August 28, 2025 • 28 mins
(Bonus Episode) “The Time Snatcher” by Randall Garrett | A time-traveling gunslinger races against the clock to stop a rogue agent from rewriting history in the gritty, dangerous world of the Old West.
Originally published in ‘Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy’ – February, 1957
Originally published in ‘Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy’ – February, 1957
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Time Snatcher by Randall Garrett from Imagination Stories of
Science and Fantasy, February nineteen fifty seven. We're in a
hell of a jam Brick, the councilor said. If Sagana
isn't stopped, he'll change history. The situation's desperate. Time patrolman
Breck Halliday nodded in agreement. It was a tense situation.
(00:24):
Time travel, he knew was possible only so long as
the traveler into the past did nothing that would change
history significantly. The time stream itself would straighten out little
changes in the past so that overall history would remain
the same. But a big change was something else. Again,
if you stick your finger in our river, there are
(00:47):
a few ripples around it, but the flow of the
river remains the same. If you build a damn though,
Oh when is he? Breck answered, do we know? Fortunately, yes,
he forced one of our operators to use one of
the chrotokinetic projectors and then kidnapped her and took her
with him. But he didn't know that the power drain
(01:08):
was measurable and had been recorded on the meters. We
know how much energy he used, so we know how
far into the past he went. We've got him pinpointed
in the area of the old United States, somewhere between
eighteen eighty and eighteen ninety five. Who was the girly kidnapped,
Breck asked. The counselor smiled apologetically, Dori Clayton. The muscles
(01:34):
of Halliday's jaw tightened. I see, he said stiffly. When
do I leave, We'll prepare you immediately. It's going to
be a touchy job to get both of them out
of there, so watch yourself. Don't worry, Halliday said quietly.
I'll manage it. He walked out, eyes hot with rage,
(01:56):
thinking of Dory and Shagonero's clutches. His hands slowly clenched
and unclenched as he headed down the long hall. A
time patrolman's first step in any excursion to the past
is to learn the language and the history so well
that he can pass as a native. For three days,
Breck Halliday lay in the padded tank of a hypno
(02:18):
robot while information was poured into him. Then he was
given his clothes. It consisted of a pair of high
heeled boots made of treated animal skin, a pair of
tight trousers woven of blue dyed vegetable fiber, a shirt
of similar material, and a broad brimmed hat. Other clothing
(02:39):
and equipment went into a pack, and a money belt.
Around Breck's waists carried gold coins that not even an
expert could have told from the originals. The thing that
Breck liked best was the fact that he would be
allowed to carry weapons openly. Some civilizations of the past
didn't permit a citizen to carry guns, but where Breck
(03:01):
was going, a man with a pair of six guns
at his hips wouldn't look odd at all. Breck had
ridden a horse three times, once in the Battle of Agincourt,
once at Chickamauga, and once during a trip from Rum
to Ravena in the sixth century. His fourth horse was
saddled a little differently, but he found it easy to handle.
(03:23):
He trotted it onto the platform and signaled the operator.
There was a brief hum as the chronokinetic projector warmed up.
Then there was a sudden surge of power. Breck's surroundings
seemed to vanish into grayness. Moments later, light swirled around him.
Lattice City, New Mexico, was enjoying a warm, lazy summer day.
(03:48):
No one paid much attention to the stranger who came
into town on a very ordinary looking Cayus. Pulled up
before the Casa Loma saloon and dismounted. He hitched his
horse to the race, looked up and down the street casually,
and then strode into the saloon. What'll it be, mister,
asked the fat mustachioed bartender. Whiskey, Breck said, and a
(04:12):
little cold beer to follow it. That rode from El
Paso is hot. The barman filled the order. El Paso, Eh,
that's all right, smart ride. Been on the road long,
about a week. I don't believe in Russian nothing hey, barkeep,
yelled someone down at the far end. The bartender went
(04:33):
and Breck downed his whiskey. He sipped the beer reflectively,
thinking long and hard. John Saginer had been convicted once
for illegal use of a time machine and had been
sentenced to ten years on Luna. Somehow he managed to
escape it, and by bluff and daring, actually get control
(04:54):
of a time patrol chronokinetic projector long enough to use
it and kidnap the Operatorry Clayton. It was bad enough
to use the machine, Breck thought darkly, but to take
Dory Breck clenched his fists for kidnapping Dorry. Saginer would
take his punishment from Breck, not the law. The first
(05:15):
thing to do was find him. Reading the power flow
of a chronokinetic projector could only give an approximate location.
Saginer had landed within fifty miles of this spot, and
at some time within the past five years. But where
was he now? And Breck asked himself if he still
have Dory with him. Five years is a long time.
(05:41):
In the course of a year or two, Saginer could
be a long way from plot of city. But Breck
kind of haunched that this was his goal. He didn't
know he could be traced, and he wasn't prepared for travel.
But suddenly a finger tapped his shoulder and he whirled
in surprise. He saw a man where a big silver
star prominently on his vest. Stranger, you'll haveugh to shook
(06:04):
them irons. City ordinance says a man can't carry pistols
inside the city limits. I notice I ate the only
one with a full gun belt, Breck said slowly. The
man's eyes narrowed. He happens to be John Seger's man. Mister,
they all happened to be deputies. His pistol came out suddenly.
(06:26):
I'm ordering you to take them off. Breck shrugged and
unbuckled the belt. I looking for an argument, he said,
handing the gun belt to the sheriff, But as the
sheriff reached for the belt, Breck lashed out with one hand,
slapping the other's weapon aside. It skittered across the floor
as Breck jerked one of his own guns from the
(06:46):
belt and set the sheriff reeling backwards with a blow
in his chest. Several of the other armed men started
to reach for their hips, but Breck's icy voice stopped
them short. First man to touch a gun gets led.
The sheriff's face grew red. You've got trouble stranger, maybe,
but them guns is mine. You're trying to book the law,
(07:09):
said the sheriff. Breck grinned. It's a damn fool law
that needs so many men to enforce it. If you
was the only one pack in irons, I might be
persuaded to give him up to the barkeep here. But
as long as everybody's carrying full holsters, I reckon. I
don't want to be out of style. I'd looked too conspicuous.
(07:30):
Still holding his weapon, he buckled on his belt and
walked over to where the sheriff's gun had fallen. Without
taking his eyes off of anyone in the room. He
squatted and picked it up. Then he walked back to
the sheriff and shoved the sixth gun into the law
man's holster. Don't aim to cause no trouble, Sheriff. If
you and the rest of these gents will oblige me,
(07:50):
I'll ask the bar keep to set us all up
a drink. There was a moment of silence, then the
sheriff grinned. Reckon, I'll take a way whiskey, he said.
Breck grinned back and put his weapon in its sheath.
It was almost a mistake, as soud as his hand
was well away from the gun butt, one of the
(08:11):
men at the bar snatched at his six gun and
brought it up to fire. No ordinary man with ordinary
guns could have moved fast enough to do anything, But
Breck was no ordinary man, and his weapons were far
from ordinary. Both man and guns were the product of
a science far in advance of the nineteenth century. Breck's
(08:32):
hands blurred, and his weapons seemed to leap from their
holsters as the little robot mechanisms secreted in their butts
responded to the electro neuro commands of their owner. There
was a roar of sound as one of the guns spoke.
The gunman's weapons seemed to vanish from his hand. It
sealed across the room, banged against the wall, and dropped
to the floor. Breck had no compunction against killing a man,
(08:55):
particularly in self defense, but the death of one man
might conceivable make radical changes in the future. As the
echoes of the gunshot died away, the gunman howled in pain.
The shock of Breck's bullet against the gun had sent
needles of pain racing up his arm. The room was silent.
Then the sheriff walked over to the gunman, who was
(09:16):
massaging his aching numbed fingers, and grabbed him by the
shirt collar. He said, softly, would I agree to take
a drink with a man? I don't take it lightly
when one of my deputies tries to shoot him. I
figure you wanted to take him after what he'd done.
The man said, sullenly. If I had, I'd have done
my own gun slinging. He reached out and yanked the
(09:39):
small metal star off the man's vest. You ain't a
deputy anymore. If I catch you wearing guns, I'll run
you in or shoot you, whichever's handiest. Still holding his
injured hand, the man turned and walked down to the saloon.
The sheriff turned around to Breck. There was mighty fast
and accurate shooting. Son. What you say your name was?
(10:02):
I didn't say yet, Brex said, reholstering his weapons. But
as a matter of fact, it's ed Calhoun. As I said.
I don't want to cause no trouble, but I'm glad
to oblige them that comes looking for it. He laid
a ten dollars gold piece on the bar. Here's an
eagle barkeep. Let's have them drinks one are? The other
(10:25):
men at the bar looked quizzically at the sheriff. Sheriff,
maybe he had not a done that to Cactus. How
is the boss gonna take it? The sheriff looked at
him for a moment, then he looked at the others.
Let's go one thing straight here. John Sagger's an important
man hereabouts, and I don't deny it. He needs good
(10:47):
gun slingers to guard his property. And I'm only too
glad to deputize him. But by the Almighty, if a
man don't behave himself, if he ain't to be trusted
with a gun, then he ain't gonna wear a bat
dge as long as I'm sheriff. He turned to Breck,
I got up hold the low son. I asked you
to turn them guns in, and you wouldn't do it.
(11:10):
I'm damned if I'm gonna try and take them away.
So there's only one thing to do. He had to
break the star that he had taken from Cactus. Hold
up your right hand, he said. Half an hour later,
Breck found himself sitting at a table, drinking beer and
talking with the sheriff and a man named Chuck. He'd
(11:30):
answered questions about his past with the purely fictitious data
that he'd received from the hypno robot, but all the
time his mind had been on the man who was
quote an important man hereabouts unquote John Sager, Seger Saginer.
It could be the same man, by the way, sheriff
(11:52):
who is John's Sager owns the bank. Sheriff said, got
property up on Chloride Flat. That's a silver mine district,
you know, brought out a couple of men who was
failing in business and then put him to work managing
their own stores for him. People around here have our
right smart respect for him, friendly sort of a fella. Huh. Well,
(12:16):
I wouldn't go so far as to say that he
treats people well, gives money to the church and the school,
gives a man a job if he's down and out,
But I wouldn't say he was a likable man personally.
He's odd, said Chuck, a real queer one. Maybe I
shouldn't say it because I work for him and he's
(12:37):
done real proper by me. But well, he's a funny one.
Breck raised an eyebrow. Yeah. Uh, how well, for one thing,
he seems so well cold, like he was a sidewinder
or a rattlesnake waiting for a pack rat to come by.
He always seems to be figuring, calculating. He don't smile much,
(13:01):
and what he does don't look right on him. That
funny accent of his don't help none. The sheriff chimed in.
It ain't that he can't speak good English, but it
sounds funny the way he says it. Been here very
long Breck asked casually about three years as old, done
right well by himself, considering he didn't have much whin
(13:22):
it came, Chuck said, after being robbed in all it's
a caution. How he done so well? Then he laughed.
That was downright funny when you come to think of it. Yeah,
the sheriff said, grinning. Him and his sister showed up
one night making his jay birds. A couple of hour
(13:42):
hoots that robbed him and stripped them of everything. They had,
no horse, no clothes, no nothing. He was lucky in
a way though he had a money belt on him
that he managed to hide in a mesquite bush while
the mandits wasn't looking. I sitting in my office that
when I heard knock at the back door, my open it.
Then there was John Sager, all dressed up in his
(14:05):
birthday suit and were and nothing more. Of course, I
didn't know who he was. Breck listened closely to the
Sheriff's story. It all fits in. Saginer hadn't had time
to prepare himself for this era. His speech was strange
and his clothes even stranger. So he'd taken off his
(14:26):
clothes and pretended to have been robbed and his sister.
What's his sister like, he asked, prealy Chuck said, but
she's not too bright, goes round in a daze most
of the time, hypnotized. Breck thought that settled it. Twenty
four hours later, Breck had all the information he needed.
(14:50):
Saginer had a double plot in mind, one which would
both set him up permanently and at the same time
eliminate any danger from the time Patrol. Sagan I knew,
of course, where the great silver van was at Chloride Flats.
It wasn't due to be discovered until nineteen seventy three.
But if Sager found it, he'd not only be a
(15:11):
rich man, he would so change history that the time
Patrol would be unable to reach him. He would divert
the time stream radically by the discovery of such a
vast amount of silver. Breck had presumably spent the night
at the Murray Hotel, but he had actually slipped out
of his room unseen and made an excursion on foot
(15:32):
up Palo Alto Mountain to the big house Sager had
erected there. It was tightly guarded. There'd be no chance
of getting in there without creating a major disturbance. Cautiously,
he crept completely around the house looking for a break
in the guard network. There wasn't any. In order to
get inside, he'd have to get himself invited in. But
(15:56):
how he returned to the hotel, headed from there to
the Casa Looma, and was sitting in the bar drinking
a beer, mulling the problem over when Chuck came in.
Ed slim Man said softly, he really ain't none of
my business, but I thought you ought to know that
Cactus is gunning for you. Thanks, Chuck, Breck said. As
(16:19):
Chuck walked over to the other end of the bar,
as if not wanting to be seen with Breck, he
was easy to see what had happened. Cactus had told
Seger Saginer what had happened in the bar yesterday, including
no doubt the story about the blinding draw from the hip.
Seger probably suspected that Breck was a time patrolman and
(16:40):
had sent Cactus to shoot him. Breck moistened his lips,
got up and dropped a coin on the bar. Then
he tipped his hat to Chuck and pushed his way
through the bat wings, heading for Sager's bank. He knew
the game. Seger didn't care whether Cactus got killed or not.
What he wanted to do was watch Breck's gunwork, which
(17:01):
would give him away as a patrolman. If he depended
on the robot pistols, Breck would have to take a chance.
He reached down and turned off the robot armament. All
he had now was a pair of ordinary pistols. Overhead.
The noonday sun was coming down strong and hard. They
began to sweat casually. He sountered down the wide, unpaved
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street toward the bank. There were a few people strolling
idly in the other direction. He moved up against the
row of shops, looking in all directions. No sign of Cactus.
He frowned. Breck knew of Cactus's fear of his lightning
draw and suspected that Cactus would try an ambush. Breck
(17:46):
glanced uneasily across the street over at Bishop's Livery, where
Cowpoke was hitching his reins to the rail. It wasn't Cactus.
Then suddenly a gun spoke. Breck felt a hot bolt
of lead blast its way into his arm, and he
staggered dizzily. He glanced up as he struggled to regain
his balance and saw gun smoke drifting out an open
(18:07):
window in the second floor of Sager's Bank Cactus, he thought.
He leaped back as another bullet raked the dirt near him.
His left arm was warm with his own blood. The
street was silent. Breck leaned against the cool glass of
a shop window, waiting, holding his breath. In a few minutes,
a head peered cautiously out the second story window. Breck
(18:30):
tugged at his gun. It seemed to take forever to
get it out. With a robot, armament shut off and
fired once. A man tumbled out the window, bounced off
the awning in front of the building, and dropped heavily
to the ground. He lay still. Breck mopped the blood
from his arm. His head was starting to swim with pain,
(18:51):
and new worries assailed him. He had killed a man.
Now would it change the past? Would he ever reach
Dory again? He didn't know. All he knew was the
blinding pain in his arm. He was in fairly good
repair an hour later, though the arm still throbbed a bit.
He'd taken it to a local doctor. Saganer would be
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suspicious if he had used quick heel on it. He
stood in front of the Murray Hotel, methodically packing his
few belongings into his saddlebags. Chuck walked up, ed, the
boss would like to see you, Sager. Seger, what does
he want? Wants to apologize for what Cactus done. He
(19:34):
fired Cactus as soon as he heard about the run
in with the sheriff, so he wants you to know
he ain't responsible. Cactus had no business laying for you
from that bank window. Breck shrugged. Might as well go,
he said, I never figured Sager was behind it anyway.
He headed to the bank. Seger was sitting behind his desk,
(19:55):
flanked by a couple of his gunmen. He was a lean,
long nosed man with cold eyes and a narrow, thin
lipped mouth. You are, ed Calhoun. Breck nodded. I want
you to know that I am sorry for what my
ex employee did. I do not like that sort of thing.
Sager's speech was stiff and formal. Breck noted, I figured
(20:19):
he was on his own, he said easily. I didn't
know nothing you might have against me. That is nothing,
I assure you. I understand you're leaving Plata City yep,
and I'm heading for Arizona cattle country. I'm a cowman
by trade. You are also a very good man with
a gun. I need men like you. How would you
(20:40):
like to work for me? It had worked, Breck thought, exultantly,
pretending to be about to leave town, had removed all
suspicion from Saginer's mind. Why I, Reckon, I might stay
if the if the pay was good, Breck said thoughtfully,
Long as a man makes a living, it don't matter
much what he does us. I will make it well
(21:02):
with your while mister Calhoun, Breck drew his breath in
sharply fighting the temptation to shoot Seger where he sat.
He had eradicate one considerable blotch on the human race,
but he would also involve killing others, and it still
wouldn't get Dory out of that house. Reckon all listen
to your proposition anyhow, mister Seger. It was three days
(21:25):
before Breck was asked up to the house. He knew
his time was running low. If Seger actually started mining
operations on his property, his death or disappearance wouldn't stop it.
Someone else would find the great Silver vein, and the
time stream would be unalterably diverted. Causing incalculable change in
the world of the future. Breck's opening was a lucky one.
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Prowler had been caught a Mexican itinerant, shot and killed
by a guard. It had apparently scared Seger, who probably
suspected the Mexican might have been a time patrolman, and
so he had decided to increase the guard around his house.
Breck was called from his bank duties and taken up
Palo Alto Mountain to the Saga mansion. His job was
(22:11):
to patrol the grounds that evening. As dusk fell, Breck
strolled around the grounds, going from one of the posted
guards to another. Sam It's me ed, had he ed
fleeing anything another thing? You? Nope, I like the bosses,
just jumpy. Breck poured tobacco into a cigarette paper, rolled
(22:36):
it deftly, and put it in his mouth. Gotta light,
Sam Sure. As the guard struck the match, Breck leaned
forward to light a cigarette, and at the same time
he put his hand on the other's shoulder. Automatically, a
little device in his palm silently and painlessly injected hypnotine
into the man's bloodstream. After a moment, Breck said how'd
(22:58):
he feel, Sam? Sam blinked slowly, just fine. You'll do
anything I tell you, won't you? Sam? Why sure, Ed,
whatever you say. Breck grinned savagely. You won't hear any
noise from the house. No noise from the house, Sam agreed,
(23:24):
No matter what happens, you won't hear anything out of
the ordinary or see anything out of the ordinary. This
will seem just like any other night to you under
the influence of the drug. Sam nodded in agreement. And
you won't remember what I just said. All you'll remember
(23:44):
is that I bummed a light and went on again.
Sam nodded. Well, so long, Sam, so long ed, said
Sam tonelessly. The same process, with variations, was repeated with
the rest of the guards. When he was finished, Breck
fired his gun into the air and strode boldly up
(24:06):
to the front door. He rapped. Who is there? Asked
a voice from within ed Calhoun, bass, we just killed
another prowler. You want to take a look at him?
A pause? Then are you sure he is dead? Ball
it through his head, Brex said, what does he look like? Ordinary?
(24:30):
Might be an Indian. The door opened and Segar stepped
straight into a right uppercut, which bowled him back through
the opening. Breck charged in after him, but the man
lay limp, his eyes closed. Brex stood over him for
a moment, debating what to do. Then he heard footsteps
on the stairway. Dorry. She stared at him, no recognition
(24:53):
in her eyes. A chill of horror ran through him
as he saw what Dory had become. Who are you?
Her voice was dull, uncaring. He walked over to her
and looked at her eyes, burning fury rose in him.
Using hypnotine, Saginer had made Dorry only the shell of
the girl he had loved. Who are you? She asked again,
(25:18):
I do not know you? You once did? He said, tightly you.
He felt a sudden blow on the back of his neck,
and his knees sagged. Sagar had been feigning unconsciousness and
now had returned to the struggle in a moment when
Breck was unprepared. A fist smashed into his side, and
he ducked away, blinking away the pain. He turned and
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advanced towards Saginer, while Dorry moaned wordlessly in the corner.
Saganer jumped forward and drove a fist toward Breck's jaw,
but Breck countered and felt knuckles crashed through the time
Jumper's teeth. As Saginer rocked, Breck hit him below the heart,
and he grunted and folded up. This time, Breck made
sure of the job. He continued pummeling Sagoner's senseless body
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until he was out of breath, then stood up and
looked at Dorry. She was huddled helplessly in a chair,
sobbing in terror. Breck scowled as he remembered the girl
he had once known, and gave the unconscious form of
Saginer another kick. Then he slid his gun out of
its holster and pressed a button on the underside of
(26:24):
the robot gun belt. The Time Scoop closed around the
three of them. When the Grainess cleared away, Breck stumbled
out of the Time Scoop and saw the Counselor waiting
for him. Smiling, he shook his head to clear it.
Here I am, he said, and here's your Time Snatcher.
Mission accomplished, sir. Very fine job, Brick, very fine. Breck
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looked at the Councilor. There's one problem, though, the girl dory.
He saw the Councilor blink apprehensively. Oh her back all right,
he said quickly. But she's been badly treated, Sir. I
don't know if the damage Saginer's done to her mind
(27:11):
can ever be repaired. I the Counselor's eyes widened. What
are you talking about, Breck? What has happened to Dorry.
I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean. Why she's
right here, unconscious in the back of the time, scoop,
Breck said, puzzled, and he turned to find the girl.
(27:31):
Why she isn't here, of course, not, said the counselor.
She's been right here all the time. Where else should
she be? Dimly, Breck began to realize what had happened.
Some act of his the shooting of Cactus, perhaps, had
altered the future his present, ever so slightly, just enough
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so that in this present, Saginer had gone back alone
without Dory. A door opened and a girl stepped out,
clad in a white lab smock. Her eyes were bright
and clear, and when she saw Brec she gave a
little scream of joy. Then Breck folded her into his arms.
The Time Snatcher by Randall Garrett from Imagination Stories of
Science and Fantasy, February nineteen fifty seven. We're in a
hell of a jam Brick, the councilor said. If Sagana
isn't stopped, he'll change history. The situation's desperate. Time patrolman
Breck Halliday nodded in agreement. It was a tense situation.
(00:24):
Time travel, he knew was possible only so long as
the traveler into the past did nothing that would change
history significantly. The time stream itself would straighten out little
changes in the past so that overall history would remain
the same. But a big change was something else. Again,
if you stick your finger in our river, there are
(00:47):
a few ripples around it, but the flow of the
river remains the same. If you build a damn though,
Oh when is he? Breck answered, do we know? Fortunately, yes,
he forced one of our operators to use one of
the chrotokinetic projectors and then kidnapped her and took her
with him. But he didn't know that the power drain
(01:08):
was measurable and had been recorded on the meters. We
know how much energy he used, so we know how
far into the past he went. We've got him pinpointed
in the area of the old United States, somewhere between
eighteen eighty and eighteen ninety five. Who was the girly kidnapped,
Breck asked. The counselor smiled apologetically, Dori Clayton. The muscles
(01:34):
of Halliday's jaw tightened. I see, he said stiffly. When
do I leave, We'll prepare you immediately. It's going to
be a touchy job to get both of them out
of there, so watch yourself. Don't worry, Halliday said quietly.
I'll manage it. He walked out, eyes hot with rage,
(01:56):
thinking of Dory and Shagonero's clutches. His hands slowly clenched
and unclenched as he headed down the long hall. A
time patrolman's first step in any excursion to the past
is to learn the language and the history so well
that he can pass as a native. For three days,
Breck Halliday lay in the padded tank of a hypno
(02:18):
robot while information was poured into him. Then he was
given his clothes. It consisted of a pair of high
heeled boots made of treated animal skin, a pair of
tight trousers woven of blue dyed vegetable fiber, a shirt
of similar material, and a broad brimmed hat. Other clothing
(02:39):
and equipment went into a pack, and a money belt.
Around Breck's waists carried gold coins that not even an
expert could have told from the originals. The thing that
Breck liked best was the fact that he would be
allowed to carry weapons openly. Some civilizations of the past
didn't permit a citizen to carry guns, but where Breck
(03:01):
was going, a man with a pair of six guns
at his hips wouldn't look odd at all. Breck had
ridden a horse three times, once in the Battle of Agincourt,
once at Chickamauga, and once during a trip from Rum
to Ravena in the sixth century. His fourth horse was
saddled a little differently, but he found it easy to handle.
(03:23):
He trotted it onto the platform and signaled the operator.
There was a brief hum as the chronokinetic projector warmed up.
Then there was a sudden surge of power. Breck's surroundings
seemed to vanish into grayness. Moments later, light swirled around him.
Lattice City, New Mexico, was enjoying a warm, lazy summer day.
(03:48):
No one paid much attention to the stranger who came
into town on a very ordinary looking Cayus. Pulled up
before the Casa Loma saloon and dismounted. He hitched his
horse to the race, looked up and down the street casually,
and then strode into the saloon. What'll it be, mister,
asked the fat mustachioed bartender. Whiskey, Breck said, and a
(04:12):
little cold beer to follow it. That rode from El
Paso is hot. The barman filled the order. El Paso, Eh,
that's all right, smart ride. Been on the road long,
about a week. I don't believe in Russian nothing hey, barkeep,
yelled someone down at the far end. The bartender went
(04:33):
and Breck downed his whiskey. He sipped the beer reflectively,
thinking long and hard. John Saginer had been convicted once
for illegal use of a time machine and had been
sentenced to ten years on Luna. Somehow he managed to
escape it, and by bluff and daring, actually get control
(04:54):
of a time patrol chronokinetic projector long enough to use
it and kidnap the Operatorry Clayton. It was bad enough
to use the machine, Breck thought darkly, but to take
Dory Breck clenched his fists for kidnapping Dorry. Saginer would
take his punishment from Breck, not the law. The first
(05:15):
thing to do was find him. Reading the power flow
of a chronokinetic projector could only give an approximate location.
Saginer had landed within fifty miles of this spot, and
at some time within the past five years. But where
was he now? And Breck asked himself if he still
have Dory with him. Five years is a long time.
(05:41):
In the course of a year or two, Saginer could
be a long way from plot of city. But Breck
kind of haunched that this was his goal. He didn't
know he could be traced, and he wasn't prepared for travel.
But suddenly a finger tapped his shoulder and he whirled
in surprise. He saw a man where a big silver
star prominently on his vest. Stranger, you'll haveugh to shook
(06:04):
them irons. City ordinance says a man can't carry pistols
inside the city limits. I notice I ate the only
one with a full gun belt, Breck said slowly. The
man's eyes narrowed. He happens to be John Seger's man. Mister,
they all happened to be deputies. His pistol came out suddenly.
(06:26):
I'm ordering you to take them off. Breck shrugged and
unbuckled the belt. I looking for an argument, he said,
handing the gun belt to the sheriff, But as the
sheriff reached for the belt, Breck lashed out with one hand,
slapping the other's weapon aside. It skittered across the floor
as Breck jerked one of his own guns from the
(06:46):
belt and set the sheriff reeling backwards with a blow
in his chest. Several of the other armed men started
to reach for their hips, but Breck's icy voice stopped
them short. First man to touch a gun gets led.
The sheriff's face grew red. You've got trouble stranger, maybe,
but them guns is mine. You're trying to book the law,
(07:09):
said the sheriff. Breck grinned. It's a damn fool law
that needs so many men to enforce it. If you
was the only one pack in irons, I might be
persuaded to give him up to the barkeep here. But
as long as everybody's carrying full holsters, I reckon. I
don't want to be out of style. I'd looked too conspicuous.
(07:30):
Still holding his weapon, he buckled on his belt and
walked over to where the sheriff's gun had fallen. Without
taking his eyes off of anyone in the room. He
squatted and picked it up. Then he walked back to
the sheriff and shoved the sixth gun into the law
man's holster. Don't aim to cause no trouble, Sheriff. If
you and the rest of these gents will oblige me,
(07:50):
I'll ask the bar keep to set us all up
a drink. There was a moment of silence, then the
sheriff grinned. Reckon, I'll take a way whiskey, he said.
Breck grinned back and put his weapon in its sheath.
It was almost a mistake, as soud as his hand
was well away from the gun butt, one of the
(08:11):
men at the bar snatched at his six gun and
brought it up to fire. No ordinary man with ordinary
guns could have moved fast enough to do anything, But
Breck was no ordinary man, and his weapons were far
from ordinary. Both man and guns were the product of
a science far in advance of the nineteenth century. Breck's
(08:32):
hands blurred, and his weapons seemed to leap from their
holsters as the little robot mechanisms secreted in their butts
responded to the electro neuro commands of their owner. There
was a roar of sound as one of the guns spoke.
The gunman's weapons seemed to vanish from his hand. It
sealed across the room, banged against the wall, and dropped
to the floor. Breck had no compunction against killing a man,
(08:55):
particularly in self defense, but the death of one man
might conceivable make radical changes in the future. As the
echoes of the gunshot died away, the gunman howled in pain.
The shock of Breck's bullet against the gun had sent
needles of pain racing up his arm. The room was silent.
Then the sheriff walked over to the gunman, who was
(09:16):
massaging his aching numbed fingers, and grabbed him by the
shirt collar. He said, softly, would I agree to take
a drink with a man? I don't take it lightly
when one of my deputies tries to shoot him. I
figure you wanted to take him after what he'd done.
The man said, sullenly. If I had, I'd have done
my own gun slinging. He reached out and yanked the
(09:39):
small metal star off the man's vest. You ain't a
deputy anymore. If I catch you wearing guns, I'll run
you in or shoot you, whichever's handiest. Still holding his
injured hand, the man turned and walked down to the saloon.
The sheriff turned around to Breck. There was mighty fast
and accurate shooting. Son. What you say your name was?
(10:02):
I didn't say yet, Brex said, reholstering his weapons. But
as a matter of fact, it's ed Calhoun. As I said.
I don't want to cause no trouble, but I'm glad
to oblige them that comes looking for it. He laid
a ten dollars gold piece on the bar. Here's an
eagle barkeep. Let's have them drinks one are? The other
(10:25):
men at the bar looked quizzically at the sheriff. Sheriff,
maybe he had not a done that to Cactus. How
is the boss gonna take it? The sheriff looked at
him for a moment, then he looked at the others.
Let's go one thing straight here. John Sagger's an important
man hereabouts, and I don't deny it. He needs good
(10:47):
gun slingers to guard his property. And I'm only too
glad to deputize him. But by the Almighty, if a
man don't behave himself, if he ain't to be trusted
with a gun, then he ain't gonna wear a bat
dge as long as I'm sheriff. He turned to Breck,
I got up hold the low son. I asked you
to turn them guns in, and you wouldn't do it.
(11:10):
I'm damned if I'm gonna try and take them away.
So there's only one thing to do. He had to
break the star that he had taken from Cactus. Hold
up your right hand, he said. Half an hour later,
Breck found himself sitting at a table, drinking beer and
talking with the sheriff and a man named Chuck. He'd
(11:30):
answered questions about his past with the purely fictitious data
that he'd received from the hypno robot, but all the
time his mind had been on the man who was
quote an important man hereabouts unquote John Sager, Seger Saginer.
It could be the same man, by the way, sheriff
(11:52):
who is John's Sager owns the bank. Sheriff said, got
property up on Chloride Flat. That's a silver mine district,
you know, brought out a couple of men who was
failing in business and then put him to work managing
their own stores for him. People around here have our
right smart respect for him, friendly sort of a fella. Huh. Well,
(12:16):
I wouldn't go so far as to say that he
treats people well, gives money to the church and the school,
gives a man a job if he's down and out,
But I wouldn't say he was a likable man personally.
He's odd, said Chuck, a real queer one. Maybe I
shouldn't say it because I work for him and he's
(12:37):
done real proper by me. But well, he's a funny one.
Breck raised an eyebrow. Yeah. Uh, how well, for one thing,
he seems so well cold, like he was a sidewinder
or a rattlesnake waiting for a pack rat to come by.
He always seems to be figuring, calculating. He don't smile much,
(13:01):
and what he does don't look right on him. That
funny accent of his don't help none. The sheriff chimed in.
It ain't that he can't speak good English, but it
sounds funny the way he says it. Been here very
long Breck asked casually about three years as old, done
right well by himself, considering he didn't have much whin
(13:22):
it came, Chuck said, after being robbed in all it's
a caution. How he done so well? Then he laughed.
That was downright funny when you come to think of it. Yeah,
the sheriff said, grinning. Him and his sister showed up
one night making his jay birds. A couple of hour
(13:42):
hoots that robbed him and stripped them of everything. They had,
no horse, no clothes, no nothing. He was lucky in
a way though he had a money belt on him
that he managed to hide in a mesquite bush while
the mandits wasn't looking. I sitting in my office that
when I heard knock at the back door, my open it.
Then there was John Sager, all dressed up in his
(14:05):
birthday suit and were and nothing more. Of course, I
didn't know who he was. Breck listened closely to the
Sheriff's story. It all fits in. Saginer hadn't had time
to prepare himself for this era. His speech was strange
and his clothes even stranger. So he'd taken off his
(14:26):
clothes and pretended to have been robbed and his sister.
What's his sister like, he asked, prealy Chuck said, but
she's not too bright, goes round in a daze most
of the time, hypnotized. Breck thought that settled it. Twenty
four hours later, Breck had all the information he needed.
(14:50):
Saginer had a double plot in mind, one which would
both set him up permanently and at the same time
eliminate any danger from the time Patrol. Sagan I knew,
of course, where the great silver van was at Chloride Flats.
It wasn't due to be discovered until nineteen seventy three.
But if Sager found it, he'd not only be a
(15:11):
rich man, he would so change history that the time
Patrol would be unable to reach him. He would divert
the time stream radically by the discovery of such a
vast amount of silver. Breck had presumably spent the night
at the Murray Hotel, but he had actually slipped out
of his room unseen and made an excursion on foot
(15:32):
up Palo Alto Mountain to the big house Sager had
erected there. It was tightly guarded. There'd be no chance
of getting in there without creating a major disturbance. Cautiously,
he crept completely around the house looking for a break
in the guard network. There wasn't any. In order to
get inside, he'd have to get himself invited in. But
(15:56):
how he returned to the hotel, headed from there to
the Casa Looma, and was sitting in the bar drinking
a beer, mulling the problem over when Chuck came in.
Ed slim Man said softly, he really ain't none of
my business, but I thought you ought to know that
Cactus is gunning for you. Thanks, Chuck, Breck said. As
(16:19):
Chuck walked over to the other end of the bar,
as if not wanting to be seen with Breck, he
was easy to see what had happened. Cactus had told
Seger Saginer what had happened in the bar yesterday, including
no doubt the story about the blinding draw from the hip.
Seger probably suspected that Breck was a time patrolman and
(16:40):
had sent Cactus to shoot him. Breck moistened his lips,
got up and dropped a coin on the bar. Then
he tipped his hat to Chuck and pushed his way
through the bat wings, heading for Sager's bank. He knew
the game. Seger didn't care whether Cactus got killed or not.
What he wanted to do was watch Breck's gunwork, which
(17:01):
would give him away as a patrolman. If he depended
on the robot pistols, Breck would have to take a chance.
He reached down and turned off the robot armament. All
he had now was a pair of ordinary pistols. Overhead.
The noonday sun was coming down strong and hard. They
began to sweat casually. He sountered down the wide, unpaved
(17:24):
street toward the bank. There were a few people strolling
idly in the other direction. He moved up against the
row of shops, looking in all directions. No sign of Cactus.
He frowned. Breck knew of Cactus's fear of his lightning
draw and suspected that Cactus would try an ambush. Breck
(17:46):
glanced uneasily across the street over at Bishop's Livery, where
Cowpoke was hitching his reins to the rail. It wasn't Cactus.
Then suddenly a gun spoke. Breck felt a hot bolt
of lead blast its way into his arm, and he
staggered dizzily. He glanced up as he struggled to regain
his balance and saw gun smoke drifting out an open
(18:07):
window in the second floor of Sager's Bank Cactus, he thought.
He leaped back as another bullet raked the dirt near him.
His left arm was warm with his own blood. The
street was silent. Breck leaned against the cool glass of
a shop window, waiting, holding his breath. In a few minutes,
a head peered cautiously out the second story window. Breck
(18:30):
tugged at his gun. It seemed to take forever to
get it out. With a robot, armament shut off and
fired once. A man tumbled out the window, bounced off
the awning in front of the building, and dropped heavily
to the ground. He lay still. Breck mopped the blood
from his arm. His head was starting to swim with pain,
(18:51):
and new worries assailed him. He had killed a man.
Now would it change the past? Would he ever reach
Dory again? He didn't know. All he knew was the
blinding pain in his arm. He was in fairly good
repair an hour later, though the arm still throbbed a bit.
He'd taken it to a local doctor. Saganer would be
(19:13):
suspicious if he had used quick heel on it. He
stood in front of the Murray Hotel, methodically packing his
few belongings into his saddlebags. Chuck walked up, ed, the
boss would like to see you, Sager. Seger, what does
he want? Wants to apologize for what Cactus done. He
(19:34):
fired Cactus as soon as he heard about the run
in with the sheriff, so he wants you to know
he ain't responsible. Cactus had no business laying for you
from that bank window. Breck shrugged. Might as well go,
he said, I never figured Sager was behind it anyway.
He headed to the bank. Seger was sitting behind his desk,
(19:55):
flanked by a couple of his gunmen. He was a lean,
long nosed man with cold eyes and a narrow, thin
lipped mouth. You are, ed Calhoun. Breck nodded. I want
you to know that I am sorry for what my
ex employee did. I do not like that sort of thing.
Sager's speech was stiff and formal. Breck noted, I figured
(20:19):
he was on his own, he said easily. I didn't
know nothing you might have against me. That is nothing,
I assure you. I understand you're leaving Plata City yep,
and I'm heading for Arizona cattle country. I'm a cowman
by trade. You are also a very good man with
a gun. I need men like you. How would you
(20:40):
like to work for me? It had worked, Breck thought, exultantly,
pretending to be about to leave town, had removed all
suspicion from Saginer's mind. Why I, Reckon, I might stay
if the if the pay was good, Breck said thoughtfully,
Long as a man makes a living, it don't matter
much what he does us. I will make it well
(21:02):
with your while mister Calhoun, Breck drew his breath in
sharply fighting the temptation to shoot Seger where he sat.
He had eradicate one considerable blotch on the human race,
but he would also involve killing others, and it still
wouldn't get Dory out of that house. Reckon all listen
to your proposition anyhow, mister Seger. It was three days
(21:25):
before Breck was asked up to the house. He knew
his time was running low. If Seger actually started mining
operations on his property, his death or disappearance wouldn't stop it.
Someone else would find the great Silver vein, and the
time stream would be unalterably diverted. Causing incalculable change in
the world of the future. Breck's opening was a lucky one.
(21:49):
Prowler had been caught a Mexican itinerant, shot and killed
by a guard. It had apparently scared Seger, who probably
suspected the Mexican might have been a time patrolman, and
so he had decided to increase the guard around his house.
Breck was called from his bank duties and taken up
Palo Alto Mountain to the Saga mansion. His job was
(22:11):
to patrol the grounds that evening. As dusk fell, Breck
strolled around the grounds, going from one of the posted
guards to another. Sam It's me ed, had he ed
fleeing anything another thing? You? Nope, I like the bosses,
just jumpy. Breck poured tobacco into a cigarette paper, rolled
(22:36):
it deftly, and put it in his mouth. Gotta light,
Sam Sure. As the guard struck the match, Breck leaned
forward to light a cigarette, and at the same time
he put his hand on the other's shoulder. Automatically, a
little device in his palm silently and painlessly injected hypnotine
into the man's bloodstream. After a moment, Breck said how'd
(22:58):
he feel, Sam? Sam blinked slowly, just fine. You'll do
anything I tell you, won't you? Sam? Why sure, Ed,
whatever you say. Breck grinned savagely. You won't hear any
noise from the house. No noise from the house, Sam agreed,
(23:24):
No matter what happens, you won't hear anything out of
the ordinary or see anything out of the ordinary. This
will seem just like any other night to you under
the influence of the drug. Sam nodded in agreement. And
you won't remember what I just said. All you'll remember
(23:44):
is that I bummed a light and went on again.
Sam nodded. Well, so long, Sam, so long ed, said
Sam tonelessly. The same process, with variations, was repeated with
the rest of the guards. When he was finished, Breck
fired his gun into the air and strode boldly up
(24:06):
to the front door. He rapped. Who is there? Asked
a voice from within ed Calhoun, bass, we just killed
another prowler. You want to take a look at him?
A pause? Then are you sure he is dead? Ball
it through his head, Brex said, what does he look like? Ordinary?
(24:30):
Might be an Indian. The door opened and Segar stepped
straight into a right uppercut, which bowled him back through
the opening. Breck charged in after him, but the man
lay limp, his eyes closed. Brex stood over him for
a moment, debating what to do. Then he heard footsteps
on the stairway. Dorry. She stared at him, no recognition
(24:53):
in her eyes. A chill of horror ran through him
as he saw what Dory had become. Who are you?
Her voice was dull, uncaring. He walked over to her
and looked at her eyes, burning fury rose in him.
Using hypnotine, Saginer had made Dorry only the shell of
the girl he had loved. Who are you? She asked again,
(25:18):
I do not know you? You once did? He said, tightly you.
He felt a sudden blow on the back of his neck,
and his knees sagged. Sagar had been feigning unconsciousness and
now had returned to the struggle in a moment when
Breck was unprepared. A fist smashed into his side, and
he ducked away, blinking away the pain. He turned and
(25:41):
advanced towards Saginer, while Dorry moaned wordlessly in the corner.
Saganer jumped forward and drove a fist toward Breck's jaw,
but Breck countered and felt knuckles crashed through the time
Jumper's teeth. As Saginer rocked, Breck hit him below the heart,
and he grunted and folded up. This time, Breck made
sure of the job. He continued pummeling Sagoner's senseless body
(26:04):
until he was out of breath, then stood up and
looked at Dorry. She was huddled helplessly in a chair,
sobbing in terror. Breck scowled as he remembered the girl
he had once known, and gave the unconscious form of
Saginer another kick. Then he slid his gun out of
its holster and pressed a button on the underside of
(26:24):
the robot gun belt. The Time Scoop closed around the
three of them. When the Grainess cleared away, Breck stumbled
out of the Time Scoop and saw the Counselor waiting
for him. Smiling, he shook his head to clear it.
Here I am, he said, and here's your Time Snatcher.
Mission accomplished, sir. Very fine job, Brick, very fine. Breck
(26:49):
looked at the Councilor. There's one problem, though, the girl dory.
He saw the Councilor blink apprehensively. Oh her back all right,
he said quickly. But she's been badly treated, Sir. I
don't know if the damage Saginer's done to her mind
(27:11):
can ever be repaired. I the Counselor's eyes widened. What
are you talking about, Breck? What has happened to Dorry.
I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean. Why she's
right here, unconscious in the back of the time, scoop,
Breck said, puzzled, and he turned to find the girl.
(27:31):
Why she isn't here, of course, not, said the counselor.
She's been right here all the time. Where else should
she be? Dimly, Breck began to realize what had happened.
Some act of his the shooting of Cactus, perhaps, had
altered the future his present, ever so slightly, just enough
(27:54):
so that in this present, Saginer had gone back alone
without Dory. A door opened and a girl stepped out,
clad in a white lab smock. Her eyes were bright
and clear, and when she saw Brec she gave a
little scream of joy. Then Breck folded her into his arms.
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