02 - 3 Science Fiction Stories by Frank Herbert by Frank Herbert

Join us as we explore three captivating science fiction tales by the legendary Frank Herbert. In this episode, we dive into Missing Link, originally published in Astounding SF in 1959; Operation Haystack, also from Astounding SF in the same year; and Old Rambling House, which graced the pages of Galaxy SF in 1958. Immerse yourself in these imaginative narratives, brought to life by Phil Chenevert.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Operation Haystack by Frank Herbert. This libre vox recording is
in the public domain. Recording by Phil Shinever. Operation Haystack
was first published in Astounding Science Fiction May nineteen fifty nine.

(00:24):
When the Investigation and Adjustment Scout cruiser landed on Morok,
it carried a man the doctors had no hope of saving.
He was alive only because he was in a womblike
crush pod that had taken over most of his vital functions.
The man's name was Lewis Orne. He had been a blocky,

(00:46):
heavy muscled redhead with slightly off centered features and the
hard flesh of a heavy planet native. Even in the
placid repose of near death, there was something clownish about
his appearance. His burned, unguent covered face looked made up
for some bizarre show. Morok is the League capital, and

(01:09):
the I a medical center there is probably the best
in the galaxy, but it accepted the crash pod and
orn more as a curiosity than anything else. The man
had lost one eye, three fingers of his left hand,
and part of his hair, suffered a broken jaw, and
various internal injuries. He had been in terminal shock for

(01:31):
more than ninety hours umbo Stetson, Orn's Section chief went
back into his cruiser's office after a hospital flitter took
pod and patient. There was an added droop to Stetson's
shoulders that accentuated his usual slouching stance. His over large

(01:52):
features were drawn into ridges of sorrow. A general straggling,
strampish look about him was not helped by pass etched
blue fatigues. The doctor's words still rang in Stetson's ears.
This patient's vital tone is too low to permit operative
replacement of damaged organs. He'll live for a while because

(02:15):
of the pod. But and the doctor had shrugged. Stetson
slumped into his desk chair, looked out the open port
beside him, some four hundred meters below. The scurrying, beetle
like activity of the I a's main field sent up
discordant roaring and clattering. Two rows of other Scout cruisers

(02:39):
were parked in line with Stetson's port, gleaming red and
black needles. He stared at them, without really seeing them.
Had always happens on some routine assignment. He thought nothing
but a slight suspicion about heleb the fact that only

(03:00):
women held high office. One simple unexplained fact, and I
lose my best agent, he sighed, turned to his desk
began composing the report. The militant core on the planet
heleb has been eliminated. Occupation force on the ground. No

(03:23):
further danger to galactic peace expected from this source. Reason
for Operation Rediscovery and re Education. After two years on
the planet failed to detect signs of militancy. The major
indications were one a ruling cast restricted to women, and

(03:44):
two disparity between numbers of males and females far beyond
the Lutig norm. Senior Field Agent Lewis Orne found that
the ruling cast was controlling the sex of offspring at
conception see attached details, and had raised a male slave
army to maintain its rule. The R and R agent

(04:07):
had been drained of information, then killed. Arms constructed on
the basis of that information caused critical injuries to Senior
Field Agent Orn. He is not expected to live. I
am hereby urging that he received the Galaxy Medal and
that his name be added to the role of honor.

(04:27):
Stetson pushed the page aside. That was enough for com Goo,
who never read anything but the first page anyway, details
were for his aide to chew and digest. They could wait.
Stetson punched his desk callbox for Orange's service record, set
himself to the task he most detested. Notifying next to Kin.

(04:52):
He read, pursing his lips home Planet chargone notifying case
of accident or deaths Victoria Arn mother. He leaved through
the pages, reluctant to send the hated message. Arn had
enlisted in the Morock Marines at age seventeen, a runaway

(05:12):
from home, and his mother had given post enlistment consent.
Two years later, scholarship transferred to Uni Galacta, the R
and R School here on Morok. Five years of school
and one R and R field assignment under his belt,
he had been drafted into the IA for brilliant detection

(05:32):
of militancy on Hammel And two years later capute. Abruptly,
Stetson hurled the service record at the gray metal wall
across from him. Then he got up brought the record
back to his desk, smoothing the pages. There were tears
in his eyes. He flipped a switch on his desk,

(05:57):
dictated the notification to Central Secretary, ordered it sent out
priority then he went ground side and got drunk on
hochar Brandy, Orne's favorite drink. The next morning there was
a reply from Chargon Louis Orne's mother too ill to travel,

(06:20):
sisters being notified, Please ask missrus Ipscott Bologne of moroc
wife of High Commissioner, to take over for family. It
was signed Madrina Orne, standish sister with some misgivings. Stetson
called the residence of Ipscott Bologne, leader of the majority

(06:41):
party in the Morock Assembly. Missus Bologne took the call
with blank screen. There was a sound of running water
in the background. Stetson stared at the grayness swimming in
his desk visor. He always disliked a blank screen. A
baritone husk of a voice said, this is Polly Blonne.

(07:04):
Stetson introduced himself. Relay the Chargon message. Victorious boy dying here,
Oh the poor thing, and Madrina's back on Chargon the election.
Oh yes, of course, I'll get right over to the hospital.
Stetson signed off. Broke the contact the High Commissioner's wife.

(07:27):
Yet he thought then because he had to do it,
He walled off his sorrow got to work at the
medical center. The Oval crush containing orn hung from ceiling
hooks in a private room. There were humming sounds in
the dim, watery greenness of the room, rhythmic chuckings, sighings.

(07:50):
Occasionally a door opened almost soundlessly, and a white clad
figure would check the graft tapes on the CRUSH's meters.
Orn was lingering. He became the major conversation piece at
the intern's coffee breaks. That agent who was hurt on
helebt he's still with us. Man. They must build those

(08:11):
guys different from the rest of us. Yeah, understand, he's
got only about an eighth of his insides, liver, kidney's
stomach all gone. Lay you odds he doesn't last out
the month. Look what old sure thing mc tavish wants
to bet on. On the morning of the eighty eighth
day in the crush, the day Nurse came into Arn's room,

(08:33):
lifted the inspection hood looked down at him. The day
Nurse was a tall, lean faced professional who had learned
to meet miracles and failures with equal lack of expression. However,
this routine with a dying i a operative had lulled
her into a state of psychological unpreparedness. Any day now,

(08:55):
poor guy, she thought, and she gasped whiped as he
opened his soul remaining eye said did they clobber those
dames on his lib? Yes, sir, she blurted out, They
really did, sir. Good. Arn closed his eye, his breathing deepened.

(09:19):
The nurse rang frantically for the doctor's. It had been
an indeterminate period in a blank fog for Orn, then
a time of pain, and the gradual realization that he
was in a crash had to be He could remember
his sudden exposure on his leb, the explosion, then nothing

(09:41):
good old crush. It made him feel safe. Now shielded
from all danger, Arn began to show minute but steady
signs of improvement. In another month, the doctors ventured an
intestinal graft that gave him a new spurt of energy.
Two months later, they replaced missing eye and fingers, restored

(10:04):
his scalp line, worked artistic surgery on his burn scores.
Fourteen months, eleven days, five hours, and two minutes after
he had been picked up as good as dead, Orn
walked out of the hospital under his own power, accompanied
by a strangely silent umbo stetson. Under the dark blue

(10:27):
eye a field cape Orne's coverall uniform fitted his once
muscular frame like a deflated bag. But the pixie light
had returned to his eyes, even to the eye he
had received from a nameless and long dead donor. Except
for the loss of weight, he looked to be the
same Lewis Orn. If he was different beyond the spare parts,

(10:51):
it was something he only suspected, something that made the
idea twice born, not a joke. Outside side the hospital,
clouds obscured Moroc's green sun. It was mid morning. A
cold spring wind bent the pile lawn tugged fitfully at

(11:12):
the border plantings of exotic flowers around the hospital's landing pad.
Orn stepped on the steps above the pad breathed deeply
of the chill air. Beautiful day, he said. Stetson reached
out a hand to help Orn down the steps. Hesitated,
put the hand back in his pocket. Beneath the section's

(11:34):
chief look of weary superciliousness, there was a note of anxiety.
His big features were set in a frown. The drooping
eyelids failed to conceal a sharp, measuring stare. Orn glanced
at the sky in the southwest. The flitter ought to
be here, any minute. A gust of wind tugged at

(11:56):
his cape. He staggered, caught his balance. I feel good.
You look like something left over from a funeral, growled Stetson.
Sure my funeral, said arn. He grinned anyway, I was
getting tired of that walk around type. Margue. All my

(12:17):
nurses were married. All r'd almost stake my life that
I could trust you, muttered Stetson. Orran looked at him. No, no,
stett stake my life. I'm used to it. Stetson shook
his head. No, damn it. I trust you, but you
deserve a peaceful convalescence. We've no right to saddle you

(12:39):
with stat Orran's voice was low, amused. Huh. Stetson looked up.
Let's save the noble act for someone who doesn't know you,
said Oran, you've a job for me. Okay, you've made
the gesture for your conscience. Stetson produced a wolfish grin.

(13:02):
All right, so we're desperate and we haven't much time
in a nutshell since you're going to be a house
guest at the balloons. We suspect if Scott Bloone of
being the head of a conspiracy to take over the government.
What do you mean take over the government, demanded Arn.
The Galactic Commissioner is the government subject to the Constitution

(13:26):
and the assemblymen who elected him. We have a situation
that could explode into another rim war, and we think
he's at the heart of it, said Stetson. We've eighty
one touchy planets, all of them old time studies that
have been in the League for years, and on every
one of them we have reason to believe there's a

(13:47):
clan of traitors sworn to overthrow the League, even on
your home planet, Chargon, you want me to go home
for my convalescence, asked Arn. I haven't been there since
I was seventeen. I'm not sure that. No, damn it,
we want you, asked the Boulogne's house guest. And speaking

(14:09):
of that, would you mind explaining how they were chosen
to write her on you? That's an odd thing, said Arne,
all those gags in the I a about old upshook
Ipscot Bologne. And then I find that his wife went
to school with my mother. Have you met himself? He

(14:32):
brought his wife to the hospital a couple of times. Again,
Stethson looked to the southwest, then back to Arne. A
pensive look came over his face. Every school kid knows
how the Nathians and the Moroccian League fought it out
in the Rim War, how the old civilization fell apart,

(14:53):
And it all seems kind of distant, he said. Five
hundred standard years, said Arne. And maybe no further away
than yesterday, murmured Stetson. He cleared his throat, and Arn
wondered why Stetson was moving so cautiously. Something deep troubling him.

(15:16):
A sudden thought struck Orn. He said, you spoke of trust.
Has this conspiracy involved the I A. We think so,
said Stetson. About a year ago and our and our
archeological team was nosing around some ruins on Dobby. The
place was all but vitrified in the Rimoir bought a

(15:39):
whole bank of records from a Nathian outpost. Escaped. He
glanced sidelong at Orn. The Raw and Raw boys couldn't
make sense out of the records. No surprise, they called
in an I a crypt analyst. He broke a complicated
substitution cipher. When the stuff started making since, he pushed

(16:01):
the panic button for something the Nathians wrote five hundred
years ago Stetson's drooping eyelids lifted. There was a cold
quality to his stare. This was a routing station for
key Nathian families, he said, trained refugees. An old dodge

(16:22):
been used as long as there have been but five
hundred years, stett I don't care if it was five
thousand years, barked Stetson. We've intercepted some scraps since then
that were written in the same code. The bland confidence
of that, wouldn't that gall you? He shook his head.

(16:46):
And every scrap we've intercepted deals with the coming elections.
But the elections only a couple of days off, protested On.
Stetson glanced at his wrist chrono forty two hours to
be exact, He said, some deadline. Any names in these
old records, asked Orn. Stetson nodded, names of planets. Yes,

(17:11):
people know some code names, but no cover names. Code
name on Chargon, was winner that ring any bells with you?
Orn shook his head. No, what's the code name here?
The head, said Stetson. But what good does that do us?
They're sure to have changed those by now. They didn't

(17:34):
change their communications code, said Orn. No, they didn't we
must have something on them, some leads, said Arn. He
felt that Stetson was holding back something vital. Sure, said Stetson.
We have history books. They say that Nathians were top

(17:54):
drawer in political mechanics. We know for a fact they
chose landing sites for their refugees with diabolical care. Each
family was told to dig in, grow up with the
adopted culture, develop the weak spots, build an underground, train
their descendants to take over. They set out to bore

(18:16):
from within, to make victory out of defeat. The Nathians
were long on patients. They came originally from nomad stock
on Nathia II. Their mythology calls them ARBs or herbs.
Go review your seventh grade history. You'll know almost as
much as we do. Why looking for the traditional needle

(18:40):
in the haystack, muttered Orn, How come you suspect how
Commissioner upshook Stetson wet his lips with his tongue. One
of the Balloons's seven daughters is currently at home, he said,
names Diana, a field leader in the Ia women. One
of the Nathian code mess messages we intercepted had her

(19:02):
name as address E who sent the message asked Arn,
what was it all about. Stetson coughed, you know, louis
cross check everything. The message was signed MS. The only
MOS that came out of the comparison was on a
routine next of kin reply. We followed it down to

(19:25):
the original copy and the handwriting checked name of Madrina
orn Standish Maddie orn Froze turned slowly to face Stetson.
So that's what's troubling you. We know you haven't been
home since you were seventeen, said Stetson. You reckon with

(19:48):
us is clean? The question is permit me, said Arn.
The question is will I turn in my own sister
if it falls that way? And remained silent, staring at him. Okay,
said Arn. My job is seeing that we don't have

(20:08):
another rim war. Just answer me one question. How's Mattie
mixed up in this? My family isn't one of these
traitor clans. This whole thing is all tangled up with politics,
said Stetson. We think it's because of her husband, Ah,
the member for chargone, said Arn. I've never met him.

(20:33):
He looked to the southwest, where a flitter was growing
larger as it approached. Who's my cover contact? That many
transceiver we planted in your neck for the Guyana job,
said Stetson. It's still there and functioning. Anything happens around you,
we hear it. Arn touched the sub vocal stud at

(20:55):
his neck, moved his speaking muscles without opening his mouth.
A surf hissing voice filled the matching transceiver in Stetson's neck.
You pay attention while I'm making a play for this
Diana bologne. You hear, then you'll know how an expert works.
Don't get so interested in your work that you forget

(21:16):
why you're out there, growled Stetson. Missus Boulogne was a fat,
little mouse of a woman. She stood almost in the
center of the guest room of her home, hands clasped
across the paunch of a long, dull silver gown. She
had demure gray eyes, grandmotherly gray hair combed straight back

(21:38):
in a jeweled net, and that shocking baritone husk of
a voice issuing from a small mouth. Her figures sloped
out from several chins to a matronly bosom, then dropped
straight like a barrel. The top of her head came
just above orange dress epaulets. We want you to feel

(22:00):
at home, here, Louis, she husked, you're to consider yourself
one of the family. Horne looked around at the Bologne
guest room, low key furnishings with an old fashioned select
a call for chains of decor. A polar window looked
out onto an oval swimming pool. The glass muted to

(22:22):
dark blue, it gave the outside a moonlight appearance. There
was a contour bed against one wall, several built ends,
and a door partly opened to reveal bathroom tiles. Everything
traditional and comfortable. I already do feel at home, he said.
You know your house is very like our place on chargone.

(22:46):
I was surprised when I saw it from the air.
Except for the setting, it looks all most identical. I
guess your mother and I shared ideas when we were
at school, said Polly. We were very close friends. You
must have been to do all this for me, said Arn,
I don't know how I'm ever going to ah here

(23:06):
we are. A deep, masculine voice boomed from the open
door behind Orn. He turned saw Ipscott Boulogne, high commissioner
of the Moroccian League Bologne. Was tall, had a face
of harsh angles and deep lines, dark eyes under heavy brows,
black hair trained in receding waves. There was a look

(23:30):
of ungainly clumsiness about him. He doesn't strike me as
the dictator type, thought Arne. But that's obviously what Stet suspects.
Glad you made it out all right, Son boomed bologne.
He advanced into the room, glancing around. Hope everything's to
your taste here. Louis was just telling me that our

(23:53):
place is very like his mother's home on Chargon, said Polly.
It's old fashioned, but we like it, said Boulogne. Just
a great big tetragon on a central pivot. We can
turn any room we want to the sun, the shade,
or the breeze, but we usually leave the main selon,
pointing northeast view of the capital. You know, we have

(24:16):
a sea breeze on Charigone that we treat the same way,
said arn I'm sure Lewis would like to be left
alone for a while now, said Polly. This is his
first day out of the hospital. We mustn't tire him.
She crossed to the polar window, adjusted it to neutral gray,
turned the selectacoal, and the room's colored dominance shifted to green.

(24:39):
There that's more RESTful, she said, Now, if there's anything
you need, you just ring the bell there by your bed.
The auto bottle will know where to find us. The
balloons left, and Orn crossed to the window looked out
at the pool. The young woman hadn't come back. When
the chauffeur driven limousine Flitter had dropped down to the

(25:01):
house's landing pad. Orn had seen a parasol and sun
hat nodding to each other on the blue tiles beside
the pool. The parasol had shielded Polly Bologne. The sun
hat had been worn by a shapely young woman in
swimming tights who had rushed off into the house. She

(25:21):
was no taller than Polly, but slender and with gold
and red hair caught under the sun hat and a
swimmer's chignon. She was not beautiful, face too narrow, with
suggestions of Bologne's crackiness, and the eyes over large, but
her mouth was full lipped, chin strong, and there had

(25:42):
been an air of exquisite assurance about her. The total
effect had been one of striking elegance, extremely feminine. Orn
looked beyond the pool wooded hills, and dimly on the
horizon a broken line of mountains. The balloons lived in
expensive isolation. Around them stretched miles of wilderness, rugged with

(26:07):
planned neglect. Time to report in, he thought. Orn pressed
the next stud on his transceiver got Stetson told him
what had happened to this point? All right, said Stetson,
Go find the daughter. She fits the description of the
gal you saw by the pool. That's what I was hoping,

(26:30):
said Orn. He changed into light blue fatigues, went to
the door of his room let himself out into a hall.
A glance at his wristchrono showed that it was shortly
before noon. Time for a bit of scouting before they
called lunch. He knew from his brief tour of the
house and its similarity to the home of his childhood.

(26:53):
But the hall led into the main living salon. The
public rooms and men's quarters were in the outside ring.
Secluded family apartments and women's quarters occupied the intersection. Arn
made his way to the salon. It was long, built
around two sections of the tetragon, and with low divans

(27:15):
beneath the view windows. The floor was thick piled rugs
pushed one against another in a crazy patchwork of reds
and browns. At the far end of the room, someone
in blue fatigues like his own, was bent over a
stand of some sort. The figure straightened at the same
time a tinkle of music filled the room. He recognized

(27:38):
the red gold hair of the young woman he has
seen beside the pool. She was wielding two mallets to
play a strained instrument that lay on his side, supported
by a carved wood stand. He moved up behind her,
his footsteps muffled by the carpeting. The music had a
curious rhythm that suggested figures dancing wildly around firelight. She

(28:02):
struck a final chord, muted the strings. That makes me homesick,
said arn. Oh. She whirled, gasped, then smiled. You startled me.
I thought I was alone. Sorry, I was enjoying the music.
I'm Diana Balone. She said, you're mister Orran Lou to

(28:24):
all of the Bologne family. I hope, he said, of course, Lou.
She gestured at the musical instrument. This is very old.
Most find its music well, rather weird. It's been handed
down for generations in mother's family. The Kaithra said, arn,
my sisters play. It been a long time since I've

(28:47):
heard one. Oh, of course, she said, your mother's She stopped,
looked confused. I've got to get used to the fact
that you're I mean that we have a strange man
around the house who isn't exactly strange. Orn grinned, in
spite of the blue ia fatigues and a rather severe

(29:08):
pulled back hairdo. This was a handsome woman. He found
himself liking her, and this caused him a feeling near
self loathing. She was a suspect he couldn't afford to
like her. But the Balloons were being so decent taking
him in like this, And how was their hospitality being

(29:31):
repaid by spying and prying. Yet his first loyalty belonged
to the i A to the peace it represented. He said,
rather lamely, I help you get over the feeling that
I'm strange. I'm over it already, she said. She linked
arms with him and said, if you feel up to it,

(29:53):
I'll take you on the d Luxe guided tour. By nightfall,
Orn was in a state of confusion. He had found
Diana fascinating and yet the most comfortable woman to be
around that he had ever met. She liked swimming, polochi,
hunting ditar apples. She had a pooh pooh attitude toward

(30:16):
the older generation that she said she'd never before reveal
to anyone. They had laughed like fools over utter nonsense.
Orn went back to his room to change for dinner,
stopped before the polar window. The quick darkness of these
low latitudes had pulled an Ebon blanket over the landscape.

(30:38):
There was city glow off to the left, and an
orange halo to the peaks where Marrock's three moons would rise.
Am I falling in love with this woman? He asked himself.
He felt like calling Stetson, not to report, but just
to talk the situation out, and this made him acutely

(30:59):
aware that Stetson or an aid had heard everything said
between them. That afternoon, the autobutle called dinner. Arn changed
hurriedly into a fresh lounge uniform, found his way to
the small salon across the house. The balloons already were
seated around an old fashioned bubble slot table, set with

(31:22):
real candles golden Shardy service. Two of Morok's moons could
be seen out the window, climbing swiftly over the peaks.
You turned the house, said Arn. We like the moonrise,
said Polly. It seems more romantic, don't you think? She
glanced at Diana. Diana looked down at her plate. She

(31:45):
was wearing a low cut gown of firemesh that set
off her red hair. A single strand of Rheinock pearls
gleamed at her throat. Oran sat down in the vacant
seat opposite her. What a handsome woman, he thought. Polly,
on Orne's right, looked younger and softer in a green

(32:07):
stola gown that hazed her barrel contours. Bologne, across from her,
wore black lounging shorts and neelie kooby jacket of golden
pearl cloth. Everything about the people and setting reeked of
wealth power. For a moment, Arn saw that Stetson's suspicions

(32:28):
could have basis. In fact, Bolonne might go to any
lengths to maintain this luxury. Arn's entrance had interrupted an
argument between Polly and her husband. They welcomed him, went
right on without inhibition, rather than embarrassing him. This made
him feel more at home, more accepted. But I'm not

(32:50):
running for office this time, said Bologne patiently. Why do
we have to clutter up the evening with that many
people just to our election night parties are traditional, said Polly. Well,
I'd just like to relax quietly at home tomorrow, he said.
Take it easy with just a family here and not
have to It's not like he was a big party,

(33:13):
said Polly. I've kept the list to fifty. Diana straightened,
said this is an important election, Daddy, How could you
possibly relax? There are seventy three seats in question the
whole balance. If things go wrong in just the Alkez section,
why you could be sent back to the floor. You

(33:33):
lose your job, is why someone else could take over
his Welcome to the job, said Boulogne. It's a headache.
He glanced at Arn. Sorry to burden you with this,
my boy, but the women of this family run me ragged.
I guess from what I hear that you had a
pretty busy day too, He smiled paternally at Diana and

(33:55):
your first day out of the hospital. She sets quite
a pace. But I've enjoyed it, said Arn. We're taking
the small flitter for a tour of the wilderness area tomorrow,
said Diana. Luc And relax all the way. I'll do
the driving. Be sure you're back in plenty of time
for the party, said Polly, can't have. She broke off

(34:18):
at a low bell from the alcove behind her. That'll
be for me. Excuse me, please, no, don't get up.
Orn bent to as generous. He came out of the
bubble slot beside his plate, meat in an exotic sauce,
cyric champagne, polioc ou simille, more luxury. Presently, Polly returned,

(34:42):
resumed her seat. Anything important, asked Boulogne. Only a cancelation
for tomorrow night. Professor Wingard is ill. I'd just as
soon it was canceled down to the four of us,
said Boulogne. Unless this is a poe, This doesn't sound
like a man who wants to grab more power, thought Orn. Scotty.

(35:07):
You should take more pride in your office, snapped Polly.
You're an important man. If it weren't for you, I'd
be a nobody and prefer it, said Boulogne. He grinned
at Orne, I'm a political idiot compared to my wife.
Never saw any one who could call the turn like
she does. Runs in her family. Her mother was the

(35:28):
same way. Arne stared at him, fork raised from plate
and motionless. A sudden idea had exploded in his mind.
You must know something of this life, Lewis said, Boulogne.
Your father was member for Chargon once, wasn't he? Yes,

(35:49):
murmured Oran. But that was before I was born. He
died in office. He shook his head, thought it couldn't be.
But do you feel all right? Lou asked Diana. You're
suddenly very pale, just tired, said Arne. Guess I'm not
used to so much activity, and I've been a beast

(36:12):
keeping you so busy to day. She said, don't you
stand on ceremony here? Son, said Polly. She looked concerned.
You've been very sick, and we understand if you're tired,
you go right on into bed. Orn glanced around the table,
met anxious attention in each face. He pushed his chair
back and said, well, if you really don't mind, mind,

(36:36):
barked Polly. You scoot along now, see you in the morning, Lou,
said Diana. He nodded, turned away, thinking what a handsome woman.
As he started down the hall, he heard Balone say
to Diana die, perhaps you'd better not take that boy
out tomorrow, after all, he is supposed to be here

(36:59):
for a rest. Her answer was lost as Arn entered
the hall, closed the door. In the privacy of his room,
Arn pressed the transceiver stud at his neck and said, Stett.
A voice hissed in his ears. This is mister Stetson's relief, Arn,
isn't it. Yes, I want to check right away on

(37:23):
those Nathian records the archaeologists found find out if Heleb
was one of the planets. They seated, all right, hang on.
There was a long silence. Then, Lou, this is Stett.
How come the question about HElib? Was it on that
Nathian list? Negative? Why do you ask? Are you sure? Stett?

(37:47):
It'd explain a lot of things. It's not on the list.
But wait a minute. Silence. Then Heelib was on light
of flight to Ariga, and Ariga was on the list.
We've reason to doubt they put anyone down on a
riga if their ship ran into trouble. That's it, snapped Orn.

(38:11):
Keep your voice down, or talks up vocally, ordered Stetson.
Now answer my question. What's up? Something so fantastic it
frightens me, said Orn. Remember that the women who ruled
HElib bred female or male children by controlling the sex
of their offspring. At conception the method was unique. In fact,

(38:34):
our medics thought it was impossible. Until you don't have
to remind me of something we want buried and forgotten,
interrupted Stetson. Too much chance for misuse of that formula, yes,
said Arn, But what if you're Nathi in underground is
composed entirely of women bred the same way. What if

(38:56):
the he labbed women were just the bunch you got
out of hand because as they lost contact with the
main element, Holy Moley birded Stesson. Do you have evidence
nothing but a hunch, said Arn. Do you have a
list of the guests so we'll be here for the
election party tomorrow. We can get it. Why check for

(39:19):
women who mastermind their husbands in politics? Let me know
how many, and who? Lou that's not enough to That's
all I can give you for now, but I think
I'll have more. Remember that, He hesitated, spacing his words
as a new thought struck him. The Nathians were nomads.

(39:46):
Day began early for the balloons, in spite of its
being election day. Bologne took off for his office an
hour after dawn. See what I mean about this job
owning you? He asked Arn. We're going to take it
easy today, lou said Diana. She took his hand as
they came up the steps after seeing her father to

(40:06):
his limousine flitter. The sky was cloudless. Orn felt himself
liking her hand in his Liking the feel of it
too much. He withdrew his hand, stood aside, and said,
lead on, I've got to watch myself. He thought she's
too charming. I think a picnic, said Diana. There's a

(40:32):
little lake with grassy banks off to the west. We'll
take viewers and a couple of good novels. This'll be
a do nothing day. Horn hesitated. There might be things
going on at the house that he should watch, but no.
If he was right about this situation, then Diana could
be the weak link. Time was closing in on them too.

(40:56):
By tomorrow, the Nathians could have the government completely under control.
It was warm beside the lake. There were purple and
orange flowers above the grassy bank. Small creatures flitted and
cheaped in the brush and trees. There was a groomis
in the reeds at the lower end of the lake,
and every now and then it honked like an old

(41:18):
man clearing his throat. When we girls were all at home,
We used to picnic here every eight day, said Diana.
She lay on her back on the ground mat they
spread orran sat beside her, facing the lake. We made
a raft over there on the other side, she said.
She sat up, looked across the lake. You know, I

(41:39):
think pieces of it are still there. See she pointed
at a jumble of logs as she gestured, her hand
brushed orange. Something like an electric shock passed between them.
Without knowing exactly how it happened, Oran found his arms
around Diana. Their lips pressed together in a lingering kiss.

(42:03):
Panic was very close to the surface in orn. He
broke away. I didn't plan for that to happen, whispered Diana,
nor I muttered arn. He shook his head. Sometimes things
can get into an awful mess. Diana blinked, lou don't
you like me? He ignored. The monitoring transceiver spoke his mind.

(42:29):
They'll think it's just part of the act, he thought,
And the thought was bitter like you, he asked, I
think I'm in love with you. She sighed, leaned against
his shoulder. Then what's wrong? You're not already married? Mother
had your service record checked? Diana smiled impishly. Mother his

(42:50):
second sight, The bitterness was like a sour taste in
Orn's mouth. He could see the pattern so clearly. I
ran away from home when I was seventeen, he said,
I know, Darling. Mother's told me all about you. You
don't understand, he said. My father died before I was born.

(43:12):
He it must have been very hard on your mother,
she said, left alone with her family and a new
baby on the way. They'd known for a long time,
said Arn. My father had Broox disease, and they found
out too late. It was already in the central nervous system.
How horrible, whispered Diana. Arran's mind felt suddenly like a

(43:39):
fish out of water. He found himself grasping at a
thought that flopped around just out of reach. Dad was
in politics, he whispered. He felt as though he were
living in a dream. His voice stayed low, shocked from
when I first began to talk, Mother's started grooming me

(44:01):
to take his place in public life. And you didn't
like politics, said Diana. I hated it, he growled. First
chance I ran away. One of my sisters married a
young fellow who's now the member for Chargon. I hope
he enjoys it. That'd be Mattie, said Diana. You know her,

(44:22):
asked Arn. Then he remembered what Stetson had told him,
and the thought was chilling. Of course, I know her,
said Diana, Lou, what's wrong with you? You'd expect me
to play the same game you calling the shots, he said,
shoot for the top, cut and scramble claw and dig

(44:44):
by tomorrow, all that may not be necessary, she said.
Arn heard the sudden hiss of the carrier wave in
his neck transceiver, but there was no voice from the monitor.
What's happening tomorrow? He asked? The elections silly, she said, Lou,
you're acting very strangely. Are you sure you're feeling all right?

(45:06):
She put a hand to his forehead. Perhaps we just
a minute, said Orrin about us? He swallowed. She withdrew
her hand. I think my parents already suspect we balloons
are notorious loved for as sighters. Her over large eyes
studied him fondly. You don't feel feverish, but maybe we'd

(45:30):
better What a dope I am? Snarled Orn. I just
realized that I have to be a Nathian too, You
just realized, she stared at him. There was a hissing
gasp in Orne's transceiver. The identical patterns in our families,

(45:52):
he said, even to the houses, and there's the real key.
What a dope. He snapped his fingers the head. Polly,
your mother's the grand boss woman, isn't she? But darling?
Of course she. You'd better take me to her and fast,

(46:13):
snapped Orn. He touched the stud at his neck. But
Stetson's voice intruded. Great work, Lou, we're moving at a
special shock force. Can't take any chances with Orn spoke
aloud in panic, Stett, you get out to the balloons.
You get there alone, no troops. Diana had jumped to

(46:34):
her feet, backed away from him. What do you mean,
demanded Stetson. I'm saving our stupid necks, barked Orn. Alone
you hear or we'll have a worse mess on our
hands than any rimoir. There was an extended silence. You
hear me, Stett demanded Orn. Okay, Lou, we're putting the

(46:58):
old force on standby. I'll be at the balloons in
ten minutes. Com Geo will be with me. Pause, and
you'd better know what you're doing. It was an angry
group in the corner of the balloone's main salon. Luvert
shades cut the green glare of a noon sun. In
the background, there was the hum of air conditioning and

(47:20):
the clatter of roboservants preparing for the night's election party.
Stetson leaned against the wall beside Devaughan, hands jammed deeply
into the pockets of his wrinkled, patched fatigues. The wagon
tracks furrowed his high forehead Near Stetson. Admiral Sobot Spencer,
the i a's commander of galactic operations, paced the floor.

(47:45):
Com Geo was a bull necked ball man with wide
blue eyes a deceptively mild voice. There was a caged
animal look to his pacing. Three steps out, three steps back.
Alone sat on the divan. Her mouth was pulled into
a straight line. Her hands were clasped so tightly in

(48:08):
her lap that the knuckles showed white. Diana stood beside
her mother. Her fists were clenched at her sides. She
shivered with fury. Her gaze remained fixed glaring at Orn. Okay,
so my stupidity set up this little meeting, snarled Orn.
He stood about five paces in front of Polly hands

(48:30):
on hips the Admiral, pacing away at his right was
beginning to wear on his nerves. But you'd better listen
to what I have to say. He glanced at the
calm geo all of you. Admiral Spencer stopped pacing glowered
at Orn. I have yet to hear a good reason

(48:50):
for not tearing this place apart getting to the bottom
of this situation, you traitor, Lewis, hussed Polly. I'm in
inclined to agree with you, Madame, said Spencer, only from
a different point of view. He glanced at Stetson. Any
word yet on Scotti Bologne. They were going to call

(49:12):
me the minute they found him, said Stetson. His voice
sounded cautious, brooding. You were coming to the party here tonight,
warrant you, Admiral said Arn. What's that have to do
with anything? Demanded Spencer. Are you prepared to jail your
wife and daughter's for conspiracy? Asked Orn. A tight smile

(49:33):
played around Polly's lips. Spencer opened his mouth, closed it soundlessly.
The Nathians are mostly women, said Orn. There's evidence that
your womenfolk are among them. The Admiral looked like a
man who had been kicked in the stomach. What evidence,
he whispered. I'll come to that in a moment, said Orn.

(49:57):
Now note this, The Nathians are mostly women. There were
only a few accidents and a few planned males like me.
That's why there were no family names to trace, just
a tight little female society, all working to positions of
power through their men. Spencer cleared his throat swallowed. He

(50:22):
seemed powerless to take his attention from Orne's mouth. My guests,
said Arne. Is that about thirty or forty years ago
the conspirators first began breeding a few males, grooming them
for really choice top positions. Other Nathian males the accidents
where sex control failed, they never learned about the conspiracy.

(50:43):
These new ones were full fledged members. That's what I'd
have been if I'd panned out as expected. Polly glared
at him, looked back at her hands. That part of
the plan was scheduled to come to a head with
the selection, s Orn. If they pulled this one off,
they could move in more boldly. You're in way over

(51:06):
your head, boy, growled Polly. You're too late to do
anything about us. We'll see about that, bark Spencer. He
seemed to have regained his self control, a little publicity
in the right places, some key arrests, and no said Orn.
She's right, it's too late for that. It was probably

(51:30):
too late a hundred years ago. These dames were too
firmly entrenched even then. Stetson straightened away from the wall,
smiled grimly at Orn. He seemed to be understanding a
point that the others were missing. Diana still glared at Orn.
Polly kept her attention on her hands, the tight smile

(51:51):
playing about her lips. These women probably control one out
of three of the top positions in the league, said On.
Maybe more, think, Admiral, Think what would happen if you
exposed this thing? There'd be secessions, riots, sub governments would topple,

(52:13):
the central government would be torn by suspicions and battles.
What breeds in that atmosphere? He shook his head. The
rim Noir would seem like a picnic. We can't just
ignore this bark spencer, He's stiff and declared at Arn.
We can, and we will, said Arn, no choice. Polly

(52:38):
looked up studied Arne's face. Diana looked confused. Once a Nathian,
always a Nathian, A snarled Spencer. There's no such thing,
said Arn. Five hundred years cross breeding with other races
sought to that they are merely a secret society of
astute political scientists. He smiled Riley at Polly glanced back

(53:03):
at Spencer. Think of your own wife, sir, in all honesty,
would you be calm ge O today if she hadn't
guided your career? Spencer's face darkened. He drew in his chin,
tried to stare Orn down. Failed. Presently, he chuckled Riley.

(53:26):
Soby is beginning to come to his senses, said Polly.
You're about through, son. Don't underestimate your future son in law,
said Arn. Ha barked Diana. I hate you, Lewis. Arn.
You'll get over that, said Arne, mildly. Oh, Diana quivered
with fury. My major point is this, said Arn. Government

(53:50):
is a dubious glory. You pay for your power and
wealth by balancing on the sharp edge of the blade
that great and rpice thing out there. The people has
turned and swallowed many governments. The only way you can
stay in power is by giving good government. Otherwise, sooner

(54:11):
or later your turn comes. I can remember my mother
making that point. It's one of the things that stuck
with me. He frowned. My objection to politics is the
compromises you have to make to get elected. Stethson moved
out from the wall. It's pretty clear, he said, has

(54:33):
turned toward him to stay in power. The Nathians have
had to give us a fairly good government. On the
other hand, if we expose them, we give a bunch
of political amateurs, every fanatic and power hungry demagogue in
the galaxy just the weapon they need to sweep them
into office. After that, chaos, said Orn. So we let

(54:59):
the Nathians contin and you with two minor alterations, we
alter nothing, said Polly. It occurs to me, Lewis that
you don't have a leg to stand on. You have me,
but you'll get nothing out of me. The rest of
the organization can go on without me. You don't dare

(55:20):
expose us. We hold a whip hand. V Ia could
have ninety percent of your organization in custody inside of
ten days, said Arn. You couldn't find them, snapped Polly,
how asked Stutson, No mads, said Arn. This house is

(55:42):
a glorified tent. Men on the outside, women on the
inside look for inner courtyard construction. It's instinctive with Nathian blood.
Add to that inclination for odd musical instruments, the kaithra,
the tambo, the oboe, all nomad instruments. Add to that

(56:04):
female dominance of the family and not twist on the
nomad heritage, but not completely unique. Check for predominance of
female offspring. Dig into political background, We'll miss damn few.
Polly just stared at him, mouth open. Spencer said, things

(56:25):
are moving too fast for me. I know just one thing.
I'm dedicated to preventing another rim war. If I have
to jail every last one of an hour after this
conspiracy became known, you wouldn't be in a position to
jail anyone, said Orn the husband of a Nathian, You'd

(56:48):
be in jail yourself, or more likely dead at the
hands of a mob. Spencer paled. What's your suggestion for compromise,
asked Polly. Number one, the IA gets veto power on
any candidate you put up, said arn Number two. You
can never hold more than two thirds of the top offices.

(57:11):
Who in the IA vetoes are candidates, asked Polly. Admiral
Spencer stett myself anyone else we deem trustworthy, said Orn.
You think you're a god or something, demanded Polly. No
more than you do, said Arn. This is what's known
as a check and balance system. You cut the pie,

(57:34):
we get first choice on wich pieces to take there
was They protracted silence. Then Spencer said it doesn't seem
right just to No political compromise is ever totally right,
said Polly. You keep patching things up that always have
laws in them. That's how government is. She chuckled, looked

(57:56):
up at Orn. All right, Lewis, we accept She glanced
at Spencer, who shrugged nodded glumly. Polly looked back at Orn.
Just answer me one question. How'd you know I was boss?
Lady easy? Said Arn. The records we found, said the Nathian.

(58:17):
He'd almost said, traitor family on Morok was coded as
the head. Your name, Polly, contains the ancient word paul,
which means head. Polly looked at Stetson. Is he always
that sharp every time? Said Stetson. If you want to

(58:38):
go into politics, Lewis, said Polly, I'd be delighted to
I'm already in politics as far as I want to be,
growled Orn. What I really want is to settle down
with Die, catch up on some of the living I've missed.
Diana stiffened. I never want to see hear from or

(58:59):
hear of missus to Lewis orn ever again. She said
that is final, emphatically final. Orange's shoulders drooped. He turned away, stumbled,
and abruptly collapsed full length on the thick carpets. There
was a collective gasp behind him. Stutson barked, call a doctor,
they warned me. At the hospital. He was still hanging

(59:21):
on a thin thread. There was the sound of Polly's
heavy footsteps running toward the hall. Lou, it was Diana's voice.
She dropped to her knees beside him, soft hands fumbling
at his neck his head. Turn him over and loosen
his collar. Snapped Spencer, give him air gently. They turned

(59:41):
Arn on to his back. He looked pale. Diana loosened
his collar, buried her face against his neck. Oh, Lou,
I'm sorry, she sobbed. I didn't mean it. Please, Lou,
don't die. Please. Arn opened his eyes, looked up at
Spin Sir and Stetson. There was the sound of Polly's voice,

(01:00:03):
talking rapidly on the phone in the hall. He could
feel Diana's cheek warm against his neck, the dampness of
her tears. Slowly, deliberately, Orn winked at the two men.
End of Operation Haystack. This recording is in the public domain.