Lancing out of the void at light-speed, it
stabbed deep into the Solar System--and vanished.
Then began corruption ... poison and hate
creeping from world to world. Too late men
learned a death blow had been delivered!
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Planet Stories Spring 1949.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
_We have remained indecisive too long! You must understand this! The
future, perhaps the very existence of the Federation hangs in the
balance unless we can correlate all that has happened and decide upon a
course of action NOW...._
DeHarries, Correlator for Earth, paced alone in his suite far beneath
the Council Room. He held a sheaf of papers--his intended speech to
the Planetary Delegates. Now he crumpled it viciously, flung it to
the floor. What good were speeches? Already he anticipated their
arguments, the protests and questions. He, himself, had a question or
two.
"Course of action," he muttered grimly, "What sort of action? Action
against what?"
He strode to the immense tele-globe, flicked it on. Its radiant surface
reflected the austere Council Chamber above. Already the six delegates
were entering. Soon they'd become restless waiting for him. But still
DeHarries watched.
Aladdian, Empress of Venus, was there, fragile and lovely despite the
grave look on her alabastrine face. She at least was aware of the
threat to the System which had grown apace during the past few years.
In Aladdian, DeHarries knew he had an ally to the startling proposal he
was going to make. He would need a majority of four. He couldn't count
on Mars. The other two votes must come from Mercury, Jupiter, Perlac,
or the Callistan colonies.
Leaving his suite by a secret exit, DeHarries stepped into a lift which
brought him near the Council Room above.
* * * * *
Six pairs of eyes fastened upon DeHarries, as he stood at the head of
the table. He was a striking figure, six-feet-two and white haired, yet
with a perpetual tightness of the jaw and a hint of fire in the dark
eyes that belied his great age.
"You are wondering why I asked for an Emergency Council, particularly
since our Federation has ridden a crest of peace for the past
hundred years. Our various governments were never more in accord."
He paused for effect, watching the puzzlement grow in their eyes.
"Nevertheless, I am convinced that we face the greatest crisis we have
ever known! I ask for your fullest co-operation. Any data you can
submit--_anything_--may well be a part of the pattern!"
Kraaj, the Jovian emissary, shifted his huge bulk nervously. "Pattern?
Pattern for what? You speak in riddles, DeHarries!"
"A pattern so diabolic it's frightening. A pattern I'm convinced is
weaving about us all. For example: Earth's complex civilization,
atomic-powered industries and commerce, would be irreparably damaged if
we were cut off from the Uranium isotope we receive from Mars. You can
realize the seriousness when I point out that the annual shipment which
should have arrived a month ago--did not arrive."
Jal Tagar of Mars was instantly on his feet, his heavy-lidded eyes
blazing. "I submit that my government is blameless! As you well know,
the shipment was dispatched as usual! Your own Earth representatives
were aboard--"
DeHarries turned a smiling countenance upon Jal Tagar which left the
Martian Overlord abashed.
"No accusation has been made," DeHarries said softly, "and none is
contemplated. I think we all agree that Mars is blameless."
Aladdian arose to her full height of four-feet-eleven.
"DeHarries is right. We have delayed too long. I have felt that there
is a strange force at work among us. As you know, Venus has long
held the secret of allotropic metal, which makes any space fleet
invulnerable. We have guarded it carefully--"[1]
[Footnote 1: Alcatraz of the Starways, Planet Stories, May, 1943.]
She placed tiny fists upon the table. "Yet--our most secret documents,
concerning the processing of this metal, have disappeared from the
vault in our Royal Laboratories!"
"A matter which need not concern us," growled Rehlek, the Callistan
Leader. "Has it not been the Federation policy for each planet to solve
its own internal problems?"
"Save where those problems may effect the status of the Federation!"
Aladdian countered. "I submit the theft of our allotropic process as
a part of the _pattern_ DeHarries mentioned. Have _you_ nothing to
report, Rehlek?"
"Nothing that would have any bearing--" The Callistan hesitated, then
his eyes became worried. "Yes! Simply that during the past year there
has been an alarming traffic in _tsith-stems_ among our people. We
thought we had this drug traffic stopped, but now it's growing out of
hand. We can't trace how it's being entered and distributed. Under the
influence of this drug our workers become restless, and easily incited
to revolt." Rehlek wet his lips nervously. "Begging your pardon,
Aladdian ... these _tsith-stems_ come only from the K'Yarthan Swamp of
Venus!"
Rasping sounds had been issuing from Sarik, the sun-hardened little
Mercurian. Now he lifted his shell-like body from the chair. His
faceted eyes glittered angrily.
"We are newest in the Federation. We have tried to co-operate in every
way. We even permitted the location, on our planet, of the Federation
Prison for Outlaws and Irreconcilables. If what I have to report is a
part of your _pattern_, DeHarries, make the most of it.
"Recently our vast Solar Reflectors--which protect our cities from
the sun--were found to be tampered with! If our engineers had not
discovered certain discrepancies in time, thousands of my people would
have died under merciless radiations. We are still investigating this
foul piece of work. It was deliberate, not accidental." Sarik glared
about the table. "I hardly need remind you--we can easily convert our
Solar Reflectors into powerful weapons should the need arise!"
* * * * *
At this open threat, such a clamor of protests arose that DeHarries
pounded for order. He gave the floor to Jal Tagar.
"DeHarries ... I see the reason for alarm. Similar incidents have
occurred on Mars. In return for our Uranium, Earth supplies us with
engineers for the maintenance and development of our Canals. As long
as a year ago, there began a series of breakdowns in our Canal system!
Already the desert has reclaimed vast areas of our irrigated lands!"
Carver, the Earthman from Perlac, rose to deliver the final bombshell.
Using the Frequency Tuner, he had traversed the route from his adopted
planet in a mere two weeks. The strange world beyond Pluto, to which
many of Earth's scientists had migrated, was becoming a power and an
asset to the Federation.[2]
[Footnote 2: Passage to Planet X, Planet Stories, Winter, 1945.]
Now Carver announced simply, "We have lost the Frequency Tuner. The
detailed plans of this power unit, which we intended to share with the
Federation, have been stolen."
DeHarries broke the stunned silence.
"And Venus had announced that the secret of allotropic metal should be
shared by the Federation. Each planet knew this. Each would benefit. It
doesn't seem likely that any planet individually could be behind these
thefts and outrages."
"There's a frightening purpose behind it all," Rehlek of Callisto
said worriedly. "Someone or _something_ is seeking to cause disunity.
Creating suspicion.... It may easily lead to war!"