Robert Emmett McDowell

“ The spaceport, he realized, must be located at some distance from Eden. The road ran straight ahead—a glittering plastic ribbon cutting a channel through the fantastic jungle.
It was monstrous, that jungle. It writhed, twisted, swayed in great swaths although there wasn't the faintest breeze. Suddenly the bus stopped with a jerk to allow a herd of huge tree-like plants to swarm across the road.
Joel gaped at them in amazement. They had thick flesh-like trunks from which writhing tentacles sprouted like the arms of an octopus. ”

“ We could arouse their appetite, lead them to the rebels." He narrowed his pupilless eyes. "Attack...."
Joel was like a drowning man clutching at a straw. "The ray couldn't harm the plants. It destroys red blood corpuscles. They'd be invincible!"
Thorp suddenly smacked a fist into his palm, "By Neptune!" he said, "it's worth a try. How do you control the brutes? Telepathy?"
Tamis nodded. "They're mindless; that is, they react to external stimuli. We create the illusion that generates the desired response. It is as easy to influence a herd as a single tree." ”

“ A man was snatched up by a tentacle. He kicked, screamed. More men were caught by the ravenous plants. The stench of carbolic acid stung Joel's nostrils.
The rebels broke and ran. But there was no place to run to. They saw only a second wavering wall of greenery, of thrashing tentacles!
Joel was white, sick at his stomach. He caught sight of Walt Eriss. The shaggy giant was sprinting for a half-track. He almost made it. Then a tentacle girdled his ankle.
The ex-surgeon was lifted head downward into the air, squirming, shrieking. ”

“ He let his breath escape. "How did you do that?"
"You were seeing with my eyes. Your people have invented machines to do that—the X-ray machine, the fluoroscope. They are crutches. They cannot do half so well as the eye alone!"
"But it's impossible!" he burst out.
She shook her head. "No. Consider the facts. Even in the densest solid, there is more space than matter. Every atom is like a miniature solar system. There is an infinity of space in that bulkhead but only a drop of matter no bigger than a grain of sand. Is it not true?"
Joel nodded.
Tamis giggled. ”

“ Sweat burst from Joel's face. He expected to be rayed down any moment. He said, "Tamis was my contact. I have information—vital information." He could scent the Ganelons closing in. Eriss was staring at him with flaming yellow-gray eyes.
"What sort of information?" he demanded.
Joel said, "Mutants are in control of all government posts. True mutants. They are fighting for the same things that the Ganelons are. Freedom!
"You've organized the worst elements among us, the unbalanced, the criminally insane. You've helped them to devise weapons, given them unlimited power. ”

“ Down, down she settled towards the surface of Asgard, second planet of Alpha Centauri A. An electric excitement ran like flames through the Unfit.
Joel couldn't eat. "How much longer?" he asked Thorp for the hundredth time.
"For Saturn's sake, sit down," the ex-spaceman exploded.
Joel dropped into a relaxer, lit a cigarette. His green eyes glittered with anticipation. Tamis gave him an amused glance, but Joel sensed that the Ganelon girl was as excited as himself.
"We should be landing in an hour," she informed him.
Joel felt the Zenith shiver from the violence of her braking blasts. ”

“ Joel's eyes widened. There wasn't a Ganelon in sight. Then he caught their alien unhuman scent. They were all around, invisible to the mind's eye! What did it mean?
A thrill of alarm rippled up his spine. He shrugged, said, "How would I know?"
"You're one of their spies," stated Eriss flatly. "I want to know what they're up to!"
"But I thought they were leading the attack on Eden."
"The Ganelons?" Eriss' voice was sarcastic. "They're a pack of old women. I directed the attack. I'm in charge." ”

“ They were a handsome, sprightly race. There wasn't a stick of clothing or an ornament in the crowd. Then Joel saw a familiar figure emerge from the undergrowth.
"Thorp!" he cried. "Nick Thorp!"
The battered amiable ex-spaceman came forward, hand outstretched. "Not so loud, lad. We're too close to Eriss' headquarters."
The uproar from the rebels' camp was muted by the dense jungle, but it was still audible. Joel asked, "Have you seen Tamis?"
"Look around, lad!"
Joel heard a giggle, spun about. Tamis was standing at his elbow, laughing at him. Then she quit laughing. Her elfin features sobered. ”

“ Governor Cameron stared at Joel with his penetrating green eyes. "Hakkyt, we want to treat with the Ganelons. There's room for both our races. You're in communication with their Thinkers. You're our only contact with them."
Joel said suspiciously, "If you were anxious to treat with the Thinkers, why did you murder their spies?"
"Murder their spies?" Priscilla echoed. Half a dozen voices burst out in protest.
Joel stared pointedly at General Fredrik Roos. The dark, handsome general smiled, shrugged. ”

“ It was General Roos who answered in his lazy drawl. Joel turned his head to stare at him.
"No," said Roos. "The Republic is unaware that mutants hold all the administrative posts in the colony."
"But how...."
"Briefly, Hakkyt, the mutants on Terra saw that if they didn't unite, they were doomed. Societies were formed. The mutants were taught to disguise their oddities, submerge themselves in the race." ”

“ Joel had noticed other women on the street of Eden with green hair, with yellow hair, with cerise, vermillion, chartreuse hair. It obviously was the latest mode of Asgard.
"That's the one, Colonel!" he heard Priscilla say to the man beside her. "Be sure to notify me when he comes up for sale."
Joel reddened.
The colonel touched his cap. "I'll be glad to, Miss Cameron." He turned to Captain Goplerud.
"Move them inside, Captain. They're not used to the suns. Have a good crossing?"
"Rotten," said Goplerud. "I'm glad to get 'em off my hands. Watch that fellow Hakkyt, by the way. He's a killer." ”

“ Oh, Joel, that's why it's so important for you to obtain Priscilla Cameron's confidence. Women are—are indiscreet with their lovers."
Joel looked shocked.
"But Joel, she'll buy you anyway! You'll have the run of the palace. Slaves hear things and see things no one else can!"
She paused, saw him wavering, hurried on. "We're blind without someone close to the governor. The Thinkers are worried. They're holding off, afraid to give the word that'll start the revolt."
"How near is it?" he asked.
"We're ready to strike. The Unfit have stolen arms, built secret laboratories in the jungle. ”

“ Joel, glancing at Tamis, surprised a startled, half-frightened expression on her smooth ivory countenance.
"I've a theory," Liedl repeated, "that the Centaurians are masters of camouflage. I doubt very seriously that they are human. They may even be a quasi-intelligent species of plant life. Have you ever seen the Asgardian jungles, young man?"
"No," Joel admitted.
"Horrible!" Liedl said. "Plants with snaky tendrils like jointless arms. And they aren't rooted. They're capable of independent motion. ”

“ Paralyzers, mind you! Don't you understand? There hasn't been a war in a thousand years! There are no weapons! No factories to make them. No officers with even the most rudimentary knowledge of tactics."
"But the Unfit haven't weapons either...."
"That's where you're mistaken! Our spies have reported a ray type projector that destroys the red blood corpuscles! They've been manufacturing them in hidden laboratories in the jungle!"
Silence fell over the conference table—a breathless anxious silence. Joel could feel their eyes on him and he shifted uncomfortably. ”

“ One lone naked man walking in their midst.
"There's a Ganelon with every squad!" Roos said at Joel's elbow. "They're directing the attack."
Just then Governor Cameron stood up. He'd been in communication with Nuvenice. "They can't spare any troops." His voice was stricken. "The serfs have risen there, too."
Roos began to curse.
Joel felt numb. The Unfit, he realized, were being led by a master strategist. The slave rebellions at Nelsville and Nuvenice had been instigated in order that troops could not be diverted to Eden against which the main assault was being directed. ”

“ The muzzle of his gun hung to Joel's belly like the needle of a compass.
"Stop him, Joel!" Tamis begged wildly. "You are human. You can kill!"
Liedl had to pass within three feet of Joel down the narrow aisle between the tables in order to reach the guardroom. Joel could see the sweat standing out on his sallow forehead.
"Don't try anything!" the professor croaked and began to slide past.
There was the sound of a step from the fo'cs'le. Then the voice of Nick Thorp sang out softly, "Where are you going, Gus?"
Liedl blanched, jerked his head. For a second his eyes were off Joel. ”

“ He turned horrified eyes to Priscilla.
The machine rattled on inexorably: "Why? Why? What does she want to know? Ganelons. Don't think ... Tamis. Where's Tamis? And Thorp. Wonder—. I'm being verbose. Go around in circles. Circles. Curves. Good legs and—. A hell of a thing to be thinking of now! What happened to those other men? Lady Bluebeard. She's no lady. She sure as hell isn't...."
"For Pete's sake shut that thing off!" Joel and the machine roared in unison.
Priscilla lifted her eyes, asked, "Have the rebels contacted you?" ”

“ It's amazing the number of Asgardian species that can move around freely as mammals."
Tamis said gaily, "Then you think the anthropologists have been looking for a man-like animal when all the time the natives have been plants who crept off into the jungle and hid?"
"Exactly!"
"Sounds like a reasonable explanation," Thorp admitted. "I've seen those Asgardian jungles. Crawling, thrashing masses of vegetation." He shook his head. "It gives a body the creeps."
"But how can anything live in that jungle?" Joel protested.
Liedl said triumphantly: "Nothing could! Nothing but plants!" ”

“ Walt Eriss, he learned from Peg, had joined one of the outlaw bands. He was being talked about constantly among the serfs.
A man of action, they called the ex-surgeon, brutal, ruthless, shrewd. A strong man. Joel held his own counsel. But the reports worried him.
He was exploring between the walls on the ninth level when he came to one of the trick mirrors and peered through. A long magnificent corridor met his eye. Directly across from the mirror was a lift.
General Fredrik Roos had his quarters on this level, Joel knew, but the hall was empty. ”

“ Thorp called, "What is it, Joel?"
"The plants! They're attacking!"
With a shout, the ex-spaceman rushed to the parapet, dragging Tamis with him.
The Ganelon girl's ivory cheeks were flushed and she held tight to Thorp's hand as she leaned over the parapet.
Priscilla's green eyes widened. "The Ganelons! They've set the nigel trees onto the rebels."
Joel nodded.
"Oh, Joel! Then you did get through to the Thinkers!" She threw her arms around his neck. Suddenly she drew back. "But are we safe here?"
Tamis said, "My people are directing the trees. We're safe. ”

“ Joel's interest quickened. "See in the dark?"
"Like a cat!" Peg repeated. "And that's not the half of it. She can smell a person out like a hound! I mean actually. Just let her get one whiff of you and she knows who you are!"
Joel wasn't surprised. That explained how Priscilla had detected Tamis at the slave market. It also explained why the Ganelon spies had always been caught in the palace. Their alien scent had betrayed them to Priscilla's keen nostrils. ”

“ Priscilla shivered.
Behind Joel, Thorp said, "The Emperor, Fredrik I of Asgard. He's going to have the shortest reign in history!"
"Shut up!" said Joel. "He's talking."
Roos said, "I don't need the mutants; they need me! Look what happened to Eden. Nelsville and Nuvenice will fall the same way. But you can save thousands of lives if you persuade them to cooperate."
Joel said, "I'm going to take him," and touched the switch.
The panel made a faint squeak as it slid back. Joel leveled the paralyzer, touched the stud.
Roos jerked around, his eyes widening. Then he leaped aside spasmodically. ”

“ At length, satisfied that everyone was asleep, he slid from his bunk, crossed the deck to the mess-room.
The faint yellow night light was burning. He sat down at a table, lit a cigarette, waited. He was chain-smoking his third cigarette before he heard a step. He glanced up quickly. Tamis was standing in front of him.
Joel said, "I thought you must have gone to sleep."
Tamis sat down facing him. She'd removed the contact lenses. The liquid luminous depths of her eyes were hypnotic. "No. I couldn't sleep. We need men like you too badly. You especially." ”

“ A mass of wriggling squirming thread-like roots propelled the plants forward with startling speed.
"Ugh!" Joel shuddered, turned to Tamis. "What are those?"
"Nigel trees."
Joel wrenched back suddenly from the window. One of the nigel trees had lashed out with a tentacle. It touched the screen. There was a green spark. The tentacle jerked back.
"Now do you see why the screens are electrified?" Tamis asked. "The nigel trees are carnivorous."
The bus started to move again. Joel was regarding the Ganelon girl with a frown. "You actually live in the jungle with those things roaming about?" ”

“ That's how your spies have been detected. Maybe Roos is a mutant also."
Tamis sat up, glimpsed Priscilla's luxurious bedroom through the mirrors, caught her lip between her teeth.
"Joel! Where are we?"
"Priscilla Cameron's apartment." He explained about the mirrors.
Tamis sighed in relief. "Joel, what have you learned? The Unfit are impatient. That ex-surgeon, Walt Eriss, you remember him? He's insisting that we attack at once. He—he's insane Joel!"
"He's a homicidal maniac," Joel agreed dryly. "I wish I'd taken Thorp's advice and dumped him down the reconverters." He shook his head. ”

“ Walt Eriss began to tremble. "No," he said in a harsh voice. "I don't want witnesses."
"Talk," said Joel. "You talk too much to do anything."
The ex-surgeon turned abruptly on his heel and stalked away.
Thorp said, low-voiced, "Watch him. Don't ever let him get behind you."
"He's a bluff."
"No. He's a killer. I've seen his kind before. He'll get you, Joel." The spaceman's blue eyes were cold. "You're not safe while he's alive...." ”