cki ng dis tan ce of the girl 's bar e out str etc he d

At firs t, the girl fail ed to rea ct to the sti mu lus. Th e du ck red ou ble d its eff ort s. If its sim ula ted fac e ha d be en ca pa ble of ex pre ssi on, it wo uld ha ve reg iste

"W ub nes h. Ge t up. Fol lo w me ." Page 166

Stil l uns pe aki ng, her ex pre ssi on bar ely diff ere nt fro m tha t of her fug ue sta te, W ub nes h clu msi ly sto od, an d the du ck led her to the ro om 's sin gle do or.

"Tr y the ha ndl e."

W ub nes h did . Lo ck ed.

"St an d aw ay, " or der ed the du ck, an d the girl mo ve d ba ck.

Fr om wit hin the du ck aro se a hig hpit ch ed wh ine . At the inst ant wh en the noi se pa sse d the limi ts of hu ma n he ari ng, a bli ndi ng be am of co her ent ligh t sh

Re po rtin g ag ain to its uns ee n au dit or, the du ck sai d, "I am hal f bli nd, an d po we r res our ces ha ve be en dra ine d by a thir d. Ad vic e? As yo u say ... "

On her ow n initi ati ve, W ub nes h ha d op en ed the do or. Th e du ck' s ch em os ens ors det ect ed the sm ell of sc orc he d fles h. He r ha nd wh ere it ha d tou ch

Hu rryi ng, the du ck got ah ea d of her . "Q uic kly , W ub nes h, to the ro of! "

Th e unli kel y pai r mo ve d alo ng the bla nk -fa ce d cor rid or unt il the y rea ch ed a flig ht of stai rs, en co unt eri ng no on e.

"Pi ck me up, " sai d the du ck. Th e girl did so. "N ow , cli mb the stai rs."

Fiv e flig hts lat er, as the y ne are d the ulti ma te exi t do or, the du ck be ga n to wh ine int ern ally .

"O pe n the do or. "

Th e lon e ar me d an d uni for me d gu ard sta tio ne d out sid e on the ro of tur ne d too slo wl y an d ca ug ht the du ck' s bla st sla nt wis e acr oss his ch est

"N ow bli nd, " rep ort ed the du ck. "B ac ku p bat ter y op era tio nal . W ub nes h, go to the co pte r."

Ob edi ent ly, the bla ck girl pa dd ed bar efo ot acr oss the pe bbl ed tar ro of to a lar ge Sik ors ky em bla zo ne d wit h the leg en d Bl ac kb rid ge En ter pri ses Li mi ted

Ins ide the ca bin the du ck or der ed, "P ut me do wn ."

W ub nes h set tle d hi m on a sea t. Bli ndl y, the du ck be ga n to pe ck at the inst ru me nt pa nel unt il it fou nd wh at it wa nte d: the jac ken d of a

Page 167 da ngli ng ca ble . Gri ppi ng the ca ble in its be ak, it tur ne d to the girl , its bur ntout ey es lik e twi n stig ma ta.

"Y ou' ll ha ve to plu g me in. I ca n't rea ch. "

W ub nes h too k the ca ble . Th e du ck lo we red its bre ast to the sea t, ele vat ing its rea r an d lifti ng its arti cul ate d tail , the reb y ex po sin ga po rt.

Th e jac k fit pre cis ely .

Do ors sni ck ed shu t, po we rful mo tor s ca ug ht, an d bla de s be ga n to spi n.

Wi thi na mi nut e, the co pte r wa s lifti ng. Ru nni ng foo tst ep s an d sh out s hail ed its de par tur e, foll ow ed by siz zlin g bol ts of en erg y, all of wh ich we nt wi

Ha vin g rea ch ed an d ev en ex ce ed ed the limi ts of her ca pa cit y for act ion , W ub nes h san k ba ck int o her sea t, her fac e sla ck eni ng int o ne ar im be

"Es tim ate d tim e of arri val in Tu cs on, fou r PM, EDT.

Co pte r on aut opi lot wit h ale rton -int erc ept ion fla gs up. No w shu ttin g do wn hig her fun cti on s to co nse rve po

Th e du ck los ta cer tai n aur a of int elli ge nc e. Wi thi n its da ma ge d bo dy, an ina dv ert ent cir cui t clic ke d on. In a sq ue ak y fe ma le dig itiz ed voi ce,

"H ell o, de ar, my na me is Phi lip pa Ka y Du ck, my na me is Phi lip pa Ka y Du ck, my na me is Phi lip pa Ka y Du ck. .. ."

2.

Th e do or to the mo de st sto re wh ere Phi l Di ck ha d wo rke d for the pa st thir ty ye ars wa s loc ke d, de spi te the ho ur. His sw eat y ha nd slid aro un d the stu

Th e Ol d M an' s die d, tho ug ht Phi l in an inst ant pa nic . Th at co uld be the onl y ex pla nat ion . An d no w the sh op will be mi ne. An d it'll do to me wh at it's

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da ug hte r. W ho' s yo un g en ou gh to be mi ne. An d fat en ou gh no w to be an y thr ee fat her s' exlittl edar khai red girl s roll ed tog eth er.

M ay be it wa s the wr on g sto re. Th e tho ug ht jolt ed hi m. Ye s, tha t ha d to be it. In his pre oc cu pie d sta te this mo rni ng, he mu st ha ve sto pp ed at the

Phi l ste pp ed ba ck fro m the rec alci tra nt do or an d loo ke d up ho pef ully at the sig n ab ov e his he ad. Fo ra mo me nt, he co uld n't foc us. Th e sig n see me d

W ear ine ss set tle d on Phi l's sh oul der s lik e so me su per her o's ma ntl e he wa s co ng eni tall y unf it to we ar. It wa s his fat her -in -la w's sto re all rig ht. So

An im ag e of his fat her -in -la w su dd enl y ma lfu nct ion ing , vo mit ing up spr ing s an d co gs (lik e on e of tho se go dd am n Phi lip pa Ka y Du ck s aft er

His kn ees tur ne d to jell o, an d Phi l flail ed out for su pp ort . His ha nd s scr ab ble d at a ne arb y tel ep ho ne pol e. A rip pin g noi se foll ow ed.

Oh , Ch rist , Phi l tho ug ht. No w I'v e rea lly do ne it.

He ha d tor n do wn a po ste r of Pr esi de nt Li mb au gh. De sec rat ed an im ag e of the ir Fe arl ess Le ad er tha t ha d be en hu ng, alo ng wit h the red -w hit

Page 169 wo uld sp ell an en d to his mu nd an e ma rita l tro ubl es, wh ate ver ont olo gic al ter ror s mi ght ens ue.

"I did n't me an it!" Phi l yell ed sk yw ard . "It wa s an ac cid ent ! Ho nes t!"

Th e fe w pe de stri ans wh o ha d be en am bli ng do wn the sid ew alk on Phi l's sid e of the str eet ner vo usl y cro sse d to get aw ay fro m hi m.

A par iah , Phi l rea lize d. In the sp ac e of a fe w sec on ds, I'v e be co me an unt ou ch abl e. Ea sy as tha t. An d it's all be ca use of tha t fat se we rmo uth

No wo nd er the nat ion ha d tur ne d in '72 to the eq uiv ale nt of a me dia jes ter, a ne ws clo wn , on ce Pe rot ha d be en de nie da thir d ter m by the Su pre me Co

It's A me ric a's ba d kar ma at wo rk, Phi l de cid ed. An d my ow n per so nal on us for the hor ribl e wa y I'v e mis sp ent my life .

I jus t pra y no ne of the he av y shit I'm no w cer tai n is goi ng to fall on me tod ay tou ch es Jan e. Sh e's my bet ter hal f. A ma n ne ver ha da kin der , wis er sist er.

Phi l rai se da fist to the sk y. "Y ou' d bet ter not bot her Jan e, yo u ba sta rds . If yo u do — I'll fin d so me wa y to get ba ck at yo u, I sw ear !"

"P hil, ple ase ."

It wa s his fat her -in -la w, Gil ber t Ro nst adt , the Ol d M an.

Gil wa s onl ya de ca de old er tha n Phi l hi ms elf. Bu t the rec ent ba d ye ars ha d we igh ed mo re he avil y on hi m, left hi m be nt an d gre y. No lon ger wa s

chil dre n, at the be hes t of Ed gar 's em plo yer , the De par tm ent of Ag ric ult ure — ha d firs t invi ted Gil to the ir ho me . Str um mi ng on his gui tar, sin gin g tra diti on

I co uld 've att en de d the Un ive rsit y of Ari zo na, Phi l rea so ne d. M on ey wa s tig ht, but I co uld 've ma na ge d so me ho w. Ke pt the da y job at the sto re

Int en de d tha t he fall in lov e wit h an d fin ally ma rry Lin da Ro nst adt .

Lin da ha d be en bo rn in '46 , the ver y ye ar Phi l ha d sta rte d wo rk at the sto re. As a tod dle r, she ha d be en om nip res ent , ubi qui tou s, al wa ys un der

I wa s im pri nte d wit h her . Th e aw are nes s str uc k Phi l lik ea tru ck as he sto od the re on the sid ew alk . So me wh ere , so me ho w, her ind eli ble im ag

Th ey ha d ma rrie d in '64 , bef ore the wo rld ha d rea lly be gu n its he adl on g de sce nt int o ma dn ess . Phi la yo un gis h thir tysix, Lin da a ma tur e eig hte

Sh e sat on the ir ratt y co uc h, cry ing . Th e tea rs fell , but the re we re no so bs. It wa s as if Phi l ha d sto len her voi ce by his de nial of her

Page 171 de sir es. He see me d co mp elle d to ma ke up for it by tal kin g en ou gh for bot h of the m.

''I jus t ca n't up an d mo ve to Ca lifo rni a, Lin da. Th e ver y tho ug ht ma ke s my sto ma ch kn ot up. It's an ins an e lan d out the re. Th e W est Co ast is for los

"I' m not yo un g," she sai d in a flat , alie n voi ce. "I' m old en ou gh. Ol der tha n yo u rea lize ."

A chil l ha d go ne thr ou gh hi m. He felt dis pla ce d in tim e. Sh e's rig ht. Ol der tha n tim e, lik e all wo me n. W ho am I to be telli ng her wh at to do ? Ha ve

Bu t the n her gaz e falt ere d, tha t so urc ele ss po we r dra inin g out of her , an d he clin ch ed his vic tor y wit ha fin al cru el re ma rk.

"B esi de s, wh o ev er sai d yo u co uld sin g?"

Th at will go on my to mb sto ne, Phi l tho ug ht. He re lies the ma n wh o tol d Lin da Ro nst adt Di ck tha t she co uld n't sin g. Gil wa s call ing hi m.

"P hil, Phi l? Ar e yo u O K? Lis ten , tak ea Pil z."

Th e mo rni ng sun ligh t wa s str ea mi ng do wn lik e bitt er ho ne y, vis co us an d clo yin g. Phi l wa s be gin nin g to sw eat , but Gil mu st'v e felt col d, as if

Di ggi ng int o his shi rt po ck et, Phi l too k out a pla stic vial of sk ybl ue Pil z. Phi l's Pil z. He po pp ed on e of the Bla ck bri dg e Ent erp ris es ph ar mch ar ms

M ea nw hile , Gil wa s stu dyi ng hi m, as if he ha d ne ver see n his so n-i n-l aw bef ore . At last he sp ok e.

"P hil, do yo u kn ow wh at ke pt me this mo rni ng ?I wa s on the ph on e wit h Lin da. M y da ug hte r. Yo ur wif e. Yo u left her in tea rs this Page 172

mo rni ng. An oth er of yo ur rot ten bre akf ast tab le tan tru ms . Bu t de spi te tha t, she 's wo rrie d ab out yo u. Sh e clai ms the re' s so me thi ng wr on g wit h yo

Th e sun ligh t wa s mo vin g mo re slo wl y. Fu nd am ent al co nst ant s see me d to ha ve be en alt ere d in jus t the pa st fe w sec on ds, po rte ndi ng — wh at?

Phi l fou nd hi ms elf sp ea kin g al mo st wit ho ut co nsc iou s vol itio n. "T her e's so me thi ng wr on g wit h all of us. An dI ne ver wa s the sa me ."

3.

Un lit cig ar cla mp ed bet we en his Ge rm an vat -gr ow n tee th, Le on Ne gro po nte too k the rep ort off ere d by his chi ef of sec urit y, M ax Fle isc hw an d, an d tos se

"B ulls hit! Yo u ca n't tell me Pa nof sk y's not be hin d it. It has to be hi m. W ho els e be sid e Ur al Sy ste ms has the ca pa cit y to pla nt an ag ent in our org ani zati

Fle isc hw an d cri ng ed. "M r. Ne gro po nte , if I ca n su m ma riz ea fe w poi nts fro m the rep ort . Th e du ck em plo ye da me ans of co nv erti ng its co m mo n

"W ho kn ow s wh at the hell Pa nof sk y wo uld do ?" Ne gro po nte so un de da trifl e les s cer tai n. "T ho se go dd am n Gr ee ns are tric ky. It's the ir alt ere d me tab

Page 173

aro un d yo u lik ea str an gle r vin e. M ay be tha t so n of a bit ch' s got a ba se pla nte d in the Mi dw est . He co uld ha ve, yo u kn ow . Th e co unt ry'

Ne gro po nte de pre sse d an int erc om but ton . "H ell o, Tr ac kin g? Ha ve yo u pic ke d up tha t co pte r yet ? Ye s, I rea lize it wa s my per so nal ve hicl e wit h

Fle isc hw an d co ug he d me ekl y. "M r. Ne gro po nte , if I ma y ve ntu re a sug ges tio n. . .? Th e go ver nm ent still po sse sse s bet ter ant iste alt h tra ck ers tha n

Ne gro po nte ba ng ed a he av y fist do wn on his de sk. "Y ou wa nt me to call Pr esi de nt Li mb au gh an d be ga fav or of hi m? Let hi m kn ow I'm in a fix ? W

"P erh ap s if I co uld be per mit ted to kn ow the sp eci me n's, um , pe culi ar utili ty — ?"

Ne gro po nte nar ro we d his ey es be ne ath his sin gle thi ck bla ck ey ebr ow , gra nti ng his fac ea ma lev ole nt ex pre ssi on. "Al l rig ht, I'll tell yo u. Bu t yo u wo n't

Fle isc hw an d int err upt ed, ea ger to sh ow his per ce pti ve nes s. "A nd she ca n tell if it's goi ng to be a suc ces s?"

His bo ss lau gh ed, but it wa sn't ple asa nt. "Pr edi cti on ? Ha rdl y. It's mo re lik e co mp ulsi on, ca use an d eff ect . Sh e ma ke s the pr od uct suc ces sful . Ins ofa r

"H oly go d ... " mu rm ure d the sec urit y chi ef. Page 174

"N ow tha t yo ur go dd am n cur iosi ty's be en sati sifi ed, get the hell out her e. I'v e got to thi nk. "

Aft er Fle isc hw an d left , Ne gro po nte sto od up an d wa lke d to a pai nti ng ha ngi ng on the we st wa ll of his offi ce.

A po rtr ait of Pr esi de nt Li mb au gh, ma nd ato ry for ev ery ho me an d wo rk pla ce. W ear ing a lau rel wr eat h on his ridi cul ou s bal din g pat e lik e so me jo

Ne gro po nte ad de da go b of sali va to the pic tur e, the n sw un g it ba ck to rev eal a saf e.

"O pe n up, " he sai d to the saf e.

"W hat 's the ma gic wo rd? " the saf e sai d.

"O pe n the fuc k up! "

Th e saf e so un de d hur t. "N o, tha t's not it. Yo u'r e su pp os ed to say 'pl eas e.'"

"H ow ab out , 'O pe n the fuc k up or I'll tak ea go dd am n hy dr oat om ic blo wt orc h to yo u!' ?"

"T hat 'll do. "

Fr om the op en saf e, Ne gro po nte re mo ve d wh at ap pe are d to be a rin g bo x. Lift ing the lid, he rev eal ed a sin gle cus hio ne d rai nb ow -c olo red pill .

Re tur nin g to his de sk, Ne gro po nte act iva ted the int erc om ag ain . "H ell o, Tr ans po rt? Ge t my ba ck up co pte r rea dy No , it wo n't be me usi ng it. It'll be my da

He tog gle d off the n an d sw all ow ed the rai nb ow .

4.

"O uc h," sai d the re mo te co ntr ol wit ho ut mu ch co nvi cti on. "O uc h, ou ch, ou ch ... "

Lin da M ari e Ro nst adt Di ck, all tw ohu ndr ed -an d-t hirt yon e po un ds of her , sat on the co uc h, ch an nel -su rfin g. A bo x of Go div a Page 175

ch oc ola tes an da lite r of vo dk a, bot h hal f co nsu me d, we re her onl y co mp ani on s.

"O uc h," the re mo te co nti nu ed as Lin da im pat ien tly flic ke d acr oss the fiv e hu ndr ed diff ere nt ca ble off eri ngs . "O uc h, ou ch, ou ch ... "

Th e re mo te wa s su pp os ed to rec ite alo ud the ch an nel nu mb er wit h ea ch pu sh of its but ton . La st we ek, ho we ver ,a ma lfu nct ion ha d de vel op ed. No

Ho w per fec t, Lin da tho ug ht mu zzil y. Th e ma chi nes fee l wh ile we 're nu mb . Or ma yb e the y'r e pic kin g up on our bur ied pai n an d ex pre ssi ng it for us.

He avi ng her sha pel ess , ho use dre sscla d bul k up fro m the stai ne d an d tatt ere d pla id co uc h, Lin da tott ere d ov er to the rac k of ex pe nsi ve ste reo eq uip

All rig ht, so I mi ght not ha ve be en the eq ual of Ell a Go dd am n Fit zge ral d or ev en Ro se ma ry Cl oo ne y, Lin da ad mit ted to her self . Alt ho ug h it's har d

Re stin g on e ha nd for su pp ort on the ple xico ver ed tur nta ble , lea vin g sm ear ed fin ger pri nts wh ich Phi l wo uld lat er ber ate her for , Lin da ma ssa ge d her br

Jes us, I ca n't ev en thi nk str aig ht an ym ore . I'v e for got ten wh at it's lik e to be so ber an d cle arhe ad ed. Th at's wh at tw elv e ye ars of ma rria ge to tha t

Page 176

Sh e pic ke d up the ste reo 's re mo te co ntr ol an d be ga n jab bin g but ton s ran do ml y. Bu t the re mo te wa s the no ns pe aki ng kin d an d vo uc hsa fed

Th e rad io rec eiv er, trig ger ed by Lin da' s fu mb ling , bla red no w in co mp etit ion wit h the tel evi sio n. An d, of all po ssi ble an no un cer s, it ch an ce d to be

" — ris e in inci de nts of sa bot ag e an d disl oy alt y. W hy, this ver y mo rni ng I my self wit nes se d, in the be aut iful an d pr os per ou s an d mo stly la wabi

Lin da sav ag ely sta bb ed the off but ton . Sh e sta gg ere d co uc hw ard an d flo pp ed do wn , bri ngi ng the ba ck of on e ha nd up to her br ow .

I'm sw eat ing . I'm sw eat ing bu ck ets . Fe ver ish too . It's tha t evil voi ce. It's cal cul ate d to sti mu lat e cell de ath . Ly sis an d rup tur e on the pr oto pla smi c lev

Lin da bel ted ba ck a thr oat ful of vo dk a fro m the ca ple ss bot tle, an d her ey es we re ca ug ht by the im ag e on the tel evi sio n scr ee n.

It wa s Q V C —t he Qu ant um Va lua tio n Co ns orti um — on e of the ho me -sh op pin g ch an nel s ow ne d by Bla ck bri dg e Ent erp ris es. Th e ha nd so me

"At onl y nin ete ennin ety -fiv e po scr ed s, ho w ca n an y set of lov ing par ent s — ev en a sin gle mo m or da d on the M arg inal Su bsi ste nc e Re gi me n —

Lin da wi nc ed sy mp ath eti call y, for ab sen t Phi l's sa ke. (S he still car ed for hi m tha t mu ch, it see me d.) Ho w he hat ed tha t toy ! No ta da y we nt by wit ho

Page 177

Th e an no un cer wa s be ck oni ng off sta ge. "A nd no w we 're pr ou d to we lco me her e in our stu dio s — as a sp eci al fav or to us — Fo un der Ne gro po nte

A ch ar mi ng girl of fiv e or six str od e co nfi de ntl y on sta ge. Bl on de, ch eru bic , blu e-e ye d, dre sse d in a frill y sm oc k an d pat ent -le ath er sh oe s.

"I' m go nn a hu g yo u an d sq ue eze yo u an d hu g yo u an d sq ue eze yo u an d hu g yo u an d sq ue eze yo u for ev er! " she cro on ed.

"H ell o, de ar, my na me is Phi lip pp a Ka y Du ck. Do yo u wa nt to see me lay an eg g?"

Lin da fou nd her self cry ing . Te ars ran in riv ule ts do wn her plu mp ch ee ks. He r bre ath ca me in lab ore d gus ts fro m a tig hte ne d ch est .

Th at littl e girl . Ho w per fec t, ho w gor ge ou s. A ne w sh oot in life' s gar de n. Th e red em pti ve po we r of birt h. If onl y Phi l an dI co uld ha ve a chil

Lin da got pai nfu lly to her fee t an d, tea rs still blu rrin g her visi on, stu mb led int o her be dr oo m, se par ate fro m Phi l's.

At op her dre sse r wa sa ch ea p pla ste r M exi ca n sta tue of La Vir ge n, set on a lac e doi ly an d sur rou nd ed by pla stic ros es. Th e M oth er of Ch rist hel d

Lin da fell to her kn ees , cla sp ed her ha nd s an d be ga n to pra y in Sp ani sh.

" Oh , Di o Mi oy M ari a, un a nin a, po r fa vo r! Da me un a nin a!"

Th e pla ste r he art sw elle d in her sig ht, see me d to det ac h itse lf an d levi tat e, till it ho ver ed ab ov e the bur ea u, wh ere it be ga n to spi n lik ea blo od

A visi on, Lin da ma rve led . I'm rec eivi ng a visi on. Lik e Elij ah.

Jus t the n the do or bel l ran g.

Gri ppi ng the ed ge of the dre sse r, Lin da pul led her self up. Cl um sily wi pin g her ey es wit h her pu dg y fist s, she rea ch ed the do or. Page 178

Sta ndi ng on the ste ps wa s the girl fro m the tel evi sio n. Phi lip pa Ka y Ne gro po nte .

Lin da loo ke d fro m the girl to the scr ee n wh ere her im ag e still pir ou ett ed an d ba ck to the girl ag ain , her mo uth ha ngi ng op en in am aze me nt.

Vi de ota pe the re? Or sim ula cru m her e?

"H ell o," sai d the girl sw eet ly. "I' m her e to live wit h yo u for a wh ile. Bu t yo u ha ve to hel p me fin d my du ck. A ba d littl e bla ck girl sto l'd it."

5.

Th e ps yc hic att ac k wa s allco nsu mi ng an d ins ati abl e in its fer oci ty.

Phi l wa s gri ndi ng a ke y for Mr s. Ya nc y wh en it str uc k.

Fir st his visi on we nt, dis sol vin g in a swi rl of col ore d pin wh eel s an d sta rbu rst s. Th en mi gra inel ike pai n sta bb ed acr oss his sk ull an d int o his sin use s,

He scr ab ble d for so me thi ng soli d, an y hol d on rea lity , the n flin ch ed.

Th e cut tin g wh eel . It's still spi nni ng, an dI left the gu ard rai se d. It co uld ch ew up my ha nd —

He jer ke d ba ck, felt his bal an ce goi ng, his un gai nly pa un ch y mi ddl e-a ge d bo dy top pli ng.

He lan de d on gra ss. Th e pai n in his he ad wa s di mi nis hin g, his lim bs unf ree zin g. He dar ed to op en ed his ey es.

A sun ny vist a gre ete d hi m. M ent hol -bl ue sk y, a gre en fiel d pie d wit h dai sie s wh ite as va nill a ice cre am . Sta ndi ng a fe w fee t aw ay fro m hi m

"H old on, Phi l," sai d the du ck. "Ju st an ho ur mo re. W e'r e al mo st the re. "

Phi l sto od. "Al mo st wh ere ? An d hol d on to wh at? W ait a mi nut e — are n't yo u on e of tho se ob no xio us toy s tha t sto le my na me ?I ab sol ute ly det

Page 179

Phi l rai se d his ha nd s in a ch oki ng gri p an d ad va nc ed on the int ole rab le du ck wh os e ver y exi ste nc e wa s an affr ont to — a di mi nis hm ent of —

Mr s. Ya nc y scr ea me d.

Th e Ol d M an wa s pul ling on Phi l's shi rt, res trai nin g hi m fro m his ap par ent de sir e to thr ottl ea cus to me r. "P hil! Phi l! W hat in the go od Lo rd' s na me

Lo we rin g his ar ms , Phi l visi bly sag ge d.

W hat 's ha pp eni ng to me ? Fir st this mo rni ng I co uld n't rec og niz e the sto re wh ere I'v e wo rke d for thir ty ye ars . Th en I go to so me oth er uni ver se wh

Mr s. Ya nc y ha d be en so oth ed an d dis mis se d wit h her fini she d ke y. No w Gil Ro nst adt tur ne da loo k of ho nes t co nc ern on his so n-i n-l aw .

"I thi nk yo u'd bet ter tak e the res t of the da y off, Phi l. He ad ho me . Sp en d so me tim e wit h Lin da. It'll do yo u bot h go od. "

"Y es, yes , yo u'r e rig ht. Th an ks. I'll go no w." His he ad still thr ob be d, fro m wh ate ver he ha d rec ent ly un der go ne. "Ju st let me get a co upl e of as piri ns. "

Phi l wa lke d to the BE ph ar mve ndi ng ma chi ne set in the wa ll of the har dw are sto re. Fis hin g in his po ck et, he ca me up wit ha thr eepo scr ed coi n an d fed

Int o the dis pe nsi ng ch ute slid a rou nd tin. Phi l pic ke d it up. It wa s lab elle d De an Sw ift Sn uff .

"T hes e are not as piri ns, " Phi l tol d the ma chi ne.

"Y es the y are ." Th e ma chi ne so un de d ad am ant , an d Phi l be ga n to do ubt his ow n sen ses . Pe rha ps the re we re act uall y as piri ns insi de a mis lab

He pe ele d aw ay the sea l an d op en ed the tin. Th e lab el wa s ac cur ate . It wa s pa ck ed wit h snu ff.

"T ak e this ba ck an d giv e me the as piri ns I pai d for ." Page 180

"I ca nn ot tak e ba ck op en ed pa ck ag es. Pe rha ps the snu ff wo uld do yo u go od ... ?"

Fo rci ng hi ms elf to be cal m, Phi l rep lac ed the lid on the tin an d po ck ete d it.

"Y ou tric ke d me int o op eni ng it. An d I'v e ne ver use d snu ff in my — Ch rist , wh at am I doi ng! I wo n't sta nd her e arg uin g wit ha ma chi ne. Bu t yo u

"W e ha ve a ver y str on g uni on, " rep lie d the ma chi ne un co nc ern edl y.

In his car , Phi l lai d his he ad he avil y on the ste eri ng wh eel . By the tim e he felt ca pa ble of rai sin g it up, his for eh ea d bo re the im pre ssi on of the pla stic kn

His sist er Jan e's ho use lay bet we en wo rk an d ho me . Phi l fou nd hi ms elf pul ling int o her dri ve wa y.

Jan e will hel p me . Sh e kn ow s me bet ter tha n an yo ne. Be tter tha n my wif e, tha t's for sur e. Th at fat co w. Ho w co uld it be oth er wis e? Tw ins are sp eci al.

"O h, po or Phi l! Ha s tha t aw ful wif e of yo urs be en get tin g yo u do wn ag ain ? Co me in an d I'll ma ke yo u so me nic e tea ."

W he n the tea wa s rea dy, Phi l be ga n un bur de nin g his tro ubl es ont o Jan e's stu rdy sh oul der s. Gil' s uns ettl ing lat en ess , the rip pin g of the po ste r of Pr

He pa use d lon g en ou gh to inh ale twi n pin ch es of snu ff, the n co nti nu ed.

Sn uff ? Bu tI ne ver tak e snu ff —

Ac ros s the tab le tha t hel d the tea ser vic e, Jan e be ga n to ch an ge.

He r fles h me lte d off, rev eali ng the ivo ry of her bo nes . He r ey es we re so otsin ge d hol lo ws . Un per tur be d she ch att ere d on, ton gu ele ss, her na ke d

Te a an d snu ff hit the flo or as Phi l sh ot to his fee t. Page 181

Th e sk ele ton -Ja ne ros e too . '' W hat 's wr on g, Phi l, de ar? W hat is it?"

Ba cki ng aw ay fro m the clo thi ngdra pe d ap par itio n, Phi l trie d to sp ea k, but fou nd his voi ce par aly ze d.

He tur ne d an d ran to the car .

Sp ee din g he edl ess ly thr ou gh int ers ect ion s, he ne arl y ha d thr ee col lisi on s in the fe w blo ck s be yo nd Jan e's ho use . Mi rac ulo usl y, he pul led out of ea

So me thi ng — or dar eI say so me on e —i s wa tch ing ov er me . De spi te my un wo rthi nes s, I ha ve a pr ote cto r, an int erc ess or. He or it or the y ale rte d me

Th e Di ck est ate wa sa tic ky -ta ck y ran ch ho use set on a co ncr ete sla b ce nte red on a qu art eracr e of dyi ng la wn . Pa rki ng cra zily on the str eet , Phi l

Lin da ap pe are d in the do or, clu tch ing her vo dk a bot tle. Bu t her rou nd fac e wa s shi nin g wit h so me thi ng mo re tha n its usu al liq uor ed -u p she en. Sh e

"O h, Phi l, yo u wo n't bel iev e wh at's ha pp en ed to us! W e'r e so luc ky — "

Lu ck y, tho ug ht Phi l. M y wo rld tur ns up sid e do wn , an d she call s it luc ky, Sh e's cra zie r tha n me !

Jus t as he sta rte d to ch alle ng e her ,a cla tter ing noi se — so me thi ng he rea lize d he' d be en su bli mi nall y pa yin g att ent ion to —i ntr ud ed in gat her ing vol

A lar ge heli co pte r wa s de sce ndi ng. Cl ear ly, it int en de d to lan d on the ir la wn .

An d so it did .

Fr om the co pte r em erg ed the girl an d arti fici al du ck wit h bur ntout ey es wh o ha d fea tur ed in Phi l's har dw are sto re sch izo -int erl ud e.

"P hil, " urg ed the du ck. "Y ou' ve got to be rea dy wh en the Li mb o Ca nn on co me s for yo u. W e ca n hel p."

Th e Li mb o Ca nn on. Ho w co uld I ha ve for got ten tha t? M y pu nis hm ent for ac cid ent ally def aci ng the po ste r of Pr esi de nt Tu bb yPage 182

As s Li mb au gh. To be exil ed to an oth er di me nsi on of un kn ow n qu aliti es. Un kn ow n, be ca use no vic tim ha d ev er ret urn ed. An d all for a sim ple mis de ed

"I'll run ," sai d Phi l. "I'll go int o hid ing . Fin d the un der gro un d. Sta rt on e if I ha ve to. "

Th e girl mo ve d clo ser in her aw kw ard wa y, an d the du ck co nti nu ed to sp ea k. "N o, Phi l, yo u ca n't. Yo u'v e got to let yo urs elf be su bje cte d to the ray

"R ep air ed ? Re pai red ho w? "

No w the girl an d du ck we re rig ht on top of hi m, an d he shi ed ba ck ner vo usl y. Bu t the du ck wa s unr ele nti ng.

"T his is a sev ere ly fla we d tim e line . Yo ur life wa s ne ver su pp os ed to wo rk out this wa y. No r Lin da' s eit her . Yo u bot h ha ve oth er de stin ies. Lin da has

Phi l sn ort ed. "T ell me ab out it! All rig ht, I'll bit e. W hat wa sI su pp os ed to do or be ?"

Th e du ck tol d hi m.

"A wri ter. I'll be da mn ed. An d my bo ok s we re tha t im po rta nt? "

"E ac h tim e yo u wr ote , yo u tip pe d the co smi c sca les in the dir ect ion of fre ed om an d ne ge ntr op y. I'v e see n the sha do wpot ent ial of this oth er wo

It so un ds too go od to be tru e, tho ug ht Phi l. M e, Phi l Di ck, a wo rld -fa mo us wri ter. Bu t ma yb e it co uld be tru e. I ca n bar ely sen se it. . ..

"W hat 's the cat ch wit h this gre at ne w life ?"

Th e du ck tol d hi m tha t too .

Phi l did n't kn ow wh eth er to lau gh or cry . So he did bot h.

W he n he ha d so me wh at rec ov ere d, he as ke d the du ck, "H ow do yo u kn ow all this ?"

"I' m in co nta ct wit h the nat ive inh abi tan ts of the Li mb o Ca nn on di me nsi on. A qui rk in my cir cui ts. Th ey per cei ve all tim e line s an d hel p cul tiv ate the

"O K, Pa nof sk y, I'v e he ard en ou gh. "

Phi l tur ne d to wa rd his wif e. Page 183

Fr om be hin d Lin da ste pp ed a sm all blo nd e girl hol din ga Ta go miRu nci ter M ark IV ant ipe rso nn el we ap on.

"W ho the hell are yo u?" sai d Phi l.

"S he' s our da ug hte r," Lin da sai d so me wh at hes ita ntl y. " La Vir ge n sen t her to us be ca use I pra ye d. I'm sur e tha t's jus ta fak e gu n — "

Th e girl sq ue eze d off a rou nd, sha tter ing the wi nd shi eld of Phi l's pri ze d car .

"It' s no fak e. No w, am I go nn a ha ve to use it on yo u, Pa nof sk y, or are yo u go nn a let my pr op ert y go ?"

"W ho' s Pa nof sk y?" sai d Phi l.

"M y Gr ee nie co mp etit ion . He 's wo rki ng thr ou gh the go dd am n du ck. I'm sur e it's rel ayi ng ev ery thi ng ba ck to his mo unt ain hid eo ut. Yo u do n't bel iev e

"I do n't kn ow wh at to bel iev e. . .. " Phi l's gaz e fell on the BE log o on the co pte r. "A re yo u — ca n yo u be Le on Ne gro po nte ?"

Th e blo nd e chil d re mo ve da cig ar fro m its po ck et an d ch om pe d do wn on it. "O ne an d the sa me ."

"Y ou' re mo rph ing ," Phi l sai d. "I tho ug ht mo rph -pil ls we re jus ta ru mo r. . .. "

"It' s mo re co mp lica ted tha n tha t. M y da ug hte r wa s on ce a rea l ind ivi du al. He r mo the r wa s fro m on e of the rad ioa cti ve zo nes . Phi lip pa Ka

A sin gle co nti nu ou s bla ck ey ebr ow for me d dis co nc erti ngl y acr oss the chil d's pre vio usl y un ma rke d for eh ea d.

"O nc eI sw ap pe d int o her ear lier tod ay, I wa s abl e to use her tal ent s to sus s out wh ere I'd fin d W ub nes h an d the du ck, an d be at the m her e."

Phi l tho ug ht qui ckl y. "If yo u ca n see the fut ure , the n yo u ca n tell me wh at will ha pp en if I let the Li mb o Ca nn on sh oot me ."

Phi lip pa Ka y loo ke d dis tur be d. "M y tal ent s are flu ke y. I ca n't see m to pe net rat e tha t out co me . It's as if — "

"A s if the wo rld ter mi nat es, " sai d Phi l inst inc tiv ely Page 184 "T hat set tles it. I'm goi ng to put an en d to this far ce. "

Th e chil d-t hin g poi nte d its gu n at Phi l. He ha da flas h the n of wh at vic tor y for Ne gro po nte wo uld me an for this wo rld. A pic tur e of the hu ma n rac e bei

No w the da ug hte r Phi l ha d ne ver ha d sne ere d. "Y ou loo ka littl e 'gr ee n aro un d the gill s,' bu dd y. If yo u tak e my me ani ng — Un gh! "

Lin da let the blo od -st ain ed vo dk a bot tle slid e fro m her sla ck ha nd as she slu mp ed ag ain st the do orf ra me . "I ca n't ha ve a cig arsm oki ng da ug hte r wit ha

Phi l tur ne d ba ck to the du ck an d the bla ck chil d.

"O ka y, wh at do I ha ve to do ?"

"W ub nes h's psi oni c abi litie s are the ke y Sh e ca n act uall y rec onf igu re rea lity . It wa s Le on' s del usi on al int erp ret ati on tha t she onl y su bli mi nall y infl

W ub nes h put the du ck do wn an d ste pp ed up to Phi l, wh o hu gg ed her to hi m.

An d jus t in tim e. Fo r the Li mb o Ca nn on ha d arri ve d.

A flo ati ng pla tfo rm as big as a bat tles hip oc clu de d the sk y an d sun . Th e ey e of the Li mb o Ca nn on, a tint ed len s wi de as a trai n tun nel , gla red

"P hili p K. Di ck, " bla red Pr esi de nt Li mb au gh' s voi ce fro m sev era l str ate gic ally pla ce d lou ds pe ak ers . "Y ou ha ve be en fou nd guil ty of tre as on, su

"S ure ."

Fr om a slo t in the ho ver ing pla tfo rm sh ot a pa ck ag e of pa per s, lan din g wit ha thu d at Phi l's fee t. "Y our ba nk ac co unt has be en zer oe d out . Un for tun

Page 185 "Y ou mi ght as we ll sh oot the n."

"D on' t tell me wh at to do ! I'll sh oot wh en I'm go od an d rea dy! "

Phi l tur ne d to his wif e. "Li nd a, go od by e. I'm sor ry we we re so ba d for ea ch oth er. In my ne wl y rev ise d opi nio n, yo u ha ve qui te a car eer ah ea d

"T ha nk s, Phi l."

Th e Ca nn on fire d.

Phi l wa s clu tch ing the sile nt bla ck girl to hi m as the y flo ate d. Bu t she ha d ch an ge d so me ho w to Jan e.

An d unl ess he wa s ver y mu ch mis tak en — a dis tin ct po ssi bili ty, sin ce he wa s rap idl y for get tin g or re me mb eri ng ev ery thi ng —t his pla ce loo ke d inc

Page 187

Ali ce, Alf ie, Te d, an d th e Ali en s

1 — Th e W om an W ho W as Pl ug ge d Up

Sh e sits hal fa mil e un der gro un d be ne ath M cL ea n, Vir gini a, in the dar k, alo ne in the sp aci ou s au dit ori um .

Th en the pr oje cto r co me s on, cas tin g its flar e of aci d bril lian ce on the wa llmo unt ed scr ee n, an d the de ad (?) ma n's bla ck -an dwh ite fil m be gin s to

Th e ph oto gra ph y is am ate uri sh, bef itti ng the fil m's so urc e: a ch ea p Bel l an d Ho we ll Su per 8 in the ha nd s of a va cat ion er. It re mi nd s her ine vit

An d the big ges t mo ck ery per pet rat ed by tha t ear nes tly mis gui de d kill er ide alis t, thi nk s the wo ma n, wa s ele vat ing the vic e pre sid ent , tha t ign ora nt hill

Th e scr ee n bef ore her no w dis pla ys im ag es of its ow n, an d the sea ted wo ma n for ces her self to co nc ent rat e on the m, bri ngi ng her ke en int elle ct to be ar,

Page 188

Ti me to ear n yo ur pa y, Ali ce, she chi de s her self . Ti me to put all tho se fan cy de gre es an d de ca de s of ex per ien ce at unr idd ling the ine xpl ica ble to wo rk.

Ti me to sav e the wo rld.

(Al tho ug h all she wa nts to do — all she has ev er rea lly wa nte d to do —i s to be abl e to fin d the co ura ge to lea ve it.)

Sh e fol ds her ha nd s aw kw ard ly in her lap , an d the ha bit ual ges tur e bri ngs a tor ren t of pic tur es an d sen sati on s: hot Afr ica n sun ligh t, scr atc hy bla nk et

Th e mo vie , she co uns els her self . W atc h the mo vie .

It's a sh ot of the Lin col n M em ori al up on the wa ll. Lo ts of tou rist s in the ir Be rm ud a sh ort s an d Ha wa iian shi rts, gar ish ev en in bla ck an d wh ite, ve nd

So me thi ng un pla nn ed, un pre ce de nte d, un pre par ed for .

On e of the Sv ab ha vik ak ay a has co me am on g the m.

An d da mn tho se alie ns for ha vin g got ten the ms elv es chr iste ne d wit h suc h an un wi eld y na me , by lan din g firs t in Dh ar ms ala last ye ar!

Sh e sp ec ula tes tha t this on e mu st ha ve co me fro m the hu ge ute rin e shi p par ke d in fro nt of the W hit e Ho use , kn ow ing all the wh ile tha t, for all she

Jus t as k all the pe opl e the y'v e sto len .

If yo u ca n fin d the m. Page 189

Th e ca me ra' s P O V is sw oo pin g aro un d, as its op era tor — on e Be rt Ha ns on, the wa tch ing wo ma n rec alls , ma rrie d to Sal ly, tw o kid s — an gle

Bu t the rea so n go od old Be rt is pa nni ng, uns atis ifie d wit h wh at he' s see ing in his vie wfi nd er, lies not wit h his skil ls, but wit h the cre atu res fro m the sta rs.

Th e Sv ab ha vik ak ay a do not ph oto gra ph we ll. On em ulsi on or thr ou gh len ses , the y ap pe ar as am or ph ou s blu rs. To the na ke d hu ma n ey e, the y

Ba sic ally , thi nk s Ali ce, we ha ve be en inv ad ed by wa lki ng — or ho ver ing — Ro rsh ac h blo ts.

Bu t co uld the se alie ns — an y alie ns — ev er be an yth ing els e?

Th e Sv ab ha vik ak ay a in this fil m is flo ati ng ov er the ast oni she d cro wd lik ea mi gra tor y bur nt sp ot in the cell ulo id, mo vin g ge ntl y fro m ea ch to ea

An d the n the im ag e rec or ds wh at a spi nni ng falli ng ca me ra wo uld see , bef ore it im pa cts the pa ve me nt an d sm ash es.

Fr om am on g this cro wd , be sid e Be rt Ha ns on, the Sv ab ha vik ak ay a ca use d to dis ap pe ar —t o po p aw ay lik e pri ck ed so ap bu bbl es —t hre e oth

Tin a No rth rup , ag e fou rte en, vist ing D C wit h her par ent s, Em ily an d Fr ed fro m Ea u Cl air e, Wi sc on sin.

Mil ly He ndr ick s, ag e sev ent y-t hre e, res ide nt of the cit y an d sim ply str olli ng by the mo nu me nt wit h hus ba nd To dd.

An d out of the ar ms of her fat her , Fat im a Kh our i, ag e tw o, da ug hte r of the Eg ypt ian am ba ssa do r.

All we re co mp let e str an ger s to ea ch oth er, no ap par ent lin ks bet we en the m. No rel ati ves of the vic tim s we re tak en. Th e sel ect ion of Page 190

the se fou r — on e for eig ner an d thr ee US citi zen s (cit ize ns for wh os e saf ety Ali ce fee ls her self ulti ma tel y, inti ma tel y res po nsi ble ) — see ms utt erl y ran

All pa st dis ap pe ara nc es we re sim ilar ly baf flin g: ass ort ed nu mb ers of vic tim s, oc cas ion ally rel ate d or ac qu ain ted , mo stly not . (N ot in dis put e, ho we ver

Ye t ev ery int uiti on in her bo dy, ev ery par ticl e of an int elle ct ho ne d to Ho lm esi an ke en ess , tell s her tha t the re is a me tho d to the alie ns' ma dn ess .

Th e pr oje cto r is off, the ro om is dar k. Sh e ca nn ot sit her e for ev er. Ac tio n mu st be tak en, ho we ver futi le. In mo ve me nt, in ne w situ ati on s, in da ng er,

Bu t ne ver , ne ver an y iot a of per so nal reli ef.

"Li ght s up, " or der s Do cto r Ali ce Sh eld on, dir ect or of the CI A. Th en, "U rsu la? "

In wh at see ms lik e les s tha na sec on d, Ali ce' s per so nal ass ista nt is by her sid e, clu tch ing a she af of ma nila fol der s to her sta rk bla ck blo use fro nt.

"W hat ne xt, Ch ief ?" chi rps Ur sul a.

Ur sul a is so me fift ee n ye ars yo un ger tha n her fift y-y ear -ol d su per ior. Bri ght , qui ck, de dic ate d, she is on e of the ne w ca dre of per so nn el Ali ce has ste adi

No w Ali ce reg ard s Ur sul a's sist erl y fac e full of ligh t, her un bli nki ng sta re of de vot ion — a sta re tha t bar ely co nc eal sa mo re pr obl em ati cal , pot ent iall

Page 191

W hat the hell ca n she see in me an yh ow ? Ol d ma id wit h sh ort cur ly hai r go ne ear ly eld erl y silv er, ey es sha do we d an d bra ck ete d wit h ten sio n an

Ali ce run s ov er her im pre ssi ve cur ric ulu m vit ae in her mi nd, a fa mili ar ma ntr a. Bo th her me dic al de gre e an da Ph D in ex per im ent al ps yc hol og y by

Ye s, qui te im pre ssi ve. Ea sy to see ho w so me on e co uld get the ir kni ck ers we t ov er suc ha sin gle -mi nd ed mo nst er of am biti on. Bu t it jus t ca n't be. Ev er.

Wi th a sig h, Ali ce sp ea ks. "I'v e ma de up my mi nd. I'm goi ng out in the fiel d my self .I ca n't hu ddl e an ym ore do wn her e un der the gro un d. It's too isol ate d, too

Ur sul a fro wn s. "B ut Ch ief, we ca n't ha ve yo u roa mi ng alo ne out in the op en! An d wit h bo dy gu ard s, yo u'd be too co ns pic uo us. Eit her wa y, it's jus t too

Th e kid na p att em pt last ye ar dur ing her fac t-fi ndi ng mis sio n to Fr en ch Ind oc hin a is fre sh in Ali ce' s mi nd. Sh e ca n still see the pai nc ont ort ed fac es of the

Page 192

''N o, my mi nd' s ma de up. If it ma ke s yo u res t an y eas ier, tho ug h, Ur sul a, I'll be un der co ver . Ev en so me kin d of dis gui se, if yo u wa nt. W e'll go the

Ur sul a visi bly bit es the insi de of on e ch ee k to sto p fro m arg uin g. Th en, mir ac ulo usl y, as if pre par ed for this ver y ev ent uali ty, she wh ips out on e of her om

"W ill this do ?"

Ali ce sca ns the dat a swi ftly . "G oo d, ver y go od. Re po rte r for Ho lid ay ma gaz ine .I ass um e the edi tor is in our po ck et? Ye s, of co urs e. Oh , an da cat ch

Ur sul a snif fs wit h pr op riet ary pri de. "I tho ug ht yo u mi ght ."

2 — Ho lid ay, Ho lid ay, Do Yo u Re ad ?

M ep hist op hel es is ha vin g his usu al da y in He ll.

Lo t of har d, hot wo rk, co nst ant ly jab bin g the inc an de sce nt pit chf or k to the pin cus hio n but ts of les ser de vils , inv ent ing ne w vic es an d te mp tati on s an

Al mo st.

Alf red Be ste r, edi tor -in -ch ief of Ho lid ay ma gaz ine — so phi stic ate d sist er pu bli cat ion to the mo re yo kel ish Sa tE ve Po st, cir cul ati on hol din g nic ely tha nk yo

Page 193 dri nk of the da y. (N o ge ner ou s so ul wo uld co unt the nip ne ed ed up on risi ng. )

Op eni ng a de ep lo we r de sk dra we r, the edi tor re mo ves a cut -gl ass de ca nte r of I. W. Ha rpe r wh isk ey. (Al wa ys pat ron ize ad ver tise rs; fre e bo oz e by

Be tter , mu ch bet ter. Th e edi tor res tor es the bot tle to its offi ceinf am ou s hid ing pla ce. He tak es a pa ck of Oa sis me nth ols fro m his inn er jac ket po ck et, tap s

Ah , no w he ca n co nc ent rat e on get tin ga go dd am n ma gaz ine out ! Th ere 're col um n inc hes to fill, ass ign me nts to be par cel ed out lik e sug arp lu ms or ins

Of co urs e, he ha dn' t be en he ad ho nc ho fro m the sta rt. Jus t on e of six ass oci ate edi tor s ba ck the n, on e of the les ser de vils , doi ng the scu tw or k, bui

Page 194 bo y, but on e wh o del ive red , mo vin g ste adi ly up the lad der till rea chi ng his pre sen t ex alt ed sta tus in '55 .A reg ula r sin ec ure .

Or sin ner 's cur se.

Th e edi tor str ok es his clo se cli pp ed, ele ga nt bla ck Va nd yk e-s tyl ed fac ial hai r, sm oot hs ba ck his cro wli ke Bri llcr em ed qui lls. No ta lic k of gre y yet , at fift

W hat mo re ind ee d?

W ell, en ou gh sta rry -ey ed be ac hc om bin g am on g the wr ac k of his life . W or k co m ma nd s att ent ion . Ha rd, vig or ou s, thr usti ng wo rk.

Th e edi tor lea ns for wa rd an d de pre sse s on e ke y of the Di cta ph on e int erc om .

"M iss Mi nki e M arti ni, yo ur pre tty ass is req ues ted her ein for th wit h, ch op -ch op !"

Th e out er do or of the edi tor' s offi ce swi ngs in wa rd, an d in wa lks — sas ha ys — Mi ss Mi nki e M arti ni. Sh e's allu rin gly atti red in a lo wcut gre en silk blo use

In ret urn , she get s to call her bo ss "Al fie. "

It's not a ba d de al, nor on e she rea lly mi nd s, nor ev en act uall y ev er po nd ers .

It's jus t the wa y the wo rld wo rks .

Sw ivel ing his ch air out wa rd, Alf ie ges tur es no w im per iou sly wit ha br oa d sw ee p of on e tw ee dcla d ar m an d ma nic ure d ha nd. "O ka y, ba be, ass um

Mi nki e plo ps do wn int o her bo ss' s lap , fini shi ng her mo tio n wit ha littl e las civi ou s gri nd. Sh e sm ells the wh isk ey on hi m an d is gra tef ul, as it im pr

"G od, girl , yo u loo k mo re Le na Ho rne ev ery da y! Bu t bet ter bo ob s." Alf ie cu ps the m to illu str ate his poi nt. "H ey, tha t's wh at's mis sin g. M usi c! Ge t the

Page 195

Ris ing up off her em plo yer 's lap , Mi nki e swi ngs her hip s ov er to the big Ca pe har t hi-f i in the cor ner an d dr op s the ne edl e on a pla tter . Xa vie r Cu gat fills

"O ka y, let' s ha ve a run do wn on the hig hpri orit y ite ms , girl ."

Fr om her ca pa cio us me mo ry, Mi nki e be gin s to ree l off the cur ren t pr oje cts . Sh e is pr ofe ssi on ally un dis tra cte d by Alf ie's fin ger s un doi ng her blo use but

"T he Ro me arti cle still ne ed sa wri ter. Yo u me nti on ed Pe rel ma n or Be me lm ans last tim e — "

"F uc k tho se old ha ck s! Th ey' re get tin g too co mp lac ent for my tas tes . I'm go nn a try so me on e ne w. W ho do we ha ve on tap ?"

"W ell, the re wa s tha t M alz ber g fell ow — "

"Y ea h, I re me mb er, pu shy yo un g Je w wh o wo rke d for Sc ott M ere dit h an d wa s loo kin g to get his foo t in the do or. Go od po rtf oli o, tho ug h, an dI lik

Alf ie has the fro nt of Mi nki e's blo use co mp let ely un do ne no w, rev eali ng her pa ck ed M aid enf or m bra wit h its poi nte d cu ps lik ea top -of -th e-li ne Stu de ba ker

"W ell, the Ta hiti ph oto s — "

At tha t mo me nt mu ted sh out s ari se fro m out sid e, an d the do or to Alf ie's offi ce bur sts op en. Fr am ed in the ent ran ce is an old er silv erhai red wo ma n we ari

"M r. Be ste r, do yo u kn ow wh oI am ?" she de ma nd s wit h frig id aut hor ity. "D o yo u kn ow the im pli cat ion s of ign ori ng me ssa ges an d ke epi ng me wa itin

"W hat the fuc k do I loo k lik e to yo u, lad y? A mi nd rea der or so me thi ng ?"

Mi nki e has sto od cal ml y up an d is un co nc ern edl y but ton ing her blo use . Thi s is not the firs t tim e this has ha pp en ed, nor will it in all lik elih oo d be the last .

Th en the intr ud er sp ea ks a sin gle wo rd. Page 196

It is an inn oc uo us no un, on e no on e wo uld sta rt at. Ye t it ca use s Alf ie to ju mp , the n go pal e, for it is the co de wo rd for co nta ct wit h its ag ent s tha

"Je sus X. Ch rist ! Mi nki e, ma ke lik ea ma gici an an d dis ap pe ar. W e'r e not to be dis tur be d."

Mi nki e sw ays out , clo sin g the do or be hin d her . Th e ne w wo ma n tak es a sea t, pr op s on e tro use red an kle ma nni shl y on her op po site kn ee, the n

Alf ie is gra tef ul for the dis tra cti on. It giv es hi m tim e to reg ain his ner ve an d ass ura nc e. By the tim e the wo ma n is puf fin g an d sip pin g in sile nc e (he fin

Al mo st as if rea din g his mi nd, the wo ma n say s, "C all me Jan e Tip tre e. All yo u ne ed to kn ow ab out me is tha t I'm fro m the ag en cy, an d wh en I say ,

Alt ho ug h pai ne d, he' s still a wis eg uy. (O r is tha ta pai nw ise gu y?) "Y ou Jan e, me not Ta rza n. I got it. No w, ho w ca nI hel p yo u?"

Jan e dr op s her rai se d foo t to the flo or an d lea ns for wa rd, fixi ng hi m wit ha sta re as inc en dia ry as the Hu ng ari an M olo tov co ckt ail tha t too k out Kh rus

"Y ou' re goi ng to do a fea tur e on the Sv ab ha vik ak ay a. An d I'm the wri ter. No w, giv en tho se par am ete rs, wh ere do we be gin ? I'v e got so me ide as of my ow

"Je sus , Jan e, yo u'v e rea lly pic ke da los er the re. Th e gre at un wa she d do n't wa nt to he ar wo rd on e ab out the Sv ab ha vik ak ay a. Th ey sca re pe opl e

"D on' t lec tur e me !I kn ow all tha t. Bu t I'm not ai mi ng for a Pul itze r or rec or dbre aki ng sal es, I'm loo kin g to sav e live s. Th e live s of yo ur fell ow citi

Page 197 Alf ie blo ws a sm ok e-r ing . "W as the na me Jan e or Jo an ? Mi ss Da rk, I pre su me ?"

Th e wo ma n loo ks rea dy to ex plo de, so Alf ie ba ck s off. "Al l rig ht, all rig ht." He str ok es his be ard . "H m m m, if I ha d to wri te ab out the alie ns, I'd pr ob

Bri ght eni ng, Tip tre e say s, "T he Sw ab bie s? W ho are the y?"

Alf ie ca n't res ist glo ati ng a bit. "N ew ly for me d nut gro up. Lo t of exbe atn iks an d ho ph ea ds, ho da ds, hot ro dd ers , dr op out s, run aw ay juv ies, an d Lo rd

"W her e are the y loc ate d?"

"S an Fr an cis co. Ha igh t dis tric t. Th e Sv ab ha vik ak ay a shi p at the Pr esi dio is the onl y on e not loc ate d in a nat ion al ca pit al. Th ey thi nk it's sp eci

Jan e sta nd s. "G od da mn tho se ag ent s of mi ne wit h the ir he ad s up the ir ass hol es. W ort hle ss, utt erl y wo rthl ess ."

At tha t inst ant , Alf ie rec og niz es her . Sh e ke ep sa lo w pr ofil e, ne ver ph oto gra ph ed mu ch, but the re wa s tha t bri ef tes tim on y dur ing the M cC art hy

"Y ou — yo u'r e — "

"D on' t say it, or I'll pr ob abl y ha ve to kill yo u so me da y."

Alf ie do esn 't say her rea l na me , be ca use he full y bel iev es her cal m thr eat .

"G et yo ur 'gir l'" — Alf ie ca n he ar the qu ota tio n ma rks in her ton e — "on the ph on e to Pa n A m. W e'r e he adi ng we st."

"' W e?' "

"Y ou' ve pr ov en yo ur val ue alr ea dy. So me thi ng tell s me yo u'v e got mo re to co ntri but e." Tip tre e lea ns acr oss the de sk to po ke a rigi d fin ger int o his fla

Page 198 Thi s old bat is so me thi ng els e! As if an yo ne' d get hot to tro t ov er her ! Alf ie tak es a sip of his ow n dri nk to hid ea smi le.

"S o, do the se Sw ab bie s ha ve a lea der ?"

"Y ea h, of co urs e, wh at bu nc h of frui tca ke s do esn 't? An d lik e mo st me ssi ahs , he' s ev en giv en hi ms elf a ne w na me . He wa s bo rn Ed W ald

"C ute ," say s Tip tre e. "A littl e too cut e."

3 — Up th e W ho rls of th e W hir led

Lo zen ges of col ore d ligh t— the im pre ssi oni st sun 's pai nte rly eff ort s ma de thr ou gh the me diu m of out do or qu aki ng foli ag e an da stai ne dgla ss wi nd ow in

Th e mo pp er' s str on g-t eacol ore d fee t are bar e. Big kn ob by toe s sq uin ch an d cle nc h, clu tch ing the wo rn wo od as he wo rks . Ba re too are his tri m mu

Bu t his fac e —

Th e ma n's yo un g frie ndl y fac e is pai nte d wit h org ani c swi rls of vib ran t col or, M aor i styl e, hall uci nat ory loo ps an d cur ves str ea mi ng fro m br ow to bel

Th e gar ish mo pp er tra ck s to wa rd the ba se of a stai rca se, his friz zy hai ra cor on a in the sun ligh t. M usi c flo ats do wn fro m ab ov e, be nt not es tor tur ed

Do or bel l chi me s. Th e mo pp et sto ps, lea ns his im ple me nt ag ain st the stai r's rail ing , an d mo ves to wa rd the fro nt do or. Page 199

Op en ed, the wi de he av y do or rev eal sa ma n an da wo ma n. He 's big an d fas hio na ble an d out of sha pe, lik e an ov erf ed cir cus be ar dre sse d by Sa vill e

Th e ma n on the do ors tep stic ks his ha nd out . "Hi the re! W e'r e fro m Ho lid ay ma gaz ine , an d we 're loo kin g for Mr . Te d Stu rge on. W e we re tol d he

Ela stic pai nt str etc hes , co nto uri ng ne w mu scl es wit ho ut cra cki ng as the mo pp er smi les br oa dly . Bu t he do es not sp ea k.

"D o the Sw ab bie s live her e?" as ks the wo ma n.

Ag ain , sile nc e. Th e big ma n sta rts to sh ow fru str ati on, his voi ce risi ng.

"Li ste n her e, pu nk! Ar e yo u goi ng to let us thr ou gh this do or, or do I ha ve to for ce my wa y in? "

"B est er, no, let me ha ndl e this — "

A ne w voi ce intr ud es. "H an dle wh at? "

Th e ne wc om er fro m the dar k int eri or of the ho use sta nd s pr ote cti vel y be hin d the yo un g bla ck ma n, wh o's still mi ndl ess ly gri nni ng. Sat yr' s fac e wit

"W ell, tha nk go d," say s Be ste r. "S om eo ne wit ha ton gu e! I'm Alf ie Be ste r, edi tor of Ho lid ay ma gaz ine . Thi s is, um , Jan e Tip tre e, on e of our sta ff wri

"I' m Stu rge on. An d I'll be ha pp y to tal k wit h yo u. I tal k wit h an yb od y, act uall y, ev en the pre ss. Bu tI do n't kn ow if I par tic ula rly wa nt a wri teup do

No w the wo ma n say s, "Ni cel y put , Mr . Stu rge on. It see ms as if yo u sp ea k fro m per so nal ex per ien ce. Ha ve yo u ev er wo rke d in pu bli c rel ati on

Page 200

Stu rge on gri ns kn ow ingl y. "O h, I'v e hel d do zen s of job s, Mi ss Tip tre e. Ev ery thi ng fro m me rch ant sea ma n to 'do zer op era tor to sh ort -or der co ok to car

Stu rge on lay sa ha nd on the bar e cor de d sh oul der of the mo pp er, an d the yo uth ste ps asi de. As he tur ns, Stu rge on pat s the yo uth 's tig htl y mu scl ed rea r en

Th e sm all co m mo tio n at the fro nt do or has attr act ed a cro wd of Sw ab bie s. Ch ick s in bla ck leo tar ds an d co wlne ck sw eat ers , gu ys in san dal s an d

Stu rge on ad dre sse s his att ent ive flo ck. "O ka y, ok ay, frie nd s, not hin g to get co nc ern ed ab out , jus ta pai r of ch ar mi ng visi tor s fro m the str aig ht wo rld.

Stu rge on ste ps de ep er int o the ho use , an d his visi tor s foll ow .

"W hat 's wit h the mu te du de ?" Be ste r as ks.

"C hip ? A cur iou s cas e. Sh ow ed up on our do ors tep on e da y, dirt y, ski nn y, an d sh ow ing the eff ect s of so me ser iou s ab use . Fo un d jus t the sin gle

"Y ea h —l ike wh en so me on e's pla yin g go d wit h hi m."

Stu rge on see ms un off en de d, unf lap pa ble . "W e all pla y go d, Mr . Be ste r, wh eth er on the ma cro co smi c or mi cro co smi c lev el, lik e ps yc hol ogi sts doi

"W hy is his fac e pai nte d?" as ks Tip tre e. "I did n't not ice it on an y of the oth ers ."

"H e did tha t to hi ms elf, rig ht aft er the firs t tim e he sa w a Sv ab ha vik ak ay a. I thi nk he wa s tryi ng to rep ro du ce tha t mo ire pat ter n Page 201

of the alie ns tha t so me pe opl e rep ort see ing . It ma ke s hi m ha pp y an d do esn 't hur t an yo ne els e, so I do n't int erf ere .A go od rul e to live by, in ge

Th e trio is in the kit ch en no w: a so un d lik e rai n on a tin ro of as a wo ma n she lls pe as int oa chi pp ed en am ele d pa n by the sin k, the sm ell of ore

A sc our ed pla nk tab le hol ds a sle epi ng cat an d tw o par tiall y me lte d ca ndl es stu ck in ba sk ete d Ch ian ti bot tles . Ind ica tin g the rail ba ck ch air s aro

"N ow , wh at do yo u wa nt to kn ow ?"

Be ste r me rel y sip s his cof fee , lett ing his ost ens ibl e jun ior run the sh ow .

"I' m mo st int ere ste d," say s Tip tre e, "in yo ur bel iefs reg ard ing the mo tiv es of the Sv ab ha vik ak ay a — par tic ula rly co nc ern ing the ab du cti on s. Ha ve yo u

Stu rge on smi les am iab ly. "Q uit ea set of qu esti on s, Mi ss Tip tre e. An d not ex act ly the on es I wo uld ha ve ex pe cte d fro m so me on e int ent on pr od uci ng

"S pe cul ati on s yo u'd be will ing to sha re? "

Le ani ng for wa rd as if in co nfi de nc e, Stu rge on say s, "C ert ainl y. I bel iev e tha t the Sv ab ha vik ak ay a are her e to har ves t us. W e — or cer tai n am on

Page 202 Be ste r sn ort s. '' W hat the hell co uld the y wa nt fro m us? Th ese rag s on our ba ck s, our pr ow ess as ani ma l sla ve lab or? "

"N ot at all, Mr . Be ste r. Su ch attr act ion s are ad mit ted ly ridi cul ou sly sim plis tic. Bu t co nsi der — wh at if we po sse sse d so me rar e ps yc hic qu alit y, so me

"H og wa sh! " Be ste r dra ins his cu p. "S ay, I do n't su pp os e yo u'd ha ve a littl e too t of so me hai r of the do g aro un d this joi nt? "

"W hy, sur e, Mr . Be ste r." Stu rge on no w ad dre sse s the wo ma n at the sin k, wh o has be en pat ien tly stri ppi ng the pe a po ds dur ing the ir col loq uy. "Bi an ca, co

Th e wo ma n car rie s ov er the liq uor an d Stu rge on tak es it fro m her , givi ng her int elli ge nt ha nd sa bri ef but not ice abl e car ess . He un ca ps the bot tle, tilts

"C are to as k the bot tle' s per mis sio n firs t, Mr . Be ste r?"

Be ste r red de ns, the n pu she s the ne ck of the bot tle do wn wit ha fin ger tip. A mb er ch ortl es out .

Tip tre e say s, "A re yo u clai mi ng the n, Mr . Stu rge on, tha t the Sv ab ha vik ak ay a are bei ngs tha t exi st on a hig her pla ne tha n we do, abl e to dis cer n qu

"It' s qui te po ssi ble . He re, list en to this ." Stu rge on re mo ves a mu ch cre ase d pa mp hle t fro m a caf tan po ck et. "T his is fro m a wo rk by Pr ofe sso r C.

"'S va bh avi ka ka ya is un der sta ndi ng the wh ole thi ng, tot al pa nor am ic ex per ien ce, a rea liza tio n of the tot alit y of wh at is. Sv ab ha vik ak ay a is a ge ner al

Be ste r co nte nti ou s spi rits evi de ntl y lift ed by the liq uor , the edi tor say s, "A nd yo u clai m yo ur bul lshi t det ect or is wo rki ng! "

Be for e Stu rge on ca n rep ly, a blo nd e Sw ab bie girl bur sts int o the kit ch en, sh out ing , "T he y'r e out , the y'r e out !A sig hti ng at Fis her ma n's W har f!"

Page 203

Th e ba ck of the ov ert urn ed ch air bo un ces on ce off the flo or. Stu rge on' s alr ea dy at the do or. "Q uic kly ! If yo u wa nt to see wh at we do, the n mo ve it!"

Wi thi n sec on ds the ent ire Sw ab bie cre w, as we ll as Be ste r an d Tip tre e, are cra m me d int oa mo tle y ass ort me nt of ve hicl es an d he adi ng to wa rd the

At the do ck s, Stu rge on is in the lea d as his pa ck of Sw ab bie s cla tter to wa rd a clo t of un mo vin g tou rist s tra pp ed by the ho ver ing Sv ab ha vik ak ay a. As

In the qui et, the sla p of wa ter on pili ngs so un ds as lou d as gu nsh ots .

No w the Sw ab bie s ma nif est the ir bel iefs . So me fall to the ir kn ees , ha nd s loc ke d in pra yer ; oth ers po go as hig h as po ssi ble , or cla mb er ato p the

Stu rge on sta nd s cal ml y ap art, ar m aro un d the bar e wa ist of the mu te na me d Ch ip, Be ste r, an d Tip tre e ten tati vel y be sid e the du o. Stu rge on' s ey

Su dd enl y Tip tre e ex clai ms , "T he shi p!"

Fr om the ne arb y Pr esi dio mili tar y ba se, the shi p of the Sv ab ha vik ak ay a has lift ed, is no w ab ov e the m. Ne ver has this ha pp en ed bef ore .

Th e ce ntr al po rtio n of the biz arr e int ers tell ar cra ft is sha pe d lik e the silh ou ett e of a vas e or a bul l's he ad, an d spr out s twi n bra nc hes fro m its

Thi s is the fles h-c ow led , hid de n sha pe wh ich , du e to its coi nci de nta l tau rin e res em bla nc e, on ce ga ve ris e to the bul l as par ad oxi cal sy mb ol of the an

No w it's Be ste r's tur n to ex clai m. "L oo k at the kid !"

Stu rge on op ens his ey es, fin ds Ch ip's bur nin g fac e.

Th e pai nte d line s an d wh orl s on the yo uth 's dar k ski n ha ve co me Page 204

aliv e, are sq uir mi ng an d wri thi ng acr oss his un aw are co unt en an ce lik e fla mi ng tatt oo s jus t be ne ath his dar k ski n.

Ex hib itin g tig htl y rei ne d co mp os ure , Tip tre e say s, "H as — has this ev er ha pp en ed bef ore ?"

"N ev er. "

Th en the alie ns the ms elv es are on the m.

Air rus hes in to fill the sp ac es wh ere Stu rge on, Be ste r, an d Tip tre e on ce sto od. Fa ce pai nt no w ina ni ma te, Ch ip re ma ins be hin d —

—f alls to his kn ees —

— an d wa ils.

4 — Ha rs h S mo ke Ri se s Up Fo re ve r on a Hu ds on Ba y Bl an ke t

Sh e is tw elv e ye ars old ag ain in bo dy an d mi nd, as yet wh ole an d un mu tila ted .

Bu t the sca rre d, sca red fift y-y ear -ol d wo ma n is so me ho w als o pre sen t insi de the he ad of the pu be sce nt girl , ob ser vin g wit h utt er dis bel ief the au dio vid

No t this , thi nk s Ali ce Sh eld on. Lo rd, I ca n't live thr ou gh this ag ain , es pe cial ly kn ow ing wh at it me ans , an d still sta y san e.

Th e ye ar is 19 27. Sh e is in a hut of the na me les s-t oher Ke ny an trib e — her der s, po or, em aci ate d, an d mi gra tor y — wh o res cu ed an or ph an ed wh

Page 205 rai se d by an eld erl y au nt, the sca ve ng ers an d we ath er an d ins ect s will ha ve lon g ren der ed an y aut op sy im pra cti cal .)

Bu t rig ht no w, rig ht this mo me nt, she is still a fou ndl ing , an ad opt ed me mb er of the trib e.

An d this trib e pra cti ces fe ma le cir cu mc isio n.

Oh , but wh y be me aly -m out he d? Ali ce ne ver is on oth er top ics. Ca ll it wh at it is.

Fe ma le ge nit al mu tila tio n. Cli tor ed ect om y, the pre -m ed Ali ce Sh eld on rea ds in on e of her tex ts.

Fe els dai ly wit h pai nfu l uri nat ion , see s dai ly in her mir ror .

Vir gin' s mir ror . Ev en aft er hal fa ce ntu ry, the vir gin' s onl y ob ser ver is her mir ror .

No w the har dly -an -a dol esc ent , yet still so me ho w thr eat eni ngtothe -p ow ers -th atbe fe ma le sq uir ms her bar e littl e sun -br on ze d but t on the scr atc hy tra

Bu t the chil d she on ce an d for ev er wa s ca nn ot he ar her .

Th e he ad ma n is ap pr oa chi ng, int oni ng the bu zzy , clic kin g trib al ritu al phr ase s, an d wo me n —t rait or ou s wo me n! — pin ion her sh oul der s to the bla nk

W ho is ma kin g me reli ve this ! It has to be the Sv ab ha vik ak ay a. Da mn the m for ev er! I sh oul d ha ve blo wn my he ad off an y of tho se sc ore s of tim es I

No w the he ad ma n is kn eeli ng bet we en her par ted leg s. Th e kni fe is de sce ndi ng, so on it will bit e an d sw all ow her wh ole fut ure —

A ha nd clu tch es the he ad ma n's wri st.

"D ro p it!"

Th e kni fe fall s to the bla nk et.

Ali ce see s her im pr ob abl e, an ac hro nist ic res cu er is Be ste r.

Sh e's sta ndi ng as a na ke d ad ult wit hin a la mb ent sp ac e, a lar ge ca ps ule tha t see ms to be a fuz z-e dg ed ov oid of gre y fog . Lig ht diff use s fro m all

Page 206 An ov ary of the shi p?

Ali ce rea ch es do wn , cu ps her ge nit als on e-h an de d in dis bel ief. Alt ho ug h she has no ad ult ex per ien ce in wh at bei ng nor ma l sh oul d fee l lik e, she ab

Be ste r sta nd s be sid e her , na ke d, too . Bu t he' s not the sa me ma n, an y mo re tha n she is the sa me wo ma n. He 's be en br ok en do wn , de mo lish

"It' s the alie ns doi ng this to us, isn' t it?" Ali ce as ks.

"W ho els e?"

Te nta tiv ely , Ali ce str etc hes a ha nd for wa rd to tou ch Be ste r's ch est .

Th en the y'r e pre sse d ag ain st ea ch oth er al mo st as if pu she d by out sid e for ces , irre sti ble im pul sio ns. A co smi c rap e? thi nk s Ali ce. Bu t the n she

No w Ali ce is ea ger , Be ste r too . Th eir bre ath s mi ngl e as the y kis s. Ali ce fee ls we tne ss see pin g fro m wit hin her , slic kin g her thi ghs . Sh e dr op

Th ey' re on the yiel din g flo or of this no -pl ac e. Be ste r's on his ba ck, Ali ce str ad dli ng hi m, yet still un pie rce d.

Th en she dr op s for cef ully to tak e hi m insi de her wit ha mo dic um of pai n an d blo od, an d an un dre am t-o f ple asu re.

Sh e sta rts to fee d hi m her hot littl e tits .

So me on e's wh isp eri ng in her ear fro m be hin d, wh ile tra cin g sen su ou s line s on her ba ck. It's Stu rge on, a sec on d se du cer , so me ho w ne ces sar y co mp

"I'v e sp ok en to the m," the Sw ab bie gur u say s. "T he Sv ab ha vik ak ay a. Th ey' re ges talt per so nali ties . Th ey' ve be en tryi ng to ass em ble sim ilar bei ngs out of hu

Page 207

Th e wo rds sto p. Ali ce fee ls the en gor ge d tip of the sec on d ma n's pe nis trai l do wn the cra ck of her but toc ks, lea vin ga trai l of ma le lub ric ant .

Th en Stu rge on ma ke s thr ee, op eni ng up a per pet ual tas te of bei ng.

5 — Sh e Is Bo rn for All M en W ho W ait

Th e ex ha ust ed, nu mb Sw ab bie s pic k the ms elv es up off the wh arf' s pla nki ng. Th eir lea der an d the tw o visi tor s are go ne. So is the shi p of the alie ns. So ,

Th e yo uth na me d Ch ip rai ses a tea r-s tre ak ed fac e to the ski es. In a clo ud for ma tio n ov er the Ba y he see sa trip arti te fac e lik ea Tib eta n dei ty's tha t

M oth er in the sk y.