Charles A. Stearns

“ Wellesley cursed him.
"It's the fastest ship in the universe," Joseph said. "Where you going?"
Black anger possessed him, but the keen instinct of orientation common to men who have lived in interstellar space worked for his salvation. He might have blundered into the swamp, but he did not. Instead he came up, after a terrible half-hour, against the wall of a building which, by its immense extent, could only have been the warehouse. He moved along its sheer, featureless side until he came to a door, which reoriented him, then struck out in the direction that he guessed the daub-hut to be. ”

“ On Ophir I was not happy, but at least it was home. Out there they may laugh at me. It is exciting and wonderful, but terrifying."
"They will not laugh at you. You will be allowed to live on any approved planet that you wish, and choose your own profession. You will be trained at the expense of the Empire. And in a few years you may be allowed to visit your father and brother on Ophir. Only visit, I mean. Does that sound so bad?"
"But if they laugh—"
"I am not laughing," said Wellesley, with a strange lump in his throat. ”

“ It had been an anonymous tip that had brought Wellesley to Ophir, but in all the inhabited universe, he knew, the Bureau was the sole guardian of the classic blood strain, and it took no chances.
"What's 'inbreeding,' pa?" said Joseph, tugging solemnly at his father's sleeve.
"A naughty word of the middle ages," said Sealilly thickly. "A bugaboo of the mighty sky-chiefs. If we do not co-operate we bring their lightning upon our heads. Yet, what must we do?" ”

“ He was playing with a furry animal not unlike a Martian ferrax, which sprang up, scarlet-eyed and bristling, at the sight of Wellesley.
"Here, boy," said Wellesley, who neither liked nor trusted children. "Is this the house of Amos Sealilly, the factor of Aidennsport?"
"Sure. That's my pa. Say, are you a spaceman?"
"Never mind that. Where is your father?"
"In the warehouse," the boy said. "I'll show you how to get inside. My name's Joseph, and I have a spaceship in the back yard. I call it the Stygia, after the pirate ship of the twenty-eighth century. Do you want to see my crew?" ”

“ Wellesley asked.
"No," Joseph said. "It's something else."
"Are they a clan, then, or brothers?"
"Closer than brothers," Joseph said, scratching Omur's head.
"I have it—avatars! I should have guessed!" He had heard of this odd genetic arrangement before, but never witnessed it. In such cases a dozen or more individuals were born of a single nucleus in a single egg. Of these, one developed more fully than the rest and controlled his mentally-stunted avatars with a mental vinculum far more fundamental and powerful than mere telepathic union. ”

“ He laughed. "Perhaps I may revise my opinion of Ophir," he said.
"No light!" she whispered. Her voice was low and vibrant.
"Why not?"
"I must not be seen here. But I had to warn you. It would not have been right not to warn you about Aidennsport."
"What of Aidennsport?"
"It is a dreadful—an evil place. There are forces here which you would not understand. Leave at once while you are still able to go!"
"You forget that I am a policeman. To leave without completing the census would be dereliction. I remind you that the Empire is inexorable in these things. And who are you, anyway?" ”

“ Wellesley said, "even though I must be grateful to a benefactor whom I have yet to see for the first time. Let me look at you. I cannot command you to tell me who you are, as an officer of the Rift constabulary, but I ask it as your friend."
"You ask the impossible," she said. "The worst is over for you, but there may be still another shock to come. You must stay here until you are stronger, and then I will help you escape. ”

“ At last he was forced to employ a mild form of auto-suggestion, learned long ago and employed often during those first lonely years in space. He slept.
But once, in the early hours of morning, he was awakened by a tumult. There was much loud hissing and the scampering of many feet outside the daub-hut, as though some intricate and riotous game might be in progress out there, the nature of the game—or for that matter, the players—unguessed at. ”

“ They are kind of green and slimy, but they won't hurt you. They can't see in the day-time. Only smell. Anyway, I'm not afraid of them."
"Done," said Wellesley, "and in return for the favor I promise to put in a word for you at the nearest spaceman's hiring hall."
"You won't have to do that," Joseph said. "My crew and I are going to be space pirates."
Then Wellesley laughed aloud, and felt better afterward than he had felt in many a long month.
The trail through the swamp was damp and primitive. Everywhere the cycads, giant ferns and reeds overhung the path. ”

“ Amos Sealilly bowed, took a flask from his pocket and drained it.
"One other thing. I shall need a place to sleep."
Sealilly smiled. "There is an abandoned native daub-hut behind my house. You are welcome to it."
"It will serve," answered Wellesley coldly. "There are natives in the area then?"
"Yes. Bipeds, though not mammalian, you will find. In fact, quite low in the scale of evolution. They are nearsighted and harmless by day, but you will be wise to keep to your hut after dark."
"I can take care of myself."
"I'll show you the place," Joseph offered. "I can carry your space kit, too." ”

“ The relationship between mutation and environment was obvious.
The chief magistrate, factor, or leader of any colony with an official grant was required by law to assist and obey any member of the Rift police in the capacity of a deputy.
Wellesley called Amos Sealilly, who had been avoiding him all day. "Is there a tribe of the dominant native species near here?" he asked.
Sealilly was still drinking, and saluted stiffly. "In the swamp, Lieutenant."
"Guide me there."
"You can go to hell," Sealilly said, "and I will guide you there." ”

“ The Authority of the Rift constabulary is acknowledged universally, though sometimes grudgingly. The men of Aidennsport, therefore, sullenly reported to Wellesley, and brought their families.
It is a singular thing, but almost every birth and death in the galaxy is recorded by the Empire. The laws concerning this are old and stringently enforced. Therefore Wellesley already had a fairly accurate estimate of the true population of Aidennsport, and it came close to the number offered by Amos Sealilly. ”

“ Inbreeding is not, of course, a crime, except against nature. Nor is it ordinarily dangerous. Combined, however, with the environmental influences of certain Rim planets, it may cause genuine, true-breeding mutations within the species, such as monsters, impressiono-telepaths, psycho-variants and other undesirables which, if allowed to multiply for a few generations, might become dominant. ”

“ It's too dangerous for a spaceman. Full of bog-fever. You've no natural resistance. Besides, I'm busy inventorying."
"Very well," Wellesley said, struggling to hold his temper in check, "I'll find them alone."
"In which case," said Sealilly, "you will not come back, and that will be an irreparable loss to the Empire."
Wellesley left him and made his way toward the swamp. Joseph was playing near his ship, and calling orders to an imaginary crew inside. When he saw Wellesley he came running. ”

“ On the other hand, the avatars were his hands and feet, and had larger bodies.
The large-headed Ophirian sat in his wallow and accepted the food offered him with long, leathery fingers. He crunched noisily. Once he turned to stare at them briefly with great, owl eyes. Eleven avatars turned simultaneously to stare. ”