vessels, not much different from Earthmen's best efforts, were far down
the line, very near to the earliest attempts of the Rykes to rocket
their way into space. Beyond that level was an incredible series of
developments incomprehensible to most of the Earthmen.
[Illustration]
And to all their questions the guide offered the monotonous reply: "That
will be explained to you later. We only wish to give you an overall
picture of our culture at the present time."
But this was not enough for one of the astronomers, named Moore, who
moved ahead of Hockley in the crowd. Hockley saw the back of Moore's
neck growing redder by the minute as the guide's evasive answer was
repeated. Finally, Moore forced a discussion regarding the merits of
some systems of comparing the brightness of stars, which the guide
briefly showed them. The guide, in great annoyance, burst out with a
stream of explanation that completely flattened any opinions Moore might
have had. But at the same time the astronomer grinned amiably at the
Ryke. "That ought to settle that," he said. "I'll bet it won't take a
week to get our system changed back home."
Moore's success loosened the restraint of the others and they beseiged
the guide mercilessly then with opinions, questions, comparisons--and
even mild disapprovals. The guide's exasperation was obvious--and
pleasant--to Hockley, who remained a bystander. It was frightening to
Markham and some of the other senators who were unable to take part in
the discussion. But most of the scientists failed to notice it in their
eagerness to learn.
After dinner that night they gathered in the lounge and study of their
quarters. Markham stood beside Hockley as they partook cautiously of the
cocktails which the Rykes had attempted to duplicate for them. The
Senator's awe had returned to overshadow any concern he felt during the
events of the afternoon. "A wonderful day!" he said. "Even though this
visit delays completion of our arrangements with the Rykes those of us
here will be grateful forever that you proposed it. Nothing could have
so impressed us all with the desirability of accepting the Ryke's
tutelage. It was a stroke of genius, Dr. Hockley. And for a time I
thought you were actually opposed to the Rykes!"
He sipped his drink while Hockley said nothing. Then his brow furrowed a
bit. "But I wonder why our guide cut short our tour this afternoon. If I
recall correctly he said at the beginning there was a great deal more to
see than he actually showed us."
Hockley smiled and sipped politely at his drink before he set it down
and faced the Senator. "I was wondering if anyone else noticed that," he
said.
* * * * *
Hockley slept well that night except for the fact that occasional whiffs
of chlorine seemed to drift from various corners of the room even though
he turned the air-conditioning system on full blast.
In the morning there began a series of specialized lectures which had
been prepared in accordance with the Earthmen's request to acquaint them
with what they would be getting upon acceptance of the Ryke offer.
It was obviously no new experience for the Rykes. The lectures were well
prepared and anticipated many questions. The only thing new about it,
Hockley thought, was the delivery in the language of the Earthmen.
Otherwise, he felt this was something prepared a long time ago and given
a thousand times or more.
They were divided into smaller groups according to their specialties,
electronic men going one way, astronomers and mathematical physicists
another, chemists and general physicists in still another direction.
Hockley, Showalter and the senators were considered more or less free
floating members of the delegation with the privilege of visiting with
one group or another according to their pleasure.
Hockley chose to spend the first day with the chemists, since that was
his own first love. Dr. Showalter and Senator Markham came along with
him. As much as he tried he found it virtually impossible not to sit
with the same open-mouthed wonder that his colleagues exhibited. The
swift, free-flowing exposition of the Ryke lecturer led them immediately
beyond their own realms, but so carefully did he lead them that it
seemed that they must have come this way before, and forgotten it.
Hockley felt half angry with himself. He felt he had allowed himself to
be hypnotized by the skill of the Ryke, and wondered despairingly if
there were any chance at all of combating their approach. He saw nothing
to indicate it in the experience of that day or the ones immediately
following. But he retained hope that there was much significance in the
action of the guide who had cut short their visit to the museum.
In the evenings, in the study lounge of the dormitory, they held
interminable bull sessions exchanging and digesting what they had been
shown during the day. It was at the end of the third day that Hockley
thought he could detect a subtle change in the group. He had some
difficulty analyzing it at first. It seemed to be a growing aliveness, a
sort of recovery. And then he recognized that the initial stunned
reaction to the magnificence of the Rykes was passing off. They had been
shocked by the impact of the Rykes, almost as if they had been struck a
blow on the head. Temporarily, they had shelved all their own analytical
and critical facilities and yielded to the Rykes without question.
Now they were beginning to recover, springing back to a condition
considerably nearer normal. Hockley felt a surge of encouragement as he
detected a more sharply critical evaluation in the conversations that
buzzed around him. The enthusiasm was more measured.
It was the following evening, however, that witnessed the first event of
pronounced shifting of anyone's attitude. They had finished dinner and
were gathering in the lounge, sparring around, setting up groups for the
bull sessions that would go until long after midnight. Most of them had
already settled down and were talking part in conversations or were
listening quietly when they were suddenly aware of a change in the
atmosphere of the room.
For a moment there was a general turning of heads to locate the source
of the disturbance. Hockley knew he could never describe just what made
him look around, but he was abruptly conscious that Dr. Silvers was
walking into the lounge and looking slowly about at those gathered
there. Something in his presence was like the sudden appearance of a
thundercloud, his face seemed to reflect the dark turbulence of a summer
storm.
He said nothing, however, to anyone but strode over and sat beside
Hockley, who was alone at the moment smoking the next to last of his
Earthside cigars. Hockley felt the smouldering turmoil inside the
mathematician. He extended his final cigar. Silvers brushed it away.
"The last one," said Hockley mildly. "In spite of all their abilities
the Ryke imitations are somewhat less than natural."
Silvers turned slowly to face Hockley. "I presented them with the
Legrandian Equations today," he said. "I expected to get a
straightforward answer to a perfectly legitimate scientific question.
That is what we were led to expect, was it not?"
[Illustration]
Hockley nodded. "That's my impression. Did you get something less than a
straightforward answer?"
The mathematician exhaled noisily. "The Legrandian Equations will lead
to a geometry as revolutionary as Riemann's was in his day. But I was
told by the Rykes that I 'should dismiss it from all further
consideration. It does not lead to any profitable mathematical
development.'"
Hockley felt that his heart most certainly skipped a beat, but he
managed to keep his voice steady, and sympathetic. "That's too bad. I
know what high hopes you had. I suppose you will give up work on the
Equations now?"
"I will not!" Silvers exclaimed loudly. Nearby groups who had returned
hesitantly to their own conversations now stared at him again. But
abruptly he changed his tone and looked almost pleadingly at Hockley. "I
don't understand it. Why should they say such a thing? It appears to be
one of the most profitable avenues of exploration I have encountered in
my whole career. And the Rykes brush it aside!"
"What did you say when they told you to give it up?"
"I said I wanted to know where the development would lead. I said it had
been indicated that we could have an answer to any scientific problem
within the range of their abilities, and certainly this is, from what
I've seen.
"The instructor replied that I'd been given an answer to my question,
that 'the first lesson you must learn if you wish to acquire our pace in
science is to recognize that we have been along the path ahead of you.
We know which are the possibilities that are worthwhile to develop. We
have gained our speed by learning to bypass every avenue but the main
one, and not get lost in tempting side roads.'
"He said that we've got to learn to trust them and take their word as to
which is the correct and profitable field of research, that 'we will
show you where to go, as we agreed to do. If you are not willing to
accept our leadership in this respect our agreement means nothing.'
Wouldn't that be a magnificent way to make scientific progress!"
The mathematician shifted in his chair as if trying to control an
internal fury that would not be capped. He held out his hand abruptly.
"I'll take that cigar after all, if you don't mind, Hockley."
With savage energy he chewed the end and ignited the cigar, then blew a
mammoth cloud of smoke ceilingward. "I think the trouble must be in our
lecturer," he said. "He's crazy. He couldn't possibly represent the
conventional attitude of the Rykes. They promised to give answers to our
problems--and this is the kind of nonsense I get. I'm going to see
somebody higher up and find out why we can't have a lecturer who knows
what he's talking about. Or maybe you or Markham would rather take it
up--through official channels, as it were?"
"The Ryke was correct," said Hockley. "He _did_ give you an answer."
"He could answer _all_ our questions that way!"
"You're perfectly right," said Hockley soberly. "He could do exactly
that."
"They won't of course," said Silvers, defensively. "Even if this
particular character isn't just playing the screwball, my question is
just a special case. It's just one particular thing they consider to be
valueless. Perhaps in the end I'll find they're right--but I'm going to
develop a solution to these Equations if it takes the rest of my life!
"After all, they admit they have no solution, that they have not
bothered to go down this particular side path, as they put it. If we
don't go down it how can we ever know whether it's worthwhile or not?
How can the Rykes know what they may have missed by not doing so?"
"I can't answer that," said Hockley. "For us or for them, I know of no
other way to predict the outcome of a specific line of research except
to carry it through and find out what lies at the end of the road."
* * * * *
Hockley didn't sleep very well after he finally went to bed that night.
Silvers had presented him with the break he had been expecting and
hoping for. The first chink in the armor of sanctity surrounding the
Rykes. Now he wondered what would follow, if this would build up to the
impassable barrier he wanted, or if it would merely remain a sore
obstacle in their way but eventually be bypassed and forgotten.
He did not believe it would be the only incident of its kind. There
would be others as the Earthmen's stunned, blind acceptance gave way
completely to sound, critical evaluation. And in any case there was one
delegate who would never be the same again. No matter how he eventually
rationalized it Dr. Forman K. Silvers would never feel quite the same
about the Rykes as he did before they rejected his favorite piece of
research.
Hockley arose early, eager but cautious, his senses open for further
evidence of disaffection springing up. He joined the group of chemists
once more for the morning lecture. The spirit of the group was markedly
higher than when he first met with them. They had been inspired by what
the Rykes had shown them, but in addition their own sense of judgment
had been brought out of suspension.
The Ryke lecturer began inscribing on the board an enormous organic
formula, using conventions of Earth chemistry for the benefit of his
audience. He explained at some length a number of transformations which
it was possible to make in the compound by means of high intensity
fields.
Almost at once, one of the younger chemists named Dr. Carmen, was on his
feet exclaiming excitedly that one of the transformation compounds was a
chemical on which he had conducted an extensive research. He had
produced enough to know that it had a multitude of intriguing
properties, and now he was exuberant at the revelation of a method of
producing it in quantity and also further transforming it.
At his sudden enthusiasm the lecturer's face took on what they had come
to recognize as a very dour look. "That series of transformations has no
interest for us," he said. "I merely indicated its existence to show one
of the possibilities which should be avoided. Over here you see the
direction in which we wish to go."
"But you never saw anything with properties like that!" Carmen
protested. "It goes through an incredible series of at least three
crystalline-liquid phase changes with an increase in pressure alone. But
with proper control of heat it can be kept in the crystalline phase
regardless of pressure. It is closely related to a drug series with
anesthetic properties, and is almost sure to be valuable in--"
The Ryke lecturer cut him off sharply. "I have explained," he said, "the
direction of transformation in which we are interested. Your concern is
not with anything beyond the boundaries which our study has proven to be
the direct path of research and study."
"Then I should abandon research on this series of chemicals?" Carmen
asked with a show of outward meekness.
The Ryke nodded with pleasure at Carmen's submissiveness. "That is it
precisely. We have been over this ground long ago. We know where the
areas of profitable study lie. You will be told what to observe and what
to ignore. How could you ever hope to make progress if you stopped to
examine every alternate probability and possibility that appeared to
you?" He shook his head vigorously and his plume vibrated with emotion.
"You must have a plan," he continued. "A goal. Study of the Universe
cannot proceed in any random, erratic fashion. You must know what you
want and then find out where to look for it."
Carmen sat down slowly. Hockley was sure the Ryke did not notice the
tense bulge of the chemist's jaw muscles. Perhaps he would not have
understood the significance if he had noticed.
* * * * *
Hockley was a trifle late in getting to the dining room at lunch time
that day. By the time he did so the place was like a beehive. He was
almost repelled by the furor of conversation circulating in the room as
he entered.
He passed through slowly, searching for a table of his own. He paused a
moment behind Dr. Carmen, who was declaiming in no mild terms his
opinions of a system that would pre-select those areas of research which
were to be entered and those which were not. He smiled a little as he
caught the eye of one of the dozen chemists seated at the table,
listening.
Moving on, he observed that Silvers had also cornered a half dozen or so
of his colleagues in his own field and was in earnest conversation with
them--in a considerably more restrained manner, however, than he had
used the previous evening with Hockley, or than Carmen was using at the
present time.
The entire room was abuzz with similar groups.
The senators had tried to mingle with the others in past days, always
with more or less lack of success because they found themselves out of
the conversation almost completely. Today they had no luck whatever.
They were seated together at a couple of tables in a corner. None of
them seemed to be paying attention to the food before them, but were
glancing about, half-apprehensively, at their fellow diners--who were
also paying no attention to food.
Hockley caught sight of his political colleagues and sensed their
dismay. The field of disquietude seemed almost tangible in the air. The
senators seemed half frightened by what they felt but could not
understand.
Showalter's wild waving at the far corner of the room finally caught
Hockley's eye and he moved toward the small table which the assistant
had reserved for them. Showalter was upset, too, by the atmosphere
within the room.
"What the devil is up?" he said. "Seems like everybody's on edge this
morning. I never saw a bunch of guys so touchy. You'd think they woke up
with snakes in their beds."
"Didn't you know?" said Hockley. "Haven't you been to any of the
lectures this morning?"
"No. A couple of the senators were getting bored with all the scientific
doings so I thought maybe I should try to entertain them. We took in
what passes for such here, but it wasn't much better than the lectures
as a show. Tell me what's up."
Briefly, Hockley described Silvers' upset of the day before and Carmen's
experience that morning. Showalter let his glance rove over his fellow
Earthmen, trying to catch snatches of the buzzing conversation at nearby
tables.
"You think that's the kind of thing that's got them all going this
morning?" he said.
Hockley nodded. "I caught enough of it passing through to know that's
what it is. I gather that every group has run into the same kind of
thing by now, the fencing off of broad areas where we have already tried
to do research.
"After the first cloud of awe wore off, the first thing everyone wanted
was an answer to his own pet line of research. Nine times out of ten it
was something the Rykes told them to chuck down the drain. That advice
doesn't sit so well--as you can plainly see."
Showalter drew back his gaze and stared for a long time at Hockley. "You
knew this would happen. That's why you brought us here--"
"I had hopes of it. I was reasonably sure this was the way the Rykes
operated."
Showalter remained thoughtful for a long time before he spoke again.
"You've won your point, I suppose, as far as this group goes, but you
can't hope to convince all of Earth by this. The Rykes will hold their
offer open, and others will accept it on behalf of Earth.
"And what if it's we who are wrong, in the end? How can you be sure that
this isn't the way the Rykes have made their tremendous speed--by not
going down all the blind alleys that we rattle around in."
"I'm sure it _is_ the way they have attained such speed of advancement."
"Then maybe we ought to go along, regardless of our own desires. Maybe
we never did know how to do research!"
Hockley smiled across the table at his assistant. "You believe that, of
course."
"I'm just talking," said Showalter irritably. "The thing gets more loopy
every day. If you think you understand the Rykes I wish you would give
out with what the score is. By the looks of most of these guys I would
say they are getting ready to throttle the next Ryke they see instead of
knuckle under to him."
"I hope you're right," said Hockley fervently. "I certainly hope you're
right."
* * * * *
By evening there was increasing evidence that he was. Hockley passed up
the afternoon lecture period and spent the time in the lounge doing some
thinking of his own. He knew he couldn't push the group. Above all, he
mustn't give way to any temptation to push them or say, "I told you so."
Their present frustration was so deep that their antagonism could be
turned almost indiscriminately in any direction, and he would be
offering himself as a ready target if he were not careful.
On the other hand he had to be ready to take advantage of their
disaffection and throw them a decisive challenge when they were ready
for it. That might be tonight, or it might be another week. He wished
for a sure way of knowing. As things turned out, however, the necessity
of choosing the time was taken from him.
After dinner that night, when the group began to drift into the lounge,
Silvers and Carmen and three of the other men came over to where Hockley
sat. Silvers fumbled with the buttons of his coat as if preparing to
make an address.
"We'd like to request," he said, "that is--we think we ought to get
together. We'd like you to call a meeting, Hockley. Some of us have a
few things we'd like to talk over."
Hockley nodded, his face impassive.
"The matter I mentioned to you the other night," said Silvers. "It's
been happening to all the men. We think we ought to talk about it."
"Fine," said Hockley. "I've been thinking it would perhaps be a good
idea. Pass the word around and let's get some chairs. We can convene in
ten minutes."
The others nodded somberly and moved away with all the enthusiasm of
preparing for a funeral. And maybe that's what it would be, Hockley
thought--somebody's funeral. He hoped it would be the Rykes.
The room began filling almost at once, as if they had been expecting the
call. In little more than five minutes it seemed that every member of
the Earth delegation had assembled, leaving time to spare.
The senators still wore their looks of puzzlement and half-frightened
anxiety, which had intensified if anything. There was no puzzlement on
the faces of the scientists, however, only a set and determined
expression that Hockley hardly dared interpret as meaning they had made
up their minds. He had to have their verbal confirmation.
Informally, he thrust his hands in his pockets and sauntered to the
front of the group.
"I have been asked to call a meeting," he said, "by certain members of
the group who have something on their minds. They seem to feel we'd all
be interested in what is troubling them. Since I have nothing in
particular to say I'm simply going to turn the floor over to those of
you who have. Dr. Silvers first approached me to call this discussion,
so I shall ask him to lead off. Will you come to the front, Dr.
Silvers?"
The mathematician rose as if wishing someone else would do the talking.
He stood at one side of the group, halfway to the rear. "I can do all
right from here," he said.
After a pause, as if coming to a momentous decision, he plunged into his
complaint. "It appears that nearly all of us have encountered an aspect
of the Ryke culture and character which was not anticipated when we
first received their offer." Briefly, he related the details of the Ryke
rejection of his research on the Legrandian Equations.
"We were told we were going to have all our questions answered, that the
Ryke's science included all we could anticipate or hope to accomplish in
the next few millenia. I swallowed that. We all did. It appears we were
slightly in error. It begins to appear as if we are not going to find
the intellectual paradise we anticipated."
He smiled wryly. "I'm sure none of you is more ready than I to admit he
has been a fool. It appears that paradise, so-called, consists merely of
a few selected gems which the Rykes consider particularly valuable,
while the rest of the field goes untouched.
"I want to offer public apologies to Dr. Hockley, who saw and understood
the situation as it actually existed, while the rest of us had our heads
in the clouds. Exactly how he knew, I'm not sure, but he did, and very
brilliantly chose the only way possible to convince us that what he knew
was correct.
"I suggest we do our packing tonight, gentlemen. Let us return at once
to our laboratories and spend the rest of our lives in some degree of
atonement for being such fools as to fall for the line the Rykes tried
to sell us."
Hockley's eyes were on the senators. At first there were white faces
filled with incredulity as the mathematician proceeded. Then slowly this
changed to sheer horror.
When Silvers finished, there was immediate bedlam. There was a clamor of
voices from the scientists, most of whom seemed to be trying to affirm
Silvers' position. This was offset by explosions of rage from the
senatorial members of the group.
Hockley let it go, not even raising his hands for order until finally
the racket died of its own accord as the eyes of the delegates came to
rest upon him.
And then, before he could speak, Markham was on his feet. "This is
absolutely moral treachery," he thundered. "I have never heard a more
vicious revocation of a pledged word than I have heard this evening.