September 25, 2025 • 20 mins
In a world where extraordinary individuals emerge only once in a generation, Brion Brandd possesses a remarkable gift an enhanced sense of empathy. This unique ability propels him to victory in the Twenties, a prestigious competition showcasing the most brilliant minds on Anvhar. However, his triumph is short-lived as he is thrust into the chaotic realm of Dis, a planet on the brink of nuclear devastation. To save both worlds, Brandd must navigate treacherous negotiations with a menacing blockade, delve into the dark underbelly of Dis, and unravel the enigma of the merciless magter. Summary by Great Plains
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Chapter fourteen of Planet of the Damned. This is a
LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
Planet of the Damned by Harry Harrison, Chapter fourteen, Life
(00:26):
was ended. Brionne's mind contained nothing but despair and the
pain of irretrievable loss. If his brain had been completely
the master of his body, he would have died there,
for at that moment there was no will to live.
Unaware of this, his heart continued to beat, and the
regular motion of his lungs drew in the dreadful sweetness
(00:48):
of the smoke tainted air. With automatic directness, his body
lived on. What are you going to do? Telt asked,
even his natural exuberance stilled by this, Brione only shook
his head as the words penetrated. What could he do?
What could possibly be done? Follow me? A voice said
(01:11):
in guttural disan through the opening of a rear window.
The speaker was lost in the crowd before they could turn. Aware. Now,
Brione saw a native move away from the edge of
the crowd and turned to look in their direction. It
was olv turn the car that way. He punched Telt's
arm and pointed, do it slowly and don't draw any
attention to us. For a moment there was hope, which
(01:33):
he kept himself from considering the building was gone and
the people in it all dead. That fact had to
be faced. What's going on? Tilt asked? Who is that
talked in the window? A native that one up ahead?
He saved my life in the desert, and I think
he is on our side. Even though he's a Native Disan.
He can understand facts that Machter can't. He knows what
(01:57):
will happen to this planet. Brionne talking to fill his
brain with words so he wouldn't begin to have hope.
There was no hope possible. ULV moved slowly and naturally
through the streets, never looking back. They followed as far
behind as they dared, yet still keeping him in sight.
(02:17):
Fewer people were about here among the deserted off world storehouses.
Ul vanished into one of these Light Metals Trust Limited,
the sign read above the door. Telt slowed the car.
Don't stop here, brion said, drive around the corner and
pull up. Brione climbed out of the car with an
ease he did not feel. No one was in sight
(02:38):
now in either direction. Walking slowly back to the corner,
he checked the street they had just left, not silent
and empty. A sudden blackness appeared where the door of
the warehouse had been, and the sudden flickering motion of
a hand. Brione signaled telt to start and jumped into
the already moving sand car into that open door, quick
(03:00):
before anyone sees us. The car rumbled down a ramp
into the dark interior, and the door slid shut behind them.
Oh what is it? Where are you? Brionne called, blinking
in the murky interior. A gray form appeared beside him.
I am here, did you? There was no way to
(03:20):
finish the sentence. I heard of the raid. The machter
called together all of us they could to help them
carry explosive. I went along. I could not stop them,
and there was no time to warn anyone in the building.
Then they are all dead, yes, Ulv nodded, all except one.
(03:40):
I knew I could perhaps save one. I was not
sure who, So I took the woman you were with
in the desert. She is here now. She was hurt,
but not badly. When I brought her out guilty relief
flooded through Brione. He shouldn't exult, not with the death
of everyone in the foundation still fresh in his mind,
But at that instant he was happy. Let me see her,
(04:03):
he said to Ulf. He was seized by the sudden
fear that there might be a mistake, perhaps Ulv had
saved a different woman. Ulv led the way across the
empty loading bay. Brion followed closely, fighting down the temptation
to tell him to hurry. When he saw that Ulv
was heading toward an office in the far wall, he
could control himself no longer and ran on ahead. It
(04:25):
was Leah, lying unconscious on a couch. Sweat beated her face,
and she moaned and stirred without opening her eyes. I
gave her Sover, then wrapped her in a cloth so
no one would know, Ulf said. Telt was close behind them,
looking in through the open door. Sover is a drug
they take from one of their plants, he said. We
(04:46):
got a lot of experience with it. A little makes
a good knockout drug, but it's a deadly poison in
large doses. I got the antidote in the car. Wait
and I'll get it. He went out, Brion sat next
to le and wiped her face clean of dirt and perspiration.
The dark shadows under her eyes were almost black now,
(05:07):
and her elfin face seemed even thinner. But she was alive.
That was the important thing. Some of the tension drained
away from Brione and he could think again. There was
still the job to do. After this last experience. Leah
should be in a hospital bed, but this was impossible.
He would have to drag her to her feet and
(05:29):
put her back to work. The answer might still be found.
Each second ticked away, another fraction of the planet's life.
Good as noon a minute, Telt said, banging down the
heavy medbox. He watched intently as Ulv left the room.
His should know about this renegade. Might be useful as
a spy or for information, though of course it's too
(05:49):
late now to do anything, so hell with it. He
pulled the pistol shaped hypodermic gun from the box and
dialed a number on the side. Now, if you'll roll
her sleeve up, I'll bring her back to life. He
pressed the bell shaped sterilizing muzzle against her skin and
pulled the trigger. The hypogun hummed briefly, ending it cycle.
With a loud click. Does it work fast? Brion asked,
(06:13):
couple of minutes. Just let her be and she'll come
to by herself. Ulv was in the doorway, giller, he hissed.
His blowgun was in his hand, half raised to his mouth.
He's been in the car, he's seen it. Telt shouted
and grabbed for his gun. Brion sprang between them, raising
his hand. Stop it, no more killing, he shouted in disan.
(06:34):
Then he shook his fist at Telt. Fire that gun,
and I'll stuff it down your throat. I'll handle this.
He turned to face Ulv, who hadn't brought the blowgun
any closer to his lips. This was a good sign.
The Disan was still uncertain. You have seen the body
in the car, Ulv, so you must have seen that
it is that of a magter. I killed him myself
(06:55):
because I would rather kill one, or ten, or even
a hundred men than have everyone on this planet destroyed.
I killed him in a fair fight, and now I
am going to examine his body. There is something very
strange and different about the Matchter. You know that yourself.
If I can find out what it is, perhaps we
can make them stop this war and not bomb. Jord
(07:15):
Ulf was still angry, but he lowered the blowgun a little.
I wish there were no off worldburs, he said. I
wish that none of you had ever come. Nothing was
wrong until you started coming. The Machter were the strongest,
and they killed, but they also helped. Now they want
to fight a war with your weapons, and for this
you are going to kill my world. And you want
(07:37):
me to help you, not me yourself, Brion said wearily.
There's no going back. That's the one thing we can't do.
Maybe dis would have been better off without off planet contact,
maybe not. In any case, you have to forget about that.
You have contact now with the rest of the galaxy,
for better or for worse. You've got a problem to solve,
and I'm here to help you solve it. Seconds ticked
(08:00):
as Aul unmoving fought with the questions that were novel
to his life. Could killing stop death? Could he help
his people by helping strangers to fight and kill them?
His world had changed, and he didn't like it. He
must make a giant effort to change with it. Abruptly,
he pushed the blowgun into a thong at his waist,
turned and strode out too much for my nerves, Telt said,
(08:25):
settling his gun back in the holster. You don't know
how happy I'm going to be when this whole damn
thing is over. Even if the planet goes bang, I
don't care. I'm finished. He walked out to the sand car,
keeping a careful eye on the Disan crouched against the wall.
Brion turned back to Leah, whose eyes were open staring
at the ceiling. He went to her, running, she said,
(08:49):
and her voice had a toneless emptiness that screamed louder
than any emotion. They ran by the open door of
my room, and I could see them when they killed
Doctor Stein, just butchered like an animal, chopping them down.
Then one came into the room, and that's all I remember.
(09:09):
She turned her head slowly and looked at Brione. What happened?
Why am I here there dead? He told her, all
of them after the raid, the Disans blew up the building.
You're the only one that survived. That was old who
came into your room. The Disan we met in the desert.
He brought you away and hid you here in the city.
(09:31):
When do we leave? She asked, in the same empty tones,
turning her face to the wall. When do we get
off this planet? Today is the last day. The deadline
is midnight. Kraft will have a ship pick us up
when we are ready. But we still have our job
to do. I've got that body. You're going to have
to examine it. We must find out about the Manster.
(09:52):
Nothing can be done now except leave. Her voice was
a dull monotone. There is only so much that a
person can do, and I've done it. Please have the
ship come. I want to leave now. Brion bit his
lip in helpless frustration. Nothing seemed to penetrate the apathy
into which she had sunk too much shock, too much terror,
(10:13):
in too short a time. He took her chin in
his hand and turned her head to face him. She
didn't resist, but her eyes were shining with tears. Tears
trickled down her cheeks. Take me home, Brion, Please take
me home. He could only brush her sod and hair
back from her face and force himself to smile at her.
(10:34):
The moments of time were running out faster and faster,
and he no longer knew what to do. The examination
had to be made, yet he couldn't force her. He
looked for the medbox and saw that Telt had taken
it back to the sand car. There might be something
in it that could help a tranquilizer. Perhaps Telt had
some of his instruments open on the chart table and
(10:56):
was examining a tape with a pocket magnifier. When Brion entered.
He jumped nervously and put the tape behind his back,
then relaxed when he saw who it was. I thought
you were the creepy out there coming for a look,
he whispered. Maybe you can trust him, but I can't
afford to, can't even use the radio. I'm getting out
of here now. I have to tell Hiss. Tell him what,
(11:18):
Brion asked, sharply, what is all the mystery about? Telt
handed him the magnifier and tape. Look at that recording
tape from my scintillation counter red verticals are five minute intervals.
The wiggly black horizontal line is the radioactivity level all
this where the line goes up and down. That's when
we were driving out to the attack, varying hot level
(11:40):
of the rock and ground. What's the big peak in
the middle that coincides exactly with our visit to the
House of Horrors? When we went through the hole in
the bottom of the tower. He couldn't keep the excitement
out of his voice. Does that mean that I dunno.
I'm not sure. I have to compare it with the
other tapes back at Bay. It could be the stone
(12:01):
of the tower. Some of these heavy rocks have got
a high natural count. There may be could be a
box of instruments there with fluorescent dials. Or it might
be one of those tactical atom bombs they threw at
us already. Some arms Runner sold them a few. Or
it could be the cobalt bombs. It could be Telt said,
packing his instruments swiftly. A badly shielded bomb or an
(12:22):
old one with a crack in the skin could give
a trace like that. Just a little rate on leaking
out would do it. Why don't you call his on
the radio and let em know. I don't want Granddaddy
Craft's listening posts to hear about it. This is our
job if I'm right, and I have to check my
old tapes to make sure. But it's going to be
worth a raid. I can feel that in my bones.
(12:43):
Let's unload your corpse. He helped Brione with the clumsy
wrapped bundle, then slipped into the driver's seat hold it.
Brion said, do you have anything in the med box
I can use for Leah? She seems to have cracked.
Not hysterical, but withdrawn. Won't listen to reason, won't do
anything but lie there and ask to go home. Got
(13:05):
the potion here, Telt said, Cracking the med box. Slaughter
syndrome is what our medics call it. Hit. A lot
of our boys grow up all your life hating the
idea of violence, and it goes rough when you have
to start killing people. Guys break up, break down, go
to pieces. Lots of different ways. The medic mixed up
this stuff. Don't know how it works. Probably tranquilizers in
(13:26):
some of the cortex drugs. But it peels off recent memories,
maybe for the last ten twelve hours. You can't get
upset about what you don't remember. He pulled out a
sealed package. Directions on the box. Good luck luck, Brion said,
and shook the technician's calloused hand. Let me know if
the traces are strong enough to be bombs. He checked
(13:49):
the street to make sure it was clear, then pressed
the door button. The sand car turned out into the
brilliant sunshine and was gone, the throb of its motor
dying in the distance. Brion closed the door and went
back to Lea. Ulv was still crouched against the wall.
There was a one shot disposable hypodermic in the box.
(14:10):
Lea made no protest when he broke the seal and
pressed the needle against her arm. She sighed and her
eyes closed again. When he saw that she was resting easily,
he dragged in the tarpaulin wrapped body of the matchter.
A work bench ran along one wall, and he struggled
the corpse up onto it. He unwrapped the tarpaulin, and
(14:30):
the sightless eyes stared accusingly up into his Using his knife,
Brione cut away the loose, blood soaked clothing. Strapped under
the clothes around the man's waist was the familiar collection
of Disan artifacts. This could have significance either way, human
or humanoid. The creature would still have to live on
(14:52):
dis Brion threw it aside, along with the clothing. Nude,
pierced bloody, the corpse label for him. In every external
physical detail, the man was human. Brione's theory was becoming
more preposterous with each discovery. If the magister weren't alien,
(15:12):
how could he explain their complete lack of emotions a
mutation of some kind. He didn't see how it was possible.
There had to be something alien about the dead man
before him. The future of a world rested on this
flimsy hope. If Telt's lead to the bombs proved to
be false, there would be no hope left at all.
Leo was still unconscious when he looked at her again.
(15:35):
There was no way of telling how long the coma
would last. He would probably have to waken her out
of it, but he didn't want to do it too early.
It took an effort to control his impatience, even though
he knew the drug needed time in which to work.
He finally decided on at least a minimum of an
hour before he should try to disturb her. That would
(15:56):
be noon, twelve hours before destruction. One thing he should
do was to get in touch with Professor Commander Kraft.
Maybe it was being defeatist, but he had to make
sure they had a way off this planet if the
mission failed. Kraft had installed a relay radio that would
forward calls from his personal set. If this relay had
(16:17):
been in the Foundation building. Contact was broken. This had
to be found out before it was too late. Brionne
thumbed on his radio and sent the call. The reply
came back instantly. This is Fleet Communications. Will you please
keep this circuit open. Commander Kraft is waiting for this
call and it is being put directly through to him. Now,
(16:38):
Kraft's voice broke in while the operator was still talking.
Who is making this call? Is it anyone from the Foundation.
The old man's voice was shaky with emotion. Brand here,
I have Lia Maurice with me. No more. Are there
no other survivors from the disaster that destroyed your building?
That's it other than us. It's it's a complete loss,
(17:01):
with the building and all the instruments gone. I have
no way to contact our ship in orbit. Can you
arrange to get us out of here? If necessary? Give
me your location A ship is coming now. I don't
need a ship now, brion interrupted, don't send it until
I call. If there is a way to stop your destruction,
I'll find it. So I'm staying to the last minute
if necessary. Kraft was silent. There was only the cackle
(17:27):
of an open mic and the sound of breathing that
is your decision, he said. Finally, I'll have a ship
standing by. But won't you let us take Miss Marie's
out now? No, I need her here. We are still
working looking for. What answer can you find that could
possibly avert destruction? Now his tone was between hope and despair.
(17:49):
Brione couldn't help him. If I succeed, you'll know otherwise
that will be the end of it, end of transmission.
He switched the radio off. Leo was sleeping easily when
he looked at her, and there was still a good
part of the hour left before he could wake her.
How could he put it to use? She would need
tools instruments to examine the corpse, and there were certainly
(18:12):
none here. Perhaps he could find some in the ruins
of the foundation building. With this thought, he had the
sudden desire to see the wreckage up close. There might
be other survivors he had to find out if he
could talk to the men he had seen working there.
Ulv was still crouched against the wall in the outer room.
He looked up angrily when Brion came over, but said nothing.
(18:36):
Will you help me again? Brion asked, stay and watch
the girl while I go out. I'll be back at noon.
Ulf didn't answer, I am still looking for the way
to save dis Brion added, go, I'll watch the girl.
Ulf spat the words in impotent fury. I do not
know what to do. You may be right, go she
(18:59):
will be safe with me. Brione slipped out into the
deserted street, and, half running, half walking, made his way
towards the rubble that had been the cultural relationship's foundation.
He used a different course from the one they had
come by, striking first toward the outer edge of the city.
Once there, he could swing and approach from the other side,
(19:21):
so there would be no indication where he had come from.
The matster might be watching, and he didn't want to
lead them to Lea and the stolen body. Turning a corner,
he saw a sand car stopped in the street ahead.
There was something familiar about the lines of it. It
could be the one he in Telt had used, but
he wasn't sure. He looked around, but the dusty, packed
(19:43):
dirt street was white and empty, shimmering in the silence
under the sun. Staying close to the wall and watching carefully,
Brione slipped towards the car. When he came close behind it,
he was positive it was the one he had been
in the night before. What was it doing here? Silence
and heat filled the street. Windows and doors were empty,
(20:06):
and there was no motion in their shadows. Putting his
foot on a bogie wheel, he reached up and grabbed
the searing metal rim of the open window. He pulled
himself up and stared at Telt's smiling face, smiling in death,
the lips pulled back to reveal the grinning teeth, the
eyes bursting from the head, the features swollen and contorted
(20:27):
from the deadly poison. A tiny, tuffed dart of wood
stuck in the brown flesh on the side of his neck.
End of chapter fourteen.
Chapter fourteen of Planet of the Damned. This is a
LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
Planet of the Damned by Harry Harrison, Chapter fourteen, Life
(00:26):
was ended. Brionne's mind contained nothing but despair and the
pain of irretrievable loss. If his brain had been completely
the master of his body, he would have died there,
for at that moment there was no will to live.
Unaware of this, his heart continued to beat, and the
regular motion of his lungs drew in the dreadful sweetness
(00:48):
of the smoke tainted air. With automatic directness, his body
lived on. What are you going to do? Telt asked,
even his natural exuberance stilled by this, Brione only shook
his head as the words penetrated. What could he do?
What could possibly be done? Follow me? A voice said
(01:11):
in guttural disan through the opening of a rear window.
The speaker was lost in the crowd before they could turn. Aware. Now,
Brione saw a native move away from the edge of
the crowd and turned to look in their direction. It
was olv turn the car that way. He punched Telt's
arm and pointed, do it slowly and don't draw any
attention to us. For a moment there was hope, which
(01:33):
he kept himself from considering the building was gone and
the people in it all dead. That fact had to
be faced. What's going on? Tilt asked? Who is that
talked in the window? A native that one up ahead?
He saved my life in the desert, and I think
he is on our side. Even though he's a Native Disan.
He can understand facts that Machter can't. He knows what
(01:57):
will happen to this planet. Brionne talking to fill his
brain with words so he wouldn't begin to have hope.
There was no hope possible. ULV moved slowly and naturally
through the streets, never looking back. They followed as far
behind as they dared, yet still keeping him in sight.
(02:17):
Fewer people were about here among the deserted off world storehouses.
Ul vanished into one of these Light Metals Trust Limited,
the sign read above the door. Telt slowed the car.
Don't stop here, brion said, drive around the corner and
pull up. Brione climbed out of the car with an
ease he did not feel. No one was in sight
(02:38):
now in either direction. Walking slowly back to the corner,
he checked the street they had just left, not silent
and empty. A sudden blackness appeared where the door of
the warehouse had been, and the sudden flickering motion of
a hand. Brione signaled telt to start and jumped into
the already moving sand car into that open door, quick
(03:00):
before anyone sees us. The car rumbled down a ramp
into the dark interior, and the door slid shut behind them.
Oh what is it? Where are you? Brionne called, blinking
in the murky interior. A gray form appeared beside him.
I am here, did you? There was no way to
(03:20):
finish the sentence. I heard of the raid. The machter
called together all of us they could to help them
carry explosive. I went along. I could not stop them,
and there was no time to warn anyone in the building.
Then they are all dead, yes, Ulv nodded, all except one.
(03:40):
I knew I could perhaps save one. I was not
sure who, So I took the woman you were with
in the desert. She is here now. She was hurt,
but not badly. When I brought her out guilty relief
flooded through Brione. He shouldn't exult, not with the death
of everyone in the foundation still fresh in his mind,
But at that instant he was happy. Let me see her,
(04:03):
he said to Ulf. He was seized by the sudden
fear that there might be a mistake, perhaps Ulv had
saved a different woman. Ulv led the way across the
empty loading bay. Brion followed closely, fighting down the temptation
to tell him to hurry. When he saw that Ulv
was heading toward an office in the far wall, he
could control himself no longer and ran on ahead. It
(04:25):
was Leah, lying unconscious on a couch. Sweat beated her face,
and she moaned and stirred without opening her eyes. I
gave her Sover, then wrapped her in a cloth so
no one would know, Ulf said. Telt was close behind them,
looking in through the open door. Sover is a drug
they take from one of their plants, he said. We
(04:46):
got a lot of experience with it. A little makes
a good knockout drug, but it's a deadly poison in
large doses. I got the antidote in the car. Wait
and I'll get it. He went out, Brion sat next
to le and wiped her face clean of dirt and perspiration.
The dark shadows under her eyes were almost black now,
(05:07):
and her elfin face seemed even thinner. But she was alive.
That was the important thing. Some of the tension drained
away from Brione and he could think again. There was
still the job to do. After this last experience. Leah
should be in a hospital bed, but this was impossible.
He would have to drag her to her feet and
(05:29):
put her back to work. The answer might still be found.
Each second ticked away, another fraction of the planet's life.
Good as noon a minute, Telt said, banging down the
heavy medbox. He watched intently as Ulv left the room.
His should know about this renegade. Might be useful as
a spy or for information, though of course it's too
(05:49):
late now to do anything, so hell with it. He
pulled the pistol shaped hypodermic gun from the box and
dialed a number on the side. Now, if you'll roll
her sleeve up, I'll bring her back to life. He
pressed the bell shaped sterilizing muzzle against her skin and
pulled the trigger. The hypogun hummed briefly, ending it cycle.
With a loud click. Does it work fast? Brion asked,
(06:13):
couple of minutes. Just let her be and she'll come
to by herself. Ulv was in the doorway, giller, he hissed.
His blowgun was in his hand, half raised to his mouth.
He's been in the car, he's seen it. Telt shouted
and grabbed for his gun. Brion sprang between them, raising
his hand. Stop it, no more killing, he shouted in disan.
(06:34):
Then he shook his fist at Telt. Fire that gun,
and I'll stuff it down your throat. I'll handle this.
He turned to face Ulv, who hadn't brought the blowgun
any closer to his lips. This was a good sign.
The Disan was still uncertain. You have seen the body
in the car, Ulv, so you must have seen that
it is that of a magter. I killed him myself
(06:55):
because I would rather kill one, or ten, or even
a hundred men than have everyone on this planet destroyed.
I killed him in a fair fight, and now I
am going to examine his body. There is something very
strange and different about the Matchter. You know that yourself.
If I can find out what it is, perhaps we
can make them stop this war and not bomb. Jord
(07:15):
Ulf was still angry, but he lowered the blowgun a little.
I wish there were no off worldburs, he said. I
wish that none of you had ever come. Nothing was
wrong until you started coming. The Machter were the strongest,
and they killed, but they also helped. Now they want
to fight a war with your weapons, and for this
you are going to kill my world. And you want
(07:37):
me to help you, not me yourself, Brion said wearily.
There's no going back. That's the one thing we can't do.
Maybe dis would have been better off without off planet contact,
maybe not. In any case, you have to forget about that.
You have contact now with the rest of the galaxy,
for better or for worse. You've got a problem to solve,
and I'm here to help you solve it. Seconds ticked
(08:00):
as Aul unmoving fought with the questions that were novel
to his life. Could killing stop death? Could he help
his people by helping strangers to fight and kill them?
His world had changed, and he didn't like it. He
must make a giant effort to change with it. Abruptly,
he pushed the blowgun into a thong at his waist,
turned and strode out too much for my nerves, Telt said,
(08:25):
settling his gun back in the holster. You don't know
how happy I'm going to be when this whole damn
thing is over. Even if the planet goes bang, I
don't care. I'm finished. He walked out to the sand car,
keeping a careful eye on the Disan crouched against the wall.
Brion turned back to Leah, whose eyes were open staring
at the ceiling. He went to her, running, she said,
(08:49):
and her voice had a toneless emptiness that screamed louder
than any emotion. They ran by the open door of
my room, and I could see them when they killed
Doctor Stein, just butchered like an animal, chopping them down.
Then one came into the room, and that's all I remember.
(09:09):
She turned her head slowly and looked at Brione. What happened?
Why am I here there dead? He told her, all
of them after the raid, the Disans blew up the building.
You're the only one that survived. That was old who
came into your room. The Disan we met in the desert.
He brought you away and hid you here in the city.
(09:31):
When do we leave? She asked, in the same empty tones,
turning her face to the wall. When do we get
off this planet? Today is the last day. The deadline
is midnight. Kraft will have a ship pick us up
when we are ready. But we still have our job
to do. I've got that body. You're going to have
to examine it. We must find out about the Manster.
(09:52):
Nothing can be done now except leave. Her voice was
a dull monotone. There is only so much that a
person can do, and I've done it. Please have the
ship come. I want to leave now. Brion bit his
lip in helpless frustration. Nothing seemed to penetrate the apathy
into which she had sunk too much shock, too much terror,
(10:13):
in too short a time. He took her chin in
his hand and turned her head to face him. She
didn't resist, but her eyes were shining with tears. Tears
trickled down her cheeks. Take me home, Brion, Please take
me home. He could only brush her sod and hair
back from her face and force himself to smile at her.
(10:34):
The moments of time were running out faster and faster,
and he no longer knew what to do. The examination
had to be made, yet he couldn't force her. He
looked for the medbox and saw that Telt had taken
it back to the sand car. There might be something
in it that could help a tranquilizer. Perhaps Telt had
some of his instruments open on the chart table and
(10:56):
was examining a tape with a pocket magnifier. When Brion entered.
He jumped nervously and put the tape behind his back,
then relaxed when he saw who it was. I thought
you were the creepy out there coming for a look,
he whispered. Maybe you can trust him, but I can't
afford to, can't even use the radio. I'm getting out
of here now. I have to tell Hiss. Tell him what,
(11:18):
Brion asked, sharply, what is all the mystery about? Telt
handed him the magnifier and tape. Look at that recording
tape from my scintillation counter red verticals are five minute intervals.
The wiggly black horizontal line is the radioactivity level all
this where the line goes up and down. That's when
we were driving out to the attack, varying hot level
(11:40):
of the rock and ground. What's the big peak in
the middle that coincides exactly with our visit to the
House of Horrors? When we went through the hole in
the bottom of the tower. He couldn't keep the excitement
out of his voice. Does that mean that I dunno.
I'm not sure. I have to compare it with the
other tapes back at Bay. It could be the stone
(12:01):
of the tower. Some of these heavy rocks have got
a high natural count. There may be could be a
box of instruments there with fluorescent dials. Or it might
be one of those tactical atom bombs they threw at
us already. Some arms Runner sold them a few. Or
it could be the cobalt bombs. It could be Telt said,
packing his instruments swiftly. A badly shielded bomb or an
(12:22):
old one with a crack in the skin could give
a trace like that. Just a little rate on leaking
out would do it. Why don't you call his on
the radio and let em know. I don't want Granddaddy
Craft's listening posts to hear about it. This is our
job if I'm right, and I have to check my
old tapes to make sure. But it's going to be
worth a raid. I can feel that in my bones.
(12:43):
Let's unload your corpse. He helped Brione with the clumsy
wrapped bundle, then slipped into the driver's seat hold it.
Brion said, do you have anything in the med box
I can use for Leah? She seems to have cracked.
Not hysterical, but withdrawn. Won't listen to reason, won't do
anything but lie there and ask to go home. Got
(13:05):
the potion here, Telt said, Cracking the med box. Slaughter
syndrome is what our medics call it. Hit. A lot
of our boys grow up all your life hating the
idea of violence, and it goes rough when you have
to start killing people. Guys break up, break down, go
to pieces. Lots of different ways. The medic mixed up
this stuff. Don't know how it works. Probably tranquilizers in
(13:26):
some of the cortex drugs. But it peels off recent memories,
maybe for the last ten twelve hours. You can't get
upset about what you don't remember. He pulled out a
sealed package. Directions on the box. Good luck luck, Brion said,
and shook the technician's calloused hand. Let me know if
the traces are strong enough to be bombs. He checked
(13:49):
the street to make sure it was clear, then pressed
the door button. The sand car turned out into the
brilliant sunshine and was gone, the throb of its motor
dying in the distance. Brion closed the door and went
back to Lea. Ulv was still crouched against the wall.
There was a one shot disposable hypodermic in the box.
(14:10):
Lea made no protest when he broke the seal and
pressed the needle against her arm. She sighed and her
eyes closed again. When he saw that she was resting easily,
he dragged in the tarpaulin wrapped body of the matchter.
A work bench ran along one wall, and he struggled
the corpse up onto it. He unwrapped the tarpaulin, and
(14:30):
the sightless eyes stared accusingly up into his Using his knife,
Brione cut away the loose, blood soaked clothing. Strapped under
the clothes around the man's waist was the familiar collection
of Disan artifacts. This could have significance either way, human
or humanoid. The creature would still have to live on
(14:52):
dis Brion threw it aside, along with the clothing. Nude,
pierced bloody, the corpse label for him. In every external
physical detail, the man was human. Brione's theory was becoming
more preposterous with each discovery. If the magister weren't alien,
(15:12):
how could he explain their complete lack of emotions a
mutation of some kind. He didn't see how it was possible.
There had to be something alien about the dead man
before him. The future of a world rested on this
flimsy hope. If Telt's lead to the bombs proved to
be false, there would be no hope left at all.
Leo was still unconscious when he looked at her again.
(15:35):
There was no way of telling how long the coma
would last. He would probably have to waken her out
of it, but he didn't want to do it too early.
It took an effort to control his impatience, even though
he knew the drug needed time in which to work.
He finally decided on at least a minimum of an
hour before he should try to disturb her. That would
(15:56):
be noon, twelve hours before destruction. One thing he should
do was to get in touch with Professor Commander Kraft.
Maybe it was being defeatist, but he had to make
sure they had a way off this planet if the
mission failed. Kraft had installed a relay radio that would
forward calls from his personal set. If this relay had
(16:17):
been in the Foundation building. Contact was broken. This had
to be found out before it was too late. Brionne
thumbed on his radio and sent the call. The reply
came back instantly. This is Fleet Communications. Will you please
keep this circuit open. Commander Kraft is waiting for this
call and it is being put directly through to him. Now,
(16:38):
Kraft's voice broke in while the operator was still talking.
Who is making this call? Is it anyone from the Foundation.
The old man's voice was shaky with emotion. Brand here,
I have Lia Maurice with me. No more. Are there
no other survivors from the disaster that destroyed your building?
That's it other than us. It's it's a complete loss,
(17:01):
with the building and all the instruments gone. I have
no way to contact our ship in orbit. Can you
arrange to get us out of here? If necessary? Give
me your location A ship is coming now. I don't
need a ship now, brion interrupted, don't send it until
I call. If there is a way to stop your destruction,
I'll find it. So I'm staying to the last minute
if necessary. Kraft was silent. There was only the cackle
(17:27):
of an open mic and the sound of breathing that
is your decision, he said. Finally, I'll have a ship
standing by. But won't you let us take Miss Marie's
out now? No, I need her here. We are still
working looking for. What answer can you find that could
possibly avert destruction? Now his tone was between hope and despair.
(17:49):
Brione couldn't help him. If I succeed, you'll know otherwise
that will be the end of it, end of transmission.
He switched the radio off. Leo was sleeping easily when
he looked at her, and there was still a good
part of the hour left before he could wake her.
How could he put it to use? She would need
tools instruments to examine the corpse, and there were certainly
(18:12):
none here. Perhaps he could find some in the ruins
of the foundation building. With this thought, he had the
sudden desire to see the wreckage up close. There might
be other survivors he had to find out if he
could talk to the men he had seen working there.
Ulv was still crouched against the wall in the outer room.
He looked up angrily when Brion came over, but said nothing.
(18:36):
Will you help me again? Brion asked, stay and watch
the girl while I go out. I'll be back at noon.
Ulf didn't answer, I am still looking for the way
to save dis Brion added, go, I'll watch the girl.
Ulf spat the words in impotent fury. I do not
know what to do. You may be right, go she
(18:59):
will be safe with me. Brione slipped out into the
deserted street, and, half running, half walking, made his way
towards the rubble that had been the cultural relationship's foundation.
He used a different course from the one they had
come by, striking first toward the outer edge of the city.
Once there, he could swing and approach from the other side,
(19:21):
so there would be no indication where he had come from.
The matster might be watching, and he didn't want to
lead them to Lea and the stolen body. Turning a corner,
he saw a sand car stopped in the street ahead.
There was something familiar about the lines of it. It
could be the one he in Telt had used, but
he wasn't sure. He looked around, but the dusty, packed
(19:43):
dirt street was white and empty, shimmering in the silence
under the sun. Staying close to the wall and watching carefully,
Brione slipped towards the car. When he came close behind it,
he was positive it was the one he had been
in the night before. What was it doing here? Silence
and heat filled the street. Windows and doors were empty,
(20:06):
and there was no motion in their shadows. Putting his
foot on a bogie wheel, he reached up and grabbed
the searing metal rim of the open window. He pulled
himself up and stared at Telt's smiling face, smiling in death,
the lips pulled back to reveal the grinning teeth, the
eyes bursting from the head, the features swollen and contorted
(20:27):
from the deadly poison. A tiny, tuffed dart of wood
stuck in the brown flesh on the side of his neck.
End of chapter fourteen.
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