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THE UNLEARNED
By Raymond F. Jones
Illustrated by Ed Emsh
[Transcriber Note: This etext was produced from IF Worlds of Science
Fiction August 1954. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence
that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
[Sidenote: _The scientists of Rykeman III were conceded by all the
galactic members to be supreme in scientific achievement. Now the Rykes
were going to share their vast knowledge with the scientists of Earth.
To any question they would supply an answer--for a price. And Hockley,
of all Earth's scientists, was the stubborn one who wanted to weigh the
answers with the costs...._]
The Chief Officer of Scientific Services, Information and Coordination
was a somewhat misleading and obscure title, and Dr. Sherman Hockley who
held it was not the least of those whom the title misled and sometimes
obscured.
He told himself he was not a mere library administrator, although he was
proud of the information files built up under his direction. They
contained the essence of accumulated knowledge found to date on Earth
and the extraterrestrial planets so far contacted. He didn't feel
justified in claiming to be strictly a research supervisor, either, in
spite of duties as top level administrator for all divisions of the
National Standardization and Research Laboratories and their
subsidiaries in government, industry, and education. During his term of
supervision the National Laboratories had made a tremendous growth, in
contrast to a previous decline.
Most of all, however, he disclaimed being a figurehead, to which all the
loose strings of a vast and rambling organization could be tied. But
sometimes it was quite difficult to know whether or not that was his
primary assignment after all. His unrelenting efforts to keep out of the
category seemed to be encountering more and more determination to push
him in that direction.
Of course, this was merely the way it looked in his more bitter
moments--such as the present. Normally, he had a full awareness of the
paramount importance of his position, and was determined to administer
it on a scale in keeping with that importance. His decision could affect
the research in the world's major laboratories. Not that he was a
dictator by any means, although there were times when dictation was
called for. As when a dozen projects needed money and the Congress
allotted enough for one or two. Somebody had to make a choice--
His major difficulty was that active researchers knew it was the
Congressional Science Committee which was ultimately responsible for
their bread and butter. And the Senators regarded the scientists, who
did the actual work in the laboratories, as the only ones who mattered.
Both groups tended to look upon Hockley's office as a sort of fulcrum in
their efforts to maintain balance with each other--or as referee in
their sparring for adequate control over each other.
At that, however, things research-wise were better than ever before.
More funds and facilities were available. Positions in pure research
were more secure.
And then, once again, rumors about Rykeman III had begun to circulate
wildly a few days ago.
Since Man's achievement of extra-galactic flight, stories of Rykeman III
had tantalized the world and made research scientists sick with longing
when they considered the possible truth of what they heard. The planet
was rumored to be a world of super-science, whose people had an answer
for every research problem a man could conceive. The very few Earthmen
who had been to Rykeman III confirmed the rumors. It was a paradise,
according to their stories. And among other peoples of the galaxies the
inhabitants of Rykeman III were acknowledged supreme in scientific
achievement. None challenged them. None even approached them in
abilities.
What made the situation so frustrating to Earthmen was the additional
report that the Rykes were quite altruistically sharing their science
with a considerable number of other worlds on a fee basis. Earth
scientists became intoxicated at the mere thought of studying at the
feet of the exalted Rykes.
Except Dr. Sherman Hockley. From the first he had taken a dim view of
the Ryke reports. Considering the accomplishments of the National
Laboratories, he could see no reason for his colleagues' half-shameful
disowning of all their own work in favor of a completely unknown culture
several hundred million light years away. They were bound to contact
more advanced cultures in their explorations--and could be thankful they
were as altruistic as the Rykes!--but it was no reason to view
themselves as idiot children hoping to be taught by the Rykes.
He had kept his opinions very much to himself in the past, since they
were not popular with his associates, who generally regarded his
attitudes as simply old-fashioned. But now, for the first time, a Ryke
ship was honoring Earth with a visit. There was almost hysterical
speculation over the possibility that Earth would be offered tutelage by
the mighty Ryke scientists. Hockley wouldn't have said he was
unalterably opposed to the idea. He would have described himself as
extremely cautious. What he did oppose wholeheartedly was the enthusiasm
that painted the Rykes with pure and shining light, without a shadowy
hue in the whole picture.
Since his arrival, the Ryke envoy had been closeted with members of the
Congressional Science Committee. Not a word had leaked as to his
message. Shortly, however, the scientists were to be let in on the
secret which might affect their careers for better or for worse during
the rest of their lives, and for many generations to come. The meeting
was going to be--
Hockley jumped to his feet as he glanced at the clock. He hurried
through the door to the office of his secretary, Miss Cardston, who
looked meaningfully at him as he passed.
"I'll bet there isn't a Senator on time," he said.
In the corridor he almost collided with Dr. Lester Showalter, who was
his Administrative Assistant for Basic Research. "The Ryke character
showed up fifteen minutes ago," said Showalter. "Everyone's waiting."
"We've got six minutes yet," said Hockley. He walked rapidly beside
Showalter. "Is there any word on what the envoy's got that's so
important?"
"No. I've got the feeling it's something pretty big. Wheeler and Johnson
of Budget are there. Somebody said it might have something to do with
the National Lab."
"I don't see the connection between that and a meeting with the Ryke,"
said Hockley.
Showalter stopped at the door of the conference room. "Maybe they want
to sell us something. At any rate, we're about to find out."
The conference table was surrounded by Senators of the Committee.
Layered behind them were scientists representing the cream of Hockley's
organization. Senator Markham, the bulky, red-faced Chairman greeted
them. "Your seats are reserved at the head of the table," he said.
"Sorry about the time," Hockley mumbled. "Clock must be slow."
"Quite all right. We assembled just a trifle early. I want you to meet
our visitor, Special Envoy from Rykeman III, Liacan."
Markham introduced them, and the stick-thin envoy arose with an extended
hand. His frail, whistling voice that was in keeping with his bird-like
character spoke in clear tones. "I am happy to know you, Dr. Hockley,
Dr. Showalter."
The two men sat down in good view of the visitor's profile. Hockley had
seen the Rykes before, but had always been repelled by their snobbish
approach. Characteristically, the envoy bore roughly anthropomorphic
features, including a short feather covering on his dorsal side. He was
dressed in bright clothing that left visible the streak of feathering
that descended from the bright, plumed crown and along the back of his
neck. Gravity and air pressure of Earth were about normal for him. For
breathing, however, he was required to wear a small device in one narrow
nostril. This was connected to a compact tank on his shoulder.
Markham called for order and introduced the visitor. There was a round
of applause. Liacan bowed with a short, stiff gesture and let his small
black eyes dart over the audience. With an adjustment of his breathing
piece he began speaking.
"It is recognized on Earth," he said, "as it is elsewhere, that my
people of Rykeman III possess undisputed intellectual leadership in the
galaxies of the Council. Your research is concerned with things taught
only in the kindergartens of my world. Much that you hold to be true is
in error, and your most profound discoveries are self-evident to the
children of my people."
Hockley felt a quick, painful contraction in the region of his
diaphragm. So this was it!
"We are regarded with much jealousy, envy, and even hatred by some of
our unlearned neighbors in space," said the Ryke. "But it has never been
our desire to be selfish with our superior achievements which make us
the object of these feelings. We have undertaken a program of scientific
leadership in our interstellar neighborhood. This began long before you
came into space and many worlds have accepted the plan we offer.
"Obviously, it is impractical to pour out all the knowledge and basic
science we have accumulated. Another world would find it impossible to
sort out that which was applicable to it. What we do is act as a
consultation center upon which others can call at will to obtain data
pertaining to any problem at hand. Thus, they are not required to sort
through wholly inapplicable information to find what they need.
"For example, if you desire to improve your surface conveyances, we will
supply you with data for building an optimum vehicle suitable for
conditions on Earth and which is virtually indestructible. You will of
course do your own manufacturing, but even there we can supply you with
technology that will make the process seem miraculous by your present
standards.
"Our services are offered for a fee, payable in suitable items of goods
or raw materials. When you contemplate the freedom from monotonous and
unending research in fields already explored by us, I am certain you
will not consider our fees exorbitant. Our desire is to raise the
cultural level of all peoples to the maximum of which they are capable.
We know it is not possible or even desirable to bring others to our own
high levels, but we do offer assistance to all cultures in accord with
their ability to receive. The basic principle is that they shall
ask--and whatever is asked for, with intelligence sufficient for its
utilization, that shall be granted.
"I am certain I may count on your acceptance of the generous offer of my
people."
The envoy sat down with a jiggling of his bright plume, and there was
absolute silence in the room. Hockley pictured to himself the dusty,
cobweb laboratories of Earth vacated by scientists who ran to the phone
to call the Rykes for answers to every problem.
Senator Markham stood up and glanced over the audience. "There is the
essence of the program which has been submitted to us," he said. "There
is a vast amount of detail which is, of course, obvious to the minds of
our friends on Rykeman III, but which must be the subject of much
deliberation on the part of us comparatively simple minded Earthmen." He
gave a self-conscious chuckle, which got no response.
Hockley felt mentally stunned. Here at last was the thing that had been
hoped for by most, anxiously awaited by a few, and opposed by almost no
one.
"The major difficulty," said Markham with slow dignity, "is the price.
It's high, yes. In monetary terms, approximately twelve and a half
billions per year. But certainly no man in his right mind would consider
any reasonable figure too high for what we can expect to receive from
our friends of Rykeman III.
"We of the Science Committee do not believe, however, that we could get
a commitment for this sum to be added to our normal budget. Yet there is
a rather obvious solution. The sum required is very close to that which
is now expended on the National Standardization and Research
Laboratories."
Hockley felt a sudden chill at the back of his neck.
"With the assistance of the Rykes," said Markham, "we shall have no
further need of the National Laboratories. We shall require but a small
staff to analyze our problems and present them to the Rykes and relay
the answers for proper assimilation. Acceptance of the Ryke program
provides its own automatic financing!"
He glanced about with a triumphant smile. Hockley felt as if he were
looking through a mist upon something that happened a long time ago. The
National Lab! Abandon the National Lab!
Around him there were small nods of agreement from his colleagues. Some
pursed their lips as if doubtful--but not very much. He waited for
someone to rise to his feet in a blast of protest. No one did. For a
moment Hockley's own hands tensed on the back of the chair in front of
him. Then he slumped back to his seat. Now was not the time.
They had to thrash it out among themselves. He had to show them the
magnitude of this bribe. He had to find an argument to beat down the
Congressmen's irrational hopes of paradise. He couldn't plead for the
Lab on the grounds of sentiment--or that it was sometimes a good idea to
work out your own problems. The Senators didn't care for the problems or
concerns of the scientists. It appeared that even the scientists
themselves had forgotten to care. He had to slug both groups with
something very solid.
Markham was going on. "We are convinced this is a bargain which even the
most obstinate of our Congressional colleagues will be quick to
recognize. It would be folly to compute with building blocks when we can
gain access to giant calculators. There should be no real difficulty in
getting funds transferred from the National Laboratory.
"At this time we will adjourn. Liacan leaves this evening. Our
acceptance of this generous offer will be conveyed to Rykeman III
directly upon official sanction by the Congress. I wish to ask this same
group to meet again for discussion of the details incident to this
transfer of operations. Let us say at ten o'clock in the morning,
gentlemen."
* * * * *
Hockley said goodbye to the envoy. Afterwards, he moved through the
circle of Senators to his own group. In the corridor they tightened
about him and followed along as if he had given an order for them to
follow him. He turned and attempted a grin.
"Looks like a bull session is in order, gents. Assembly in five minutes
in my office."
As he and Showalter opened the door to Miss Cardston's office and strode
in, the secretary looked up with a start. "I thought you were going to
meet in the conference room."
"We've met," said Hockley. "This is the aftermeeting. Send out for a
couple of cases of beer." He glanced at the number surging through the
doorway and fished in his billfold. "Better make it three. This ought to
cover it."
With disapproval, Miss Cardston picked up the bills and turned to the
phone. Almost simultaneously there was a bellow of protest and an
enormous, ham-like hand gripped her slender wrist. She glanced up in
momentary fright.
Dr. Forman K. Silvers was holding her wrist with one hand and clapping
Hockley on the back with the other. "This is not an occasion for beer,
my boy!" he said in an enormous voice. "Make that a case of champagne,
Miss Cardston." He released her and drew out his own billfold.
"Get somebody to bring in a couple of dozen chairs," Hockley said.
In his own office he walked to the window behind his desk and stood
facing it. The afternoon haze was coming up out of the ocean. Faintly
visible were the great buildings of the National Laboratories on the
other side of the city. Above the mist the sun caught the tip of the
eight story tower where the massive field tunnels of the newly designed
gammatron were to be installed.
Or _were_ to have been installed.
The gammatron was expected to make possible the creation of
gravitational fields up to five thousand g's. It would probably be a
mere toy to the Rykes, but Hockley felt a fierce pride in its creation.
Maybe that was childish. Maybe his whole feeling about the Lab was
childish. Perhaps the time had come to give up childish things and take
upon themselves adulthood.
But looking across the city at the concrete spire of the gammatron, he
didn't believe it.
He heard the clank of metal chairs as a couple of clerks began bringing
them in. Then there was the clink of glassware. He turned to see Miss
Cardston stiffly indicating a spot on the library table for the glasses
and the frosty bottles.
Hockley walked slowly to the table and filled one of the glasses. He
raised it slowly. "It's been a short life but a merry one, gentlemen."
He swallowed the contents of the glass too quickly and returned to his
desk.
"You don't sound very happy about the whole thing," said Mortenson, a
chemist who wore a neat, silvery mustache.
"Are you overjoyed," said Hockley, "that we are to swap the National Lab
for a bottomless encyclopedia?"
"Yes, I think so," said Mortenson. "There are some minor objections, but
in the end I'm certain we'll all be satisfied with what we get."
"Satisfied! Happy!" exclaimed the mathematician, Dr. Silvers. "How can
you use words so prosaic and restrained in references to these great
events which we shall be privileged to witness in our lifetimes?"
He had taken his stand by the library table and was now filling the
glasses with the clear, bubbling champagne, sloshing it with ecstatic
abandon over the table and the rug.
Hockley glanced toward him. "You don't believe, then, Dr. Silvers, that
we should maintain any reserve in regard to the Rykes?"
"None whatever! The gods themselves have stepped down and offered an
invitation direct to paradise. Should we question or hold back, or say
we are merely happy. The proper response of a man about to enter heaven
is beyond words!"
The bombast of the mathematician never failed to enliven any backroom
session in which he participated. "I have no doubt," he said, "that
within a fortnight we shall be in possession of a solution to the
Legrandian Equations. I have sought this for forty years."
"I think it would be a mistake to support the closing of the National
Laboratories," said Hockley slowly.
As if a switch had been thrown, their expressions changed. There was a
sudden carefulness in their stance and movements, as if they were
feinting before a deadly opponent.
"I don't feel it's such a bad bargain," said a thin, bespectacled
physicist named Judson. He was seated across the room from Hockley.
"I'll vote to sacrifice the Lab in exchange for what the Rykes will give
us."
"That's the point," said Hockley. "Exactly what are the Rykes going to
give us? And we speak very glibly of sharing their science. But shall we
actually be in any position to share it? What becomes of the class of
scientists on Earth when the Lab is abandoned?"
Wilkins stood abruptly, his hands shoved part way into his pockets and
his lower jaw extended tensely. "I don't believe that's part of this
question," he said. "It is not just we scientists who are to share the
benefits of the Rykes. It is Mankind. At this time we have no right to
consider mere personal concerns. We would betray our whole calling--our
very humanity--if we thought for one moment of standing in the way of
this development because of our personal concern over economic and
professional problems. There has never been a time when a true scientist
would not put aside his personal concerns for the good of all."
Hockley waited, half expecting somebody to start clapping. No one did,
but there were glances of self-righteous approval in Wilkins' direction.
The biologist straightened the sleeves of his coat with a smug gesture
and awaited Hockley's rebuttal.
"_We_ are Mankind," Hockley said finally. "You and I are as much a part
of humanity as that bus load of punch machine clerks and store managers
passing on the street outside. If we betray ourselves we have betrayed
humanity.
"This is not a sudden thing. It is the end point of a trend which has
gone on for a long time. It began with our first contacts beyond the
galaxy, when we realized there were peoples far in advance of us in
science and economy. We have been feeding on them ever since. Our own
developments have shrunk in direct proportion. For a long time we've
been on the verge of becoming intellectual parasites in the Universe.
Acceptance of the Ryke offer will be the final step in that direction."
Instantly, almost every other man in the room was talking at once.
Hockley smiled faintly until the angry voices subsided. Then Silvers
cleared his throat gently. He placed his glass beside the bottles on the
table with a precise motion. "I am sure," he said, "that a moment's
thought will convince you that you do not mean what you have just said.
"Consider the position of pupil and teacher. One of Man's greatest
failings is his predilection for assuming always the position of teacher
and eschewing that of pupil. There is also the question of humility,
intellectual humility. We scientists have always boasted of our
readiness to set aside one so-called truth and accept another with more
valid supporting evidence.
"Since our first contact with other galactic civilizations we have had
the utmost need to adopt an attitude of humility. We have been fortunate
in coming to a community of worlds where war and oppression are not
standard rules of procedure. Among our own people we have encountered no
such magnanimity as has been extended repeatedly by other worlds,
climaxed now by the Ryke's magnificent offer.
"To adopt sincere intellectual humility and the attitude of the pupil is
not to function as a parasite, Dr. Hockley."
"Your analogy of teacher and pupil is very faulty in expressing our
relation to the Rykes," said Hockley. "Or perhaps I should say it is too
hellishly accurate. Would you have us remain the eternal pupils? The
closing of the National Laboratories means an irreversible change in our
position. Is it worth gaining a universe of knowledge to give up your
own personal free inquiry?"
"I am sure none of us considers he is giving up his personal free
inquiry," said Silvers almost angrily. "We see unlimited expansion
beyond anything we have imagined in our wildest dreams."
On a few faces there were frowns of uncertainty, but no one spoke up to
support him. Hockley knew that until this vision of paradise wore off
there were none of them on whom he could count.
He smiled broadly and stood up to ease the tension in the room. "Well,
it appears you have made your decision. Of course, Congress can accept
the Ryke plan whether we approve or not, but it is good to go on record
one way or the other. I suppose that on the way out tonight it would be
proper to check in at Personnel and file a services available
notification."
And then he wished he hadn't said that. Their faces grew a little more
set at his unappreciated attempt at humor.
* * * * *
Showalter remained after the others left. He sat across the desk while
Hockley turned back to the window. Only the tip of the gammatron tower
now caught the late afternoon sunlight.
"Maybe I'm getting old," Hockley said. "Maybe they're right and the Lab
isn't worth preserving if it means the difference between getting or not
getting tutelage from the Rykes."
"But you don't feel that's true," said Showalter.
"No."
"You're the one who built the Lab into what it is. It has as much worth
as it ever had, and you have an obligation to keep it from being
destroyed by a group of politicians who could never understand its
necessity."
"I didn't build it," said Hockley. "It grew because I was able to find
enough people who wanted the institution to exist. But I've been away
from research so long--I never was much good at it really. Did you ever
know that? I've always thought of myself as a sort of impressario of
scientific productions, if I might use such a term. Maybe those closer
to the actual work are right. Maybe I'm just trying to hang on to the
past. It could be time for a jump to a new kind of progress."
"You don't believe any of that."
Hockley looked steadily in the direction of the Lab buildings. "I don't
believe any of it. That isn't just an accumulation of buildings over
there, with a name attached to them. It's the advancing terminal of all
Man's history of trying to find out about himself and the Universe. It
started before Neanderthal climbed into his caves a half million years
ago. From then until now there's a steady path of trial and error--of
learning. There's exultation and despair, success and failure. Now they
want to say it was all for nothing."
"But to be pupils--to let the Rykes teach us--"
"The only trouble with Silvers' argument is that our culture has never
understood that teaching, in the accepted sense, is an impossibility.
There can be only learning--never teaching. The teacher has to be
eliminated from the actual learning process before genuine learning can
ever take place. But the Rykes offer to become the Ultimate Teacher."
"And if this is true," said Showalter slowly, "you couldn't teach it to
those who disagree, could you? They'd have to learn it for themselves."
Hockley turned. For a moment he continued to stare at his assistant.
Then his face broke into a narrow grin. "Of course you're right! There's
only one way they'll ever learn it: go through the actual experience of
what Ryke tutelage will mean."
Most of the workrooms at Information Central were empty this time of
evening. Hockley selected the first one he came to and called for every
scrap of data pertaining to Rykeman III. There was a fair amount of
information available on the physical characteristics of the world.
Hockley scribbled swift, privately intelligible notes as he scanned. The
Rykes lived under a gravity one third heavier than Earth's, with a day
little more than half as long, and they received only forty percent as
much heat from their frail sun as Earthmen were accustomed to.
Cultural characteristics included a trading system that made the entire
planet a single economic unit. And the planet had no history whatever of
war. The Rykes themselves had contributed almost nothing to the central
libraries of the galaxies concerning their own personal makeup and
mental functions, however. What little was available came from observers
not of their race.
There were indications they were a highly unemotional race, not given to
any artistic expression. Hockley found this surprising. The general rule
was for highly intellectual attainments to be accompanied by equally
high artistic expression.
But all of this provided no data that he could relate to his present
problem, no basis for argument beyond what he already had. He returned
the films to their silver cans and sat staring at the neat pile of them
on the desk. Then he smiled at his own obtuseness. Data on Rykeman III
might be lacking, but the Ryke plan had been tried on plenty of other
worlds. Data on _them_ should not be so scarce.
He returned the cans and punched out a new request on the call panel.
Twenty seconds later he was pleasantly surprised by a score of new tapes
in the hopper. That was enough for a full night's work. He wished he'd
brought Showalter along to help.
Then his eye caught sight of the label on the topmost can in the pile:
Janisson VIII. The name rang a familiar signal somewhere deep in his
mind. Then he knew--that was the home world of Waldon Thar, one of his
closest friends in the year when he'd gone to school at Galactic Center
for advanced study.
Thar had been one of the most brilliant researchers Hockley had ever
known. In bull session debate he was instantly beyond the depth of
everyone else.
Janisson VIII. Thar could tell him about the Rykes!
Hockley pushed the tape cans aside and went to the phone in the
workroom. He dialed for the interstellar operator. "Government priority
call to Janisson VIII," he said. "Waldon Thar. He attended Galactic
Center Research Institute twenty-three years ago. He came from the city
Plar, which was his home at that time. I have no other information,
except that he is probably employed as a research scientist."
There was a moment's silence while the operator noted the information.
"There will be some delay," she said finally. "At present the
inter-galactic beams are full."
"I can use top emergency priority on this," said Hockley. "Can you clear
a trunk for me on that?"
"Yes. One moment, please."
He sat by the window for half an hour, turning down the light in the
workroom so that he could see the flow of traffic at the port west of
the Lab buildings. Two spaceships took off and three came in while he
waited. And then the phone rang.
"I'm sorry," the operator said. "Waldon Thar is reported not on Janisson
VIII. He went to Rykeman III about two Earth years ago. Do you wish to
attempt to locate him there?"
"By all means," said Hockley. "Same priority."
This was better than he had hoped for. Thar could really get him the
information he needed on the Rykes. Twenty minutes later the phone rang
again. In the operator's first words Hockley sensed apology and knew the
attempt had failed.
"Our office has learned that Waldon Thar is at present on tour as aide
to the Ryke emissary, Liacan. We can perhaps trace--"
"No!" Hockley shouted. "That won't be necessary. I know now--"
He almost laughed aloud to himself. This was an incredible piece of good
luck. Waldon Thar was probably out at the space port right now--unless
one of those ships taking off had been the Ryke--
He wondered why Thar had not tried to contact him. Of course, it had
been a long time, but they had been very close at the center. He dialed
the field control tower. "I want to know if the ship from Rykeman III
has departed yet," he said.
"They were scheduled for six hours ago, but mechanical difficulty has
delayed them. Present estimated take-off is 1100."
Almost two hours to go, Hockley thought. That should be time enough.
"Please put me in communication with one of the aides aboard named
Waldon Thar. This is Sherman Hockley of Scientific Services. Priority
request."
"I'll try, sir." The tower operator manifested a sudden increase of
respect. "One moment, please."
Hockley heard the buzz and switch clicks of communication circuits
reaching for the ship. Then, in a moment, he heard the somewhat
irritated but familiar voice of his old friend.
"Waldon Thar speaking," the voice said. "Who wishes to talk?"
"Listen, you old son of a cyclotron's maiden aunt!" said Hockley. "Who
would want to talk on Sol III? Why didn't you give me a buzz when you
landed? I just found out you were here."
"Sherm Hockley, of course," the voice said with distant, unperturbed
tones. "This is indeed a surprise and a pleasure. To be honest, I had
forgotten Earth was your home planet."
"I'll try to think of something to jog your memory next time. How about
getting together?"
"Well--I don't have very long," said Thar hesitantly. "If you could come
over for a few minutes--"
Hockley had the jolting feeling that Waldon Thar would just as soon pass
up the opportunity for their meeting. Some of the enthusiasm went out of
his voice. "There's a good all-night inter-planetary eatery and bar on
the field there. I'll be along in fifteen minutes."
"Fine," said Thar, "but please try not to be late."
On the way to the field, Hockley wondered about the change that had
apparently taken place in Thar. Of course, _he_ had changed,
too--perhaps for much the worse. But Thar sounded like a stuffed shirt
now, and that is the last thing Hockley would have expected. In school,
Thar had been the most irreverent of the whole class of irreverents,
denouncing in ecstasy the established and unproven lore, riding the
professors of unsubstantiated hypotheses. Now--well, he didn't sound
like the Thar Hockley knew.
He took a table and sat down just as Thar entered the dining room. The
latter's broad smile momentarily removed Hockley's doubts. The smile
hadn't changed. And there was the same expression of devilish disregard
for the established order. The same warm friendliness. It baffled
Hockley to understand how Thar could have failed to remember Earth was
his home.
Thar mentioned it as he came up and took Hockley's hand. "I'm terribly
sorry," he said. "It was stupid to forget that Earth meant Sherman
Hockley."
"I know how it is. I should have written. I guess I'm the one who owes a
letter."
"No, I think not," said Thar.
They sat on opposite sides of a small table near a window and ordered
drinks. On the field they could see the vast, shadowy outline of the
Ryke vessel.
Thar was of a race genetically close to the Rykes. He lacked the
feathery covering, but this was replaced by a layer of thin scales,
which had a tendency to stand on edge when he was excited. He also wore
a breathing piece, and carried the small shoulder tank with a faint air
of superiority.
Hockley watched him with a growing sense of loss. The first impression
had been more nearly correct. Thar hadn't wanted to meet him.
"It's been a long time," said Hockley lamely. "I guess there isn't much
we did back there that means anything now."
"You shouldn't say that," said Thar as if recognizing he had been too
remote. "Every hour of our acquaintance meant a great deal to me. I'll
never forgive myself for forgetting--but tell me how you learned I was
aboard the Ryke ship."
"The Rykes have made us an offer. I wanted to find out the effects on
worlds that had accepted. I learned Janisson VIII was one, so I started
looking."
"I'm so very glad you did, Sherm. You want me to confirm, of course, the
advisability of accepting the offer Liacan has made."
"Confirm--or deny it," said Hockley.
Thar spread his clawlike hands. "Deny it? The most glorious opportunity
a planet could possibly have?"
Something in Thar's voice gave Hockley a sudden chill. "How has it
worked on your own world?"
"Janisson VIII has turned from a slum to a world of mansions. Our
economic problems have been solved. Health and long life are routine.
There is nothing we want that we cannot have for the asking."
"But are you _satisfied_ with it? Is there nothing which you had to give
up that you would like returned?"
Waldon Thar threw back his head and laughed in high pitched tones. "I
might have known that would be the question you would ask! Forgive me,
friend Sherman, but I had almost forgotten how unventuresome you are.
"Your question is ridiculous. Why should we wish to go back to our
economic inequalities, poverty and distress, our ignorant plodding
research in science? You can answer your own question."
They were silent for a moment. Hockley thought his friend would have
gladly terminated their visit right there and returned to his ship. To
forestall this, he leaned across the table and asked, "Your
science--what has become of that?"
"Our science! We never had any. We were ignorant children playing with
mud and rocks. We knew nothing. We had nothing. Until the Rykes offered
to educate us."
"Surely you don't believe that," said Hockley quietly. "The problem you
worked on at the Institute--gravity at micro-cosmic levels. That was not
a childish thing."
Thar laughed shortly and bitterly. "What disillusionment you have
coming, friend Sherman! If you only knew how truly childish it was. Wait
until you learn from the Rykes the true conception of gravity, its
nature and the part it plays in the structure of matter."
Hockley felt a sick tightening within him. This was not the Waldon Thar,
the wild demon who thrust aside all authority and rumor in his own
headlong search for knowledge. It couldn't be Thar who was sitting
passively by, being _told_ what the nature of the Universe is.
"Your scientists--?" Hockley persisted. "What has become of all your
researchers?"
"The answer is the same," said Thar. "We had no science. We had no
scientists. Those who once went by that name have become for the first
time honest students knowing the pleasure of studying at the feet of
masters."
"You have set up laboratories in which your researches are supervised by
the Rykes?"
"Laboratories? We have no need of laboratories. We have workshops and
study rooms where we try to absorb that which the Rykes discovered long
ago. Maybe at some future time we will come to a point where we can
reach into the frontier of knowledge with our own minds, but this does
not seem likely now."
"So you have given up all original research of your own?"
"How could we do otherwise? The Rykes have all the answers to any
question we have intelligence enough to ask. Follow them, Sherman. It is
no disgrace to be led by such as the Ryke teachers."
"Don't you ever long," said Hockley, "to take just one short step on
your own two feet?"
"Why crawl when you can go by trans-light carrier?"
Thar sipped the last of his drink and glanced toward the wall clock. "I
must go. I can understand the direction of your questions and your
thinking. You hesitate because you might lose the chance to play in the
mud and count the pretty pebbles in the sand. Put away childish things.
You will never miss them!"
They shook hands, and a moment later Hockley said goodbye to Thar at the
entrance to the field. "I know Earth will accept," said Thar. "And you
and I should not have lost contact--but we'll make up for it."
Watching him move toward the dark hulk of the ship, Hockley wondered if
Thar actually believed that. In less than an hour they had exhausted all
they had to say after twenty years. Hockley had the information he
needed about the Ryke plan, but he wished he could have kept his old
memories of his student friend. Thar was drunk on the heady stuff being
peddled by the Rykes, and if what he said were true, it was strong
enough to intoxicate a whole planet.
His blood grew cold at the thought. This was more than a fight for the
National Laboratories. It was a struggle to keep all Mankind from
becoming what Thar had become.
If he could have put Thar on exhibition in the meeting tomorrow, and
shown what he was once like, he would have made his point. But Thar,
before and after, was not available for exhibit. He had to find another
way to show his colleagues and the Senators what the Rykes would make of
them.
He glanced at his watch. They wouldn't like being wakened at this hour,
but neither would the scientists put up much resistance to his request
for support in Markham's meeting. He went back to the bar and called
each of his colleagues who had been in the meeting that day.
* * * * *
Hockley was called first when the assembly convened at ten that morning.
He rose slowly from his seat near Markham and glanced over the somewhat
puzzled expressions of the scientists.
"I don't know that I can speak for the entire group of scientists
present," he said. "We met yesterday and found some differences of
opinion concerning this offer. While it is true there is overwhelming
sentiment supporting it, certain questions remain, which we feel require
additional data in order to be answered properly.
"While we recognize that official acceptance can be given to the Rykes
with no approval whatever from the scientists, it seems only fair that
we should have every opportunity to make what we consider a proper study
and to express our opinions in the matter.
"To the non-scientist--and perhaps to many of my colleagues--it may seem
inconceivable that there could be any questions whatever. But we wonder
about the position of students of future generations, we wonder about
the details of administration of the program, we wonder about the total
effects of the program upon our society as a whole. We wish to ask
permission to make further study of the matter in an effort to answer
these questions and many others. We request permission to go as a
committee to Rykeman III and make a first hand study of what the Rykes
propose to do, how they will teach us, and how they will dispense the
information they so generously offer.
"I ask that you consider this most seriously, and make an official
request of the Rykes to grant us such opportunity for study, that you
provide the necessary appropriations for the trip. I consider it most
urgent that this be done at once."
There was a stir of concern and disapproval from Congressional members
as Hockley sat down. Senators leaned to speak in whispers to their
neighbors, but Hockley observed the scientists remained quiet and
impassive. He believed he had sold them in his telephone calls during
the early morning. They liked the idea of obtaining additional data.
Besides, most of them wanted to see Rykeman III for themselves.
Senator Markham finally stood up, obviously disturbed by Hockley's
abrupt proposal. "It has seemed to us members of the Committee that
there could hardly be any need for more data than is already available
to us. The remarkable effects of Ryke science on other backward worlds
is common knowledge.
"On the other hand we recognize the qualifications of you gentlemen
which make your request appear justified. We will have to discuss this
at length, but at the moment I believe I can say I am in sympathy with
your request and can encourage my Committee to give it serious
consideration."
* * * * *
A great deal more was said on that and subsequent days. News of the Ryke
offer was not given to the public, but the landing of the Ryke ship
could not be hidden. It became known that Liacan carried his offer to
other worlds and speculation was made that he offered it to Earth also.
Angry questions were raised as to why the purpose of the visit was not
clarified, but government silence was maintained while Hockley's request
was considered.
It encountered bitter debate in the closed sessions, but permission was
finally given for a junket of ninety scientists and ten senators to
Rykeman III.
This could not be hidden, so the facts were modified and a story given
out that the party was going to request participation in the Ryke
program being offered other worlds, that Liacan's visit had not been
conclusive.
In the days preceding the take-off Hockley felt a sense of destiny
weighing heavily upon him. He read every word of the stream of opinion
that flowed through the press. Every commentator and columnist seemed
called upon to make his own specific analysis of the possibilities of
the visit to Rykeman III. And the opinions were almost uniform that it
would be an approach to Utopia to have the Rykes take over. Hockley was
sickened by this mass conversion to the siren call of the Rykes.
It was a tremendous relief when the day finally came and the huge
transport ship lifted solemnly into space.
Most of the group were in the ship's lounge watching the television port
as the Earth drifted away beneath them. Senator Markham seemed nervous
and almost frightened, Hockley thought, as if something intangible had
escaped him.
"I hope we're not wasting our time," he said. "Not that I don't
understand your position," he added hastily to cover the show of
antagonism he sensed creeping into his voice.
"We appreciate your support," said Hockley, "and we'll do our best to
see the time of the investigation is not wasted."
But afterwards, when the two of them were alone by the screen, Silvers
spoke to Hockley soberly. The mathematician had lost some of the wild
exuberance he'd had at first. It had been replaced by a deep, intense
conviction that nothing must stand in the way of Earth's alliance with
the Rykes.
"We all understand why you wanted us to come," he said. "We know you
believe this delay will cool our enthusiasm. It's only fair to make
clear that it won't. How you intend to change us by taking us to the
home of the Rykes has got us all baffled. The reverse will be true, I am
very sure. We intend to make it clear to the Rykes that we accept their
offer. I hope you have no plan to make a declaration to the contrary."
Hockley kept his eyes on the screen, watching the green sphere of Earth.
"I have no intention of making any statement of any kind. I was
perfectly honest when I said our understanding of the Rykes would profit
by this visit. You all agreed. I meant nothing more nor less than what I
said. I hope no one in the group thinks otherwise."
"We don't know," said Silvers.
"It's just that you've got us wondering how you expect to change our
views."
"I have not said that is my intention."
"Can you say it is not?"
"No, I cannot say that. But the question is incomplete. My whole
intention is to discover as fully as possible what will be the result of
alliance with the Rykes. If you should conclude that it will be
unfavorable that will be the result of your own direct observations and
computations, not of my arguments."
"You may be sure that is one thing that will not occur," said Silvers.
* * * * *
It took them a month to reach a transfer point where they could change
to a commercial vessel using Ryke principles. In the following week they
covered a distance several thousand times that which they had already
come. And then they were on Rykeman III.
A few of them had visited the planet previously, on vacation trips or
routine study expeditions, but most of them were seeing it for the first
time. While well out into space the group began crowding the vision
screens which brought into range the streets and buildings of the
cities. They could see the people walking and riding there.
Hockley caught his breath at the sight, and doubts overwhelmed him,
telling him he was an utter and complete fool. The city upon which he
looked was a jewel of perfection. Buildings were not indiscriminate
masses of masonry and metal and plastic heaped up without regard to the
total effect. Rather, the city was a unit created with an eye to
esthetic perfection.
Silvers stood beside Hockley. "We've got a chance to make Earth look
that way," said the mathematician.
"There's only one thing missing," said Hockley. "The price tag. We still
need to know what it's going to cost."
Upon landing, the Earthmen were greeted by a covey of their bird-like
hosts who scurried about, introducing themselves in their high whistling
voices. In busses, they were moved half way across the city to a
building which stood beside an enormous park area.
It was obviously a building designed for the reception of just such
delegations as this one, giving Hockley evidence that perhaps his idea
was not so original after all. It was a relief to get inside after their
brief trip across the city. Gravity, temperature, and air pressure and
composition duplicated those of Earth inside, and conditions could be
varied to accommodate many different species. Hockley felt confident
they could become accustomed to outside conditions after a few days, but
it was exhausting now to be out for long.
They were shown to individual quarters and given leisure to unpack and
inspect their surroundings. Furniture had been adjusted to their size
and needs. The only oversight Hockley could find was a faint odor of
chlorine lingering in the closets. He wondered who the last occupant of
the room had been.
After a noon meal, served with foods of astonishingly close
approximation to their native fare, the group was offered a prelude to
the general instruction and indoctrination which would begin the
following day. This was in the form of a guided tour through the science
museum which, Hockley gathered, was a modernized Ryke parallel to the
venerable Smithsonian back home. The tour was entirely optional, as far
as the planned program of the Rykes was concerned, but none of the
Earthmen turned it down.
Hockley tried to concentrate heavily on the memory of Waldon Thar and
keep the image of his friend always before him as he moved through the
city and inspected the works of the Rykes. He found it helped suppress
the awe and adulation which he had an impulse to share with his
companions.
It was possible even, he found, to adopt a kind of truculent cynicism
toward the approach the Rykes were making. The visit to the science
museum _could_ be an attempt to bowl them over with an eon-long vista of
Ryke superiority in the sciences. At least that was most certainly the
effect on them. Hockley cursed his own feeling of ignorance and
inferiority as the guide led them quietly past the works of the masters,
offering but little comment, letting them see for themselves the obvious
relationships.