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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 01:52:34 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/22526-8.txt b/22526-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5fdba5f --- /dev/null +++ b/22526-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2407 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Cubs of the Wolf, by Raymond F. Jones + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Cubs of the Wolf + +Author: Raymond F. Jones + +Illustrator: Rogers + +Release Date: September 6, 2007 [EBook #22526] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CUBS OF THE WOLF *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: MARKOVIA] + + + + +CUBS OF THE WOLF + +BY RAYMOND F. JONES + + _It may be that there is a weapon that, from the + viewpoint of the one it's used on, is worse than + lethal. You might say that death multiplies you by + zero; what would multiplication by minus one do?_ + +Illustrated by Rogers + + +In the spring the cherry blossoms are heavy in the air over the campus +of Solarian Institute of Science and Humanities. On a small slope that +rims the park area, Cameron Wilder lay on his back squinting through the +cloud of pink-white petals to the sky beyond. Beside him, Joyce Farquhar +drew her jacket closer with an irritated gesture. It was still too cold +to be sitting on the grass, but Cameron didn't seem to notice it--or +anything else, Joyce thought. + +"If you don't submit a subject for your thesis now," she said, "you'll +take another full six months getting your doctorate. Sometimes I think +you don't really want it!" + +Cameron stirred. He shifted his squinting gaze from the sky to Joyce and +finally sat up. But he was staring ahead through the trees again as he +took his pipe from his pocket and began filling it slowly. + +"I _don't_ want it if it's not going to mean anything after I get it," +he said belligerently. "I'm not going to do an investigation of some +silly subject like The Transience of Venusian Immigrants in Relation to +the Martian Polar Ice Cap Cycle. Solarian sociologists are the butt of +enough ridicule now. Do something like that and for the rest of your +life you get knocking of the knees whenever anybody inquires about the +specialty you worked in and threatens to read your thesis." + +"Nobody's asking you to do anything you don't want to. But _you_ picked +the field of sociology to work in. Now I don't see why you have to act +such a purist that it takes months to find a research project for your +degree. Pick something--anything!--I don't care what it is. But if you +don't get a degree and an appointment out of the next session I don't +think we'll ever get married--not ever." + +Cameron removed his pipe from his mouth with a precise grip and +considered it intently as it cupped in his hands. "I'm glad you +mentioned marriage," he said. "I was just about to speak of it myself." + +"Well, don't!" said Joyce. "After three years--Three years!" + +He turned to face her and smiled for the first time. He liked to lead +her along occasionally just to watch her explode, but he was not always +sure when he had gone too far. Joyce had a mind like a snapping, random +matching calculator while he operated more on a slow, carefully shaping +analogue basis, knowing things were never quite what they seemed but +trying to get as close an approximation of the true picture as possible. + +"Will you marry me now?" he said. + +The question did not seem to startle her. "No degree, no +appointment--and no chance of getting one--we couldn't even get a +license. I hope you aren't suggesting we try to get along without one, +or on a forgery!" + +Cameron shook his head. "No, darling, this is a perfectly bona fide +proposal, complete with license, appointment, the works--what do you +say?" + +"I say this spring sun is too much for you." She touched the dark mass +of his hair, warmed by the sun's rays, and put her head on his shoulder. +She started to cry. "Don't tease me like that, Cameron. It seems like +we've been waiting forever--and there's still forever ahead of us. You +can't do anything you want to--" + +Cameron put his arms about her, not caring if the whole Institute +faculty leaned out the windows to watch. "That's why you should +appreciate being about to marry such a resourceful fellow," he said more +gently. And now he dropped all banter. "I've been thinking about how +long it's been, too. That's why I decided to try to kill a couple of +sparrows with one pebble." + +Joyce sat up. "You aren't serious--?" + +Cameron sucked on his pipe once more. "Ever hear of the Markovian +Nucleus?" he said thoughtfully. + +Joyce slowly nodded her head. "Oh, I think I've heard the name +mentioned," she murmured, "but nothing more than that." + +"I've asked for that as my research project." + +"But that's clear out of the galaxy--in Transpace!" + +"Yes, and obviously out of bounds for the ordinary graduate researcher. +But because of the scholarship record I've been able to rack up here I +took a chance on applying to the Corning Foundation for a grant. And +they decided to take a chance on me after considerable and not entirely +painless investigation. That's why you were followed around like a +suspected Disloyalist for a month. My application included a provision +for you to go along as my wife. Professor Fothergill notified me this +morning that the grant had been awarded." + +"Cam--" Joyce's voice was brittle now. "You aren't fooling me?" + +He gathered her in his arms again. "You think I would fool about +something like that, darling? In a week you'll be Mrs. C. Wilder, and as +soon as school is out, on your way to the Markovian Nucleus. And +besides, it took me almost as much work preparing the research +prospectus as the average guy spends on his whole project!" + + * * * * * + +Sometimes Joyce Farquhar wished Cameron were a good deal different than +he was. But then he wouldn't have been Cameron, and she wouldn't want to +marry him, she supposed. And somehow, while he fell behind on the +mid-stretch, he always managed to come in at the end with the rest of +the field. Or just a little bit ahead of it. + +Or a good deal ahead of it. As now. It took her a few moments to realize +the magnitude of the coup he had actually pulled off. For weeks she had +been depressed because he refused to use some trivial, breeze research +to get his degree. He could have started it as much as a year ago, and +they could have been married now if he'd set himself up a real cinch. + +But now they were getting married anyway--and Cameron was getting the +kind of research deal that would satisfy his frantic desire for +integrity in a world where it counted for little, and his wish to +contribute something genuine to the sociological understanding of +sentient creatures. + +Their marriage, as was customary, would be a cut and dried affair. A +call to the license bureau, receipt of formal sanction in the mail--she +supposed Cameron had already made application--and a little party with a +few of their closest friends on the campus. She wished she had lived in +the days when getting married was much easier to do, and something to +make a fuss about. + +She stirred and sat up, loosening the jacket as the sun came from behind +a puff of cloud. "You could have told me about this a long time ago, +couldn't you?" she said accusingly. + +Cameron nodded. "I could have. But I didn't want to get false hopes +aroused. I didn't have much hope the deal would actually go through, +myself. I think Fothergill is pretty much responsible for it." + +"Transpace--" Joyce said dreamily. "Tell me about the Markovian Nucleus. +Why is it important enough for a big research study, anyway?" + +"It's a case of a leopard who changed his spots," said Cameron. "And +nobody knows how or why. The full title of the project is A Study of the +Metamorphosis of the Markovian Nucleus." + +"What happened? How are they any different from the way they used to +be?" + +"A hundred and fifty years ago the Markovians were the meanest, +nastiest, orneriest specimens in the entire Council of Galactic +Associates. The groups of worlds in one corner of their galaxy, which +make up the Nucleus, controlled a military force that outweighed +anything the Council could possibly bring to bear against them. + +"With complete disregard of any scheme of interplanetary rules or order +they harassed and attacked peaceful shipping and inoffensive cultures +throughout a wide territory. They were something demanding the Council's +military action. But the Council lacked the strength. + +"For years the Council dragged on, debating and threatening +ineffectively. But nothing was ever done. And then, so gradually it was +hardly noticed, the harassments began to die down. The warlike posturing +was abandoned by the Markovians. Within a period of about seventy or +eighty years there was a complete about-face. They wound up as good +Indians, peaceful, coöperative and intelligent members of the Council." + +"Didn't anybody ever find out why?" asked Joyce. + +"No. Nobody _wanted_ to find out. In the early years the worlds of the +Council were hiding behind their collective hands hoping with all their +might that the threat might go away if they kept their eyes closed long +enough. And by some miracle of all miracles, when they parted their +fingers for a scared glimpse, the threat _had_ disappeared. + +"When they could breathe a little more easily it seemed a foolish thing +to bring out this old skeleton from the closet again, so a perpetual +state of hush was established. Finally, the whole thing was practically +forgotten except for a short paragraph in an occasional history text. +But no politician or historian has ever dared publicly to question the +mysterious why of the Markovian's about-face." + +"Sociologists should have done it long ago," said Joyce. + +"There was always the political pressure, of course," said Cameron. "But +the real reason was simply our preoccupation with making bibliographies +of each others' papers. It's going to take a lot of leg work, something +in which our formal courses don't give us any basic training. Fothergill +understands that--it's why he pushed me so hard with the Foundation. And +Riley up there is capable of seeing it, too. + +"I showed him that here was a complex of at least a hundred and ten +major planets, inhabited by a fairly homogenous, civilized people, +speaking from a technological point of view at least. And almost +overnight some force changed the entire cultural posture. I made him see +that identification of that force is of no small interest to us right +now. If it operated once, it could operate again--and would its results +be as happy a second time? + +"Riley got the Foundation to kick through enough for you and me to make +a start. A preliminary survey is about all it will amount to, actually, +but if we show evidence of something tangible I'll get my degree, you'll +get your basic certification--and we'll both return in charge of a +full-scale inquiry with a staff big enough to really dig into things +next year. + +"Now--about this matter of marriage which you didn't want me to speak +of--" + +"Keep talking, Cam--you're doing wonderfully!" + + * * * * * + +They got married at once, even though there were several weeks of school +which had to be finished before they could leave. Among their friends on +the campus there were a good many whispered remarks about the insanity +of Joyce and Cameron in planning such a fantastic excursion, but Joyce +was certain there was as much envy as criticism in the eyes of her +associates. It might be true when they asserted that every conceivable +sociological factor or combination of factors could be found and +analyzed right here in the Solar System, but a husband who could finagle +a way to combine a honeymoon trip halfway across space with his graduate +research thesis was a rare specimen. Joyce played her advantage for all +it was worth. + +Two weeks before departure time, however, Cameron was called to the +office of Professor Fothergill. As he entered he found a third man +present, wearing a uniform he recognized at once as belonging to the +Council Secretariat. + +"I'll wait outside," he said abruptly as Fothergill turned. "I got your +message and came right over. I didn't know--" + +"Sit down," said Fothergill. "Cameron, this is Mr. Ebbing, whose +position you no doubt recognize. Mr. Ebbing, Mr. Wilder." + +The men shook hands and took seats across from each other. Fothergill +sat between them at the polished table. "The Council, it seems, has +developed an interest in your proposed research among the Markovians," +he said. "I'll let Mr. Ebbing tell you about it." + +Cameron felt a sinking anticipation within him as he turned to the +secretary. Surely the Council wasn't going to actively oppose the +investigation after so long a time! + +The secretary coughed and shuffled the papers he drew from his case. +"It's not actually the Council's interest," he said, and Cameron was +immediately relieved. "But I have been asked by the Markovian Nucleus, +through their representative, to suggest that they would like to save +you the long and unnecessary trip. He offers to co-operate to the +fullest degree by causing all necessary materials to be transferred to +your site of study right here. He feels that this is the least they can +do since so much interest appears to exist in the Nucleus." + +Cameron stared at the secretary, trying to discern what the man's own +attitude might be, but Ebbing gave no sign of playing it any way but +straight. + +"It sounds like a polite invitation to stay home and mind our own +business," said Cameron finally. "They don't want company." + +The secretary's expression changed to acknowledgment of the correct +appraisal. "They don't want any investigation into the Metamorphosis of +the Markovian Nucleus. There is no such thing. It is entirely a myth." + +"Says the Markovians--!" + +Ebbing nodded. "Says the Markovians. Other worlds, both within and +without the Council have persisted in spreading tales and rumors about +the Markovians for a long time. They don't like it. They are willing to +co-operate in having a correct analysis of their culture published, but +they don't want any more of these infamous rumors circulated." + +"Then why aren't they willing to promote such an investigation? This +would be their big chance--if their ridiculous position were true!" + +"They _are_ willing. I've told you the representative has offered to +send you all needed material showing the status of their culture." + +Cameron looked at the secretary for a long time before speaking again. +"What's your position?" he asked finally. "Are we being ordered off the +investigation?" + +"The Markovian representative doesn't want to go to quite that extreme. +He knows that, too, would react unfavorably towards his people. Here's +his point: So far, he's blocked news of your proposed research getting +to his home worlds. But he knows that if you do carry it out in the +manner you propose it is going to make a lot of the home folks mighty +unhappy and they'll demand to know why he didn't stop it. So he's trying +to satisfy both sides at once." + +"Why will the people in the Nucleus be made unhappy by our coming?" + +"Because you'll go there trying to track down the basis for the rumors +that defame the Markovian character. You'll bring forcibly to their +attention the fact that the rest of the Universe believes the Markovians +are basically a bunch of pirates." + +"And the Markovians don't like to hear these things?" + +"Definitely not." + +"So you tell me the research is not being forbidden, but that the +Markovians won't like it. Suppose I tell you, then, I'm not going to +give up short of an order from the Council itself. But I am willing to +camouflage the investigation if necessary. I'll make no open mention of +what outside opinion says of the Markovians. I'll simply make a study of +their history and character as it becomes available to me." + +Ebbing nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on Cameron's face. "I would say +that would be eminently satisfactory," he said. "I will inform the +representative of your decision." + +Then his face became more severe. "The Council will be pleased to learn +of your willingness to be discreet. I wonder if you understand that the +Foundation came to us upon receipt of your application, for official +clearance of the project. It coincided quite fortuitously with the plans +of the Council itself. For a long time we have been concerned with the +lack of information regarding the Markovian situation and have been at a +loss as to how to improve our situation. + +"Your proposed investigation seemed the answer, but we anticipated the +Markovian objection and had to make certain you would co-operate to his +satisfaction. I believe this will do it." + +"Why is the Council concerned?" said Cameron. "Have the Markovians +changed their attitude in any way?" + +"No--but the rest of us remember, even though we don't speak of it, that +the Nucleus was never punished for its depredations, nor was it ever +defeated. Its strength is as great as ever in proportion to the other +Council worlds. + +"What are the chances and potentialities of the Nucleus worlds ever +again becoming the marauders they once were? That is the question which +we feel must be answered. Without knowing, we are sitting on a powder +keg in which the fuse may or may not be lighted. Will you bring us back +the answer we need?" + +Cameron felt a sudden grimness which had not been present before. "I'll +do all I can," he said soberly. "If the information is there I'll bring +it back." + + * * * * * + +After the secretary had gone and Fothergill turned from the door to +rejoin him Cameron sat in faintly shocked consideration of the Council's +unexpected support. It took his research out of the realm of the purely +sociological and projected it into politics and diplomacy. He was +pleased by their confidence, but not cheered by the added +responsibility. + +"That's a lucky break," said Fothergill enthusiastically, "and I'm +beginning to suspect you may be rather badly in need of all the breaks +you can get once you land among the Markovians. Don't forget for a +single minute that you are dealing with the sons and grandsons of +genuine pirates." + +The professor sat down again. "There's one other little item of interest +I turned up the other day. You should know about it before you leave. +The Markovian Nucleus is somewhat of a hotbed of Ids." + +"Ids--you mean the Idealists--?" + +Fothergill nodded. "Know anything about them?" + +"Not much, except that they are a sort of parasitic group, living +usually in a servant relationship to other races on terran-type worlds. +As I recall, even they claim that they do not know the planet or even +the galaxy of their origin, because they have been wanderers for so many +generations among alien races. Perhaps it would be a good idea to make a +study of them, too--I don't know that a thorough one has ever been +made." + +"That's what I wanted to warn you about," said Fothergill, smiling. +"Stick to one subject at a time. The Ids _would_ make a nice research +project in themselves, and maybe you can get around to it eventually. +But leave them alone for the present and don't become distracted from +your basic project among the Markovians. The policy of the Corning +Foundation is to demand something very definite in return for the money +they lay on the line. You won't get to go back next year unless you +produce. That's why I don't want you to get sidetracked in any way." + + +II + +Cameron admitted to himself that he was getting more edgy as the day of +departure approached, but he tried to keep Joyce from seeing it. He was +worried about the possible development of further opposition now that +the Markovian had expressed his displeasure, and he was worried about +their reception once they reached the Nucleus. He wondered why they had +not seen in advance that it would be an obvious blunder to let the +Markovians be aware of their real purpose. It didn't even require a +pirate ancestry to make groups unappreciative about resurrection of +their family skeletons. + +But no other hindrance appeared, and on the evening before their +departure Fothergill called that word had been received from Ebbing +stating the Markovian representative had approved the visit now that +Cameron had expressed a change in his objectives. Their coming had been +announced to the Markovian people and the way prepared for an official +welcome. + +Cameron was pleased by the change of attitude. He was hit for the first +time, however, by the full force of the fact that he was taking his +bride to a pirate center which the Council had never overthrown and +which was active only moments ago, culturally speaking. + +If any kind of trouble should develop the Council would be almost +impotent in offering them assistance. On the face of it, there was no +reason to expect trouble. But the peculiarly oblique opposition of the +Markovian delegate in the Council continued to make him uneasy. + +His tentative suggestion that he would feel better if he knew she were +safe on Earth brought a blistering response from Joyce, which left him +with no doubts about carrying out his original plans. + +And then, as the last of their packing was completed and they were ready +to call it a day, the phone buzzed. Cameron hesitated, determined to let +it go unanswered, then punched the button irritably on audio only. + +Instead of the caller, he heard the voice of the operator. "One moment +please. Interstellar, Transpace, printed. Please connect visio." + +It was like a shock, he thought afterwards. There was no one he knew who +could be making such a call to him. But automatically he did as +directed. Joyce had come up and was peering over his shoulder now. The +screen fluttered for a moment with polychrome colors and cleared. The +message, printed for English translation, stood out sharply. Joyce and +Cameron exclaimed simultaneously at the titling. It was from Premier +Jargla, Executive Head of the Markovian Government. + +"To Wilder, Cameron and Joyce," it read, "greetings and appreciation for +your proposed visit to the Markovian Nucleus for study of our history +and customs. We have not been before so honored. We feel, however, that +it is an imposition on your Foundation and on you personally to require +that you make the long journey to the Nucleus for this purpose alone. +While we would be honored to entertain you--" + +It was the same proposition as Ebbing had reported the delegate offered. +Only this time it was from the head of the Markovian government himself. + +They sat up nearly all the rest of the night considering this new +development. "Maybe you shouldn't go, after all," said Joyce once. +"Maybe this is something that needs bigger handling than we can possibly +give it." + +Cameron shook his head. "_I've_ got to go. They haven't closed the door +and said we can't come. If I backed out before they did, I'd be known +the rest of my life as the guy who was _going_ to crack the Markovian +problem. But I'd much rather you--" + +"No! If you're going, so am I." + + * * * * * + +They consulted again with Fothergill and finally drafted as polite a +reply as possible, explaining they were newly married, desired to make +the trip a honeymoon excursion primarily and conduct an investigation +into Markovian culture to prevent the waste of the wonderful opportunity +their visit would afford them. + +An hour before takeoff a polite acknowledgment came back from the +Nucleus assuring them a warm welcome and congratulating them on their +marriage. They went at once to the spaceport and took over their +stateroom. "Before anything else happens to try to pull us off this +investigation," Cameron said. + +The trip would be a long one, involving more than two months subjective +time, because no express runs moved any distance at all in the direction +of the Nucleus. It was necessary to transfer three times, with days of +waiting between ships on planets whose surface conditions permitted +exploration only in cumbersome suits that could not be worn for more +than short periods. Most of the waiting time was spent in the visitors' +chambers at the landing fields. + +These seemed to grow progressively worse. The last one could not +maintain a gravity below 2G, and the minimum temperature available was +104 degrees. There was a three-day wait here and Joyce spent most of it +lying on the bed, under the breeze of a fan which seemed to have +required a special dispensation of the governing body to obtain. + +[Illustration: CAMERON] + +Cameron, however, was unwilling to spend his time this way in spite of +the discomfort imposed by any kind of activity. Humidity was a physical +factor which seemed to have gone undiscovered by the inhabitants of the +planet they were on. He was sure it was constantly maintained within a +fractional per cent of one hundred as he donned a clean pair of trunks +and staggered miserably along the corridor toward a window that gave a +limited view of the city about them. + +That was when he discovered that they were to be accompanied on the +remainder of the journey by a Markovian citizen and his Id servant. + +The visitors' chamber in which these semi-terran conditions were +supplied consisted of only three suites. The other two had been empty +when Cameron and Joyce arrived the night before. Now a Markovian Id +occupied a seat by the window. He glanced up with warm friendliness and +invited Cameron to join him. + +Cameron hesitated, undecided for a moment whether to return to his suite +for the portable semantic translator used in his profession at times +like this. He always felt there was something decidedly unprofessional +about resorting to their use and had spent many hours trying to master +Markovian before leaving. He understood the Id well enough and decided +to see if he could get along without the translator. + +"Thanks," he said, taking a seat. "I don't suppose there's much else to +do except look at the scenery here." + +The Id showed obvious surprise that Cameron spoke the language without +use of an instrument. His look of pleasure increased. "It is not often +we find one of your race who has taken the trouble to make himself +communicable with us. You must be expecting to make a long stay?" + +Cameron's sense of caution returned as he remembered the previous +results of indiscreet announcement of his purpose. He wiped the stream +of sweat from his face and neck and took a good look at the Id. + + * * * * * + +The Idealists were of an anthropomorphic race, dark-skinned like the +terran Indian. Very few of them had ever appeared on Earth, however, and +this was actually Cameron's first view of one in the flesh. He knew +something of their reputation and characteristics from very brief study +at the Institute--but no one really knew very much of the Ids as far as +Earthmen were concerned. The warning of Fothergill to keep to the main +line of his research sank to the bottom of his mind as he leaned toward +the stranger with a fresh sense of excitement inside him. + +"I have never felt you could understand another man unless you spoke his +language," he said in his not too stumbling Markovian. + +The Id, like himself, was dressed in the briefest of garments and +perspiration poured from the dark skin as he nodded. "You speak sounder +wisdom than one usually meets in a stranger," he said. "May I introduce +myself: Sal Karone, servant of the Master Dalls Ret Marthasa?" + +Cameron introduced himself and cautiously explained that he and Joyce +were on their honeymoon, but had a side interest in the history and +customs of the Markovian Nucleus. "My people know so little about you," +he said, "it would be a great privilege to be able to take back +information that would increase our mutual understanding." + +"All that the Idealists have belongs to every man and every race," said +Sal Karone solemnly. "What we can give you may be had for the asking. +But I would give you a word of warning about my Masters." + +Cameron felt the flesh of his back tingle with sudden chill as the eyes +of the Id turned full upon him. + +"Do not try to find out the hidden things of the Masters. That is what +you have come for, is it not, Cameron Wilder? That is why you have taken +so much trouble to learn the language which we speak. I say do not +inquire of the things about which they do not wish to speak. My Masters +are a people who cannot yet be understood by the men of other worlds. In +time there will be understanding, but that time is not yet. You will +only bring disaster and disappointment upon us and yourselves by +attempting to hasten that time." + +"I assure you I have no intention of prying," said Cameron haltingly. He +fumbled for the right Markovian words. "You have misunderstood--We come +only in friendship and with no intention of disturbing--" + +The Id nodded sagely. "So many crises are originated by good intentions. +But I am sure that now you understand the feelings of my Masters in +these things that you will be concerned only with your own enjoyment +while in the Nucleus. And do come to the centers of the Idealists, for +there is much we can show you, and our willingness has no limits." + +For a moment it was impossible for Cameron to remember that he was +dealing with a mere servant of the Markovians. The Id's words were so +incisive and his manner so commanding that it seemed he must be speaking +in his own right. + +And then his manner changed. His boldness vanished and he spoke +obsequiously. "You will forgive me," he said, "but this is a matter +concerning which there is much feeling." + + * * * * * + +Cameron Wilder was more than willing to agree with this sentiment. As he +returned to his own quarters he debated telling Joyce of his encounter +with the Id, deciding finally that he'd have to mention it since they'd +all be traveling together, but omitting the Id's repetition of the +previous warnings. + +He did not meet the Markovian, nor did he encounter the Id again in the +waiting quarters. It was not until they had embarked on the last leg of +the journey and had been aboard the vessel for half a day that they met +a second time. + +The ship was not a Markovian or a terran-type vessel of any kind. +Another week's wait would have been required for one of those. As it +was, their quarters were not too uncomfortable although very limited. +The bulk of the vessel was designed for crew and passengers very much +unlike Terran or Markovian, and only a few suites were provided for +accommodation of such races. + +This threw the travelers to the Nucleus in close association again. +Their suites opened to a common lounge deck and when Cameron and Joyce +went out they found Sal Karone and the Markovian, Marthasa, already +there. + +The Id was on his feet instantly. With a sharp bow he introduced the +newcomers to his Master. Dells Marthasa stood and extended a hand with a +smile. "I believe that is your greeting on Earth, is it not?" he said. + +"You must be familiar with our home world," said Cameron, returning the +handshake. + +"Only a little, through my studies," said the Markovian. "Enough to make +me want to hear much more. Please join us. Since my _sargh_ told me we +would be traveling together I have looked forward to your company." + +The term, _sargh_, as Cameron learned shortly was applied to all Ids +attached to Markovians. It had a connotation somewhere between servant +and companion. Sal Karone remained in the background, but there was no +servility in his manner. His eyes remained respectfully--almost fondly; +that was the right word, Cameron thought curiously--on Marthasa. + +While the Id was slender in build, the Markovian was taller and bulkier. +His complexion was also dark, but not quite so much so as the Id's. He +was dressed in loose, highly colored attire that gave Cameron an +impression of an Oriental potentate of his own world. + +But somehow there was a quality in Marthasa's manner that was jarring. +It would have been less so if the Markovian had been less +anthropomorphic in form and feature, but Cameron found it difficult to +think of him as anything but a fellow man. + +A man of arrogance and ill manners, and completely unaware that he was +so. + +It was apparent in his gestures and in the negligence with which he +leaned back and surveyed his companions. "You'll be surprised when you +see the Nucleus," he said. "We sometimes hear of rumors circulated among +Council worlds that Markovian culture is rather backward." + +"I've never heard anything of that kind," said Cameron. "In fact we've +heard almost nothing at all of the Nucleus. That's why we decided to +come." + +"I'm sure we can make you glad you did. Don't you think so, Karone?" + +The face of the Id was very sober as he nodded solemnly and said, +"Indeed, Master." His burning eyes were boring directly into Cameron's +own. + +"I want to hear about your people, about Earth," said Marthasa. "Tell me +what you would like to see and do while you're in the Nucleus." + +While Joyce answered, explaining they hardly knew what there was to be +seen, Cameron's attention was fixed by the problem of the strange +relationship between the two men--the two races. In the face of the Id +there seemed a serenity, a dignity that the Markovian would never know. +Why had the Ids failed to lift themselves out of servility to a state of +independence, he wondered? + +Joyce explained the story about their honeymoon trip and built their +interest in Markovian culture as casual indeed. As she went on, Marthasa +seemed to be struck by a sudden thought. + +"I insist that you make your headquarters with me during your stay," he +said. "I can see that you learn everything possible about the Nucleus +while you are here. My son is a Chief Historian at our largest research +library and my daughter has the post of Assistant Curator at our Museum +of Science and Culture. You will never have a better opportunity to +examine the culture of the Nucleus!" + +Cameron winced inwardly at the thought of Marthasa's companionship +during their whole stay, and yet the Markovian's statement might be +perfectly true--there would be no better opportunity to make their +study. + +"We have an official note of welcome from your Executive Head, Premier +Jargla," he said. "While we would be very happy to accept your +invitation, it may be that he has different plans for our reception." + +Marthasa waved a hand. "I shall arrange for my appointment as your +official host. Consider it agreed upon!" + +It was agreed. But Joyce was not as optimistic as Cameron in regarding +it an aid to their study. "If they have a general aversion to talking +about their pirate ancestry, Marthasa is just the boy to put us off the +track," she said. "If he gets a clue to what we really want to know, +he'll keep us busy looking at everything else until we give up and go +home." + +Cameron leaned back in the deep chair with his hands behind his head. +"It's not too hard to imagine Marthasa's great-great-grandfather running +down vessels in space and pillaging helpless cities on other planets. +The veneer of civilization on him doesn't look very thick." + +"It's not hard to imagine Marthasa doing it," said Joyce. "A scimitar +between his teeth would be completely in character!" + +"If all goes well, you will probably see just that--figuratively +speaking, of course. Where a cultural shift has been so great as this +one you are certain to see evidence of both levels in conflict with one +another. It's like a geologic fault line. Once we learn enough about the +current mores the anomalies will stand out in full view. That's what we +want to watch for." + +"One thing that's out of character right now is his offer of assistance +through his son, the Chief Historian," said Joyce. "That doesn't check +with the previous invitations to stay home. Once they let us have access +to their historical records we'll have them pegged." + +"We haven't got it yet," said Cameron. "We can't be sure just what +they'll let us see. But for my money I'd just as soon tackle the +question of the Ids. Sal Karone is twice the man Marthasa is, yet he +acts like he has no will of his own when the Markovian is around." + +"The Roman-slave relationship," said Joyce. "The Markovians probably +conquered a large community of the Ids in their pirate days and brought +them here as slaves. And I'll bet they are very much aware that the Ids +are the better men. Marthasa knows it. That's why he has to put on a +show in front of Sal Karone. He's the old Roman merchant struggling to +keep up his conviction of superiority before the Greek scholar slave." + +"The Ids aren't supposed to be slaves. According to the little that's +known they are completely free. I'm going to get Marthasa's version of +it, anyway. Fothergill and the Foundation can't object to that much +investigation of the Ids." + +He found the Markovian completely willing to talk about his _sargh_. On +the last day of the voyage they managed to be alone for a time without +the presence of Sal Karone. + +Marthasa shook his head in answer to Cameron's question. "No, the +_sargh_ is not a slave--not in the sense I believe you mean it. None of +the Ids are. It's a matter of religion with them to be attached to us +the way they are. They have some incomprehensible belief that their +existence is of no value unless they are serving their fellow beings. +Since that means _all_ of them they can't be satisfied by serving each +other so they have to pick on some other race. + +"I don't recall when they first showed up in the Nucleus, but it's been +many generations ago. There've been Ids in my family for a half dozen +generations anyway." + +"They had space flight, so they came under their own power?" Cameron +asked incredulously. + +"No. Nothing like that. You can't imagine _them_ building spaceships can +you? They migrated at first as lowest-class passengers on the commercial +lines. Nobody knows just where they came from. They don't even know +their home worlds. At first we tried to persuade them to go somewhere +else, but then we saw how useful they could be with their fanatic belief +in servitude. + +"At present there is probably no family in the Nucleus that doesn't have +at least one Id _sargh_. Many of us have one for every member of the +family." Marthasa paused. The tone of his voice changed. "When you've +had one almost all your life as I've had Sal Karone it--well, it does +something to you." + +"What do you mean?" Cameron asked cautiously. + +"Consider the situation from Sal Karone's point of view. He has no life +whatever that is his own. His whole purpose is to give me companionship +and satisfy my requirements. And I don't have to force him in any way. +It's all voluntary. He's free to leave, even, any time he wants to. But +I'm certain he never will." + +"Why do you feel so sure of this?" + +"It's hard to explain. I feel as if I've become so much a part of him +that he couldn't survive alone any more. He's the one who's made it that +way, not me. I have become indispensable to his existence. That's the +way I explain it to myself. Most of my friends agree that this is about +right." + +"It's rather difficult to understand a relationship like that--unless +you put it in terms I am familiar with on Earth." + +"Yes--? What would it be called among your people?" + +"When a man so devotes his life to another we say it is because of +love." + +Marthasa considered the word. "You would be wrong," he said. "It is just +that in some way we have become indispensable to the Ids. They're +parasites, if you want to put it that way. But they provide us a +relationship we can get nowhere else, and that does us a great deal of +good. That's what I meant when I said it does something to us." + +"What about the Id's own culture? Haven't they any community ties among +themselves, or do they ignore their own kind?" + +"We've never investigated very much. I suppose some of our scholars know +the answer to that, but the rest of us don't. The Ids have communities, +all right. Not all of them are in service as _sarghs_ at one time. They +have little groups and communities on the outskirts of our cities, but +they don't amount to much. As a race they are simply inferior. They +don't have the capacity for a strong culture of their own, so they can't +exist independently and build a social structure like other people. It's +this religion of theirs that does it. They won't let go of it, and as +long as they hang onto it they can't stand on their own feet. But you +don't need to feel sorry for them. We treat them all right." + +"Of course--didn't mean to imply anything else," said Cameron. "Do you +know if there are other Id groups serving in other galaxies?" + +"Must be thousands of them altogether. Out beyond the Nucleus, away from +your galaxy, you can't find a planet anywhere that isn't using the Ids. +It's a wonderful setup. The Ids get what they want, and we get _sarghs_ +with nothing like the slave relationship you had in mind. With slaves +there's rebellion, constant need of watchfulness, and no genuine +companionship. A _sargh_ is different. He can be a man's friend." + + +III + +They came out of the darkness of Transpace that evening and the stars +returned in the glory of a million closely gathered suns. The Markovian +Nucleus lay in a galaxy of tightly packed stars that made bright the +nights of all their planets. It was a spectacle for Cameron, who had +traveled but little away from the Solar System, and for Joyce who had +never traveled at all. + +Marthasa and Sal Karone were with them in the lounge watching the +screens as the ship changed drives. The Markovian squinted a moment and +pointed to a minor dot near the corner of the view. "That's our +destination. Another six hours and you can set foot on the best planet +in the whole Universe!" + +If it had been mere enthusiasm, Cameron could have taken it with +tolerant understanding. But Marthasa's smugness and arrogance had not +deserted him once since the beginning of this leg of the trip. +Objectively, as a cultural facet to be examined, it was interesting, but +Cameron agreed with Joyce that it was going to be difficult to live +with. + +The unsolved puzzle, however, was Sal Karone. It was obvious that the Id +was sensitive to the gauche ways of the Master, yet his equally obvious +devotion was unwavering. + +Marthasa had sent word ahead to the government that he desired the +Terrans to be his guests. Evidently he was a person of influence for +assent was returned immediately. + +His planet was a colorful world, banded by huge, golden deserts and +pinkish seas. The dense vegetation of the habitable areas was blue with +only a scattered touch of green. Cameron wondered about the chemistry +involved. + +The landing was made at a port that bordered a sea. The four of them +were the only ones disembarking, and before the car that met them had +reached the edge of the city the ship was gone again. + +A pirates' lair, Cameron thought, without the slightest touch of +amusement. The field looked very old, and from it he could imagine +raiders had once taken off to harass distant shipping and do wanton +destruction of cities and peoples on innocent worlds. + +He watched the face of Marthasa as they rode through the city. There was +a kind of Roman splendor in what they saw, and there was a crude Roman +pride in the Markovian who was their host. The arrogance, that was not +far from cruelty, could take such pride in the sweep of spaceships +embarking on missions of murder and plunder. + +And yet all this barbarism had been put aside. Only the arrogance +remained, expressed in Marthasa's tone as he called their attention to +the features of the city and landscape through which they passed. It +wasn't pleasing particularly to Terran tastes, but Cameron guessed that +it represented a considerable accomplishment to the Markovians. Stone +appeared to be the chief building material, and, while the craftsmanship +was exact, the lines of the structures lacked the grace of the Greek and +Roman monuments of which Cameron was reminded. + +They came at last to the house of Marthasa. There was no doubt now that +he was a man of wealth or importance--probably both. He occupied a vast, +villa-like structure set on a low hill overlooking the city. It was a +place of obvious luxury in the economic scale of the Markovians. + +They were assigned spacious quarters overlooking a garden of incredible +colors beyond the transparent wall facing it. Sal Karone was also +assigned duties as their personal attendant, which Cameron grasped +intuitively was a gesture of supreme honor among the Markovians. He +thanked Marthasa profusely for this courtesy. + +After getting unpacked they were shown through the house and grounds and +met Marthasa's family. His wife was a woman of considerable beauty even +by Terran standards, but there was a sharpness in her manner and a sense +of coldness in the small black eyes that repelled Cameron and Joyce even +as the thoughtless actions of Marthasa had done. + +Cameron looked carefully for the same qualities in the three smaller +children who were at home, and found them easily. In none of them was +there the aura of serenity possessed by the Id servants. + +When they were finally alone that night Cameron sat down to make some +notes on their observations up to date. "The fault line I mentioned is +so obvious you can't miss it," he said to Joyce. "It's as if they're +living one kind of life because they think it's the thing to do, but all +their thoughts and feelings are being drawn invisibly in another +direction--and they're half ashamed of it." + +"Maybe the Ids have something to do with it. Remember Marthasa's +statement that the relationship of the _sarghs_ does something to the +Markovians? If we found out exactly what that something is, we might +have the answer." + +Cameron shook his head. "I've tried to fit it together that way, too, +but it just doesn't add up. The basic premise of the Ids is asceticism +and there never was any strength in that idea. Marthasa is probably +right in his estimate of the Ids. They have achieved an internal +serenity but only through compensating their basic weakness with the +crude strength of the Markovians and other races to which they cling. +They haven't the strength to build a civilization of their own. +Certainly they haven't got the power to influence the whole Nucleus. +No--we'll have to look a good deal farther than the Ids before we find +the answer. I'm convinced of that, even though I'd like to find out +exactly what makes _them_ tick. Maybe next trip--" + + * * * * * + +The following days were spent in almost profitless activity as far as +their basic purpose in being in the Nucleus was concerned. Marthasa and +his wife took them on long tours through the city and into the scenic +areas of the continent. They promised trips over the whole planet and to +other worlds of the Nucleus. There seemed no end to the sight-seeing +that was proposed for them to do. + +Cameron improved his facility with the language, and Joyce was beginning +to get along without the translator. They were introduced to a +considerable number of other Markovians, including the official +representative of Premier Jargla. This gave them added contact with the +Markovian character, but Marthasa and his family seemed so typical of +the race that scarcely anything new was learned from the others. + +At no time was anything hinted in reference to the original reluctance +to have the Terrans visit the Nucleus. All possible courtesy was shown +them now, and Cameron dared not mention the invitations to stay home. He +felt the situation was as penetrable as a thick wall of sponge rubber +backed by a ten-foot foundation of steel. + +After three weeks of this, however, he cautiously broached the subject +of meeting the son and daughter of Marthasa in regard to visiting the +library and museum. He had met each of them just once and found them +rather cool to his presence. He had not dared express his interest in +their specialties at that time. + +Marthasa was favorable and apologetic, however. "I have intended to +arrange it," he said. "There have been so many other things to do that I +have neglected your interest in these things. We won't neglect it any +longer. Suppose we make an appointment for this afternoon? Zlenon will +be able to give you his personal attention." + +[Illustration: JOYCE] + +Zlenon was Marthasa's son, who held the position of Chief Historian at +the research library. He was more slender and darker than his father, +and lacking in his volubility and glad-handedness. + +He greeted Cameron's request with a tolerant smile. "You have to be +quite specific, Mr. Wilder, when you say you would like to know about +the history of the Markovian Nucleus. You understand the Nucleus +consists of over a hundred worlds and has a composite history extending +back more than thirty thousand of your years in very minute detail." + +Cameron countered with a helpless shrug and smile. "I'm afraid I'll have +to depend on your good nature to guide me through such a mass. I don't +intend to become a student of Markovian history, of course, but perhaps +you have adequate summaries with which a stranger could start. Going +backward, let us say, for perhaps two or three hundred Terran years?" + +"Of course--some very excellent ones are available--" He moved toward +the reading table nearby and began punching a selection of buttons. + +As Cameron and Joyce moved to follow, Marthasa waved a hand expansively +and started out the other way. "I can see you're going to be set for a +while. I'll just leave you here, and send the car back after I reach the +house. Don't be late for dinner." + +They nodded and smiled and turned to Zlenon. The Markovian was watching +them with pin-point eyes. "I wondered if there was any _particular_ +problem in which you might be interested," he said calmly. "If there +is--?" + +Cameron shook his head hastily. "No--certainly not. Just general +information--" + +The Historian turned his attention to the table and began explaining its +use to the Terrans, showing how they could obtain recording of any +specific material they wished to choose. It would appear in either +printed or pictorial form or could be had on audio if they wanted it. +Once he was certain they could make their own selections he left them to +their study. + +"This is the best break we could possibly have hoped for," Joyce +whispered as Zlenon disappeared from their sight. "We can get anything +we want in the whole library if I understand the operation of this +gadget the way I think I do." + +"That's the way it looks to me," Cameron answered. "But don't get your +hopes too high. There must be a catch in it somewhere, the way they were +trying to shoo us away from coming here." + + * * * * * + +They punched the buttons for the history of the planet they were on, +scanning slowly from the present to earlier years. There were endless +accountings of trading and commercial treaties between members of the +Nucleus as shifts of economic balance occurred. There were stories of +explorations and benevolent contacts with races on the outer worlds. +Details of their most outstanding scientific discoveries, which seemed +to come with profligate rapidity-- + +Cameron whipped back through the pages of the histories, searching only +for a single item, one clue to the swift evolution from barbarism to +peaceful co-operation. After an hour he was in the middle of that +critical period when the Council despaired of its inability to cope with +the Markovian menace. + +But the stories of commerce and invention and far-flung exchange with +other peoples continued. Nowhere was there any reference to the violence +of the period. They went back two hundred--five hundred years--beyond +the time when Council members first made contact with the Nucleus. + +There was nothing. + +Cameron sat back in complete puzzlement as it became apparent that it +was useless to go back further. "The normal thing would be for them to +brag all over the place about their great conquests. Even races who +become comparatively civilized citizens ordinarily let themselves go +when it comes to history. If they've had a long record of conquest and +bloodshed, they say so with plenty of chest pounding. Of course, it's +padded out to reflect their righteous conquest over tyranny, but it's +always there in _some_ form. + +"But nothing up to now has been normal about the development of the +Markovian problem and this really tops it off--the complete omission of +any reference to their armed conquests." + +"Maybe this planet didn't participate very much. Perhaps only a small +number of the Nucleus worlds were responsible for it," said Joyce. + +Cameron shook his head. "No. The Council records show that the Nucleus +as a unit was responsible, and that virtually all the worlds are +specifically mentioned. And even if this one had been out of it +completely you could still expect references to it because there was +constant interchange with most of the other planets. We can try another +one, though--" + +They tried one more, then a half dozen in quick scanning. They swept +through a summarization of the Nucleus as a whole during that critical +period. + +There was nothing to show that the Markovians had ever been anything but +peace-loving citizens intent on pursuit of science, commerce, and the +arts. + +"This could have been rigged for our special benefit," said Joyce +thoughtfully as they ended the day's futile search. "They didn't want to +apply enough pressure to keep us from coming, but they did want to make +sure we wouldn't find out anything about their past." + +Cameron shook his head slowly. "It couldn't have been done in the time +they've had. Simply cutting out what they didn't want to show us +wouldn't have done it. There's too much cross reference to all periods +involved. It's a complete phony, but it's not something done on the spur +of the moment just for our benefit. It's too good for that." + +"Maybe they've had it for a _long_ time--just in case somebody like us +should come along." + +"It's possible, but I don't think that's right either," said Cameron. "I +can't give you any reason for thinking so--except the phoniness goes +deeper than merely deceiving an investigator. Somehow I have the feeling +that the Markovians are even deceiving themselves!" + + * * * * * + +They left the building and took the car back to the house of Marthasa +without seeing Zlenon again. Their Markovian host was waiting. Cameron +thought he sensed a trace of tension in Marthasa that wasn't there +before as he led them to seats in the garden. + +"We don't like to boast about the Nucleus," he said with his customary +volubility, "but we have to admit we are proud of our science and +technology. Few civilizations in the Universe can match it. That's not +to disparage the fine accomplishments of the Terrans, you understand, +but it's only _natural_ that out here on these older worlds--" + +They listened half attentively, trying in their imaginations to pierce +the armor he used to defend so frantically the thing the Markovians did +not want the outer worlds to know anything about. + +The talk went on during mealtime. Marthasa's wife caught the spirit of +it and they both regaled the Terrans with accounts of the grandeur of +Markovian exploits. Cameron grew more and more depressed by it, and as +they retired to their rooms early he began to realize how absolutely +complete was the impasse into which they had been driven. + +"They've let us in," he said to Joyce. "They've shown us the history +they've written of themselves. There's no way in the Universe we can +stand up and boldly challenge that history and call them the liars we +know they are." + +"But they must know of the histories written on other Council worlds +about their doings," said Joyce. "Maybe we could reach a point where we +could at least ask about them. Ask how it is that other histories show +that a hundred and twenty years ago a fleet of Markovian ships swept +unexpectedly out of space and looted and decimated the planet Lakcaine +VI. Ask why the Markovian history says only that the Nucleus concluded +six new commercial treaties to the benefit of all worlds concerned in +that period, without any mention of Lakcaine VI." + +"When you start asking questions like that you've got to be ready to +run. And if it fizzles out you've lost all chance of coming back for a +second try. That could fizzle out because they simply deny the validity +of all history outside their own." + +"Then we might as well pack and go home if you're not going to challenge +any of this stuff they hand out. We won't find the answer by standing +around and taking _their_ word on everything." + +"I forgot to tell you one thing," Cameron said slowly. "We may not have +to take their word for it. Someone else here knows the truth of the +situation, also." + +"Who?" + +"The Ids." He told her then of the warning Sal Karone had given him +aboard the ship on the way to the Nucleus, the statement that "My +Masters are a people who cannot yet be understood by the men of other +worlds." + +"The Ids know what the Markovians are and what they are trying to hide. +I had almost overlooked that simple fact." + +"But you can't go out and challenge them to tell the truth any more than +you can the Markovians!" Joyce protested. "Because Sal Karone went out +of his way to warn you doesn't mean he's going to get real buddy-buddy +and tell you everything you want to know." + +"No, of course not. But there's one little difference between him and +the Markovians. He has admitted openly that he knows why we're here. +None of the Markovians have done that yet. We don't have to challenge +him because there already exists the tacit understanding that something +is decidedly phony. + +"And besides, he invited us to come and visit the Id communities outside +the city. I think that's an invitation we should accept just as soon as +possible." + + +IV + +Sal Karone had not repeated his invitation that the Terrans visit the Id +communities, but he showed no adverse reaction when Cameron said they +would like to take him up on his previous offer. + +"You will be very welcome," he said. A soft smile lightened his +features. "I will notify my leaders you will come." + +With a start, Cameron realized that the existence of any kind of +community probably implied leaders, but he had ignored this in view of +Marthasa's insistence that the Ids had no culture of their own. He +wondered just how untrue that assertion might be. + +For the first time, he sensed genuine disapproval in the attitude of +Marthasa when he mentioned plans to go with Sal Karone to the Id +centers. "There's nothing out there you'd want to see," the Markovian +said. "Their village is only a group of crude huts in the forest. It'll +be a waste of your time to go out there when there's so much else we +could show you." + +"Sal Karone suggested the visit before we arrived," said Cameron. "He'd +be hurt if we turned him down. Perhaps just to satisfy him--" + +Angry indecision hid behind Marthasa's eyes. "Well--maybe that makes it +different," he said finally. "We try to do everything possible to make +the Ids happy. It's up to you if you want to waste your time on the +visit." + +"I think I do. Sal Karone has been very attentive and pleasant to us. +It's a small favor in return." + + * * * * * + +Early in the morning, two days later, they left with Sal Karone +directing them to the Idealist center. They discovered that the term, at +the edge of the city, was a mere euphemism. It was a long two-hour trip +at the high speed of which the Markovian cars were capable. + +The city itself vanished, and a thickly wooded area took its place +during the last half of the journey, reminding them of the few remote, +peaceful forests of Earth. Then, as the car slowed, they left the +highway for a rough trail that led for a number of miles back into the +forest. They came at last into a clearing circled by rough wooden +dwellings possessing all the appearance of crude, primitive existence on +little more than a subsistence level. + +"This is the village of our Chief," said Sal Karone. "He will be pleased +to explain all you may wish to know about the Idealist Way." + +Cameron was shocked almost beyond speech by his first sight of the +clearing. He had tried to prepare for the worst, but he had told himself +that the Markovian's estimate of the Ids could not be true. Now he was +forced to admit that it was. In contact with all the skills of their +Masters, which they would certainly be permitted to learn if they wanted +to, the Ids chose primitive squalor when they were on their own. + +Their serenity could be little more than the serenity of the savage who +has no wants or goals and is content to merely serve those whose +ambitions are greater. It was the serenity and peacefulness of death. +The Ids had died--as a race--long ago. The Markovians were loud, +boastful, and obnoxious, but that could be discounted as the awkwardness +of youth in a race that would perhaps be very great in the Universe at a +time when the Ids were wholly forgotten. + +Cameron felt depressed by the sight. He began to doubt the wisdom of his +coming here in hope of finding an answer to the Markovian deception. The +warning of Sal Karone on shipboard seemed now like nothing more than a +half ignorant demonstration of loyalty toward the Markovian Masters. +Possibly there had been some talk which the Id had overheard and he had +taken it upon himself to warn the Terrans--knowing perhaps nothing of +the matter which the Markovians were reluctant to expose. + +If he could have done so gracefully, Cameron felt he would have turned +and gone back without bothering with the interview. His curiosity about +the Ids themselves had all but vanished. The answer to their situation +was obvious. And he had maintained such high hope that somehow his +expectation in them would be fulfilled during this visit. + +There was a satisfying cleanliness apparent in everything as Sal Karone +led them to the largest of the buildings. Joyce seemed to be enjoying +herself as she surveyed the surroundings with an interest Cameron had +lost. + +As they entered the doorway a thin, straight old man with a white beard +arose from a chair and approached them in greeting. The ancient, +conventional, patriarchal order, Cameron thought. He could see the whole +setup in a nutshell right now. Squalid communities like this where the +too-old and the too-young were nurtured on the calcified traditions to +which nothing was ever added. The able serving in the homes of the +Markovians, providing sustenance for themselves and those who depended +on them. The Markovians were generous indeed in not referring to the Ids +as slaves. There was little else they could ever be called. + +The Chief was addressed as Venor by Sal Karone, who introduced them. "It +is kind of you to include our village in your visit to the Nucleus," +said Venor. "There are many more spectacular things to see." + +"There is often greatest wisdom in the least spectacular," said Cameron, +trying to sound like a sage. "Sal Karone was kind enough to invite us to +your center and said there was much you could show us." + +"The things of the soul are not possible to _show_," said Venor gently. +"We wish there were time that we might teach you some of the great +things our people have learned in their long wanderings. I am told that +your profession and your purpose in being here is the study of races and +their actions and the things they have learned." + +With a start, Cameron came to greater attention. He was certain he had +never given any such information in the presence of Sal Karone or +Marthasa. Yet even Venor knew he was a sociologist! Here was the first +knowledge that must lie behind the evidence of the undercurrent of +objections of the Markovian representative in the Council and Premier +Jargla. + +And this primitive patriarch was in possession of it. + +Relations between the individuals of this planet were something far more +complex than Cameron had assumed. He hesitated a moment before speaking. +Just why had this bait been so innocently thrown to him? Marthasa had +never mentioned it. Yet had the Markovians asked for an attempt to get +an admission from him for their own purposes? And what purposes--? + +He abandoned caution, and nodded. "Yes, that is the thing I am +interested in. I had hoped to study the history and ways of the +Markovians. As Sal Karone has told me, they don't want strangers to make +such a study. You are perhaps not so unwilling to be known--?" + +"We wish the entire Universe might know of us and be as we are." + +"You hardly make that possible, subjugating your identity so completely +to that of another race. The worlds will never know of you unless you +become strong and unified as a people and obtain a name of your own." + +"Our name is known," said Venor. "We are the Idealists. You will not +find many worlds on which we are unknown, and they call us the ones who +serve. Even on your world you have the saying of a philosopher who +taught that any who would be master should become the servant of all. +Your people once understood it." + +"Not as a literal undertaking," said Cameron. "You can't submerge your +entire racial identity as you have done. That is not what the saying +meant." + +"To us it does," said Venor solemnly. "We would master the Universe--and +therefore we must serve it. That is the core of the law of the +Idealists." + + * * * * * + +Cameron let his gaze scan through the window to the small clearing in +the thick forest, to the circle of wooden houses. _We would master the +Universe_--he restrained a smile. + +"You cannot believe this," said Venor, "because you have never +understood the mark of the servant or the mark of the master. How often +is there difficulty in distinguishing one from the other!" + +And how often do the illusions of the mind ease the privations of the +body, Cameron thought. So that was the source of the Idealist serenity. +Wherever they went they considered themselves the masters through +service--and conversely, those they served became the slaves, he +supposed. It was a pleasant, easy philosophy that hurt no one. Except +the ones who believed it. They died the moment they accepted it, for all +initiative and desire were gone. + +"The master is he who guides the destiny of a man or a race," said Venor +almost in meditation. "He is not the man who gathers or disperses the +wealth, or who builds the cities and the ships to the stars. The master +is he who teaches what must be done with these things and how a people +shall expend their lives." + +"And the Markovians do this, in obedience to you?" said Cameron +whimsically. + +"Wherever my people are," answered Venor, "strife ceases and peace +comes. Who can do this is master of worlds." + +There was a strange solemnity about the voice and figure of the old +Idealist that checked the sense of ridiculousness in Cameron. It seemed +somehow strangely moving. + +"You believe the worlds are better," he asked gently, "just because you +are there?" + +"Yes," said Venor, "because we are there." + +There was a pathos about it that fired Cameron's anger. On scores of +worlds there were primitive groups like this one, blinding themselves +with a glory that didn't exist, in the grip of ancient, meaningless +traditions. The younger ones--like Sal Karone--were intelligent, worth +salvaging, but they could never be lifted out of this mire of false +belief unless they could be shown how empty it was. + +"Nothing you have said explains the mystery of how this great thing is +accomplished," said Cameron almost angrily. "Even if we wanted to +believe it were true, it is still as utterly incomprehensible as before +we came." + +"There is a saying among us," said Venor kindly. "Translated into your +tongue it would be: How was the wild dog tamed, and a saddle put upon +the fierce stallion?" + + * * * * * + +Stubbornly, then, Venor would say no more about the philosophy of the +Idealists. He spoke freely of the many other worlds upon which the +Idealists lived and served, and he affirmed the tradition that they did +not even know the place of their origin, the planet that might have been +their home world. + +He was evasive, however, when Cameron asked when the first contact was +made between his people and the Markovians. There was something that the +Ids, too, were holding back, the sociologist thought, and there was no +apparent reason for it. + +Recklessly, he decided nothing could be lost by attempting to blast for +it. "Why have the Markovians consistently lied to us?" he said. "They've +given us their history--and if your people know the feelings of other +worlds they know this history is a lie. Only a few generations ago the +Markovians pirated and plundered these worlds, and now they pose as +little tin gods with a silver halo. Why?" + +Sal Karone stood by with a look of horror on his face, but Venor made no +sign of alarm at this forbidden question. He merely inclined his held +slowly and repeated, "How was the wild dog tamed, and a saddle put upon +the fierce stallion?" + + * * * * * + +That was the end of the interview. The Ids insisted, however, that he +inspect the rest of the village and they personally guided the Terrans +on the tour. Cameron's trained eye took in at a glance, however, the +evidence supporting his previous conclusion. The artifacts and buildings +demonstrated a primitive forest culture. The other individuals he saw +were almost entirely the old and very young--the ones unsuitable as +servants to the Markovians. Venor explained that family life among them +paralleled in general that of the Masters. Whole Idealist families lived +and served as units in the Markovian household. Exceptions existed in +the case of Sal Karone and others of his age who were separated from +their families and had not yet begun their own. + +As they returned to the car Venor took their hands. He pressed Cameron's +warmly and looked into his eyes with deep sincerity. "You have made us +glad by your presence," he said. "And when the time comes for you to +return, we shall repay all the pleasure you have given us." + +"I'm afraid we won't be able to do that," said Cameron. "We appreciate +your hospitality, but I'm sure time will not permit us to visit you +again, as much as we'd like to." In the past few minutes he had reached +the conclusion that further research on this whole planet was futile. +The best thing they could do was go somewhere else in the Nucleus and +make a fresh start. + +Venor shook his head, smiling. "We will see each other again, Joyce and +Cameron. I feel that the day will be very soon." + +It was senseless to let himself be irritated by the senile patriarch who +spoke out of a world of illusion but Cameron could not help feeling +nettled as he started back to the city. Somehow it seemed impossible to +regard Venor as merely a specimen for sociological research. The Chief +of the Idealists reached out of his unreal world and made his contact +with the Terrans a personal thing--almost as if he had spent all his +life waiting for their coming. There was a sense of intimacy against +which Cameron rebelled, and yet it was not an unpleasant thing. + +Cameron's mind oscillated between the annoyance of Venor's calm +assertion that they would be back shortly, and the nonsense of the Id +belief that they controlled the civilizations in which they were +servants. How was the wild dog tamed, and a saddle put upon the fierce +stallion? + +He smiled faintly to himself, wondering if the Markovians were fully +aware that the Ids regarded them as tamed dogs and saddled stallions. +They couldn't help knowing, of course, but it was hard to imagine +Marthasa and his wife being very much amused by such an estimate. The +situation would be intolerable, however, if it were met by anything +except amusement. It might be a mildly explosive subject, but he was +going to find out about that one small item before moving on, anyway, +Cameron decided. + + * * * * * + +Sal Karone was strangely silent during the whole of the return trip. He +offered no comments and made only brief, noncommittal replies to +questions about the country through which they passed. He seemed +depressed by the results of their visit. Probably because the violation +of his warning to not question the lives of the Markovians. It was a +curious evidence of their completely unreal, proprietary attitude in +respect to their Masters. They'd have to investigate Marthasa's response +as thoroughly as possible. There seemed to be no taboo on discussion of +the Ids with him. + +His annoyance at their acceptance of the invitation to the Id village +appeared to have vanished as he greeted them upon their return. "We +delayed eating, thinking you'd be back in time. If you'll join us in the +dining room as soon as you're ready--?" + +The villa of Marthasa seemed different after the day's experience with +the Ids, although Cameron was certain nothing had changed either in a +physical way or in their relations with the Markovians. It was as if his +senses had been somehow sharpened to detect an undercurrent of feeling +of which he had previously been unaware. Glancing at Joyce, he sensed +she felt the same. + +"I have the feeling that we missed something," she said, as they changed +clothes to join Marthasa and his wife. "There was something Venor wanted +us to know and wouldn't say. I would almost like to go back there again +before we go away." + +Cameron was surprised at his own annoyance with Joyce's statement. It +reflected the impressions in his own mind which he was trying to ignore. +"Nonsense," he said. "There's no use trying to read great profundity in +the words of an old patriarch of the woods. He's nothing except what he +appears to be." + +The Markovians talked easily of Venor and the rest of the Ids. "We have +tried to get him to join us in the city," said Marthasa as the meal +began, "but he won't hear of it. It seems to give him a sense of +importance to live out there alone with his retinue and have the other +Ids come to him with their problems. He's a kind of arbiter and +patriarch to all of them for many miles around." + +[Illustration] + +While Marthasa talked Cameron tried to bring his awareness of all the +varied facets of the problem together and see it whole, as he now +understood it. The Markovians, a vast pirate community, had voluntarily +abandoned freebooting for reasons yet to be discovered. They had turned +their backs upon it so forcibly that they hid even the history of their +depredations. And one of their last acts must have been the capture of a +large colony of Idealists who were forced into servitude. Now the Ids +compensated their enslavement by the religious belief that service made +them masters over the ex-pirates, convincing themselves that _they_ had +changed the Markovians, taming them like wild dogs, saddling them as +fierce stallions-- + +Cameron wondered if he dared, and then dismissed the thought that there +could be any risk. It was too ridiculous! + + * * * * * + +There was even a half-malicious smile on his lips as he broke into +Marthasa's conversation. "One of the things that made me very curious +today," he said, "was the general reaction of your people to the +Idealist illusion that they have _tamed_ you--as expressed in their +aphorism about how was the wild dog--?" + +He never finished. Across the table the faces of the Markovians had +frozen in sudden bitterness. The shield of friendliness vanished under +the cold glare from their eyes. + +Marthasa's lips seemed to curl as he whispered, "So you came like all +the rest! And we wanted so much to believe you were honest. A study! A +chance to find material for lies about the Nucleus to spread among all +the Council worlds." + +He continued almost sadly, "You will be confined to your quarters until +transfer authorities can arrange for your return to Earth. And you may +be sure that never again will such a scheme get one of your kind into +the Nucleus again." + +But there was no hint of sadness in his wife's face. She glared coldly. +"I said they should never had been permitted to come!" + +Cameron rose in sudden bewildered protest. "I assure you we have no +intention--" he began. + +And then he stopped. In one moment of incredible clarity while they +stood there, eyes locked in bitter stares, he understood. He knew the +myth was not a myth. It was cold, unbelievable reality. The Ids _had_ +tamed the Markovians. + +In a moment of fear he wondered if it were anything more than a thin +shell that could be shattered by a whisper from a stupid dabbler in +cultures, who really knew nothing at all about the profession to which +he pretended. + + +V + +As if upon some secret signal Sal Karone appeared from the serving room +at their left. + +"Our visitors are no longer our guests," Marthasa said sharply with +accusing eyes still upon Cameron. "They will remain in their rooms until +time for deportation. + +"I trust it will not be necessary to use force," he said directly to +Cameron. + +"Of course not. But won't you let me explain--won't you even allow an +apology for breaking a taboo we did not understand?" + +"Is it not taboo among all civilized peoples, including your own, to +invent and spread lies about those who wish you only well?" + +It was useless to argue, Cameron saw. He turned, taking Joyce's arm, and +allowed Sal Karone to lead them back to their rooms. As they paused at +the doorway the Id spoke without expression on his dark face. "This is +not a good thing, Cameron Wilder. It would have been best for you to +have considered my warning." + +He turned and stepped away, locking the door behind him. + +Joyce slumped on the bed in dejection. "This is a fine fix we've got +ourselves into, being declared _persona non grata_ before we even get a +good start! They'll remember _that_ back home when A Study of the +Metamorphosis of the Markovian Nucleus is mentioned in professional +circles!" + +"Don't rub it in," Cameron said, half angrily. "How was I to know that +was such a vicious taboo? It can't be any secret to the Markovians that +the Ids look upon them as tamed. Why should they get their hackles up +because _I_ mentioned it?" + +"All I know is we're washed up as of now. What do we do when we get back +home?" + +Cameron stood with his back to her, looking through the windows to the +garden beyond. "I'm not thinking of that," he said. "Can't you see we +haven't failed? We've almost got it--the thing we came to find. We +_knew_ why the Markovians suddenly became good Indians. The Ids actually +did tame them. We've got to find out how such an apparently impossible +thing could be done." + +"Do you really believe that's what happened?" asked Joyce. + +Cameron nodded. "It's the only thing there is to believe. If it weren't +true, Marthasa and his wife would have laughed it off as nonsense. +Getting all huffy and talking about deportation for cooking up lies is +the best proof you could ask for that we hit pay dirt. Don't ask me how +I think the Ids could do it. _That's_ what I'm going to find out." + +"How?" + +"I don't know." + +But he did have an idea that if he could somehow get word to the old Id +chieftain help could be had. He knew he was straining to believe things +he wanted to believe, yet it seemed as if this were almost the very +thing Venor had tried to convey the day before but had left unspoken. + +There was only one possibility of establishing contact, however, and +that was through Sal Karone. A remote chance indeed, Cameron thought, in +view of the relationship between the Markovian and his _sargh_. As a +last resort it was worth trying, however. + +It looked as if they would not have even this chance as the evening grew +darker. Cameron kept watch through the windows in the hope of signaling +Sal Karone in case he should appear. They hoped he might come to the +room for a final check of their needs for the night as he usually did. + +But he did not appear. + + * * * * * + +Cameron finally went to bed after Joyce was long asleep. He turned +restlessly, beating his mind with increasing wonder as to how it could +be so incredibly true that the Idealists were the actual masters of the +Nucleus. That they had somehow tamed the murderous, piratical +Markovians. He couldn't have known this was it! + +One thing he could understood, however, was the Markovians reluctance to +have visitors--and their careful watch over them. Marthasa had been more +than a host, he thought. He was a guard as well, trying to keep the +Terrans from discovering the unpleasant reality concerning the influence +of the Ids. He had slipped in allowing the visit to Venor. + +At dawn there was the sound of their door opening and Cameron whirled +from his dressing, hopeful it might be Sal Karone. It was Marthasa, +however, grim and distant. "I have obtained word that your deportation +can be accomplished today. Premier Jargla has been informed and concurs. +The Council has been notified and offers no protestations. You will +ready yourselves before the evening hour." + +He slammed the door behind him. Joyce turned down the covers in the +other room and sat up. "I wonder if he isn't even going to feed us +today?" + +Cameron made no answer. He finished dressing hurriedly and kept a +frantic watch for any sign of Sal Karone. + +At last there was a knock on the door and the Id appeared with breakfast +on a cart. Cameron exhaled with relief that it was not one of the other +_sarghs_ in the household. + +Sal Karone eyed them impassively as he wheeled in and arranged the food +on the table by a window. Cameron watched, estimating his chances. + +"Your Chief, Venor, was very kind to us yesterday," he said quietly. +"Our biggest regret in leaving is that our conversation with him must go +unfinished." + +Sal Karone paused. "Were there things you had yet to say to him?" he +asked. + +"No--there were things Venor wanted to tell us. You heard him. He wanted +us to come back. It is completely impossible for us to see him again +before we go?" + +Sal Karone straightened and set the utensils on the table. "No, it is +not impossible. I have been instructed to bring you back to the village +if it should be your request." + +Cameron felt a surge of eager excitement within him. "When? Our +deportation is scheduled for today. How can we get there? How can we +avoid Marthasa and the Markovians?" + +"Stand very quietly," said Sal Karone, that sense of power and command +in his voice and bearing as Cameron had seen it once before aboard the +spaceship. "Now," he said. "Close your eyes." + +There was a sudden wrenching twist as if two solid surfaces had slammed +them from front and back, and a third force had thrust them sideways. + +They opened their eyes in the wooden house of Venor, in the village of +the Idealists. + + * * * * * + +"We owe you apologies," said Venor. "We hope you are not harmed in any +way." + +Cameron stared around uncertainly. Joyce clutched his hand. "How did +we--?" Cameron stammered. + +"Teleportation is the descriptive term in your language, I believe," +said Venor. "It was rather urgent that you come without further delay so +we resorted to it. Nothing else would do in the face of Marthasa's +action. Sit down if you will, please. If you wish to rest or eat, your +quarters are ready." + +"Our quarters--! Then you _did_ expect us back. You knew this was going +to happen exactly as it has!" + +"Yes, I knew," said Venor quietly. "I planned it this way when word +first came to us of your visit." + +"I think we are entitled to explanations," Cameron said at last. "We +seem to have been pieces in a game we knew nothing about." + +And it had taken this long for the full impact of Venor's admission of +teleportation to hit him. He closed his eyes in a moment's reaction of +fright. He didn't want to believe it--and knew he must. These +Idealists--who could master galaxies and tame the wild Markovians--was +there anything they could not do? + +"Not a game," Venor protested. "We planned this because we wanted you to +see what you have seen. We wanted a man of Earth to know what we have +done." + +"But don't the Markovians realize the foolishness of deporting us +because we stumbled onto the relationship between you and them? And if +you are in control how can they issue such an order--unless you want +it?" + +"Our relationship is more complex than that. There are different levels +of control. We operate the one that brought you here--" He let Cameron +consider the implication of the unfinished statement. + +Then he continued, "To understand the Markovians' reason for deporting +you, consider that on Earth men have tamed wolves and made faithful, +loyal dogs who can be trusted. Dogs who have forever lost the knowledge +their ancestors were fierce marauders ready to rip and tear the flesh of +any man or beast that came their way. + +"Consider the dogs only a generation or two from the vicious wolves who +were their forebears. The old urges have not entirely died, yet they +want to know man's affection and trust. Could you remind them of what +their kind once was without stirring up torment within them? + +"So it is with the Markovians. They are peaceful and creative, but only +a few generations behind them are pirates who were not fit to sit in the +Councils of civilized beings. They have no tradition of culture to +support them. It knocks the props out from under them, so to speak, to +have it known what lies behind them. They cannot be friends with such a +man. They cannot even endure the knowledge among themselves." + +"Then I was right!" Cameron exclaimed. "Their phony history _was_ set up +to deceive their own people as well as others." + +"Yes. The dog would destroy all evidence of his wolf ancestry. It has +been an enormous project, but the people of the Nucleus have been at it +a long time. They have concocted a consistent history which leaves out +all evidence of their predatory ancestry. The items of reality which +were possible to leave have been retained. The gaps between have been +bridged by fictionized accounts of glorious undertakings and +discoveries. Most of the Markovian science has been taken from other +cultures, but now their history boasts of heroes and discoverers who +never lived and who were responsible for all the great science they +enjoy." + +"But nothing stable can be built upon such an unhealthy foundation of +self-deception!" Cameron protested. + +"It is not unhealthy--not at the present moment," said Venor. "The time +will come when it, too, will be thrust aside and a tremendous effort of +scholarship will extract the elements of truth and find that which was +suppressed. But the Markovians themselves will do it--a generation of +them who can afford to laugh at the fears and fantasies of their +ancestors." + +"This tells us nothing of how you were able to make a creative people +out of a race of pirate marauders," said Cameron. + +"I gave you the key," said Venor. "It was one used long ago by your own +people before it was abandoned. + +"How was the savage wolf tamed to become the loyal, friendly dog? Did +ancient man try to exterminate the wolves that came to his caves and +carried off his young? Perhaps he tried. But he learned, perhaps +accidentally, another way of conquest. He found the wolf's cubs, and +learned to love them. He brought the cubs home and cared for them +tenderly and his own children played with them and fed them and loved +them. + +"It took time, but eventually there were no more wild wolves to trouble +man, because he had discovered a great friend, the dog. And man plus dog +could handle wolf with ease. Dog forgot in time what his forebears were +and became willing to defend man against his own kind--because man loved +him. + +"It happened again and again. Agricultural man hated the wild horse that +ate his grain and trampled his fields. But he learned to love the horse, +too, after a while. Again--no more wild horses." + +"But you can't take a predatory, savage pirate and love him into +decency!" Cameron protested. + +"No," Venor agreed. "It is too difficult ordinarily at that level, and +wasteful of time and resources. But I didn't say that is what happened. +You don't tame a wolf by loving it, but the _cubs_--yes. And even +pirates have cubs, who are susceptible to being loved. + +"The first weapon was hate. But after learning the futility of it, +sentient creatures discovered another, the succeeding evolutionary +emotion. It is pure savagery in its destructive power, a thousand times +more effective in annihilating the enemy. + +"You've thought 'Love thy enemy' was a soft, gentle, futile doctrine! +Actually, instead of merely killing the enemy it twists his personality, +destroys his identity. He continues to live, but he has lost his +integrity as an entity. The wolf cub never becomes an adult wolf. He +becomes Dog. + +"It is not a doctrine of weakness, but the ultimate weapon of +destruction. It can be used to induce any orientation desired in the +mind of the enemy. He'll do everything you want him to--because he has +your love." + + * * * * * + +"How did you apply that to the Markovians?" asked Joyce in almost a +whisper. + +"It was one of the most difficult programs we have ever undertaken," +said Venor. "There were comparatively few of us and such a tremendous +population of Markovians. We had predicted long ago, even before the +organization of the Council, the situation would grow critical and +dangerous. By the time the Council awoke to the fact and started its +futile debates we had made a strong beginning. + +"We arranged to be in the path of a Markovian attack on one of the +worlds where our work was completed. The Markovians were only too happy +to take us into slavery and use us as victims in their brutal sports." + +"You didn't deliberately fall into a trap where you allowed yourselves +to be killed and tortured by them?" exclaimed Cameron. + +Venor smiled. "The Markovians thought we did. We could hardly do that, +of course. Our numbers were so small compared with theirs that we +wouldn't have lasted very long. And, obviously, it would have been +plain stupid. There is one key that must not be forgotten: An effective +use of love requires an absolute superiority on the levels attainable by +the individual to be tamed. So, in this case, we had to have power to +keep the Markovians from slaughtering us or we would have been unable to +accomplish our purpose. + +"Teleportation is of obvious use here. Likewise, psychosomatic controls +that can handle any ordinary wound we might permit them to inflict. We +gave them the illusion of slaughtering and torturing us, but our numbers +did not dwindle." + +"Why did you give them such an illusion?" Joyce asked. "And you say you +_permitted_ them to inflict wounds--?" + +Venor nodded. "We were in their households, you see, employed as slaves +and assigned the care of their young. The cubs of the wolf were given +into our hands to love--and to tame. + +"These Markovian children were witnesses to the supposed torture and +killing of those who loved them. It was a tremendous psychic impact and +served to drive their influence toward the side of the slaves. And even +the adults slowly recognized the net loss to them of doing away with +servants so skilled and useful in household tasks and caring for the +young. The games and brutality vanished spontaneously within a short +time. Markovians, young and old, simply didn't want them any longer. + +"During the maturity of that first generation of young on whom we +expended our love our position became more secure. These were no longer +wolves. They had become dogs, loyal to those who had loved them, and we +could use them now against their own kind. Influences to abandon piracy +against other peoples began to spread throughout the Nucleus. + +"Today the Markovians are no longer a threat capable of holding the +Council worlds in helpless fear. They long ago ceased their +depredations. Their internal stability is rising and is almost at the +point where we shall be able to leave them. Our work here is about +finished." + +"Surely all this was unnecessary!" Joyce said. "With your powers of +teleportation and other psionic abilities you must possess it should +have been easy for you to _control_ the Markovians directly, force them +to cease their piracy--" + +"Of course," said Venor. "That would have been so much easier for us. +And so futile. The Markovians would have learned nothing through being +taken over by us and operated externally. They would have remained the +same. But it was our desire to change them, teach them, accomplish +genuine learning within them. It is always longer and more difficult +this way. The results, however, are more lasting!" + +"_Who_ are you people--_what_ are you?" Cameron said with sudden +intensity. "You have teleportation--and how many other unknown psychic +powers? You have forced us to believe you can tame such a vicious world +as the Markovian Nucleus once was. + +"But where is there a life of your own? With all your powers you must +live at the whim of other cultures. Where is _your_ culture? Where is +your own purpose? In spite of all you have, your life is a parasitical +one." + +Venor smiled gently. "Is not the parent--or the teacher--the servant of +the child?" he said. "Has it not always been so if a species is to rise +very far in its conquest of the Universe? + +"But this does not mean that the parent or teacher has no life of his +own. You ask where is our culture? The culture of _all_ worlds is ours. +We don't have great cities and vast fleets. The wolf cubs build these +for us. They carry us across space and shelter us in their cities. + +"Our own energies are expended in a thousand other and more profitable +ways. We have sought and learned a few of the secrets of life and mind. +With these we can move as you were moved, when we choose to do so. From +where I sit I can speak with any of our kind on this planet or any world +of the entire Nucleus. And a few of us, united in the effort, can touch +those in distant galaxies. + +"What culture would you have us acquire, that we do not have?" Venor +finished. + + * * * * * + +Without answer, Cameron arose and strode slowly to the window, his back +to the room. He looked out upon the rude wooden huts and the towering +forest beyond. He tried to tell himself it was all a lie. Such things +couldn't be. But he could feel it now with increasing strength, as if +all his senses were quickening--the benign aura, the indefinable wash of +power that seemed to lap at the edge of his mind. + +Out of the corner of his eye he could see Joyce's face, almost radiant +as she, too, sensed it here in the presence of the Ids. + +Love, as a genuine power, had been taught by every Terran philosopher of +any social worth. But it had never really been tried. Not in the way the +Ids understood it. Cameron felt he could only guess at the terrible +discipline of mind it required to use it as they did. The analogy of the +wolf cubs was all very well, and man had learned to go that far. But +there is a difference when your own kind is involved, he thought. + +Perhaps it was out of sheer fear of each other that men continued to try +to sway with hate, the most primitive of all their weapons. + +It's easy to hate, he thought. Love is hard, and because it is, the +tough humans who can't achieve it and have the patience to manipulate it +must scorn it. The truly weak ones, they're incapable of the stern and +brutal self-discipline required of one who loves his enemy. + +But men had known how. Back in the caves they had known how to conquer +the wolf and the wild horse. Where had they lost it? + +The vision of the buildings and the forest with its eternal peace was +still in his eyes. What else could you want, with the whole Universe in +the palm of your hand? + +He turned sharply. "You tricked us into betraying ourselves to Marthasa, +and you said that you planned it this way when you first heard of our +coming. But you have not yet said why. Why did you want us to see what +you had done?" + +"You needed to have evidence from the Markovians themselves," said +Venor. "That is why I led you to the point where the admission would be +forced from them. The problem you came to solve is now answered, is it +not? Is there anything to prevent you returning to Earth and writing a +successful paper on the mystery of the Markovians?" + +"You know very well there is," said Cameron with the sudden sense that +Venor was laughing gently at him. "Who on Earth would believe what you +have told me--that a handful of meek, subservient Ids had conquered the +mighty Markovian Nucleus?" + +He paused, looking at Joyce who returned his intense gaze. + +"Is that all?" said Venor finally. + +"No that is not all. After taking us to the heights and showing us +everything that lies beyond, are you simply going to turn us away +empty-handed?" + +"What would you have us give you?" + +"This," said Cameron, gesturing with his hand to include the circle of +all of them, and the community beyond the window. "We want what you have +discovered. Is your circle a closed one--or can you admit those who +would learn of your ways but are not of your race?" + +Venor's smile broadened as he arose and stepped toward them, and they +felt the warm wave of acceptance from his mind even before he spoke. +"This is what we brought you here to receive," he said. "But you had to +ask for yourselves. We wanted men of Earth in our ranks. There are many +races and many worlds who make up the Idealists. That is why it is said +that the Ids do not know the home world from which they originally came. +It is true, they do not. We are citizens of the Universe. + +"But we have never been represented by a native of Earth, which needs us +badly. Will you join us, Terrans?" + + +THE END + +[Illustration] + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + +This etext was produced from _Astounding Science Fiction_ November 1955. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright +on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errors +have been corrected without note. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Cubs of the Wolf, by Raymond F. 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Jones + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Cubs of the Wolf + +Author: Raymond F. Jones + +Illustrator: Rogers + +Release Date: September 6, 2007 [EBook #22526] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CUBS OF THE WOLF *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/001.png" width="700" height="305" alt="MARKOVIA" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h1>CUBS OF THE WOLF</h1> + +<h2>BY RAYMOND F. JONES</h2> + +<p class="tease"><big>It may be</big> that there is a weapon that, from the<br /> +viewpoint of the one it's used on, is worse than<br /> +lethal. You might say that death multiplies you by<br /> +zero; what would multiplication by minus one do?</p> + +<p class="illo">Illustrated by Rogers</p> + + +<p>In the spring the cherry blossoms +are heavy in the air over the campus +of Solarian Institute of Science and +Humanities. On a small slope that +rims the park area, Cameron Wilder +lay on his back squinting through the +cloud of pink-white petals to the sky +beyond. Beside him, Joyce Farquhar +drew her jacket closer with an irritated +gesture. It was still too cold to +be sitting on the grass, but Cameron +didn't seem to notice it—or anything +else, Joyce thought.</p> + +<p>"If you don't submit a subject for +your thesis now," she said, "you'll +take another full six months getting +your doctorate. Sometimes I think you +don't really want it!"</p> + +<p>Cameron stirred. He shifted his +squinting gaze from the sky to Joyce +and finally sat up. But he was staring +ahead through the trees again as he +took his pipe from his pocket and +began filling it slowly.</p> + +<p>"I <i>don't</i> want it if it's not going +to mean anything after I get it," he +said belligerently. "I'm not going to +do an investigation of some silly +subject like The Transience of Venusian +Immigrants in Relation to the +Martian Polar Ice Cap Cycle. Solarian +sociologists are the butt of enough +ridicule now. Do something like that +and for the rest of your life you get +knocking of the knees whenever anybody +inquires about the specialty you +worked in and threatens to read your +thesis."</p> + +<p>"Nobody's asking you to do anything +you don't want to. But <i>you</i> +picked the field of sociology to work +in. Now I don't see why you have +to act such a purist that it takes +months to find a research project for +your degree. Pick something—anything!—I +don't care what it is. But +if you don't get a degree and an +appointment out of the next session +I don't think we'll ever get married—not +ever."</p> + +<p>Cameron removed his pipe from +his mouth with a precise grip and +considered it intently as it cupped in +his hands. "I'm glad you mentioned +marriage," he said. "I was just about +to speak of it myself."</p> + +<p>"Well, don't!" said Joyce. "After +three years—Three years!"</p> + +<p>He turned to face her and smiled +for the first time. He liked to lead +her along occasionally just to watch +her explode, but he was not always +sure when he had gone too far. Joyce +had a mind like a snapping, random +matching calculator while he operated +more on a slow, carefully shaping +analogue basis, knowing things were +never quite what they seemed but +trying to get as close an approximation +of the true picture as possible.</p> + +<p>"Will you marry me now?" he +said.</p> + +<p>The question did not seem to startle +her. "No degree, no appointment—and +no chance of getting one—we +couldn't even get a license. I hope +you aren't suggesting we try to get +along without one, or on a forgery!"</p> + +<p>Cameron shook his head. "No, +darling, this is a perfectly bona fide +proposal, complete with license, appointment, +the works—what do you +say?"</p> + +<p>"I say this spring sun is too much +for you." She touched the dark mass +of his hair, warmed by the sun's rays, +and put her head on his shoulder. +She started to cry. "Don't tease me +like that, Cameron. It seems like +we've been waiting forever—and +there's still forever ahead of us. You +can't do anything you want to—"</p> + +<p>Cameron put his arms about her, +not caring if the whole Institute faculty +leaned out the windows to watch. +"That's why you should appreciate +being about to marry such a resourceful +fellow," he said more gently. And +now he dropped all banter. "I've been +thinking about how long it's been, +too. That's why I decided to try to +kill a couple of sparrows with one +pebble."</p> + +<p>Joyce sat up. "You aren't serious—?"</p> + +<p>Cameron sucked on his pipe once +more. "Ever hear of the Markovian +Nucleus?" he said thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>Joyce slowly nodded her head. +"Oh, I think I've heard the name +mentioned," she murmured, "but +nothing more than that."</p> + +<p>"I've asked for that as my research +project."</p> + +<p>"But that's clear out of the galaxy—in +Transpace!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and obviously out of bounds +for the ordinary graduate researcher. +But because of the scholarship record +I've been able to rack up here I took +a chance on applying to the Corning +Foundation for a grant. And they +decided to take a chance on me after +considerable and not entirely painless +investigation. That's why you were +followed around like a suspected Disloyalist +for a month. My application +included a provision for you to go +along as my wife. Professor Fothergill +notified me this morning that the +grant had been awarded."</p> + +<p>"Cam—" Joyce's voice was brittle +now. "You aren't fooling me?"</p> + +<p>He gathered her in his arms again. +"You think I would fool about something +like that, darling? In a week +you'll be Mrs. C. Wilder, and as +soon as school is out, on your way to +the Markovian Nucleus. And besides, +it took me almost as much work preparing +the research prospectus as the +average guy spends on his whole +project!"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Sometimes Joyce Farquhar wished +Cameron were a good deal different +than he was. But then he wouldn't +have been Cameron, and she wouldn't +want to marry him, she supposed. +And somehow, while he fell behind +on the mid-stretch, he always managed +to come in at the end with the +rest of the field. Or just a little bit +ahead of it.</p> + +<p>Or a good deal ahead of it. As +now. It took her a few moments to +realize the magnitude of the coup +he had actually pulled off. For weeks +she had been depressed because he +refused to use some trivial, breeze +research to get his degree. He could +have started it as much as a year ago, +and they could have been married +now if he'd set himself up a real +cinch.</p> + +<p>But now they were getting married +anyway—and Cameron was getting +the kind of research deal that would +satisfy his frantic desire for integrity +in a world where it counted for little, +and his wish to contribute something +genuine to the sociological understanding +of sentient creatures.</p> + +<p>Their marriage, as was customary, +would be a cut and dried affair. A +call to the license bureau, receipt of +formal sanction in the mail—she supposed +Cameron had already made application—and +a little party with a +few of their closest friends on the +campus. She wished she had lived in +the days when getting married was +much easier to do, and something to +make a fuss about.</p> + +<p>She stirred and sat up, loosening +the jacket as the sun came from behind +a puff of cloud. "You could +have told me about this a long time +ago, couldn't you?" she said accusingly.</p> + +<p>Cameron nodded. "I could have. +But I didn't want to get false hopes +aroused. I didn't have much hope +the deal would actually go through, +myself. I think Fothergill is pretty +much responsible for it."</p> + +<p>"Transpace—" Joyce said dreamily. +"Tell me about the Markovian Nucleus. +Why is it important enough +for a big research study, anyway?"</p> + +<p>"It's a case of a leopard who +changed his spots," said Cameron. +"And nobody knows how or why. +The full title of the project is A +Study of the Metamorphosis of the +Markovian Nucleus."</p> + +<p>"What happened? How are they +any different from the way they used +to be?"</p> + +<p>"A hundred and fifty years ago the +Markovians were the meanest, nastiest, +orneriest specimens in the entire +Council of Galactic Associates. The +groups of worlds in one corner of +their galaxy, which make up the +Nucleus, controlled a military force +that outweighed anything the Council +could possibly bring to bear against +them.</p> + +<p>"With complete disregard of any +scheme of interplanetary rules or +order they harassed and attacked +peaceful shipping and inoffensive cultures +throughout a wide territory. +They were something demanding the +Council's military action. But the +Council lacked the strength.</p> + +<p>"For years the Council dragged on, +debating and threatening ineffectively. +But nothing was ever done. And +then, so gradually it was hardly noticed, +the harassments began to die +down. The warlike posturing was +abandoned by the Markovians. Within +a period of about seventy or eighty +years there was a complete about-face. +They wound up as good Indians, +peaceful, coöperative and intelligent +members of the Council."</p> + +<p>"Didn't anybody ever find out +why?" asked Joyce.</p> + +<p>"No. Nobody <i>wanted</i> to find out. +In the early years the worlds of the +Council were hiding behind their +collective hands hoping with all their +might that the threat might go away +if they kept their eyes closed long +enough. And by some miracle of all +miracles, when they parted their fingers +for a scared glimpse, the threat +<i>had</i> disappeared.</p> + +<p>"When they could breathe a little +more easily it seemed a foolish thing +to bring out this old skeleton from +the closet again, so a perpetual state +of hush was established. Finally, the +whole thing was practically forgotten +except for a short paragraph in an +occasional history text. But no politician +or historian has ever dared publicly +to question the mysterious why +of the Markovian's about-face."</p> + +<p>"Sociologists should have done it +long ago," said Joyce.</p> + +<p>"There was always the political +pressure, of course," said Cameron. +"But the real reason was simply our +preoccupation with making bibliographies +of each others' papers. It's +going to take a lot of leg work, something +in which our formal courses +don't give us any basic training. Fothergill +understands that—it's why he +pushed me so hard with the Foundation. +And Riley up there is capable of +seeing it, too.</p> + +<p>"I showed him that here was a +complex of at least a hundred and +ten major planets, inhabited by a +fairly homogenous, civilized people, +speaking from a technological point +of view at least. And almost overnight +some force changed the entire +cultural posture. I made him see that +identification of that force is of no +small interest to us right now. If it +operated once, it could operate again—and +would its results be as happy +a second time?</p> + +<p>"Riley got the Foundation to kick +through enough for you and me to +make a start. A preliminary survey is +about all it will amount to, actually, +but if we show evidence of something +tangible I'll get my degree, you'll get +your basic certification—and we'll +both return in charge of a full-scale +inquiry with a staff big enough to +really dig into things next year.</p> + +<p>"Now—about this matter of marriage +which you didn't want me to +speak of—"</p> + +<p>"Keep talking, Cam—you're doing +wonderfully!"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>They got married at once, even +though there were several weeks of +school which had to be finished before +they could leave. Among their +friends on the campus there were a +good many whispered remarks about +the insanity of Joyce and Cameron in +planning such a fantastic excursion, +but Joyce was certain there was as +much envy as criticism in the eyes of +her associates. It might be true when +they asserted that every conceivable +sociological factor or combination of +factors could be found and analyzed +right here in the Solar System, but a +husband who could finagle a way to +combine a honeymoon trip halfway +across space with his graduate research +thesis was a rare specimen. +Joyce played her advantage for all it +was worth.</p> + +<p>Two weeks before departure time, +however, Cameron was called to the +office of Professor Fothergill. As he +entered he found a third man present, +wearing a uniform he recognized at +once as belonging to the Council +Secretariat.</p> + +<p>"I'll wait outside," he said abruptly +as Fothergill turned. "I got your +message and came right over. I didn't +know—"</p> + +<p>"Sit down," said Fothergill. "Cameron, +this is Mr. Ebbing, whose position +you no doubt recognize. Mr. +Ebbing, Mr. Wilder."</p> + +<p>The men shook hands and took +seats across from each other. Fothergill +sat between them at the polished +table. "The Council, it seems, has +developed an interest in your proposed +research among the Markovians," +he said. "I'll let Mr. Ebbing +tell you about it."</p> + +<p>Cameron felt a sinking anticipation +within him as he turned to the secretary. +Surely the Council wasn't going +to actively oppose the investigation +after so long a time!</p> + +<p>The secretary coughed and shuffled +the papers he drew from his case. +"It's not actually the Council's interest," +he said, and Cameron was immediately +relieved. "But I have been +asked by the Markovian Nucleus, +through their representative, to suggest +that they would like to save you +the long and unnecessary trip. He +offers to co-operate to the fullest +degree by causing all necessary materials +to be transferred to your site +of study right here. He feels that this +is the least they can do since so much +interest appears to exist in the Nucleus."</p> + +<p>Cameron stared at the secretary, +trying to discern what the man's own +attitude might be, but Ebbing gave +no sign of playing it any way but +straight.</p> + +<p>"It sounds like a polite invitation +to stay home and mind our own business," +said Cameron finally. "They +don't want company."</p> + +<p>The secretary's expression changed +to acknowledgment of the correct appraisal. +"They don't want any investigation +into the Metamorphosis +of the Markovian Nucleus. There is +no such thing. It is entirely a myth."</p> + +<p>"Says the Markovians—!"</p> + +<p>Ebbing nodded. "Says the Markovians. +Other worlds, both within and +without the Council have persisted in +spreading tales and rumors about the +Markovians for a long time. They +don't like it. They are willing to co-operate +in having a correct analysis +of their culture published, but they +don't want any more of these infamous +rumors circulated."</p> + +<p>"Then why aren't they willing to +promote such an investigation? This +would be their big chance—if their +ridiculous position were true!"</p> + +<p>"They <i>are</i> willing. I've told you +the representative has offered to send +you all needed material showing the +status of their culture."</p> + +<p>Cameron looked at the secretary +for a long time before speaking +again. "What's your position?" he +asked finally. "Are we being ordered +off the investigation?"</p> + +<p>"The Markovian representative +doesn't want to go to quite that +extreme. He knows that, too, would +react unfavorably towards his people. +Here's his point: So far, he's blocked +news of your proposed research getting +to his home worlds. But he +knows that if you do carry it out in +the manner you propose it is going +to make a lot of the home folks +mighty unhappy and they'll demand +to know why he didn't stop it. So +he's trying to satisfy both sides at +once."</p> + +<p>"Why will the people in the Nucleus +be made unhappy by our coming?"</p> + +<p>"Because you'll go there trying to +track down the basis for the rumors +that defame the Markovian character. +You'll bring forcibly to their attention +the fact that the rest of the +Universe believes the Markovians +are basically a bunch of pirates."</p> + +<p>"And the Markovians don't like to +hear these things?"</p> + +<p>"Definitely not."</p> + +<p>"So you tell me the research is not +being forbidden, but that the Markovians +won't like it. Suppose I tell you, +then, I'm not going to give up short +of an order from the Council itself. +But I am willing to camouflage the +investigation if necessary. I'll make +no open mention of what outside +opinion says of the Markovians. I'll +simply make a study of their history +and character as it becomes available +to me."</p> + +<p>Ebbing nodded slowly, his eyes +fixed on Cameron's face. "I would +say that would be eminently satisfactory," +he said. "I will inform the +representative of your decision."</p> + +<p>Then his face became more severe. +"The Council will be pleased to learn +of your willingness to be discreet. I +wonder if you understand that the +Foundation came to us upon receipt +of your application, for official clearance +of the project. It coincided quite +fortuitously with the plans of the +Council itself. For a long time we +have been concerned with the lack of +information regarding the Markovian +situation and have been at a loss as +to how to improve our situation.</p> + +<p>"Your proposed investigation +seemed the answer, but we anticipated +the Markovian objection and +had to make certain you would co-operate +to his satisfaction. I believe +this will do it."</p> + +<p>"Why is the Council concerned?" +said Cameron. "Have the Markovians +changed their attitude in any way?"</p> + +<p>"No—but the rest of us remember, +even though we don't speak of +it, that the Nucleus was never punished +for its depredations, nor was it +ever defeated. Its strength is as great +as ever in proportion to the other +Council worlds.</p> + +<p>"What are the chances and potentialities +of the Nucleus worlds ever +again becoming the marauders they +once were? That is the question +which we feel must be answered. +Without knowing, we are sitting on +a powder keg in which the fuse may +or may not be lighted. Will you bring +us back the answer we need?"</p> + +<p>Cameron felt a sudden grimness +which had not been present before. +"I'll do all I can," he said soberly. +"If the information is there I'll bring +it back."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>After the secretary had gone and +Fothergill turned from the door to +rejoin him Cameron sat in faintly +shocked consideration of the Council's +unexpected support. It took his +research out of the realm of the purely +sociological and projected it into +politics and diplomacy. He was +pleased by their confidence, but not +cheered by the added responsibility.</p> + +<p>"That's a lucky break," said Fothergill +enthusiastically, "and I'm beginning +to suspect you may be rather +badly in need of all the breaks you +can get once you land among the +Markovians. Don't forget for a single +minute that you are dealing with +the sons and grandsons of genuine +pirates."</p> + +<p>The professor sat down again. +"There's one other little item of interest +I turned up the other day. You +should know about it before you +leave. The Markovian Nucleus is +somewhat of a hotbed of Ids."</p> + +<p>"Ids—you mean the Idealists—?"</p> + +<p>Fothergill nodded. "Know anything +about them?"</p> + +<p>"Not much, except that they are +a sort of parasitic group, living usually +in a servant relationship to other +races on terran-type worlds. As I +recall, even they claim that they do +not know the planet or even the +galaxy of their origin, because they +have been wanderers for so many +generations among alien races. Perhaps +it would be a good idea to +make a study of them, too—I don't +know that a thorough one has ever +been made."</p> + +<p>"That's what I wanted to warn +you about," said Fothergill, smiling. +"Stick to one subject at a time. The +Ids <i>would</i> make a nice research +project in themselves, and maybe you +can get around to it eventually. But +leave them alone for the present and +don't become distracted from your +basic project among the Markovians. +The policy of the Corning Foundation +is to demand something very +definite in return for the money they +lay on the line. You won't get to go +back next year unless you produce. +That's why I don't want you to get +sidetracked in any way."</p> + + +<p class="theend">II</p> + +<p>Cameron admitted to himself that +he was getting more edgy as the day +of departure approached, but he tried +to keep Joyce from seeing it. He +was worried about the possible development +of further opposition now +that the Markovian had expressed +his displeasure, and he was worried +about their reception once they reached +the Nucleus. He wondered why +they had not seen in advance that it +would be an obvious blunder to let +the Markovians be aware of their +real purpose. It didn't even require a +pirate ancestry to make groups unappreciative +about resurrection of +their family skeletons.</p> + +<p>But no other hindrance appeared, +and on the evening before their +departure Fothergill called that word +had been received from Ebbing stating +the Markovian representative had +approved the visit now that Cameron +had expressed a change in his objectives. +Their coming had been announced +to the Markovian people +and the way prepared for an official +welcome.</p> + +<p>Cameron was pleased by the +change of attitude. He was hit for +the first time, however, by the full +force of the fact that he was taking +his bride to a pirate center which the +Council had never overthrown and +which was active only moments ago, +culturally speaking.</p> + +<p>If any kind of trouble should +develop the Council would be almost +impotent in offering them assistance. +On the face of it, there was no reason +to expect trouble. But the peculiarly +oblique opposition of the Markovian +delegate in the Council continued to +make him uneasy.</p> + +<p>His tentative suggestion that he +would feel better if he knew she +were safe on Earth brought a blistering +response from Joyce, which left +him with no doubts about carrying +out his original plans.</p> + +<p>And then, as the last of their packing +was completed and they were +ready to call it a day, the phone +buzzed. Cameron hesitated, determined +to let it go unanswered, then +punched the button irritably on audio +only.</p> + +<p>Instead of the caller, he heard the +voice of the operator. "One moment +please. Interstellar, Transpace, printed. +Please connect visio."</p> + +<p>It was like a shock, he thought +afterwards. There was no one he +knew who could be making such a +call to him. But automatically he did +as directed. Joyce had come up and +was peering over his shoulder now. +The screen fluttered for a moment +with polychrome colors and cleared. +The message, printed for English +translation, stood out sharply. Joyce +and Cameron exclaimed simultaneously +at the titling. It was from Premier +Jargla, Executive Head of the +Markovian Government.</p> + +<p>"To Wilder, Cameron and Joyce," +it read, "greetings and appreciation +for your proposed visit to the Markovian +Nucleus for study of our history +and customs. We have not been before +so honored. We feel, however, +that it is an imposition on your Foundation +and on you personally to require +that you make the long journey +to the Nucleus for this purpose +alone. While we would be honored +to entertain you—"</p> + +<p>It was the same proposition as +Ebbing had reported the delegate +offered. Only this time it was from +the head of the Markovian government +himself.</p> + +<p>They sat up nearly all the rest of +the night considering this new development. +"Maybe you shouldn't go, +after all," said Joyce once. "Maybe +this is something that needs bigger +handling than we can possibly give +it."</p> + +<p>Cameron shook his head. "<i>I've</i> got +to go. They haven't closed the door +and said we can't come. If I backed +out before they did, I'd be +known the rest of my life as the guy +who was <i>going</i> to crack the Markovian +problem. But I'd much rather +you—"</p> + +<p>"No! If you're going, so am I."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>They consulted again with Fothergill +and finally drafted as polite a +reply as possible, explaining they +were newly married, desired to make +the trip a honeymoon excursion primarily +and conduct an investigation +into Markovian culture to prevent the +waste of the wonderful opportunity +their visit would afford them.</p> + +<p>An hour before takeoff a polite +acknowledgment came back from the +Nucleus assuring them a warm welcome +and congratulating them on +their marriage. They went at once to +the spaceport and took over their +stateroom. "Before anything else +happens to try to pull us off this +investigation," Cameron said.</p> + +<p>The trip would be a long one, involving +more than two months subjective +time, because no express runs +moved any distance at all in the direction +of the Nucleus. It was necessary +to transfer three times, with days +of waiting between ships on planets +whose surface conditions permitted +exploration only in cumbersome suits +that could not be worn for more +than short periods. Most of the waiting +time was spent in the visitors' +chambers at the landing fields.</p> + +<p>These seemed to grow progressively +worse. The last one could not +maintain a gravity below 2G, and +the minimum temperature available +was 104 degrees. There was a three-day +wait here and Joyce spent most +of it lying on the bed, under the +breeze of a fan which seemed to have +required a special dispensation of the +governing body to obtain.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 172px;"> +<img src="images/002.png" width="172" height="500" alt="CAMERON" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Cameron, however, was unwilling +to spend his time this way in spite of +the discomfort imposed by any kind +of activity. Humidity was a physical +factor which seemed to have gone +undiscovered by the inhabitants of +the planet they were on. He was +sure it was constantly maintained +within a fractional per cent of one +hundred as he donned a clean pair of +trunks and staggered miserably along +the corridor toward a window that +gave a limited view of the city about +them.</p> + +<p>That was when he discovered that +they were to be accompanied on the +remainder of the journey by a Markovian +citizen and his Id servant.</p> + +<p>The visitors' chamber in which +these semi-terran conditions were +supplied consisted of only three +suites. The other two had been empty +when Cameron and Joyce arrived +the night before. Now a Markovian +Id occupied a seat by the window. +He glanced up with warm friendliness +and invited Cameron to join +him.</p> + +<p>Cameron hesitated, undecided for +a moment whether to return to his +suite for the portable semantic translator +used in his profession at times +like this. He always felt there was +something decidedly unprofessional +about resorting to their use and had +spent many hours trying to master +Markovian before leaving. He understood +the Id well enough and decided +to see if he could get along without +the translator.</p> + +<p>"Thanks," he said, taking a seat. +"I don't suppose there's much else +to do except look at the scenery +here."</p> + +<p>The Id showed obvious surprise +that Cameron spoke the language +without use of an instrument. His +look of pleasure increased. "It is not +often we find one of your race who +has taken the trouble to make himself +communicable with us. You must be +expecting to make a long stay?"</p> + +<p>Cameron's sense of caution returned +as he remembered the previous +results of indiscreet announcement +of his purpose. He wiped the stream +of sweat from his face and neck and +took a good look at the Id.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The Idealists were of an anthropomorphic +race, dark-skinned like +the terran Indian. Very few of them +had ever appeared on Earth, however, +and this was actually Cameron's +first view of one in the flesh. He +knew something of their reputation +and characteristics from very brief +study at the Institute—but no one +really knew very much of the Ids +as far as Earthmen were concerned. +The warning of Fothergill to keep +to the main line of his research sank +to the bottom of his mind as he +leaned toward the stranger with a +fresh sense of excitement inside him.</p> + +<p>"I have never felt you could understand +another man unless you +spoke his language," he said in his +not too stumbling Markovian.</p> + +<p>The Id, like himself, was dressed +in the briefest of garments and perspiration +poured from the dark skin +as he nodded. "You speak sounder +wisdom than one usually meets in a +stranger," he said. "May I introduce +myself: Sal Karone, servant of the +Master Dalls Ret Marthasa?"</p> + +<p>Cameron introduced himself and +cautiously explained that he and +Joyce were on their honeymoon, but +had a side interest in the history +and customs of the Markovian Nucleus. +"My people know so little +about you," he said, "it would be a +great privilege to be able to take +back information that would increase +our mutual understanding."</p> + +<p>"All that the Idealists have belongs +to every man and every race," said +Sal Karone solemnly. "What we can +give you may be had for the asking. +But I would give you a word of +warning about my Masters."</p> + +<p>Cameron felt the flesh of his back +tingle with sudden chill as the eyes +of the Id turned full upon him.</p> + +<p>"Do not try to find out the hidden +things of the Masters. That is what +you have come for, is it not, Cameron +Wilder? That is why you have +taken so much trouble to learn the +language which we speak. I say do +not inquire of the things about which +they do not wish to speak. My Masters +are a people who cannot yet be +understood by the men of other +worlds. In time there will be understanding, +but that time is not yet. +You will only bring disaster and disappointment +upon us and yourselves +by attempting to hasten that time."</p> + +<p>"I assure you I have no intention +of prying," said Cameron haltingly. +He fumbled for the right Markovian +words. "You have misunderstood—We +come only in friendship and with +no intention of disturbing—"</p> + +<p>The Id nodded sagely. "So many +crises are originated by good intentions. +But I am sure that now you +understand the feelings of my Masters +in these things that you will be +concerned only with your own enjoyment +while in the Nucleus. And do +come to the centers of the Idealists, +for there is much we can show you, +and our willingness has no limits."</p> + +<p>For a moment it was impossible +for Cameron to remember that he +was dealing with a mere servant of +the Markovians. The Id's words were +so incisive and his manner so commanding +that it seemed he must be +speaking in his own right.</p> + +<p>And then his manner changed. His +boldness vanished and he spoke obsequiously. +"You will forgive me," +he said, "but this is a matter concerning +which there is much feeling."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Cameron Wilder was more than +willing to agree with this sentiment. +As he returned to his own quarters +he debated telling Joyce of his encounter +with the Id, deciding finally +that he'd have to mention it since +they'd all be traveling together, but +omitting the Id's repetition of the +previous warnings.</p> + +<p>He did not meet the Markovian, +nor did he encounter the Id again +in the waiting quarters. It was not +until they had embarked on the last +leg of the journey and had been +aboard the vessel for half a day that +they met a second time.</p> + +<p>The ship was not a Markovian or +a terran-type vessel of any kind. Another +week's wait would have been +required for one of those. As it was, +their quarters were not too uncomfortable +although very limited. The +bulk of the vessel was designed for +crew and passengers very much unlike +Terran or Markovian, and only +a few suites were provided for accommodation +of such races.</p> + +<p>This threw the travelers to the +Nucleus in close association again. +Their suites opened to a common +lounge deck and when Cameron and +Joyce went out they found Sal Karone +and the Markovian, Marthasa, +already there.</p> + +<p>The Id was on his feet instantly. +With a sharp bow he introduced the +newcomers to his Master. Dells +Marthasa stood and extended a hand +with a smile. "I believe that is your +greeting on Earth, is it not?" he said.</p> + +<p>"You must be familiar with our +home world," said Cameron, returning +the handshake.</p> + +<p>"Only a little, through my studies," +said the Markovian. "Enough to +make me want to hear much more. +Please join us. Since my <i>sargh</i> told +me we would be traveling together I +have looked forward to your company."</p> + +<p>The term, <i>sargh</i>, as Cameron +learned shortly was applied to all +Ids attached to Markovians. It had a +connotation somewhere between servant +and companion. Sal Karone remained +in the background, but there +was no servility in his manner. His +eyes remained respectfully—almost +fondly; that was the right word, +Cameron thought curiously—on +Marthasa.</p> + +<p>While the Id was slender in build, +the Markovian was taller and bulkier. +His complexion was also dark, but +not quite so much so as the Id's. He +was dressed in loose, highly colored +attire that gave Cameron an impression +of an Oriental potentate of his +own world.</p> + +<p>But somehow there was a quality +in Marthasa's manner that was jarring. +It would have been less so if +the Markovian had been less anthropomorphic +in form and feature, but +Cameron found it difficult to think +of him as anything but a fellow man.</p> + +<p>A man of arrogance and ill manners, +and completely unaware that +he was so.</p> + +<p>It was apparent in his gestures and +in the negligence with which he +leaned back and surveyed his companions. +"You'll be surprised when +you see the Nucleus," he said. "We +sometimes hear of rumors circulated +among Council worlds that Markovian +culture is rather backward."</p> + +<p>"I've never heard anything of that +kind," said Cameron. "In fact we've +heard almost nothing at all of the +Nucleus. That's why we decided to +come."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure we can make you glad +you did. Don't you think so, +Karone?"</p> + +<p>The face of the Id was very sober +as he nodded solemnly and said, +"Indeed, Master." His burning eyes +were boring directly into Cameron's +own.</p> + +<p>"I want to hear about your people, +about Earth," said Marthasa. +"Tell me what you would like to see +and do while you're in the Nucleus."</p> + +<p>While Joyce answered, explaining +they hardly knew what there was to +be seen, Cameron's attention was +fixed by the problem of the strange +relationship between the two men—the +two races. In the face of the +Id there seemed a serenity, a dignity +that the Markovian would never +know. Why had the Ids failed to lift +themselves out of servility to a state +of independence, he wondered?</p> + +<p>Joyce explained the story about +their honeymoon trip and built their +interest in Markovian culture as casual +indeed. As she went on, Marthasa +seemed to be struck by a sudden +thought.</p> + +<p>"I insist that you make your headquarters +with me during your stay," +he said. "I can see that you learn +everything possible about the Nucleus +while you are here. My son is +a Chief Historian at our largest research +library and my daughter has +the post of Assistant Curator at our +Museum of Science and Culture. You +will never have a better opportunity +to examine the culture of the Nucleus!"</p> + +<p>Cameron winced inwardly at the +thought of Marthasa's companionship +during their whole stay, and yet +the Markovian's statement might be +perfectly true—there would be no +better opportunity to make their +study.</p> + +<p>"We have an official note of welcome +from your Executive Head, +Premier Jargla," he said. "While we +would be very happy to accept your +invitation, it may be that he has +different plans for our reception."</p> + +<p>Marthasa waved a hand. "I shall +arrange for my appointment as your +official host. Consider it agreed +upon!"</p> + +<p>It was agreed. But Joyce was not +as optimistic as Cameron in regarding +it an aid to their study. "If they +have a general aversion to talking +about their pirate ancestry, Marthasa +is just the boy to put us off the +track," she said. "If he gets a clue +to what we really want to know, he'll +keep us busy looking at everything +else until we give up and go home."</p> + +<p>Cameron leaned back in the deep +chair with his hands behind his head. +"It's not too hard to imagine +Marthasa's great-great-grandfather +running down vessels in space and +pillaging helpless cities on other +planets. The veneer of civilization on +him doesn't look very thick."</p> + +<p>"It's not hard to imagine Marthasa +doing it," said Joyce. "A scimitar +between his teeth would be completely +in character!"</p> + +<p>"If all goes well, you will probably +see just that—figuratively speaking, +of course. Where a cultural shift +has been so great as this one you are +certain to see evidence of both levels +in conflict with one another. It's like +a geologic fault line. Once we learn +enough about the current mores the +anomalies will stand out in full +view. That's what we want to watch +for."</p> + +<p>"One thing that's out of character +right now is his offer of assistance +through his son, the Chief Historian," +said Joyce. "That doesn't check +with the previous invitations to stay +home. Once they let us have access +to their historical records we'll have +them pegged."</p> + +<p>"We haven't got it yet," said Cameron. +"We can't be sure just what +they'll let us see. But for my money +I'd just as soon tackle the question of +the Ids. Sal Karone is twice the man +Marthasa is, yet he acts like he has +no will of his own when the Markovian +is around."</p> + +<p>"The Roman-slave relationship," +said Joyce. "The Markovians probably +conquered a large community of +the Ids in their pirate days and +brought them here as slaves. And I'll +bet they are very much aware that +the Ids are the better men. Marthasa +knows it. That's why he has to put +on a show in front of Sal Karone. +He's the old Roman merchant struggling +to keep up his conviction of +superiority before the Greek scholar +slave."</p> + +<p>"The Ids aren't supposed to be +slaves. According to the little that's +known they are completely free. I'm +going to get Marthasa's version of it, +anyway. Fothergill and the Foundation +can't object to that much investigation +of the Ids."</p> + +<p>He found the Markovian completely +willing to talk about his +<i>sargh</i>. On the last day of the voyage +they managed to be alone for a time +without the presence of Sal Karone.</p> + +<p>Marthasa shook his head in answer +to Cameron's question. "No, the +<i>sargh</i> is not a slave—not in the sense +I believe you mean it. None of the +Ids are. It's a matter of religion with +them to be attached to us the way +they are. They have some incomprehensible +belief that their existence +is of no value unless they are serving +their fellow beings. Since that means +<i>all</i> of them they can't be satisfied by +serving each other so they have to +pick on some other race.</p> + +<p>"I don't recall when they first +showed up in the Nucleus, but it's +been many generations ago. There've +been Ids in my family for a half +dozen generations anyway."</p> + +<p>"They had space flight, so they +came under their own power?" Cameron +asked incredulously.</p> + +<p>"No. Nothing like that. You can't +imagine <i>them</i> building spaceships can +you? They migrated at first as lowest-class +passengers on the commercial +lines. Nobody knows just where they +came from. They don't even know +their home worlds. At first we tried +to persuade them to go somewhere +else, but then we saw how useful +they could be with their fanatic belief +in servitude.</p> + +<p>"At present there is probably no +family in the Nucleus that doesn't +have at least one Id <i>sargh</i>. Many of +us have one for every member of the +family." Marthasa paused. The tone +of his voice changed. "When you've +had one almost all your life as I've +had Sal Karone it—well, it does +something to you."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" Cameron +asked cautiously.</p> + +<p>"Consider the situation from Sal +Karone's point of view. He has no +life whatever that is his own. His +whole purpose is to give me companionship +and satisfy my requirements. +And I don't have to force +him in any way. It's all voluntary. +He's free to leave, even, any time he +wants to. But I'm certain he never +will."</p> + +<p>"Why do you feel so sure of +this?"</p> + +<p>"It's hard to explain. I feel as if +I've become so much a part of him +that he couldn't survive alone any +more. He's the one who's made it +that way, not me. I have become indispensable +to his existence. That's +the way I explain it to myself. Most +of my friends agree that this is about +right."</p> + +<p>"It's rather difficult to understand +a relationship like that—unless you +put it in terms I am familiar with on +Earth."</p> + +<p>"Yes—? What would it be called +among your people?"</p> + +<p>"When a man so devotes his life +to another we say it is because of +love."</p> + +<p>Marthasa considered the word. +"You would be wrong," he said. "It +is just that in some way we have +become indispensable to the Ids. +They're parasites, if you want to put +it that way. But they provide us a +relationship we can get nowhere else, +and that does us a great deal of good. +That's what I meant when I said it +does something to us."</p> + +<p>"What about the Id's own culture? +Haven't they any community ties +among themselves, or do they ignore +their own kind?"</p> + +<p>"We've never investigated very +much. I suppose some of our scholars +know the answer to that, but the rest +of us don't. The Ids have communities, +all right. Not all of them are +in service as <i>sarghs</i> at one time. They +have little groups and communities +on the outskirts of our cities, but +they don't amount to much. As a race +they are simply inferior. They don't +have the capacity for a strong culture +of their own, so they can't exist +independently and build a social +structure like other people. It's this +religion of theirs that does it. They +won't let go of it, and as long as they +hang onto it they can't stand on their +own feet. But you don't need to +feel sorry for them. We treat them +all right."</p> + +<p>"Of course—didn't mean to imply +anything else," said Cameron. "Do +you know if there are other Id groups +serving in other galaxies?"</p> + +<p>"Must be thousands of them altogether. +Out beyond the Nucleus, +away from your galaxy, you can't +find a planet anywhere that isn't +using the Ids. It's a wonderful setup. +The Ids get what they want, and we +get <i>sarghs</i> with nothing like the slave +relationship you had in mind. With +slaves there's rebellion, constant need +of watchfulness, and no genuine +companionship. A <i>sargh</i> is different. +He can be a man's friend."</p> + + +<p class="theend">III</p> + +<p>They came out of the darkness of +Transpace that evening and the stars +returned in the glory of a million +closely gathered suns. The Markovian +Nucleus lay in a galaxy of tightly +packed stars that made bright the +nights of all their planets. It was a +spectacle for Cameron, who had traveled +but little away from the Solar +System, and for Joyce who had never +traveled at all.</p> + +<p>Marthasa and Sal Karone were +with them in the lounge watching +the screens as the ship changed +drives. The Markovian squinted a +moment and pointed to a minor dot +near the corner of the view. "That's +our destination. Another six hours +and you can set foot on the best +planet in the whole Universe!"</p> + +<p>If it had been mere enthusiasm, +Cameron could have taken it with +tolerant understanding. But Marthasa's +smugness and arrogance had not +deserted him once since the beginning +of this leg of the trip. Objectively, +as a cultural facet to be examined, +it was interesting, but Cameron +agreed with Joyce that it was +going to be difficult to live with.</p> + +<p>The unsolved puzzle, however, +was Sal Karone. It was obvious that +the Id was sensitive to the gauche +ways of the Master, yet his equally +obvious devotion was unwavering.</p> + +<p>Marthasa had sent word ahead to +the government that he desired the +Terrans to be his guests. Evidently +he was a person of influence for +assent was returned immediately.</p> + +<p>His planet was a colorful world, +banded by huge, golden deserts and +pinkish seas. The dense vegetation of +the habitable areas was blue with +only a scattered touch of green. Cameron +wondered about the chemistry +involved.</p> + +<p>The landing was made at a port +that bordered a sea. The four of them +were the only ones disembarking, +and before the car that met them had +reached the edge of the city the ship +was gone again.</p> + +<p>A pirates' lair, Cameron thought, +without the slightest touch of amusement. +The field looked very old, and +from it he could imagine raiders had +once taken off to harass distant shipping +and do wanton destruction of +cities and peoples on innocent worlds.</p> + +<p>He watched the face of Marthasa +as they rode through the city. There +was a kind of Roman splendor in +what they saw, and there was a crude +Roman pride in the Markovian who +was their host. The arrogance, that +was not far from cruelty, could take +such pride in the sweep of spaceships +embarking on missions of murder +and plunder.</p> + +<p>And yet all this barbarism had +been put aside. Only the arrogance +remained, expressed in Marthasa's +tone as he called their attention to +the features of the city and landscape +through which they passed. It wasn't +pleasing particularly to Terran tastes, +but Cameron guessed that it represented +a considerable accomplishment +to the Markovians. Stone appeared +to be the chief building material, +and, while the craftsmanship was +exact, the lines of the structures +lacked the grace of the Greek and +Roman monuments of which Cameron +was reminded.</p> + +<p>They came at last to the house of +Marthasa. There was no doubt now +that he was a man of wealth or +importance—probably both. He occupied +a vast, villa-like structure set +on a low hill overlooking the city. +It was a place of obvious luxury in +the economic scale of the Markovians.</p> + +<p>They were assigned spacious quarters +overlooking a garden of incredible +colors beyond the transparent +wall facing it. Sal Karone was also +assigned duties as their personal attendant, +which Cameron grasped intuitively +was a gesture of supreme +honor among the Markovians. He +thanked Marthasa profusely for this +courtesy.</p> + +<p>After getting unpacked they were +shown through the house and +grounds and met Marthasa's family. +His wife was a woman of considerable +beauty even by Terran standards, +but there was a sharpness in her manner +and a sense of coldness in the +small black eyes that repelled Cameron +and Joyce even as the thoughtless +actions of Marthasa had done.</p> + +<p>Cameron looked carefully for the +same qualities in the three smaller +children who were at home, and +found them easily. In none of them +was there the aura of serenity possessed +by the Id servants.</p> + +<p>When they were finally alone that +night Cameron sat down to make +some notes on their observations up +to date. "The fault line I mentioned +is so obvious you can't miss it," he +said to Joyce. "It's as if they're living +one kind of life because they +think it's the thing to do, but all +their thoughts and feelings are being +drawn invisibly in another direction—and +they're half ashamed of it."</p> + +<p>"Maybe the Ids have something +to do with it. Remember Marthasa's +statement that the relationship of the +<i>sarghs</i> does something to the Markovians? +If we found out exactly what +that something is, we might have +the answer."</p> + +<p>Cameron shook his head. "I've +tried to fit it together that way, too, +but it just doesn't add up. The basic +premise of the Ids is asceticism and +there never was any strength in that +idea. Marthasa is probably right in +his estimate of the Ids. They have +achieved an internal serenity but only +through compensating their basic +weakness with the crude strength of +the Markovians and other races to +which they cling. They haven't the +strength to build a civilization of +their own. Certainly they haven't got +the power to influence the whole +Nucleus. No—we'll have to look a +good deal farther than the Ids before +we find the answer. I'm convinced +of that, even though I'd like to find +out exactly what makes <i>them</i> tick. +Maybe next trip—"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The following days were spent in +almost profitless activity as far as +their basic purpose in being in the +Nucleus was concerned. Marthasa and +his wife took them on long tours +through the city and into the scenic +areas of the continent. They promised +trips over the whole planet and to +other worlds of the Nucleus. There +seemed no end to the sight-seeing +that was proposed for them to do.</p> + +<p>Cameron improved his facility with +the language, and Joyce was beginning +to get along without the translator. +They were introduced to a +considerable number of other Markovians, +including the official representative +of Premier Jargla. This gave +them added contact with the Markovian +character, but Marthasa and his +family seemed so typical of the race +that scarcely anything new was learned +from the others.</p> + +<p>At no time was anything hinted in +reference to the original reluctance +to have the Terrans visit the Nucleus. +All possible courtesy was shown +them now, and Cameron dared not +mention the invitations to stay home. +He felt the situation was as penetrable +as a thick wall of sponge rubber +backed by a ten-foot foundation of +steel.</p> + +<p>After three weeks of this, however, +he cautiously broached the subject of +meeting the son and daughter of +Marthasa in regard to visiting the +library and museum. He had met +each of them just once and found +them rather cool to his presence. He +had not dared express his interest in +their specialties at that time.</p> + +<p>Marthasa was favorable and apologetic, +however. "I have intended to +arrange it," he said. "There have +been so many other things to do +that I have neglected your interest in +these things. We won't neglect it +any longer. Suppose we make an appointment +for this afternoon? Zlenon +will be able to give you his personal +attention."</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 168px;"> +<img src="images/003.png" width="168" height="500" alt="JOYCE" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Zlenon was Marthasa's son, who +held the position of Chief Historian +at the research library. He was more +slender and darker than his father, +and lacking in his volubility and +glad-handedness.</p> + +<p>He greeted Cameron's request with +a tolerant smile. "You have to be +quite specific, Mr. Wilder, when you +say you would like to know about +the history of the Markovian Nucleus. +You understand the Nucleus +consists of over a hundred worlds +and has a composite history extending +back more than thirty thousand +of your years in very minute detail."</p> + +<p>Cameron countered with a helpless +shrug and smile. "I'm afraid I'll +have to depend on your good nature +to guide me through such a mass. +I don't intend to become a student +of Markovian history, of course, but +perhaps you have adequate summaries +with which a stranger could start. +Going backward, let us say, for perhaps +two or three hundred Terran +years?"</p> + +<p>"Of course—some very excellent +ones are available—" He moved +toward the reading table nearby and +began punching a selection of buttons.</p> + +<p>As Cameron and Joyce moved to +follow, Marthasa waved a hand expansively +and started out the other +way. "I can see you're going to be +set for a while. I'll just leave you +here, and send the car back after I +reach the house. Don't be late for +dinner."</p> + +<p>They nodded and smiled and turned +to Zlenon. The Markovian was +watching them with pin-point eyes. +"I wondered if there was any <i>particular</i> +problem in which you might be +interested," he said calmly. "If there +is—?"</p> + +<p>Cameron shook his head hastily. +"No—certainly not. Just general information—"</p> + +<p>The Historian turned his attention +to the table and began explaining its +use to the Terrans, showing how they +could obtain recording of any specific +material they wished to choose. It +would appear in either printed or +pictorial form or could be had on +audio if they wanted it. Once he was +certain they could make their own +selections he left them to their study.</p> + +<p>"This is the best break we could +possibly have hoped for," Joyce +whispered as Zlenon disappeared +from their sight. "We can get anything +we want in the whole library +if I understand the operation of this +gadget the way I think I do."</p> + +<p>"That's the way it looks to me," +Cameron answered. "But don't get +your hopes too high. There must be +a catch in it somewhere, the way +they were trying to shoo us away +from coming here."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>They punched the buttons for the +history of the planet they were on, +scanning slowly from the present to +earlier years. There were endless accountings +of trading and commercial +treaties between members of the Nucleus +as shifts of economic balance +occurred. There were stories of explorations +and benevolent contacts +with races on the outer worlds. Details +of their most outstanding scientific +discoveries, which seemed to +come with profligate rapidity—</p> + +<p>Cameron whipped back through +the pages of the histories, searching +only for a single item, one clue to +the swift evolution from barbarism +to peaceful co-operation. After an +hour he was in the middle of that +critical period when the Council despaired +of its inability to cope with +the Markovian menace.</p> + +<p>But the stories of commerce and +invention and far-flung exchange +with other peoples continued. Nowhere +was there any reference to the +violence of the period. They went +back two hundred—five hundred +years—beyond the time when Council +members first made contact with +the Nucleus.</p> + +<p>There was nothing.</p> + +<p>Cameron sat back in complete puzzlement +as it became apparent that +it was useless to go back further. +"The normal thing would be for +them to brag all over the place about +their great conquests. Even races who +become comparatively civilized citizens +ordinarily let themselves go +when it comes to history. If they've +had a long record of conquest and +bloodshed, they say so with plenty +of chest pounding. Of course, it's +padded out to reflect their righteous +conquest over tyranny, but it's always +there in <i>some</i> form.</p> + +<p>"But nothing up to now has been +normal about the development of +the Markovian problem and this really +tops it off—the complete omission +of any reference to their armed conquests."</p> + +<p>"Maybe this planet didn't participate +very much. Perhaps only a small +number of the Nucleus worlds were +responsible for it," said Joyce.</p> + +<p>Cameron shook his head. "No. +The Council records show that the +Nucleus as a unit was responsible, +and that virtually all the worlds are +specifically mentioned. And even if +this one had been out of it completely +you could still expect references +to it because there was constant +interchange with most of the +other planets. We can try another +one, though—"</p> + +<p>They tried one more, then a half +dozen in quick scanning. They swept +through a summarization of the Nucleus +as a whole during that critical +period.</p> + +<p>There was nothing to show that +the Markovians had ever been anything +but peace-loving citizens intent +on pursuit of science, commerce, and +the arts.</p> + +<p>"This could have been rigged for +our special benefit," said Joyce +thoughtfully as they ended the day's +futile search. "They didn't want to +apply enough pressure to keep us +from coming, but they did want to +make sure we wouldn't find out anything +about their past."</p> + +<p>Cameron shook his head slowly. +"It couldn't have been done in the +time they've had. Simply cutting out +what they didn't want to show us +wouldn't have done it. There's too +much cross reference to all periods +involved. It's a complete phony, but +it's not something done on the spur +of the moment just for our benefit. +It's too good for that."</p> + +<p>"Maybe they've had it for a <i>long</i> +time—just in case somebody like us +should come along."</p> + +<p>"It's possible, but I don't think +that's right either," said Cameron. +"I can't give you any reason for +thinking so—except the phoniness +goes deeper than merely deceiving an +investigator. Somehow I have the +feeling that the Markovians are even +deceiving themselves!"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>They left the building and took +the car back to the house of Marthasa +without seeing Zlenon again. +Their Markovian host was waiting. +Cameron thought he sensed a trace +of tension in Marthasa that wasn't +there before as he led them to seats +in the garden.</p> + +<p>"We don't like to boast about the +Nucleus," he said with his customary +volubility, "but we have to admit +we are proud of our science and +technology. Few civilizations in the +Universe can match it. That's not to +disparage the fine accomplishments +of the Terrans, you understand, but +it's only <i>natural</i> that out here on +these older worlds—"</p> + +<p>They listened half attentively, trying +in their imaginations to pierce +the armor he used to defend so frantically +the thing the Markovians did +not want the outer worlds to know +anything about.</p> + +<p>The talk went on during mealtime. +Marthasa's wife caught the spirit of +it and they both regaled the Terrans +with accounts of the grandeur of +Markovian exploits. Cameron grew +more and more depressed by it, and +as they retired to their rooms early +he began to realize how absolutely +complete was the impasse into which +they had been driven.</p> + +<p>"They've let us in," he said to +Joyce. "They've shown us the history +they've written of themselves. There's +no way in the Universe we can stand +up and boldly challenge that history +and call them the liars we know they +are."</p> + +<p>"But they must know of the histories +written on other Council worlds +about their doings," said Joyce. +"Maybe we could reach a point where +we could at least ask about them. +Ask how it is that other histories +show that a hundred and twenty +years ago a fleet of Markovian ships +swept unexpectedly out of space and +looted and decimated the planet Lakcaine +VI. Ask why the Markovian +history says only that the Nucleus +concluded six new commercial treaties +to the benefit of all worlds concerned +in that period, without any +mention of Lakcaine VI."</p> + +<p>"When you start asking questions +like that you've got to be ready to +run. And if it fizzles out you've lost +all chance of coming back for a second +try. That could fizzle out because +they simply deny the validity of all +history outside their own."</p> + +<p>"Then we might as well pack and +go home if you're not going to challenge +any of this stuff they hand out. +We won't find the answer by standing +around and taking <i>their</i> word on +everything."</p> + +<p>"I forgot to tell you one thing," +Cameron said slowly. "We may not +have to take their word for it. Someone +else here knows the truth of the +situation, also."</p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"The Ids." He told her then of +the warning Sal Karone had given +him aboard the ship on the way to +the Nucleus, the statement that "My +Masters are a people who cannot yet +be understood by the men of other +worlds."</p> + +<p>"The Ids know what the Markovians +are and what they are trying to +hide. I had almost overlooked that +simple fact."</p> + +<p>"But you can't go out and challenge +them to tell the truth any more +than you can the Markovians!" Joyce +protested. "Because Sal Karone went +out of his way to warn you doesn't +mean he's going to get real buddy-buddy +and tell you everything you +want to know."</p> + +<p>"No, of course not. But there's +one little difference between him and +the Markovians. He has admitted +openly that he knows why we're +here. None of the Markovians have +done that yet. We don't have to challenge +him because there already exists +the tacit understanding that something +is decidedly phony.</p> + +<p>"And besides, he invited us to +come and visit the Id communities +outside the city. I think that's an +invitation we should accept just as +soon as possible."</p> + + +<p class="theend">IV</p> + +<p>Sal Karone had not repeated his +invitation that the Terrans visit the +Id communities, but he showed no +adverse reaction when Cameron said +they would like to take him up on +his previous offer.</p> + +<p>"You will be very welcome," he +said. A soft smile lightened his features. +"I will notify my leaders you +will come."</p> + +<p>With a start, Cameron realized +that the existence of any kind of +community probably implied leaders, +but he had ignored this in view of +Marthasa's insistence that the Ids had +no culture of their own. He wondered +just how untrue that assertion +might be.</p> + +<p>For the first time, he sensed genuine +disapproval in the attitude of +Marthasa when he mentioned plans +to go with Sal Karone to the Id +centers. "There's nothing out there +you'd want to see," the Markovian +said. "Their village is only a group +of crude huts in the forest. It'll be a +waste of your time to go out there +when there's so much else we could +show you."</p> + +<p>"Sal Karone suggested the visit +before we arrived," said Cameron. +"He'd be hurt if we turned him +down. Perhaps just to satisfy him—"</p> + +<p>Angry indecision hid behind Marthasa's +eyes. "Well—maybe that +makes it different," he said finally. +"We try to do everything possible +to make the Ids happy. It's up to +you if you want to waste your time +on the visit."</p> + +<p>"I think I do. Sal Karone has been +very attentive and pleasant to us. +It's a small favor in return."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Early in the morning, two days +later, they left with Sal Karone directing +them to the Idealist center. +They discovered that the term, at the +edge of the city, was a mere euphemism. +It was a long two-hour trip at +the high speed of which the Markovian +cars were capable.</p> + +<p>The city itself vanished, and a +thickly wooded area took its place +during the last half of the journey, +reminding them of the few remote, +peaceful forests of Earth. Then, as +the car slowed, they left the highway +for a rough trail that led for a number +of miles back into the forest. +They came at last into a clearing circled +by rough wooden dwellings possessing +all the appearance of crude, +primitive existence on little more than +a subsistence level.</p> + +<p>"This is the village of our Chief," +said Sal Karone. "He will be pleased +to explain all you may wish to know +about the Idealist Way."</p> + +<p>Cameron was shocked almost beyond +speech by his first sight of the +clearing. He had tried to prepare for +the worst, but he had told himself +that the Markovian's estimate of the +Ids could not be true. Now he was +forced to admit that it was. In contact +with all the skills of their Masters, +which they would certainly be +permitted to learn if they wanted to, +the Ids chose primitive squalor when +they were on their own.</p> + +<p>Their serenity could be little more +than the serenity of the savage who +has no wants or goals and is content +to merely serve those whose ambitions +are greater. It was the serenity +and peacefulness of death. The Ids +had died—as a race—long ago. The +Markovians were loud, boastful, and +obnoxious, but that could be discounted +as the awkwardness of youth +in a race that would perhaps be very +great in the Universe at a time when +the Ids were wholly forgotten.</p> + +<p>Cameron felt depressed by the +sight. He began to doubt the wisdom +of his coming here in hope of finding +an answer to the Markovian deception. +The warning of Sal Karone on +shipboard seemed now like nothing +more than a half ignorant demonstration +of loyalty toward the Markovian +Masters. Possibly there had been +some talk which the Id had overheard +and he had taken it upon himself +to warn the Terrans—knowing perhaps +nothing of the matter which the +Markovians were reluctant to expose.</p> + +<p>If he could have done so gracefully, +Cameron felt he would have +turned and gone back without bothering +with the interview. His curiosity +about the Ids themselves had all but +vanished. The answer to their situation +was obvious. And he had maintained +such high hope that somehow +his expectation in them would be +fulfilled during this visit.</p> + +<p>There was a satisfying cleanliness +apparent in everything as Sal Karone +led them to the largest of the buildings. +Joyce seemed to be enjoying +herself as she surveyed the surroundings +with an interest Cameron had +lost.</p> + +<p>As they entered the doorway a +thin, straight old man with a white +beard arose from a chair and approached +them in greeting. The ancient, +conventional, patriarchal order, +Cameron thought. He could see the +whole setup in a nutshell right now. +Squalid communities like this where +the too-old and the too-young were +nurtured on the calcified traditions +to which nothing was ever added. +The able serving in the homes of +the Markovians, providing sustenance +for themselves and those who +depended on them. The Markovians +were generous indeed in not referring +to the Ids as slaves. There was little +else they could ever be called.</p> + +<p>The Chief was addressed as Venor +by Sal Karone, who introduced them. +"It is kind of you to include our +village in your visit to the Nucleus," +said Venor. "There are many more +spectacular things to see."</p> + +<p>"There is often greatest wisdom +in the least spectacular," said Cameron, +trying to sound like a sage. +"Sal Karone was kind enough to +invite us to your center and said there +was much you could show us."</p> + +<p>"The things of the soul are not +possible to <i>show</i>," said Venor gently. +"We wish there were time that we +might teach you some of the great +things our people have learned in +their long wanderings. I am told +that your profession and your purpose +in being here is the study of +races and their actions and the things +they have learned."</p> + +<p>With a start, Cameron came to +greater attention. He was certain he +had never given any such information +in the presence of Sal Karone or +Marthasa. Yet even Venor knew he +was a sociologist! Here was the first +knowledge that must lie behind the +evidence of the undercurrent of +objections of the Markovian representative +in the Council and Premier +Jargla.</p> + +<p>And this primitive patriarch was in +possession of it.</p> + +<p>Relations between the individuals +of this planet were something far +more complex than Cameron had +assumed. He hesitated a moment before +speaking. Just why had this bait +been so innocently thrown to him? +Marthasa had never mentioned it. +Yet had the Markovians asked for +an attempt to get an admission from +him for their own purposes? And +what purposes—?</p> + +<p>He abandoned caution, and nodded. +"Yes, that is the thing I am +interested in. I had hoped to study +the history and ways of the Markovians. +As Sal Karone has told me, +they don't want strangers to make +such a study. You are perhaps not +so unwilling to be known—?"</p> + +<p>"We wish the entire Universe +might know of us and be as we are."</p> + +<p>"You hardly make that possible, +subjugating your identity so completely +to that of another race. The +worlds will never know of you unless +you become strong and unified as a +people and obtain a name of your +own."</p> + +<p>"Our name is known," said Venor. +"We are the Idealists. You will not +find many worlds on which we are +unknown, and they call us the ones +who serve. Even on your world you +have the saying of a philosopher who +taught that any who would be master +should become the servant of all. +Your people once understood it."</p> + +<p>"Not as a literal undertaking," +said Cameron. "You can't submerge +your entire racial identity as you have +done. That is not what the saying +meant."</p> + +<p>"To us it does," said Venor solemnly. +"We would master the Universe—and +therefore we must serve +it. That is the core of the law of the +Idealists."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Cameron let his gaze scan through +the window to the small clearing +in the thick forest, to the circle of +wooden houses. <i>We would master the +Universe</i>—he restrained a smile.</p> + +<p>"You cannot believe this," said +Venor, "because you have never understood +the mark of the servant or +the mark of the master. How often +is there difficulty in distinguishing +one from the other!"</p> + +<p>And how often do the illusions of +the mind ease the privations of the +body, Cameron thought. So that was +the source of the Idealist serenity. +Wherever they went they considered +themselves the masters through service—and +conversely, those they +served became the slaves, he supposed. +It was a pleasant, easy philosophy +that hurt no one. Except the +ones who believed it. They died the +moment they accepted it, for all initiative +and desire were gone.</p> + +<p>"The master is he who guides the +destiny of a man or a race," said +Venor almost in meditation. "He is +not the man who gathers or disperses +the wealth, or who builds the cities +and the ships to the stars. The master +is he who teaches what must be done +with these things and how a people +shall expend their lives."</p> + +<p>"And the Markovians do this, in +obedience to you?" said Cameron +whimsically.</p> + +<p>"Wherever my people are," answered +Venor, "strife ceases and +peace comes. Who can do this is +master of worlds."</p> + +<p>There was a strange solemnity +about the voice and figure of the old +Idealist that checked the sense of +ridiculousness in Cameron. It seemed +somehow strangely moving.</p> + +<p>"You believe the worlds are better," +he asked gently, "just because +you are there?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Venor, "because we +are there."</p> + +<p>There was a pathos about it that +fired Cameron's anger. On scores of +worlds there were primitive groups +like this one, blinding themselves +with a glory that didn't exist, in the +grip of ancient, meaningless traditions. +The younger ones—like Sal +Karone—were intelligent, worth salvaging, +but they could never be lifted +out of this mire of false belief +unless they could be shown how +empty it was.</p> + +<p>"Nothing you have said explains +the mystery of how this great thing +is accomplished," said Cameron almost +angrily. "Even if we wanted to +believe it were true, it is still as +utterly incomprehensible as before we +came."</p> + +<p>"There is a saying among us," said +Venor kindly. "Translated into your +tongue it would be: How was the +wild dog tamed, and a saddle put +upon the fierce stallion?"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Stubbornly, then, Venor would say +no more about the philosophy of the +Idealists. He spoke freely of the +many other worlds upon which the +Idealists lived and served, and he +affirmed the tradition that they did +not even know the place of their +origin, the planet that might have +been their home world.</p> + +<p>He was evasive, however, when +Cameron asked when the first contact +was made between his people +and the Markovians. There was +something that the Ids, too, were +holding back, the sociologist thought, +and there was no apparent reason for +it.</p> + +<p>Recklessly, he decided nothing +could be lost by attempting to blast +for it. "Why have the Markovians +consistently lied to us?" he said. +"They've given us their history—and +if your people know the feelings of +other worlds they know this history +is a lie. Only a few generations ago +the Markovians pirated and plundered +these worlds, and now they pose +as little tin gods with a silver halo. +Why?"</p> + +<p>Sal Karone stood by with a look +of horror on his face, but Venor +made no sign of alarm at this forbidden +question. He merely inclined +his held slowly and repeated, "How +was the wild dog tamed, and a saddle +put upon the fierce stallion?"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>That was the end of the interview. +The Ids insisted, however, that he +inspect the rest of the village and +they personally guided the Terrans +on the tour. Cameron's trained eye +took in at a glance, however, the +evidence supporting his previous conclusion. +The artifacts and buildings +demonstrated a primitive forest culture. +The other individuals he saw +were almost entirely the old and very +young—the ones unsuitable as servants +to the Markovians. Venor explained +that family life among them +paralleled in general that of the Masters. +Whole Idealist families lived +and served as units in the Markovian +household. Exceptions existed +in the case of Sal Karone and +others of his age who were separated +from their families and had not yet +begun their own.</p> + +<p>As they returned to the car Venor +took their hands. He pressed Cameron's +warmly and looked into his eyes +with deep sincerity. "You have made +us glad by your presence," he said. +"And when the time comes for you +to return, we shall repay all the +pleasure you have given us."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid we won't be able to +do that," said Cameron. "We appreciate +your hospitality, but I'm +sure time will not permit us to visit +you again, as much as we'd like to." +In the past few minutes he had +reached the conclusion that further +research on this whole planet was +futile. The best thing they could do +was go somewhere else in the Nucleus +and make a fresh start.</p> + +<p>Venor shook his head, smiling. +"We will see each other again, Joyce +and Cameron. I feel that the day +will be very soon."</p> + +<p>It was senseless to let himself be +irritated by the senile patriarch who +spoke out of a world of illusion but +Cameron could not help feeling nettled +as he started back to the city. +Somehow it seemed impossible to +regard Venor as merely a specimen +for sociological research. The Chief +of the Idealists reached out of his +unreal world and made his contact +with the Terrans a personal thing—almost +as if he had spent all his life +waiting for their coming. There was +a sense of intimacy against which +Cameron rebelled, and yet it was not +an unpleasant thing.</p> + +<p>Cameron's mind oscillated between +the annoyance of Venor's calm assertion +that they would be back +shortly, and the nonsense of the Id +belief that they controlled the civilizations +in which they were servants. +How was the wild dog tamed, and +a saddle put upon the fierce stallion?</p> + +<p>He smiled faintly to himself, wondering +if the Markovians were fully +aware that the Ids regarded them as +tamed dogs and saddled stallions. +They couldn't help knowing, of +course, but it was hard to imagine +Marthasa and his wife being very +much amused by such an estimate. +The situation would be intolerable, +however, if it were met by anything +except amusement. It might be a +mildly explosive subject, but he was +going to find out about that one +small item before moving on, anyway, +Cameron decided.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Sal Karone was strangely silent +during the whole of the return trip. +He offered no comments and made +only brief, noncommittal replies to +questions about the country through +which they passed. He seemed depressed +by the results of their visit. +Probably because the violation of his +warning to not question the lives of +the Markovians. It was a curious +evidence of their completely unreal, +proprietary attitude in respect to their +Masters. They'd have to investigate +Marthasa's response as thoroughly as +possible. There seemed to be no +taboo on discussion of the Ids with +him.</p> + +<p>His annoyance at their acceptance +of the invitation to the Id village +appeared to have vanished as he +greeted them upon their return. "We +delayed eating, thinking you'd be +back in time. If you'll join us in +the dining room as soon as you're +ready—?"</p> + +<p>The villa of Marthasa seemed different +after the day's experience with +the Ids, although Cameron was certain +nothing had changed either in +a physical way or in their relations +with the Markovians. It was as if his +senses had been somehow sharpened +to detect an undercurrent of feeling +of which he had previously been unaware. +Glancing at Joyce, he sensed +she felt the same.</p> + +<p>"I have the feeling that we missed +something," she said, as they changed +clothes to join Marthasa and his wife. +"There was something Venor wanted +us to know and wouldn't say. I +would almost like to go back there +again before we go away."</p> + +<p>Cameron was surprised at his own +annoyance with Joyce's statement. It +reflected the impressions in his own +mind which he was trying to ignore. +"Nonsense," he said. "There's no use +trying to read great profundity in the +words of an old patriarch of the +woods. He's nothing except what he +appears to be."</p> + +<p>The Markovians talked easily of +Venor and the rest of the Ids. "We +have tried to get him to join us in +the city," said Marthasa as the meal +began, "but he won't hear of it. It +seems to give him a sense of importance +to live out there alone with his +retinue and have the other Ids come +to him with their problems. He's a +kind of arbiter and patriarch to all +of them for many miles around."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 599px;"> +<img src="images/004.png" width="599" height="265" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>While Marthasa talked Cameron +tried to bring his awareness of all +the varied facets of the problem together +and see it whole, as he now +understood it. The Markovians, a +vast pirate community, had voluntarily +abandoned freebooting for reasons +yet to be discovered. They had +turned their backs upon it so forcibly +that they hid even the history of their +depredations. And one of their last +acts must have been the capture of +a large colony of Idealists who were +forced into servitude. Now the Ids +compensated their enslavement by +the religious belief that service made +them masters over the ex-pirates, convincing +themselves that <i>they</i> had +changed the Markovians, taming +them like wild dogs, saddling them +as fierce stallions—</p> + +<p>Cameron wondered if he dared, +and then dismissed the thought that +there could be any risk. It was too +ridiculous!</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>There was even a half-malicious +smile on his lips as he broke into +Marthasa's conversation. "One of the +things that made me very curious +today," he said, "was the general reaction +of your people to the Idealist +illusion that they have <i>tamed</i> you—as +expressed in their aphorism about +how was the wild dog—?"</p> + +<p>He never finished. Across the table +the faces of the Markovians had +frozen in sudden bitterness. The +shield of friendliness vanished under +the cold glare from their eyes.</p> + +<p>Marthasa's lips seemed to curl as +he whispered, "So you came like all +the rest! And we wanted so much to +believe you were honest. A study! A +chance to find material for lies about +the Nucleus to spread among all the +Council worlds."</p> + +<p>He continued almost sadly, "You +will be confined to your quarters +until transfer authorities can arrange +for your return to Earth. And you +may be sure that never again will +such a scheme get one of your kind +into the Nucleus again."</p> + +<p>But there was no hint of sadness +in his wife's face. She glared coldly. +"I said they should never had been +permitted to come!"</p> + +<p>Cameron rose in sudden bewildered +protest. "I assure you we have no +intention—" he began.</p> + +<p>And then he stopped. In one moment +of incredible clarity while they +stood there, eyes locked in bitter +stares, he understood. He knew the +myth was not a myth. It was cold, +unbelievable reality. The Ids <i>had</i> +tamed the Markovians.</p> + +<p>In a moment of fear he wondered +if it were anything more than a thin +shell that could be shattered by a +whisper from a stupid dabbler in +cultures, who really knew nothing +at all about the profession to which +he pretended.</p> + + +<p class="theend">V</p> + +<p>As if upon some secret signal Sal +Karone appeared from the serving +room at their left.</p> + +<p>"Our visitors are no longer our +guests," Marthasa said sharply with +accusing eyes still upon Cameron. +"They will remain in their rooms +until time for deportation.</p> + +<p>"I trust it will not be necessary to +use force," he said directly to Cameron.</p> + +<p>"Of course not. But won't you let +me explain—won't you even allow +an apology for breaking a taboo we +did not understand?"</p> + +<p>"Is it not taboo among all civilized +peoples, including your own, to invent +and spread lies about those who +wish you only well?"</p> + +<p>It was useless to argue, Cameron +saw. He turned, taking Joyce's arm, +and allowed Sal Karone to lead them +back to their rooms. As they paused +at the doorway the Id spoke without +expression on his dark face. "This +is not a good thing, Cameron Wilder. +It would have been best for you to +have considered my warning."</p> + +<p>He turned and stepped away, locking +the door behind him.</p> + +<p>Joyce slumped on the bed in dejection. +"This is a fine fix we've got +ourselves into, being declared <i>persona +non grata</i> before we even get a good +start! They'll remember <i>that</i> back +home when A Study of the Metamorphosis +of the Markovian Nucleus +is mentioned in professional circles!"</p> + +<p>"Don't rub it in," Cameron said, +half angrily. "How was I to know +that was such a vicious taboo? It can't +be any secret to the Markovians that +the Ids look upon them as tamed. +Why should they get their hackles +up because <i>I</i> mentioned it?"</p> + +<p>"All I know is we're washed up +as of now. What do we do when we +get back home?"</p> + +<p>Cameron stood with his back to +her, looking through the windows to +the garden beyond. "I'm not thinking +of that," he said. "Can't you see +we haven't failed? We've almost got +it—the thing we came to find. We +<i>knew</i> why the Markovians suddenly +became good Indians. The Ids actually +did tame them. We've got to +find out how such an apparently impossible +thing could be done."</p> + +<p>"Do you really believe that's what +happened?" asked Joyce.</p> + +<p>Cameron nodded. "It's the only +thing there is to believe. If it weren't +true, Marthasa and his wife would +have laughed it off as nonsense. Getting +all huffy and talking about deportation +for cooking up lies is the +best proof you could ask for that we +hit pay dirt. Don't ask me how I +think the Ids could do it. <i>That's</i> what +I'm going to find out."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>But he did have an idea that if he +could somehow get word to the old +Id chieftain help could be had. He +knew he was straining to believe +things he wanted to believe, yet it +seemed as if this were almost the +very thing Venor had tried to convey +the day before but had left unspoken.</p> + +<p>There was only one possibility of +establishing contact, however, and +that was through Sal Karone. A +remote chance indeed, Cameron +thought, in view of the relationship +between the Markovian and his +<i>sargh</i>. As a last resort it was worth +trying, however.</p> + +<p>It looked as if they would not +have even this chance as the evening +grew darker. Cameron kept watch +through the windows in the hope of +signaling Sal Karone in case he +should appear. They hoped he might +come to the room for a final check of +their needs for the night as he usually +did.</p> + +<p>But he did not appear.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Cameron finally went to bed after +Joyce was long asleep. He turned +restlessly, beating his mind with increasing +wonder as to how it could +be so incredibly true that the Idealists +were the actual masters of the Nucleus. +That they had somehow tamed +the murderous, piratical Markovians. +He couldn't have known this was it!</p> + +<p>One thing he could understood, +however, was the Markovians reluctance +to have visitors—and their careful +watch over them. Marthasa had +been more than a host, he thought. +He was a guard as well, trying to +keep the Terrans from discovering +the unpleasant reality concerning the +influence of the Ids. He had slipped +in allowing the visit to Venor.</p> + +<p>At dawn there was the sound of +their door opening and Cameron +whirled from his dressing, hopeful +it might be Sal Karone. It was Marthasa, +however, grim and distant. "I +have obtained word that your deportation +can be accomplished today. +Premier Jargla has been informed +and concurs. The Council has been +notified and offers no protestations. +You will ready yourselves before the +evening hour."</p> + +<p>He slammed the door behind him. +Joyce turned down the covers in the +other room and sat up. "I wonder if +he isn't even going to feed us +today?"</p> + +<p>Cameron made no answer. He +finished dressing hurriedly and kept +a frantic watch for any sign of Sal +Karone.</p> + +<p>At last there was a knock on the +door and the Id appeared with breakfast +on a cart. Cameron exhaled with +relief that it was not one of the other +<i>sarghs</i> in the household.</p> + +<p>Sal Karone eyed them impassively +as he wheeled in and arranged the +food on the table by a window. +Cameron watched, estimating his +chances.</p> + +<p>"Your Chief, Venor, was very +kind to us yesterday," he said quietly. +"Our biggest regret in leaving is that +our conversation with him must go +unfinished."</p> + +<p>Sal Karone paused. "Were there +things you had yet to say to him?" +he asked.</p> + +<p>"No—there were things Venor +wanted to tell us. You heard him. +He wanted us to come back. It is +completely impossible for us to see +him again before we go?"</p> + +<p>Sal Karone straightened and set +the utensils on the table. "No, it is +not impossible. I have been instructed +to bring you back to the village +if it should be your request."</p> + +<p>Cameron felt a surge of eager +excitement within him. "When? Our +deportation is scheduled for today. +How can we get there? How can +we avoid Marthasa and the Markovians?"</p> + +<p>"Stand very quietly," said Sal +Karone, that sense of power and +command in his voice and bearing +as Cameron had seen it once before +aboard the spaceship. "Now," he +said. "Close your eyes."</p> + +<p>There was a sudden wrenching +twist as if two solid surfaces had +slammed them from front and back, +and a third force had thrust them +sideways.</p> + +<p>They opened their eyes in the +wooden house of Venor, in the village +of the Idealists.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"We owe you apologies," said +Venor. "We hope you are not harmed +in any way."</p> + +<p>Cameron stared around uncertainly. +Joyce clutched his hand. "How +did we—?" Cameron stammered.</p> + +<p>"Teleportation is the descriptive +term in your language, I believe," +said Venor. "It was rather urgent +that you come without further delay +so we resorted to it. Nothing else +would do in the face of Marthasa's +action. Sit down if you will, please. +If you wish to rest or eat, your quarters +are ready."</p> + +<p>"Our quarters—! Then you <i>did</i> +expect us back. You knew this was +going to happen exactly as it has!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I knew," said Venor quietly. +"I planned it this way when word +first came to us of your visit."</p> + +<p>"I think we are entitled to explanations," +Cameron said at last. "We +seem to have been pieces in a game +we knew nothing about."</p> + +<p>And it had taken this long for the +full impact of Venor's admission of +teleportation to hit him. He closed +his eyes in a moment's reaction of +fright. He didn't want to believe it—and +knew he must. These Idealists—who +could master galaxies and +tame the wild Markovians—was +there anything they could not do?</p> + +<p>"Not a game," Venor protested. +"We planned this because we wanted +you to see what you have seen. We +wanted a man of Earth to know +what we have done."</p> + +<p>"But don't the Markovians realize +the foolishness of deporting us because +we stumbled onto the relationship +between you and them? And if +you are in control how can they issue +such an order—unless you want it?"</p> + +<p>"Our relationship is more complex +than that. There are different levels +of control. We operate the one that +brought you here—" He let Cameron +consider the implication of the unfinished +statement.</p> + +<p>Then he continued, "To understand +the Markovians' reason for +deporting you, consider that on Earth +men have tamed wolves and made +faithful, loyal dogs who can be +trusted. Dogs who have forever lost +the knowledge their ancestors were +fierce marauders ready to rip and tear +the flesh of any man or beast that +came their way.</p> + +<p>"Consider the dogs only a generation +or two from the vicious wolves +who were their forebears. The old +urges have not entirely died, yet they +want to know man's affection and +trust. Could you remind them of +what their kind once was without +stirring up torment within them?</p> + +<p>"So it is with the Markovians. +They are peaceful and creative, but +only a few generations behind them +are pirates who were not fit to sit +in the Councils of civilized beings. +They have no tradition of culture to +support them. It knocks the props +out from under them, so to speak, +to have it known what lies behind +them. They cannot be friends with +such a man. They cannot even endure +the knowledge among themselves."</p> + +<p>"Then I was right!" Cameron exclaimed. +"Their phony history <i>was</i> +set up to deceive their own people +as well as others."</p> + +<p>"Yes. The dog would destroy all +evidence of his wolf ancestry. It has +been an enormous project, but the +people of the Nucleus have been at +it a long time. They have concocted +a consistent history which leaves out +all evidence of their predatory ancestry. +The items of reality which +were possible to leave have been +retained. The gaps between have been +bridged by fictionized accounts of +glorious undertakings and discoveries. +Most of the Markovian science +has been taken from other cultures, +but now their history boasts of heroes +and discoverers who never lived and +who were responsible for all the great +science they enjoy."</p> + +<p>"But nothing stable can be built +upon such an unhealthy foundation +of self-deception!" Cameron protested.</p> + +<p>"It is not unhealthy—not at the +present moment," said Venor. "The +time will come when it, too, will be +thrust aside and a tremendous effort +of scholarship will extract the elements +of truth and find that which +was suppressed. But the Markovians +themselves will do it—a generation +of them who can afford to laugh at +the fears and fantasies of their ancestors."</p> + +<p>"This tells us nothing of how you +were able to make a creative people +out of a race of pirate marauders," +said Cameron.</p> + +<p>"I gave you the key," said Venor. +"It was one used long ago by your +own people before it was abandoned.</p> + +<p>"How was the savage wolf tamed +to become the loyal, friendly dog? +Did ancient man try to exterminate +the wolves that came to his caves and +carried off his young? Perhaps he +tried. But he learned, perhaps accidentally, +another way of conquest. He +found the wolf's cubs, and learned +to love them. He brought the cubs +home and cared for them tenderly +and his own children played with +them and fed them and loved them.</p> + +<p>"It took time, but eventually there +were no more wild wolves to trouble +man, because he had discovered a +great friend, the dog. And man plus +dog could handle wolf with ease. +Dog forgot in time what his forebears +were and became willing to defend +man against his own kind—because +man loved him.</p> + +<p>"It happened again and again. +Agricultural man hated the wild +horse that ate his grain and trampled +his fields. But he learned to love the +horse, too, after a while. Again—no +more wild horses."</p> + +<p>"But you can't take a predatory, +savage pirate and love him into decency!" +Cameron protested.</p> + +<p>"No," Venor agreed. "It is too +difficult ordinarily at that level, and +wasteful of time and resources. But +I didn't say that is what happened. +You don't tame a wolf by loving it, +but the <i>cubs</i>—yes. And even pirates +have cubs, who are susceptible to being +loved.</p> + +<p>"The first weapon was hate. But +after learning the futility of it, +sentient creatures discovered another, +the succeeding evolutionary emotion. +It is pure savagery in its destructive +power, a thousand times more effective +in annihilating the enemy.</p> + +<p>"You've thought 'Love thy enemy' +was a soft, gentle, futile doctrine! +Actually, instead of merely killing +the enemy it twists his personality, +destroys his identity. He continues +to live, but he has lost his integrity +as an entity. The wolf cub never +becomes an adult wolf. He becomes +Dog.</p> + +<p>"It is not a doctrine of weakness, +but the ultimate weapon of destruction. +It can be used to induce any +orientation desired in the mind of the +enemy. He'll do everything you want +him to—because he has your love."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"How did you apply that to the +Markovians?" asked Joyce in almost +a whisper.</p> + +<p>"It was one of the most difficult +programs we have ever undertaken," +said Venor. "There were comparatively +few of us and such a tremendous +population of Markovians. We +had predicted long ago, even before +the organization of the Council, the +situation would grow critical and +dangerous. By the time the Council +awoke to the fact and started its +futile debates we had made a strong +beginning.</p> + +<p>"We arranged to be in the path +of a Markovian attack on one of the +worlds where our work was completed. +The Markovians were only +too happy to take us into slavery +and use us as victims in their brutal +sports."</p> + +<p>"You didn't deliberately fall into +a trap where you allowed yourselves +to be killed and tortured by them?" +exclaimed Cameron.</p> + +<p>Venor smiled. "The Markovians +thought we did. We could hardly +do that, of course. Our numbers were +so small compared with theirs that +we wouldn't have lasted very long. +And, obviously, it would have been +plain stupid. There is one key that +must not be forgotten: An effective +use of love requires an absolute superiority +on the levels attainable by +the individual to be tamed. So, in +this case, we had to have power to +keep the Markovians from slaughtering +us or we would have been unable +to accomplish our purpose.</p> + +<p>"Teleportation is of obvious use +here. Likewise, psychosomatic controls +that can handle any ordinary +wound we might permit them to inflict. +We gave them the illusion of +slaughtering and torturing us, but our +numbers did not dwindle."</p> + +<p>"Why did you give them such an +illusion?" Joyce asked. "And you +say you <i>permitted</i> them to inflict +wounds—?"</p> + +<p>Venor nodded. "We were in their +households, you see, employed as +slaves and assigned the care of their +young. The cubs of the wolf were +given into our hands to love—and to +tame.</p> + +<p>"These Markovian children were +witnesses to the supposed torture and +killing of those who loved them. It +was a tremendous psychic impact +and served to drive their influence +toward the side of the slaves. And +even the adults slowly recognized the +net loss to them of doing away with +servants so skilled and useful in +household tasks and caring for the +young. The games and brutality vanished +spontaneously within a short +time. Markovians, young and old, +simply didn't want them any longer.</p> + +<p>"During the maturity of that first +generation of young on whom we +expended our love our position became +more secure. These were no +longer wolves. They had become +dogs, loyal to those who had loved +them, and we could use them now +against their own kind. Influences +to abandon piracy against other peoples +began to spread throughout the +Nucleus.</p> + +<p>"Today the Markovians are no +longer a threat capable of holding the +Council worlds in helpless fear. They +long ago ceased their depredations. +Their internal stability is rising and +is almost at the point where we shall +be able to leave them. Our work +here is about finished."</p> + +<p>"Surely all this was unnecessary!" +Joyce said. "With your powers of +teleportation and other psionic abilities +you must possess it should have +been easy for you to <i>control</i> the +Markovians directly, force them to +cease their piracy—"</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Venor. "That +would have been so much easier for +us. And so futile. The Markovians +would have learned nothing through +being taken over by us and operated +externally. They would have remained +the same. But it was our desire +to change them, teach them, accomplish +genuine learning within them. +It is always longer and more difficult +this way. The results, however, are +more lasting!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Who</i> are you people—<i>what</i> are +you?" Cameron said with sudden +intensity. "You have teleportation—and +how many other unknown psychic +powers? You have forced us to +believe you can tame such a vicious +world as the Markovian Nucleus once +was.</p> + +<p>"But where is there a life of your +own? With all your powers you +must live at the whim of other cultures. +Where is <i>your</i> culture? Where +is your own purpose? In spite of all +you have, your life is a parasitical +one."</p> + +<p>Venor smiled gently. "Is not the +parent—or the teacher—the servant +of the child?" he said. "Has it not +always been so if a species is to rise +very far in its conquest of the +Universe?</p> + +<p>"But this does not mean that the +parent or teacher has no life of his +own. You ask where is our culture? +The culture of <i>all</i> worlds is ours. We +don't have great cities and vast fleets. +The wolf cubs build these for us. +They carry us across space and shelter +us in their cities.</p> + +<p>"Our own energies are expended +in a thousand other and more profitable +ways. We have sought and learned +a few of the secrets of life and +mind. With these we can move as +you were moved, when we choose to +do so. From where I sit I can speak +with any of our kind on this planet +or any world of the entire Nucleus. +And a few of us, united in the effort, +can touch those in distant galaxies.</p> + +<p>"What culture would you have us +acquire, that we do not have?" Venor +finished.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Without answer, Cameron arose +and strode slowly to the window, his +back to the room. He looked out +upon the rude wooden huts and the +towering forest beyond. He tried to +tell himself it was all a lie. Such +things couldn't be. But he could feel +it now with increasing strength, as +if all his senses were quickening—the +benign aura, the indefinable wash +of power that seemed to lap at the +edge of his mind.</p> + +<p>Out of the corner of his eye he +could see Joyce's face, almost radiant +as she, too, sensed it here in the +presence of the Ids.</p> + +<p>Love, as a genuine power, had +been taught by every Terran philosopher +of any social worth. But it had +never really been tried. Not in the +way the Ids understood it. Cameron +felt he could only guess at the terrible +discipline of mind it required +to use it as they did. The analogy of +the wolf cubs was all very well, and +man had learned to go that far. But +there is a difference when your own +kind is involved, he thought.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was out of sheer fear +of each other that men continued to +try to sway with hate, the most +primitive of all their weapons.</p> + +<p>It's easy to hate, he thought. Love +is hard, and because it is, the tough +humans who can't achieve it and have +the patience to manipulate it must +scorn it. The truly weak ones, they're +incapable of the stern and brutal +self-discipline required of one who +loves his enemy.</p> + +<p>But men had known how. Back in +the caves they had known how to +conquer the wolf and the wild horse. +Where had they lost it?</p> + +<p>The vision of the buildings and +the forest with its eternal peace was +still in his eyes. What else could you +want, with the whole Universe in the +palm of your hand?</p> + +<p>He turned sharply. "You tricked +us into betraying ourselves to Marthasa, +and you said that you planned +it this way when you first heard of +our coming. But you have not yet +said why. Why did you want us to +see what you had done?"</p> + +<p>"You needed to have evidence +from the Markovians themselves," +said Venor. "That is why I led you +to the point where the admission +would be forced from them. The +problem you came to solve is now +answered, is it not? Is there anything +to prevent you returning to Earth +and writing a successful paper on +the mystery of the Markovians?"</p> + +<p>"You know very well there is," +said Cameron with the sudden sense +that Venor was laughing gently at +him. "Who on Earth would believe +what you have told me—that a handful +of meek, subservient Ids had +conquered the mighty Markovian +Nucleus?"</p> + +<p>He paused, looking at Joyce who +returned his intense gaze.</p> + +<p>"Is that all?" said Venor finally.</p> + +<p>"No that is not all. After taking +us to the heights and showing us +everything that lies beyond, are you +simply going to turn us away empty-handed?"</p> + +<p>"What would you have us give +you?"</p> + +<p>"This," said Cameron, gesturing +with his hand to include the circle of +all of them, and the community beyond +the window. "We want what +you have discovered. Is your circle a +closed one—or can you admit those +who would learn of your ways but +are not of your race?"</p> + +<p>Venor's smile broadened as he +arose and stepped toward them, and +they felt the warm wave of acceptance +from his mind even before he +spoke. "This is what we brought you +here to receive," he said. "But you +had to ask for yourselves. We wanted +men of Earth in our ranks. There +are many races and many worlds who +make up the Idealists. That is why it +is said that the Ids do not know the +home world from which they originally +came. It is true, they do not. +We are citizens of the Universe.</p> + +<p>"But we have never been represented +by a native of Earth, which +needs us badly. Will you join us, +Terrans?"</p> + + +<p class="theend">THE END</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/005.png" width="400" height="171" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<div class="trans1"><p class="zerop"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b><br /> + +This etext was produced from <i>Astounding Science Fiction</i> November 1955. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright +on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errors +have been corrected without note.</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Cubs of the Wolf, by Raymond F. 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--git a/22526.txt b/22526.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c07d9bd --- /dev/null +++ b/22526.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2407 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Cubs of the Wolf, by Raymond F. Jones + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Cubs of the Wolf + +Author: Raymond F. Jones + +Illustrator: Rogers + +Release Date: September 6, 2007 [EBook #22526] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CUBS OF THE WOLF *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: MARKOVIA] + + + + +CUBS OF THE WOLF + +BY RAYMOND F. JONES + + _It may be that there is a weapon that, from the + viewpoint of the one it's used on, is worse than + lethal. You might say that death multiplies you by + zero; what would multiplication by minus one do?_ + +Illustrated by Rogers + + +In the spring the cherry blossoms are heavy in the air over the campus +of Solarian Institute of Science and Humanities. On a small slope that +rims the park area, Cameron Wilder lay on his back squinting through the +cloud of pink-white petals to the sky beyond. Beside him, Joyce Farquhar +drew her jacket closer with an irritated gesture. It was still too cold +to be sitting on the grass, but Cameron didn't seem to notice it--or +anything else, Joyce thought. + +"If you don't submit a subject for your thesis now," she said, "you'll +take another full six months getting your doctorate. Sometimes I think +you don't really want it!" + +Cameron stirred. He shifted his squinting gaze from the sky to Joyce and +finally sat up. But he was staring ahead through the trees again as he +took his pipe from his pocket and began filling it slowly. + +"I _don't_ want it if it's not going to mean anything after I get it," +he said belligerently. "I'm not going to do an investigation of some +silly subject like The Transience of Venusian Immigrants in Relation to +the Martian Polar Ice Cap Cycle. Solarian sociologists are the butt of +enough ridicule now. Do something like that and for the rest of your +life you get knocking of the knees whenever anybody inquires about the +specialty you worked in and threatens to read your thesis." + +"Nobody's asking you to do anything you don't want to. But _you_ picked +the field of sociology to work in. Now I don't see why you have to act +such a purist that it takes months to find a research project for your +degree. Pick something--anything!--I don't care what it is. But if you +don't get a degree and an appointment out of the next session I don't +think we'll ever get married--not ever." + +Cameron removed his pipe from his mouth with a precise grip and +considered it intently as it cupped in his hands. "I'm glad you +mentioned marriage," he said. "I was just about to speak of it myself." + +"Well, don't!" said Joyce. "After three years--Three years!" + +He turned to face her and smiled for the first time. He liked to lead +her along occasionally just to watch her explode, but he was not always +sure when he had gone too far. Joyce had a mind like a snapping, random +matching calculator while he operated more on a slow, carefully shaping +analogue basis, knowing things were never quite what they seemed but +trying to get as close an approximation of the true picture as possible. + +"Will you marry me now?" he said. + +The question did not seem to startle her. "No degree, no +appointment--and no chance of getting one--we couldn't even get a +license. I hope you aren't suggesting we try to get along without one, +or on a forgery!" + +Cameron shook his head. "No, darling, this is a perfectly bona fide +proposal, complete with license, appointment, the works--what do you +say?" + +"I say this spring sun is too much for you." She touched the dark mass +of his hair, warmed by the sun's rays, and put her head on his shoulder. +She started to cry. "Don't tease me like that, Cameron. It seems like +we've been waiting forever--and there's still forever ahead of us. You +can't do anything you want to--" + +Cameron put his arms about her, not caring if the whole Institute +faculty leaned out the windows to watch. "That's why you should +appreciate being about to marry such a resourceful fellow," he said more +gently. And now he dropped all banter. "I've been thinking about how +long it's been, too. That's why I decided to try to kill a couple of +sparrows with one pebble." + +Joyce sat up. "You aren't serious--?" + +Cameron sucked on his pipe once more. "Ever hear of the Markovian +Nucleus?" he said thoughtfully. + +Joyce slowly nodded her head. "Oh, I think I've heard the name +mentioned," she murmured, "but nothing more than that." + +"I've asked for that as my research project." + +"But that's clear out of the galaxy--in Transpace!" + +"Yes, and obviously out of bounds for the ordinary graduate researcher. +But because of the scholarship record I've been able to rack up here I +took a chance on applying to the Corning Foundation for a grant. And +they decided to take a chance on me after considerable and not entirely +painless investigation. That's why you were followed around like a +suspected Disloyalist for a month. My application included a provision +for you to go along as my wife. Professor Fothergill notified me this +morning that the grant had been awarded." + +"Cam--" Joyce's voice was brittle now. "You aren't fooling me?" + +He gathered her in his arms again. "You think I would fool about +something like that, darling? In a week you'll be Mrs. C. Wilder, and as +soon as school is out, on your way to the Markovian Nucleus. And +besides, it took me almost as much work preparing the research +prospectus as the average guy spends on his whole project!" + + * * * * * + +Sometimes Joyce Farquhar wished Cameron were a good deal different than +he was. But then he wouldn't have been Cameron, and she wouldn't want to +marry him, she supposed. And somehow, while he fell behind on the +mid-stretch, he always managed to come in at the end with the rest of +the field. Or just a little bit ahead of it. + +Or a good deal ahead of it. As now. It took her a few moments to realize +the magnitude of the coup he had actually pulled off. For weeks she had +been depressed because he refused to use some trivial, breeze research +to get his degree. He could have started it as much as a year ago, and +they could have been married now if he'd set himself up a real cinch. + +But now they were getting married anyway--and Cameron was getting the +kind of research deal that would satisfy his frantic desire for +integrity in a world where it counted for little, and his wish to +contribute something genuine to the sociological understanding of +sentient creatures. + +Their marriage, as was customary, would be a cut and dried affair. A +call to the license bureau, receipt of formal sanction in the mail--she +supposed Cameron had already made application--and a little party with a +few of their closest friends on the campus. She wished she had lived in +the days when getting married was much easier to do, and something to +make a fuss about. + +She stirred and sat up, loosening the jacket as the sun came from behind +a puff of cloud. "You could have told me about this a long time ago, +couldn't you?" she said accusingly. + +Cameron nodded. "I could have. But I didn't want to get false hopes +aroused. I didn't have much hope the deal would actually go through, +myself. I think Fothergill is pretty much responsible for it." + +"Transpace--" Joyce said dreamily. "Tell me about the Markovian Nucleus. +Why is it important enough for a big research study, anyway?" + +"It's a case of a leopard who changed his spots," said Cameron. "And +nobody knows how or why. The full title of the project is A Study of the +Metamorphosis of the Markovian Nucleus." + +"What happened? How are they any different from the way they used to +be?" + +"A hundred and fifty years ago the Markovians were the meanest, +nastiest, orneriest specimens in the entire Council of Galactic +Associates. The groups of worlds in one corner of their galaxy, which +make up the Nucleus, controlled a military force that outweighed +anything the Council could possibly bring to bear against them. + +"With complete disregard of any scheme of interplanetary rules or order +they harassed and attacked peaceful shipping and inoffensive cultures +throughout a wide territory. They were something demanding the Council's +military action. But the Council lacked the strength. + +"For years the Council dragged on, debating and threatening +ineffectively. But nothing was ever done. And then, so gradually it was +hardly noticed, the harassments began to die down. The warlike posturing +was abandoned by the Markovians. Within a period of about seventy or +eighty years there was a complete about-face. They wound up as good +Indians, peaceful, cooeperative and intelligent members of the Council." + +"Didn't anybody ever find out why?" asked Joyce. + +"No. Nobody _wanted_ to find out. In the early years the worlds of the +Council were hiding behind their collective hands hoping with all their +might that the threat might go away if they kept their eyes closed long +enough. And by some miracle of all miracles, when they parted their +fingers for a scared glimpse, the threat _had_ disappeared. + +"When they could breathe a little more easily it seemed a foolish thing +to bring out this old skeleton from the closet again, so a perpetual +state of hush was established. Finally, the whole thing was practically +forgotten except for a short paragraph in an occasional history text. +But no politician or historian has ever dared publicly to question the +mysterious why of the Markovian's about-face." + +"Sociologists should have done it long ago," said Joyce. + +"There was always the political pressure, of course," said Cameron. "But +the real reason was simply our preoccupation with making bibliographies +of each others' papers. It's going to take a lot of leg work, something +in which our formal courses don't give us any basic training. Fothergill +understands that--it's why he pushed me so hard with the Foundation. And +Riley up there is capable of seeing it, too. + +"I showed him that here was a complex of at least a hundred and ten +major planets, inhabited by a fairly homogenous, civilized people, +speaking from a technological point of view at least. And almost +overnight some force changed the entire cultural posture. I made him see +that identification of that force is of no small interest to us right +now. If it operated once, it could operate again--and would its results +be as happy a second time? + +"Riley got the Foundation to kick through enough for you and me to make +a start. A preliminary survey is about all it will amount to, actually, +but if we show evidence of something tangible I'll get my degree, you'll +get your basic certification--and we'll both return in charge of a +full-scale inquiry with a staff big enough to really dig into things +next year. + +"Now--about this matter of marriage which you didn't want me to speak +of--" + +"Keep talking, Cam--you're doing wonderfully!" + + * * * * * + +They got married at once, even though there were several weeks of school +which had to be finished before they could leave. Among their friends on +the campus there were a good many whispered remarks about the insanity +of Joyce and Cameron in planning such a fantastic excursion, but Joyce +was certain there was as much envy as criticism in the eyes of her +associates. It might be true when they asserted that every conceivable +sociological factor or combination of factors could be found and +analyzed right here in the Solar System, but a husband who could finagle +a way to combine a honeymoon trip halfway across space with his graduate +research thesis was a rare specimen. Joyce played her advantage for all +it was worth. + +Two weeks before departure time, however, Cameron was called to the +office of Professor Fothergill. As he entered he found a third man +present, wearing a uniform he recognized at once as belonging to the +Council Secretariat. + +"I'll wait outside," he said abruptly as Fothergill turned. "I got your +message and came right over. I didn't know--" + +"Sit down," said Fothergill. "Cameron, this is Mr. Ebbing, whose +position you no doubt recognize. Mr. Ebbing, Mr. Wilder." + +The men shook hands and took seats across from each other. Fothergill +sat between them at the polished table. "The Council, it seems, has +developed an interest in your proposed research among the Markovians," +he said. "I'll let Mr. Ebbing tell you about it." + +Cameron felt a sinking anticipation within him as he turned to the +secretary. Surely the Council wasn't going to actively oppose the +investigation after so long a time! + +The secretary coughed and shuffled the papers he drew from his case. +"It's not actually the Council's interest," he said, and Cameron was +immediately relieved. "But I have been asked by the Markovian Nucleus, +through their representative, to suggest that they would like to save +you the long and unnecessary trip. He offers to co-operate to the +fullest degree by causing all necessary materials to be transferred to +your site of study right here. He feels that this is the least they can +do since so much interest appears to exist in the Nucleus." + +Cameron stared at the secretary, trying to discern what the man's own +attitude might be, but Ebbing gave no sign of playing it any way but +straight. + +"It sounds like a polite invitation to stay home and mind our own +business," said Cameron finally. "They don't want company." + +The secretary's expression changed to acknowledgment of the correct +appraisal. "They don't want any investigation into the Metamorphosis of +the Markovian Nucleus. There is no such thing. It is entirely a myth." + +"Says the Markovians--!" + +Ebbing nodded. "Says the Markovians. Other worlds, both within and +without the Council have persisted in spreading tales and rumors about +the Markovians for a long time. They don't like it. They are willing to +co-operate in having a correct analysis of their culture published, but +they don't want any more of these infamous rumors circulated." + +"Then why aren't they willing to promote such an investigation? This +would be their big chance--if their ridiculous position were true!" + +"They _are_ willing. I've told you the representative has offered to +send you all needed material showing the status of their culture." + +Cameron looked at the secretary for a long time before speaking again. +"What's your position?" he asked finally. "Are we being ordered off the +investigation?" + +"The Markovian representative doesn't want to go to quite that extreme. +He knows that, too, would react unfavorably towards his people. Here's +his point: So far, he's blocked news of your proposed research getting +to his home worlds. But he knows that if you do carry it out in the +manner you propose it is going to make a lot of the home folks mighty +unhappy and they'll demand to know why he didn't stop it. So he's trying +to satisfy both sides at once." + +"Why will the people in the Nucleus be made unhappy by our coming?" + +"Because you'll go there trying to track down the basis for the rumors +that defame the Markovian character. You'll bring forcibly to their +attention the fact that the rest of the Universe believes the Markovians +are basically a bunch of pirates." + +"And the Markovians don't like to hear these things?" + +"Definitely not." + +"So you tell me the research is not being forbidden, but that the +Markovians won't like it. Suppose I tell you, then, I'm not going to +give up short of an order from the Council itself. But I am willing to +camouflage the investigation if necessary. I'll make no open mention of +what outside opinion says of the Markovians. I'll simply make a study of +their history and character as it becomes available to me." + +Ebbing nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on Cameron's face. "I would say +that would be eminently satisfactory," he said. "I will inform the +representative of your decision." + +Then his face became more severe. "The Council will be pleased to learn +of your willingness to be discreet. I wonder if you understand that the +Foundation came to us upon receipt of your application, for official +clearance of the project. It coincided quite fortuitously with the plans +of the Council itself. For a long time we have been concerned with the +lack of information regarding the Markovian situation and have been at a +loss as to how to improve our situation. + +"Your proposed investigation seemed the answer, but we anticipated the +Markovian objection and had to make certain you would co-operate to his +satisfaction. I believe this will do it." + +"Why is the Council concerned?" said Cameron. "Have the Markovians +changed their attitude in any way?" + +"No--but the rest of us remember, even though we don't speak of it, that +the Nucleus was never punished for its depredations, nor was it ever +defeated. Its strength is as great as ever in proportion to the other +Council worlds. + +"What are the chances and potentialities of the Nucleus worlds ever +again becoming the marauders they once were? That is the question which +we feel must be answered. Without knowing, we are sitting on a powder +keg in which the fuse may or may not be lighted. Will you bring us back +the answer we need?" + +Cameron felt a sudden grimness which had not been present before. "I'll +do all I can," he said soberly. "If the information is there I'll bring +it back." + + * * * * * + +After the secretary had gone and Fothergill turned from the door to +rejoin him Cameron sat in faintly shocked consideration of the Council's +unexpected support. It took his research out of the realm of the purely +sociological and projected it into politics and diplomacy. He was +pleased by their confidence, but not cheered by the added +responsibility. + +"That's a lucky break," said Fothergill enthusiastically, "and I'm +beginning to suspect you may be rather badly in need of all the breaks +you can get once you land among the Markovians. Don't forget for a +single minute that you are dealing with the sons and grandsons of +genuine pirates." + +The professor sat down again. "There's one other little item of interest +I turned up the other day. You should know about it before you leave. +The Markovian Nucleus is somewhat of a hotbed of Ids." + +"Ids--you mean the Idealists--?" + +Fothergill nodded. "Know anything about them?" + +"Not much, except that they are a sort of parasitic group, living +usually in a servant relationship to other races on terran-type worlds. +As I recall, even they claim that they do not know the planet or even +the galaxy of their origin, because they have been wanderers for so many +generations among alien races. Perhaps it would be a good idea to make a +study of them, too--I don't know that a thorough one has ever been +made." + +"That's what I wanted to warn you about," said Fothergill, smiling. +"Stick to one subject at a time. The Ids _would_ make a nice research +project in themselves, and maybe you can get around to it eventually. +But leave them alone for the present and don't become distracted from +your basic project among the Markovians. The policy of the Corning +Foundation is to demand something very definite in return for the money +they lay on the line. You won't get to go back next year unless you +produce. That's why I don't want you to get sidetracked in any way." + + +II + +Cameron admitted to himself that he was getting more edgy as the day of +departure approached, but he tried to keep Joyce from seeing it. He was +worried about the possible development of further opposition now that +the Markovian had expressed his displeasure, and he was worried about +their reception once they reached the Nucleus. He wondered why they had +not seen in advance that it would be an obvious blunder to let the +Markovians be aware of their real purpose. It didn't even require a +pirate ancestry to make groups unappreciative about resurrection of +their family skeletons. + +But no other hindrance appeared, and on the evening before their +departure Fothergill called that word had been received from Ebbing +stating the Markovian representative had approved the visit now that +Cameron had expressed a change in his objectives. Their coming had been +announced to the Markovian people and the way prepared for an official +welcome. + +Cameron was pleased by the change of attitude. He was hit for the first +time, however, by the full force of the fact that he was taking his +bride to a pirate center which the Council had never overthrown and +which was active only moments ago, culturally speaking. + +If any kind of trouble should develop the Council would be almost +impotent in offering them assistance. On the face of it, there was no +reason to expect trouble. But the peculiarly oblique opposition of the +Markovian delegate in the Council continued to make him uneasy. + +His tentative suggestion that he would feel better if he knew she were +safe on Earth brought a blistering response from Joyce, which left him +with no doubts about carrying out his original plans. + +And then, as the last of their packing was completed and they were ready +to call it a day, the phone buzzed. Cameron hesitated, determined to let +it go unanswered, then punched the button irritably on audio only. + +Instead of the caller, he heard the voice of the operator. "One moment +please. Interstellar, Transpace, printed. Please connect visio." + +It was like a shock, he thought afterwards. There was no one he knew who +could be making such a call to him. But automatically he did as +directed. Joyce had come up and was peering over his shoulder now. The +screen fluttered for a moment with polychrome colors and cleared. The +message, printed for English translation, stood out sharply. Joyce and +Cameron exclaimed simultaneously at the titling. It was from Premier +Jargla, Executive Head of the Markovian Government. + +"To Wilder, Cameron and Joyce," it read, "greetings and appreciation for +your proposed visit to the Markovian Nucleus for study of our history +and customs. We have not been before so honored. We feel, however, that +it is an imposition on your Foundation and on you personally to require +that you make the long journey to the Nucleus for this purpose alone. +While we would be honored to entertain you--" + +It was the same proposition as Ebbing had reported the delegate offered. +Only this time it was from the head of the Markovian government himself. + +They sat up nearly all the rest of the night considering this new +development. "Maybe you shouldn't go, after all," said Joyce once. +"Maybe this is something that needs bigger handling than we can possibly +give it." + +Cameron shook his head. "_I've_ got to go. They haven't closed the door +and said we can't come. If I backed out before they did, I'd be known +the rest of my life as the guy who was _going_ to crack the Markovian +problem. But I'd much rather you--" + +"No! If you're going, so am I." + + * * * * * + +They consulted again with Fothergill and finally drafted as polite a +reply as possible, explaining they were newly married, desired to make +the trip a honeymoon excursion primarily and conduct an investigation +into Markovian culture to prevent the waste of the wonderful opportunity +their visit would afford them. + +An hour before takeoff a polite acknowledgment came back from the +Nucleus assuring them a warm welcome and congratulating them on their +marriage. They went at once to the spaceport and took over their +stateroom. "Before anything else happens to try to pull us off this +investigation," Cameron said. + +The trip would be a long one, involving more than two months subjective +time, because no express runs moved any distance at all in the direction +of the Nucleus. It was necessary to transfer three times, with days of +waiting between ships on planets whose surface conditions permitted +exploration only in cumbersome suits that could not be worn for more +than short periods. Most of the waiting time was spent in the visitors' +chambers at the landing fields. + +These seemed to grow progressively worse. The last one could not +maintain a gravity below 2G, and the minimum temperature available was +104 degrees. There was a three-day wait here and Joyce spent most of it +lying on the bed, under the breeze of a fan which seemed to have +required a special dispensation of the governing body to obtain. + +[Illustration: CAMERON] + +Cameron, however, was unwilling to spend his time this way in spite of +the discomfort imposed by any kind of activity. Humidity was a physical +factor which seemed to have gone undiscovered by the inhabitants of the +planet they were on. He was sure it was constantly maintained within a +fractional per cent of one hundred as he donned a clean pair of trunks +and staggered miserably along the corridor toward a window that gave a +limited view of the city about them. + +That was when he discovered that they were to be accompanied on the +remainder of the journey by a Markovian citizen and his Id servant. + +The visitors' chamber in which these semi-terran conditions were +supplied consisted of only three suites. The other two had been empty +when Cameron and Joyce arrived the night before. Now a Markovian Id +occupied a seat by the window. He glanced up with warm friendliness and +invited Cameron to join him. + +Cameron hesitated, undecided for a moment whether to return to his suite +for the portable semantic translator used in his profession at times +like this. He always felt there was something decidedly unprofessional +about resorting to their use and had spent many hours trying to master +Markovian before leaving. He understood the Id well enough and decided +to see if he could get along without the translator. + +"Thanks," he said, taking a seat. "I don't suppose there's much else to +do except look at the scenery here." + +The Id showed obvious surprise that Cameron spoke the language without +use of an instrument. His look of pleasure increased. "It is not often +we find one of your race who has taken the trouble to make himself +communicable with us. You must be expecting to make a long stay?" + +Cameron's sense of caution returned as he remembered the previous +results of indiscreet announcement of his purpose. He wiped the stream +of sweat from his face and neck and took a good look at the Id. + + * * * * * + +The Idealists were of an anthropomorphic race, dark-skinned like the +terran Indian. Very few of them had ever appeared on Earth, however, and +this was actually Cameron's first view of one in the flesh. He knew +something of their reputation and characteristics from very brief study +at the Institute--but no one really knew very much of the Ids as far as +Earthmen were concerned. The warning of Fothergill to keep to the main +line of his research sank to the bottom of his mind as he leaned toward +the stranger with a fresh sense of excitement inside him. + +"I have never felt you could understand another man unless you spoke his +language," he said in his not too stumbling Markovian. + +The Id, like himself, was dressed in the briefest of garments and +perspiration poured from the dark skin as he nodded. "You speak sounder +wisdom than one usually meets in a stranger," he said. "May I introduce +myself: Sal Karone, servant of the Master Dalls Ret Marthasa?" + +Cameron introduced himself and cautiously explained that he and Joyce +were on their honeymoon, but had a side interest in the history and +customs of the Markovian Nucleus. "My people know so little about you," +he said, "it would be a great privilege to be able to take back +information that would increase our mutual understanding." + +"All that the Idealists have belongs to every man and every race," said +Sal Karone solemnly. "What we can give you may be had for the asking. +But I would give you a word of warning about my Masters." + +Cameron felt the flesh of his back tingle with sudden chill as the eyes +of the Id turned full upon him. + +"Do not try to find out the hidden things of the Masters. That is what +you have come for, is it not, Cameron Wilder? That is why you have taken +so much trouble to learn the language which we speak. I say do not +inquire of the things about which they do not wish to speak. My Masters +are a people who cannot yet be understood by the men of other worlds. In +time there will be understanding, but that time is not yet. You will +only bring disaster and disappointment upon us and yourselves by +attempting to hasten that time." + +"I assure you I have no intention of prying," said Cameron haltingly. He +fumbled for the right Markovian words. "You have misunderstood--We come +only in friendship and with no intention of disturbing--" + +The Id nodded sagely. "So many crises are originated by good intentions. +But I am sure that now you understand the feelings of my Masters in +these things that you will be concerned only with your own enjoyment +while in the Nucleus. And do come to the centers of the Idealists, for +there is much we can show you, and our willingness has no limits." + +For a moment it was impossible for Cameron to remember that he was +dealing with a mere servant of the Markovians. The Id's words were so +incisive and his manner so commanding that it seemed he must be speaking +in his own right. + +And then his manner changed. His boldness vanished and he spoke +obsequiously. "You will forgive me," he said, "but this is a matter +concerning which there is much feeling." + + * * * * * + +Cameron Wilder was more than willing to agree with this sentiment. As he +returned to his own quarters he debated telling Joyce of his encounter +with the Id, deciding finally that he'd have to mention it since they'd +all be traveling together, but omitting the Id's repetition of the +previous warnings. + +He did not meet the Markovian, nor did he encounter the Id again in the +waiting quarters. It was not until they had embarked on the last leg of +the journey and had been aboard the vessel for half a day that they met +a second time. + +The ship was not a Markovian or a terran-type vessel of any kind. +Another week's wait would have been required for one of those. As it +was, their quarters were not too uncomfortable although very limited. +The bulk of the vessel was designed for crew and passengers very much +unlike Terran or Markovian, and only a few suites were provided for +accommodation of such races. + +This threw the travelers to the Nucleus in close association again. +Their suites opened to a common lounge deck and when Cameron and Joyce +went out they found Sal Karone and the Markovian, Marthasa, already +there. + +The Id was on his feet instantly. With a sharp bow he introduced the +newcomers to his Master. Dells Marthasa stood and extended a hand with a +smile. "I believe that is your greeting on Earth, is it not?" he said. + +"You must be familiar with our home world," said Cameron, returning the +handshake. + +"Only a little, through my studies," said the Markovian. "Enough to make +me want to hear much more. Please join us. Since my _sargh_ told me we +would be traveling together I have looked forward to your company." + +The term, _sargh_, as Cameron learned shortly was applied to all Ids +attached to Markovians. It had a connotation somewhere between servant +and companion. Sal Karone remained in the background, but there was no +servility in his manner. His eyes remained respectfully--almost fondly; +that was the right word, Cameron thought curiously--on Marthasa. + +While the Id was slender in build, the Markovian was taller and bulkier. +His complexion was also dark, but not quite so much so as the Id's. He +was dressed in loose, highly colored attire that gave Cameron an +impression of an Oriental potentate of his own world. + +But somehow there was a quality in Marthasa's manner that was jarring. +It would have been less so if the Markovian had been less +anthropomorphic in form and feature, but Cameron found it difficult to +think of him as anything but a fellow man. + +A man of arrogance and ill manners, and completely unaware that he was +so. + +It was apparent in his gestures and in the negligence with which he +leaned back and surveyed his companions. "You'll be surprised when you +see the Nucleus," he said. "We sometimes hear of rumors circulated among +Council worlds that Markovian culture is rather backward." + +"I've never heard anything of that kind," said Cameron. "In fact we've +heard almost nothing at all of the Nucleus. That's why we decided to +come." + +"I'm sure we can make you glad you did. Don't you think so, Karone?" + +The face of the Id was very sober as he nodded solemnly and said, +"Indeed, Master." His burning eyes were boring directly into Cameron's +own. + +"I want to hear about your people, about Earth," said Marthasa. "Tell me +what you would like to see and do while you're in the Nucleus." + +While Joyce answered, explaining they hardly knew what there was to be +seen, Cameron's attention was fixed by the problem of the strange +relationship between the two men--the two races. In the face of the Id +there seemed a serenity, a dignity that the Markovian would never know. +Why had the Ids failed to lift themselves out of servility to a state of +independence, he wondered? + +Joyce explained the story about their honeymoon trip and built their +interest in Markovian culture as casual indeed. As she went on, Marthasa +seemed to be struck by a sudden thought. + +"I insist that you make your headquarters with me during your stay," he +said. "I can see that you learn everything possible about the Nucleus +while you are here. My son is a Chief Historian at our largest research +library and my daughter has the post of Assistant Curator at our Museum +of Science and Culture. You will never have a better opportunity to +examine the culture of the Nucleus!" + +Cameron winced inwardly at the thought of Marthasa's companionship +during their whole stay, and yet the Markovian's statement might be +perfectly true--there would be no better opportunity to make their +study. + +"We have an official note of welcome from your Executive Head, Premier +Jargla," he said. "While we would be very happy to accept your +invitation, it may be that he has different plans for our reception." + +Marthasa waved a hand. "I shall arrange for my appointment as your +official host. Consider it agreed upon!" + +It was agreed. But Joyce was not as optimistic as Cameron in regarding +it an aid to their study. "If they have a general aversion to talking +about their pirate ancestry, Marthasa is just the boy to put us off the +track," she said. "If he gets a clue to what we really want to know, +he'll keep us busy looking at everything else until we give up and go +home." + +Cameron leaned back in the deep chair with his hands behind his head. +"It's not too hard to imagine Marthasa's great-great-grandfather running +down vessels in space and pillaging helpless cities on other planets. +The veneer of civilization on him doesn't look very thick." + +"It's not hard to imagine Marthasa doing it," said Joyce. "A scimitar +between his teeth would be completely in character!" + +"If all goes well, you will probably see just that--figuratively +speaking, of course. Where a cultural shift has been so great as this +one you are certain to see evidence of both levels in conflict with one +another. It's like a geologic fault line. Once we learn enough about the +current mores the anomalies will stand out in full view. That's what we +want to watch for." + +"One thing that's out of character right now is his offer of assistance +through his son, the Chief Historian," said Joyce. "That doesn't check +with the previous invitations to stay home. Once they let us have access +to their historical records we'll have them pegged." + +"We haven't got it yet," said Cameron. "We can't be sure just what +they'll let us see. But for my money I'd just as soon tackle the +question of the Ids. Sal Karone is twice the man Marthasa is, yet he +acts like he has no will of his own when the Markovian is around." + +"The Roman-slave relationship," said Joyce. "The Markovians probably +conquered a large community of the Ids in their pirate days and brought +them here as slaves. And I'll bet they are very much aware that the Ids +are the better men. Marthasa knows it. That's why he has to put on a +show in front of Sal Karone. He's the old Roman merchant struggling to +keep up his conviction of superiority before the Greek scholar slave." + +"The Ids aren't supposed to be slaves. According to the little that's +known they are completely free. I'm going to get Marthasa's version of +it, anyway. Fothergill and the Foundation can't object to that much +investigation of the Ids." + +He found the Markovian completely willing to talk about his _sargh_. On +the last day of the voyage they managed to be alone for a time without +the presence of Sal Karone. + +Marthasa shook his head in answer to Cameron's question. "No, the +_sargh_ is not a slave--not in the sense I believe you mean it. None of +the Ids are. It's a matter of religion with them to be attached to us +the way they are. They have some incomprehensible belief that their +existence is of no value unless they are serving their fellow beings. +Since that means _all_ of them they can't be satisfied by serving each +other so they have to pick on some other race. + +"I don't recall when they first showed up in the Nucleus, but it's been +many generations ago. There've been Ids in my family for a half dozen +generations anyway." + +"They had space flight, so they came under their own power?" Cameron +asked incredulously. + +"No. Nothing like that. You can't imagine _them_ building spaceships can +you? They migrated at first as lowest-class passengers on the commercial +lines. Nobody knows just where they came from. They don't even know +their home worlds. At first we tried to persuade them to go somewhere +else, but then we saw how useful they could be with their fanatic belief +in servitude. + +"At present there is probably no family in the Nucleus that doesn't have +at least one Id _sargh_. Many of us have one for every member of the +family." Marthasa paused. The tone of his voice changed. "When you've +had one almost all your life as I've had Sal Karone it--well, it does +something to you." + +"What do you mean?" Cameron asked cautiously. + +"Consider the situation from Sal Karone's point of view. He has no life +whatever that is his own. His whole purpose is to give me companionship +and satisfy my requirements. And I don't have to force him in any way. +It's all voluntary. He's free to leave, even, any time he wants to. But +I'm certain he never will." + +"Why do you feel so sure of this?" + +"It's hard to explain. I feel as if I've become so much a part of him +that he couldn't survive alone any more. He's the one who's made it that +way, not me. I have become indispensable to his existence. That's the +way I explain it to myself. Most of my friends agree that this is about +right." + +"It's rather difficult to understand a relationship like that--unless +you put it in terms I am familiar with on Earth." + +"Yes--? What would it be called among your people?" + +"When a man so devotes his life to another we say it is because of +love." + +Marthasa considered the word. "You would be wrong," he said. "It is just +that in some way we have become indispensable to the Ids. They're +parasites, if you want to put it that way. But they provide us a +relationship we can get nowhere else, and that does us a great deal of +good. That's what I meant when I said it does something to us." + +"What about the Id's own culture? Haven't they any community ties among +themselves, or do they ignore their own kind?" + +"We've never investigated very much. I suppose some of our scholars know +the answer to that, but the rest of us don't. The Ids have communities, +all right. Not all of them are in service as _sarghs_ at one time. They +have little groups and communities on the outskirts of our cities, but +they don't amount to much. As a race they are simply inferior. They +don't have the capacity for a strong culture of their own, so they can't +exist independently and build a social structure like other people. It's +this religion of theirs that does it. They won't let go of it, and as +long as they hang onto it they can't stand on their own feet. But you +don't need to feel sorry for them. We treat them all right." + +"Of course--didn't mean to imply anything else," said Cameron. "Do you +know if there are other Id groups serving in other galaxies?" + +"Must be thousands of them altogether. Out beyond the Nucleus, away from +your galaxy, you can't find a planet anywhere that isn't using the Ids. +It's a wonderful setup. The Ids get what they want, and we get _sarghs_ +with nothing like the slave relationship you had in mind. With slaves +there's rebellion, constant need of watchfulness, and no genuine +companionship. A _sargh_ is different. He can be a man's friend." + + +III + +They came out of the darkness of Transpace that evening and the stars +returned in the glory of a million closely gathered suns. The Markovian +Nucleus lay in a galaxy of tightly packed stars that made bright the +nights of all their planets. It was a spectacle for Cameron, who had +traveled but little away from the Solar System, and for Joyce who had +never traveled at all. + +Marthasa and Sal Karone were with them in the lounge watching the +screens as the ship changed drives. The Markovian squinted a moment and +pointed to a minor dot near the corner of the view. "That's our +destination. Another six hours and you can set foot on the best planet +in the whole Universe!" + +If it had been mere enthusiasm, Cameron could have taken it with +tolerant understanding. But Marthasa's smugness and arrogance had not +deserted him once since the beginning of this leg of the trip. +Objectively, as a cultural facet to be examined, it was interesting, but +Cameron agreed with Joyce that it was going to be difficult to live +with. + +The unsolved puzzle, however, was Sal Karone. It was obvious that the Id +was sensitive to the gauche ways of the Master, yet his equally obvious +devotion was unwavering. + +Marthasa had sent word ahead to the government that he desired the +Terrans to be his guests. Evidently he was a person of influence for +assent was returned immediately. + +His planet was a colorful world, banded by huge, golden deserts and +pinkish seas. The dense vegetation of the habitable areas was blue with +only a scattered touch of green. Cameron wondered about the chemistry +involved. + +The landing was made at a port that bordered a sea. The four of them +were the only ones disembarking, and before the car that met them had +reached the edge of the city the ship was gone again. + +A pirates' lair, Cameron thought, without the slightest touch of +amusement. The field looked very old, and from it he could imagine +raiders had once taken off to harass distant shipping and do wanton +destruction of cities and peoples on innocent worlds. + +He watched the face of Marthasa as they rode through the city. There was +a kind of Roman splendor in what they saw, and there was a crude Roman +pride in the Markovian who was their host. The arrogance, that was not +far from cruelty, could take such pride in the sweep of spaceships +embarking on missions of murder and plunder. + +And yet all this barbarism had been put aside. Only the arrogance +remained, expressed in Marthasa's tone as he called their attention to +the features of the city and landscape through which they passed. It +wasn't pleasing particularly to Terran tastes, but Cameron guessed that +it represented a considerable accomplishment to the Markovians. Stone +appeared to be the chief building material, and, while the craftsmanship +was exact, the lines of the structures lacked the grace of the Greek and +Roman monuments of which Cameron was reminded. + +They came at last to the house of Marthasa. There was no doubt now that +he was a man of wealth or importance--probably both. He occupied a vast, +villa-like structure set on a low hill overlooking the city. It was a +place of obvious luxury in the economic scale of the Markovians. + +They were assigned spacious quarters overlooking a garden of incredible +colors beyond the transparent wall facing it. Sal Karone was also +assigned duties as their personal attendant, which Cameron grasped +intuitively was a gesture of supreme honor among the Markovians. He +thanked Marthasa profusely for this courtesy. + +After getting unpacked they were shown through the house and grounds and +met Marthasa's family. His wife was a woman of considerable beauty even +by Terran standards, but there was a sharpness in her manner and a sense +of coldness in the small black eyes that repelled Cameron and Joyce even +as the thoughtless actions of Marthasa had done. + +Cameron looked carefully for the same qualities in the three smaller +children who were at home, and found them easily. In none of them was +there the aura of serenity possessed by the Id servants. + +When they were finally alone that night Cameron sat down to make some +notes on their observations up to date. "The fault line I mentioned is +so obvious you can't miss it," he said to Joyce. "It's as if they're +living one kind of life because they think it's the thing to do, but all +their thoughts and feelings are being drawn invisibly in another +direction--and they're half ashamed of it." + +"Maybe the Ids have something to do with it. Remember Marthasa's +statement that the relationship of the _sarghs_ does something to the +Markovians? If we found out exactly what that something is, we might +have the answer." + +Cameron shook his head. "I've tried to fit it together that way, too, +but it just doesn't add up. The basic premise of the Ids is asceticism +and there never was any strength in that idea. Marthasa is probably +right in his estimate of the Ids. They have achieved an internal +serenity but only through compensating their basic weakness with the +crude strength of the Markovians and other races to which they cling. +They haven't the strength to build a civilization of their own. +Certainly they haven't got the power to influence the whole Nucleus. +No--we'll have to look a good deal farther than the Ids before we find +the answer. I'm convinced of that, even though I'd like to find out +exactly what makes _them_ tick. Maybe next trip--" + + * * * * * + +The following days were spent in almost profitless activity as far as +their basic purpose in being in the Nucleus was concerned. Marthasa and +his wife took them on long tours through the city and into the scenic +areas of the continent. They promised trips over the whole planet and to +other worlds of the Nucleus. There seemed no end to the sight-seeing +that was proposed for them to do. + +Cameron improved his facility with the language, and Joyce was beginning +to get along without the translator. They were introduced to a +considerable number of other Markovians, including the official +representative of Premier Jargla. This gave them added contact with the +Markovian character, but Marthasa and his family seemed so typical of +the race that scarcely anything new was learned from the others. + +At no time was anything hinted in reference to the original reluctance +to have the Terrans visit the Nucleus. All possible courtesy was shown +them now, and Cameron dared not mention the invitations to stay home. He +felt the situation was as penetrable as a thick wall of sponge rubber +backed by a ten-foot foundation of steel. + +After three weeks of this, however, he cautiously broached the subject +of meeting the son and daughter of Marthasa in regard to visiting the +library and museum. He had met each of them just once and found them +rather cool to his presence. He had not dared express his interest in +their specialties at that time. + +Marthasa was favorable and apologetic, however. "I have intended to +arrange it," he said. "There have been so many other things to do that I +have neglected your interest in these things. We won't neglect it any +longer. Suppose we make an appointment for this afternoon? Zlenon will +be able to give you his personal attention." + +[Illustration: JOYCE] + +Zlenon was Marthasa's son, who held the position of Chief Historian at +the research library. He was more slender and darker than his father, +and lacking in his volubility and glad-handedness. + +He greeted Cameron's request with a tolerant smile. "You have to be +quite specific, Mr. Wilder, when you say you would like to know about +the history of the Markovian Nucleus. You understand the Nucleus +consists of over a hundred worlds and has a composite history extending +back more than thirty thousand of your years in very minute detail." + +Cameron countered with a helpless shrug and smile. "I'm afraid I'll have +to depend on your good nature to guide me through such a mass. I don't +intend to become a student of Markovian history, of course, but perhaps +you have adequate summaries with which a stranger could start. Going +backward, let us say, for perhaps two or three hundred Terran years?" + +"Of course--some very excellent ones are available--" He moved toward +the reading table nearby and began punching a selection of buttons. + +As Cameron and Joyce moved to follow, Marthasa waved a hand expansively +and started out the other way. "I can see you're going to be set for a +while. I'll just leave you here, and send the car back after I reach the +house. Don't be late for dinner." + +They nodded and smiled and turned to Zlenon. The Markovian was watching +them with pin-point eyes. "I wondered if there was any _particular_ +problem in which you might be interested," he said calmly. "If there +is--?" + +Cameron shook his head hastily. "No--certainly not. Just general +information--" + +The Historian turned his attention to the table and began explaining its +use to the Terrans, showing how they could obtain recording of any +specific material they wished to choose. It would appear in either +printed or pictorial form or could be had on audio if they wanted it. +Once he was certain they could make their own selections he left them to +their study. + +"This is the best break we could possibly have hoped for," Joyce +whispered as Zlenon disappeared from their sight. "We can get anything +we want in the whole library if I understand the operation of this +gadget the way I think I do." + +"That's the way it looks to me," Cameron answered. "But don't get your +hopes too high. There must be a catch in it somewhere, the way they were +trying to shoo us away from coming here." + + * * * * * + +They punched the buttons for the history of the planet they were on, +scanning slowly from the present to earlier years. There were endless +accountings of trading and commercial treaties between members of the +Nucleus as shifts of economic balance occurred. There were stories of +explorations and benevolent contacts with races on the outer worlds. +Details of their most outstanding scientific discoveries, which seemed +to come with profligate rapidity-- + +Cameron whipped back through the pages of the histories, searching only +for a single item, one clue to the swift evolution from barbarism to +peaceful co-operation. After an hour he was in the middle of that +critical period when the Council despaired of its inability to cope with +the Markovian menace. + +But the stories of commerce and invention and far-flung exchange with +other peoples continued. Nowhere was there any reference to the violence +of the period. They went back two hundred--five hundred years--beyond +the time when Council members first made contact with the Nucleus. + +There was nothing. + +Cameron sat back in complete puzzlement as it became apparent that it +was useless to go back further. "The normal thing would be for them to +brag all over the place about their great conquests. Even races who +become comparatively civilized citizens ordinarily let themselves go +when it comes to history. If they've had a long record of conquest and +bloodshed, they say so with plenty of chest pounding. Of course, it's +padded out to reflect their righteous conquest over tyranny, but it's +always there in _some_ form. + +"But nothing up to now has been normal about the development of the +Markovian problem and this really tops it off--the complete omission of +any reference to their armed conquests." + +"Maybe this planet didn't participate very much. Perhaps only a small +number of the Nucleus worlds were responsible for it," said Joyce. + +Cameron shook his head. "No. The Council records show that the Nucleus +as a unit was responsible, and that virtually all the worlds are +specifically mentioned. And even if this one had been out of it +completely you could still expect references to it because there was +constant interchange with most of the other planets. We can try another +one, though--" + +They tried one more, then a half dozen in quick scanning. They swept +through a summarization of the Nucleus as a whole during that critical +period. + +There was nothing to show that the Markovians had ever been anything but +peace-loving citizens intent on pursuit of science, commerce, and the +arts. + +"This could have been rigged for our special benefit," said Joyce +thoughtfully as they ended the day's futile search. "They didn't want to +apply enough pressure to keep us from coming, but they did want to make +sure we wouldn't find out anything about their past." + +Cameron shook his head slowly. "It couldn't have been done in the time +they've had. Simply cutting out what they didn't want to show us +wouldn't have done it. There's too much cross reference to all periods +involved. It's a complete phony, but it's not something done on the spur +of the moment just for our benefit. It's too good for that." + +"Maybe they've had it for a _long_ time--just in case somebody like us +should come along." + +"It's possible, but I don't think that's right either," said Cameron. "I +can't give you any reason for thinking so--except the phoniness goes +deeper than merely deceiving an investigator. Somehow I have the feeling +that the Markovians are even deceiving themselves!" + + * * * * * + +They left the building and took the car back to the house of Marthasa +without seeing Zlenon again. Their Markovian host was waiting. Cameron +thought he sensed a trace of tension in Marthasa that wasn't there +before as he led them to seats in the garden. + +"We don't like to boast about the Nucleus," he said with his customary +volubility, "but we have to admit we are proud of our science and +technology. Few civilizations in the Universe can match it. That's not +to disparage the fine accomplishments of the Terrans, you understand, +but it's only _natural_ that out here on these older worlds--" + +They listened half attentively, trying in their imaginations to pierce +the armor he used to defend so frantically the thing the Markovians did +not want the outer worlds to know anything about. + +The talk went on during mealtime. Marthasa's wife caught the spirit of +it and they both regaled the Terrans with accounts of the grandeur of +Markovian exploits. Cameron grew more and more depressed by it, and as +they retired to their rooms early he began to realize how absolutely +complete was the impasse into which they had been driven. + +"They've let us in," he said to Joyce. "They've shown us the history +they've written of themselves. There's no way in the Universe we can +stand up and boldly challenge that history and call them the liars we +know they are." + +"But they must know of the histories written on other Council worlds +about their doings," said Joyce. "Maybe we could reach a point where we +could at least ask about them. Ask how it is that other histories show +that a hundred and twenty years ago a fleet of Markovian ships swept +unexpectedly out of space and looted and decimated the planet Lakcaine +VI. Ask why the Markovian history says only that the Nucleus concluded +six new commercial treaties to the benefit of all worlds concerned in +that period, without any mention of Lakcaine VI." + +"When you start asking questions like that you've got to be ready to +run. And if it fizzles out you've lost all chance of coming back for a +second try. That could fizzle out because they simply deny the validity +of all history outside their own." + +"Then we might as well pack and go home if you're not going to challenge +any of this stuff they hand out. We won't find the answer by standing +around and taking _their_ word on everything." + +"I forgot to tell you one thing," Cameron said slowly. "We may not have +to take their word for it. Someone else here knows the truth of the +situation, also." + +"Who?" + +"The Ids." He told her then of the warning Sal Karone had given him +aboard the ship on the way to the Nucleus, the statement that "My +Masters are a people who cannot yet be understood by the men of other +worlds." + +"The Ids know what the Markovians are and what they are trying to hide. +I had almost overlooked that simple fact." + +"But you can't go out and challenge them to tell the truth any more than +you can the Markovians!" Joyce protested. "Because Sal Karone went out +of his way to warn you doesn't mean he's going to get real buddy-buddy +and tell you everything you want to know." + +"No, of course not. But there's one little difference between him and +the Markovians. He has admitted openly that he knows why we're here. +None of the Markovians have done that yet. We don't have to challenge +him because there already exists the tacit understanding that something +is decidedly phony. + +"And besides, he invited us to come and visit the Id communities outside +the city. I think that's an invitation we should accept just as soon as +possible." + + +IV + +Sal Karone had not repeated his invitation that the Terrans visit the Id +communities, but he showed no adverse reaction when Cameron said they +would like to take him up on his previous offer. + +"You will be very welcome," he said. A soft smile lightened his +features. "I will notify my leaders you will come." + +With a start, Cameron realized that the existence of any kind of +community probably implied leaders, but he had ignored this in view of +Marthasa's insistence that the Ids had no culture of their own. He +wondered just how untrue that assertion might be. + +For the first time, he sensed genuine disapproval in the attitude of +Marthasa when he mentioned plans to go with Sal Karone to the Id +centers. "There's nothing out there you'd want to see," the Markovian +said. "Their village is only a group of crude huts in the forest. It'll +be a waste of your time to go out there when there's so much else we +could show you." + +"Sal Karone suggested the visit before we arrived," said Cameron. "He'd +be hurt if we turned him down. Perhaps just to satisfy him--" + +Angry indecision hid behind Marthasa's eyes. "Well--maybe that makes it +different," he said finally. "We try to do everything possible to make +the Ids happy. It's up to you if you want to waste your time on the +visit." + +"I think I do. Sal Karone has been very attentive and pleasant to us. +It's a small favor in return." + + * * * * * + +Early in the morning, two days later, they left with Sal Karone +directing them to the Idealist center. They discovered that the term, at +the edge of the city, was a mere euphemism. It was a long two-hour trip +at the high speed of which the Markovian cars were capable. + +The city itself vanished, and a thickly wooded area took its place +during the last half of the journey, reminding them of the few remote, +peaceful forests of Earth. Then, as the car slowed, they left the +highway for a rough trail that led for a number of miles back into the +forest. They came at last into a clearing circled by rough wooden +dwellings possessing all the appearance of crude, primitive existence on +little more than a subsistence level. + +"This is the village of our Chief," said Sal Karone. "He will be pleased +to explain all you may wish to know about the Idealist Way." + +Cameron was shocked almost beyond speech by his first sight of the +clearing. He had tried to prepare for the worst, but he had told himself +that the Markovian's estimate of the Ids could not be true. Now he was +forced to admit that it was. In contact with all the skills of their +Masters, which they would certainly be permitted to learn if they wanted +to, the Ids chose primitive squalor when they were on their own. + +Their serenity could be little more than the serenity of the savage who +has no wants or goals and is content to merely serve those whose +ambitions are greater. It was the serenity and peacefulness of death. +The Ids had died--as a race--long ago. The Markovians were loud, +boastful, and obnoxious, but that could be discounted as the awkwardness +of youth in a race that would perhaps be very great in the Universe at a +time when the Ids were wholly forgotten. + +Cameron felt depressed by the sight. He began to doubt the wisdom of his +coming here in hope of finding an answer to the Markovian deception. The +warning of Sal Karone on shipboard seemed now like nothing more than a +half ignorant demonstration of loyalty toward the Markovian Masters. +Possibly there had been some talk which the Id had overheard and he had +taken it upon himself to warn the Terrans--knowing perhaps nothing of +the matter which the Markovians were reluctant to expose. + +If he could have done so gracefully, Cameron felt he would have turned +and gone back without bothering with the interview. His curiosity about +the Ids themselves had all but vanished. The answer to their situation +was obvious. And he had maintained such high hope that somehow his +expectation in them would be fulfilled during this visit. + +There was a satisfying cleanliness apparent in everything as Sal Karone +led them to the largest of the buildings. Joyce seemed to be enjoying +herself as she surveyed the surroundings with an interest Cameron had +lost. + +As they entered the doorway a thin, straight old man with a white beard +arose from a chair and approached them in greeting. The ancient, +conventional, patriarchal order, Cameron thought. He could see the whole +setup in a nutshell right now. Squalid communities like this where the +too-old and the too-young were nurtured on the calcified traditions to +which nothing was ever added. The able serving in the homes of the +Markovians, providing sustenance for themselves and those who depended +on them. The Markovians were generous indeed in not referring to the Ids +as slaves. There was little else they could ever be called. + +The Chief was addressed as Venor by Sal Karone, who introduced them. "It +is kind of you to include our village in your visit to the Nucleus," +said Venor. "There are many more spectacular things to see." + +"There is often greatest wisdom in the least spectacular," said Cameron, +trying to sound like a sage. "Sal Karone was kind enough to invite us to +your center and said there was much you could show us." + +"The things of the soul are not possible to _show_," said Venor gently. +"We wish there were time that we might teach you some of the great +things our people have learned in their long wanderings. I am told that +your profession and your purpose in being here is the study of races and +their actions and the things they have learned." + +With a start, Cameron came to greater attention. He was certain he had +never given any such information in the presence of Sal Karone or +Marthasa. Yet even Venor knew he was a sociologist! Here was the first +knowledge that must lie behind the evidence of the undercurrent of +objections of the Markovian representative in the Council and Premier +Jargla. + +And this primitive patriarch was in possession of it. + +Relations between the individuals of this planet were something far more +complex than Cameron had assumed. He hesitated a moment before speaking. +Just why had this bait been so innocently thrown to him? Marthasa had +never mentioned it. Yet had the Markovians asked for an attempt to get +an admission from him for their own purposes? And what purposes--? + +He abandoned caution, and nodded. "Yes, that is the thing I am +interested in. I had hoped to study the history and ways of the +Markovians. As Sal Karone has told me, they don't want strangers to make +such a study. You are perhaps not so unwilling to be known--?" + +"We wish the entire Universe might know of us and be as we are." + +"You hardly make that possible, subjugating your identity so completely +to that of another race. The worlds will never know of you unless you +become strong and unified as a people and obtain a name of your own." + +"Our name is known," said Venor. "We are the Idealists. You will not +find many worlds on which we are unknown, and they call us the ones who +serve. Even on your world you have the saying of a philosopher who +taught that any who would be master should become the servant of all. +Your people once understood it." + +"Not as a literal undertaking," said Cameron. "You can't submerge your +entire racial identity as you have done. That is not what the saying +meant." + +"To us it does," said Venor solemnly. "We would master the Universe--and +therefore we must serve it. That is the core of the law of the +Idealists." + + * * * * * + +Cameron let his gaze scan through the window to the small clearing in +the thick forest, to the circle of wooden houses. _We would master the +Universe_--he restrained a smile. + +"You cannot believe this," said Venor, "because you have never +understood the mark of the servant or the mark of the master. How often +is there difficulty in distinguishing one from the other!" + +And how often do the illusions of the mind ease the privations of the +body, Cameron thought. So that was the source of the Idealist serenity. +Wherever they went they considered themselves the masters through +service--and conversely, those they served became the slaves, he +supposed. It was a pleasant, easy philosophy that hurt no one. Except +the ones who believed it. They died the moment they accepted it, for all +initiative and desire were gone. + +"The master is he who guides the destiny of a man or a race," said Venor +almost in meditation. "He is not the man who gathers or disperses the +wealth, or who builds the cities and the ships to the stars. The master +is he who teaches what must be done with these things and how a people +shall expend their lives." + +"And the Markovians do this, in obedience to you?" said Cameron +whimsically. + +"Wherever my people are," answered Venor, "strife ceases and peace +comes. Who can do this is master of worlds." + +There was a strange solemnity about the voice and figure of the old +Idealist that checked the sense of ridiculousness in Cameron. It seemed +somehow strangely moving. + +"You believe the worlds are better," he asked gently, "just because you +are there?" + +"Yes," said Venor, "because we are there." + +There was a pathos about it that fired Cameron's anger. On scores of +worlds there were primitive groups like this one, blinding themselves +with a glory that didn't exist, in the grip of ancient, meaningless +traditions. The younger ones--like Sal Karone--were intelligent, worth +salvaging, but they could never be lifted out of this mire of false +belief unless they could be shown how empty it was. + +"Nothing you have said explains the mystery of how this great thing is +accomplished," said Cameron almost angrily. "Even if we wanted to +believe it were true, it is still as utterly incomprehensible as before +we came." + +"There is a saying among us," said Venor kindly. "Translated into your +tongue it would be: How was the wild dog tamed, and a saddle put upon +the fierce stallion?" + + * * * * * + +Stubbornly, then, Venor would say no more about the philosophy of the +Idealists. He spoke freely of the many other worlds upon which the +Idealists lived and served, and he affirmed the tradition that they did +not even know the place of their origin, the planet that might have been +their home world. + +He was evasive, however, when Cameron asked when the first contact was +made between his people and the Markovians. There was something that the +Ids, too, were holding back, the sociologist thought, and there was no +apparent reason for it. + +Recklessly, he decided nothing could be lost by attempting to blast for +it. "Why have the Markovians consistently lied to us?" he said. "They've +given us their history--and if your people know the feelings of other +worlds they know this history is a lie. Only a few generations ago the +Markovians pirated and plundered these worlds, and now they pose as +little tin gods with a silver halo. Why?" + +Sal Karone stood by with a look of horror on his face, but Venor made no +sign of alarm at this forbidden question. He merely inclined his held +slowly and repeated, "How was the wild dog tamed, and a saddle put upon +the fierce stallion?" + + * * * * * + +That was the end of the interview. The Ids insisted, however, that he +inspect the rest of the village and they personally guided the Terrans +on the tour. Cameron's trained eye took in at a glance, however, the +evidence supporting his previous conclusion. The artifacts and buildings +demonstrated a primitive forest culture. The other individuals he saw +were almost entirely the old and very young--the ones unsuitable as +servants to the Markovians. Venor explained that family life among them +paralleled in general that of the Masters. Whole Idealist families lived +and served as units in the Markovian household. Exceptions existed in +the case of Sal Karone and others of his age who were separated from +their families and had not yet begun their own. + +As they returned to the car Venor took their hands. He pressed Cameron's +warmly and looked into his eyes with deep sincerity. "You have made us +glad by your presence," he said. "And when the time comes for you to +return, we shall repay all the pleasure you have given us." + +"I'm afraid we won't be able to do that," said Cameron. "We appreciate +your hospitality, but I'm sure time will not permit us to visit you +again, as much as we'd like to." In the past few minutes he had reached +the conclusion that further research on this whole planet was futile. +The best thing they could do was go somewhere else in the Nucleus and +make a fresh start. + +Venor shook his head, smiling. "We will see each other again, Joyce and +Cameron. I feel that the day will be very soon." + +It was senseless to let himself be irritated by the senile patriarch who +spoke out of a world of illusion but Cameron could not help feeling +nettled as he started back to the city. Somehow it seemed impossible to +regard Venor as merely a specimen for sociological research. The Chief +of the Idealists reached out of his unreal world and made his contact +with the Terrans a personal thing--almost as if he had spent all his +life waiting for their coming. There was a sense of intimacy against +which Cameron rebelled, and yet it was not an unpleasant thing. + +Cameron's mind oscillated between the annoyance of Venor's calm +assertion that they would be back shortly, and the nonsense of the Id +belief that they controlled the civilizations in which they were +servants. How was the wild dog tamed, and a saddle put upon the fierce +stallion? + +He smiled faintly to himself, wondering if the Markovians were fully +aware that the Ids regarded them as tamed dogs and saddled stallions. +They couldn't help knowing, of course, but it was hard to imagine +Marthasa and his wife being very much amused by such an estimate. The +situation would be intolerable, however, if it were met by anything +except amusement. It might be a mildly explosive subject, but he was +going to find out about that one small item before moving on, anyway, +Cameron decided. + + * * * * * + +Sal Karone was strangely silent during the whole of the return trip. He +offered no comments and made only brief, noncommittal replies to +questions about the country through which they passed. He seemed +depressed by the results of their visit. Probably because the violation +of his warning to not question the lives of the Markovians. It was a +curious evidence of their completely unreal, proprietary attitude in +respect to their Masters. They'd have to investigate Marthasa's response +as thoroughly as possible. There seemed to be no taboo on discussion of +the Ids with him. + +His annoyance at their acceptance of the invitation to the Id village +appeared to have vanished as he greeted them upon their return. "We +delayed eating, thinking you'd be back in time. If you'll join us in the +dining room as soon as you're ready--?" + +The villa of Marthasa seemed different after the day's experience with +the Ids, although Cameron was certain nothing had changed either in a +physical way or in their relations with the Markovians. It was as if his +senses had been somehow sharpened to detect an undercurrent of feeling +of which he had previously been unaware. Glancing at Joyce, he sensed +she felt the same. + +"I have the feeling that we missed something," she said, as they changed +clothes to join Marthasa and his wife. "There was something Venor wanted +us to know and wouldn't say. I would almost like to go back there again +before we go away." + +Cameron was surprised at his own annoyance with Joyce's statement. It +reflected the impressions in his own mind which he was trying to ignore. +"Nonsense," he said. "There's no use trying to read great profundity in +the words of an old patriarch of the woods. He's nothing except what he +appears to be." + +The Markovians talked easily of Venor and the rest of the Ids. "We have +tried to get him to join us in the city," said Marthasa as the meal +began, "but he won't hear of it. It seems to give him a sense of +importance to live out there alone with his retinue and have the other +Ids come to him with their problems. He's a kind of arbiter and +patriarch to all of them for many miles around." + +[Illustration] + +While Marthasa talked Cameron tried to bring his awareness of all the +varied facets of the problem together and see it whole, as he now +understood it. The Markovians, a vast pirate community, had voluntarily +abandoned freebooting for reasons yet to be discovered. They had turned +their backs upon it so forcibly that they hid even the history of their +depredations. And one of their last acts must have been the capture of a +large colony of Idealists who were forced into servitude. Now the Ids +compensated their enslavement by the religious belief that service made +them masters over the ex-pirates, convincing themselves that _they_ had +changed the Markovians, taming them like wild dogs, saddling them as +fierce stallions-- + +Cameron wondered if he dared, and then dismissed the thought that there +could be any risk. It was too ridiculous! + + * * * * * + +There was even a half-malicious smile on his lips as he broke into +Marthasa's conversation. "One of the things that made me very curious +today," he said, "was the general reaction of your people to the +Idealist illusion that they have _tamed_ you--as expressed in their +aphorism about how was the wild dog--?" + +He never finished. Across the table the faces of the Markovians had +frozen in sudden bitterness. The shield of friendliness vanished under +the cold glare from their eyes. + +Marthasa's lips seemed to curl as he whispered, "So you came like all +the rest! And we wanted so much to believe you were honest. A study! A +chance to find material for lies about the Nucleus to spread among all +the Council worlds." + +He continued almost sadly, "You will be confined to your quarters until +transfer authorities can arrange for your return to Earth. And you may +be sure that never again will such a scheme get one of your kind into +the Nucleus again." + +But there was no hint of sadness in his wife's face. She glared coldly. +"I said they should never had been permitted to come!" + +Cameron rose in sudden bewildered protest. "I assure you we have no +intention--" he began. + +And then he stopped. In one moment of incredible clarity while they +stood there, eyes locked in bitter stares, he understood. He knew the +myth was not a myth. It was cold, unbelievable reality. The Ids _had_ +tamed the Markovians. + +In a moment of fear he wondered if it were anything more than a thin +shell that could be shattered by a whisper from a stupid dabbler in +cultures, who really knew nothing at all about the profession to which +he pretended. + + +V + +As if upon some secret signal Sal Karone appeared from the serving room +at their left. + +"Our visitors are no longer our guests," Marthasa said sharply with +accusing eyes still upon Cameron. "They will remain in their rooms until +time for deportation. + +"I trust it will not be necessary to use force," he said directly to +Cameron. + +"Of course not. But won't you let me explain--won't you even allow an +apology for breaking a taboo we did not understand?" + +"Is it not taboo among all civilized peoples, including your own, to +invent and spread lies about those who wish you only well?" + +It was useless to argue, Cameron saw. He turned, taking Joyce's arm, and +allowed Sal Karone to lead them back to their rooms. As they paused at +the doorway the Id spoke without expression on his dark face. "This is +not a good thing, Cameron Wilder. It would have been best for you to +have considered my warning." + +He turned and stepped away, locking the door behind him. + +Joyce slumped on the bed in dejection. "This is a fine fix we've got +ourselves into, being declared _persona non grata_ before we even get a +good start! They'll remember _that_ back home when A Study of the +Metamorphosis of the Markovian Nucleus is mentioned in professional +circles!" + +"Don't rub it in," Cameron said, half angrily. "How was I to know that +was such a vicious taboo? It can't be any secret to the Markovians that +the Ids look upon them as tamed. Why should they get their hackles up +because _I_ mentioned it?" + +"All I know is we're washed up as of now. What do we do when we get back +home?" + +Cameron stood with his back to her, looking through the windows to the +garden beyond. "I'm not thinking of that," he said. "Can't you see we +haven't failed? We've almost got it--the thing we came to find. We +_knew_ why the Markovians suddenly became good Indians. The Ids actually +did tame them. We've got to find out how such an apparently impossible +thing could be done." + +"Do you really believe that's what happened?" asked Joyce. + +Cameron nodded. "It's the only thing there is to believe. If it weren't +true, Marthasa and his wife would have laughed it off as nonsense. +Getting all huffy and talking about deportation for cooking up lies is +the best proof you could ask for that we hit pay dirt. Don't ask me how +I think the Ids could do it. _That's_ what I'm going to find out." + +"How?" + +"I don't know." + +But he did have an idea that if he could somehow get word to the old Id +chieftain help could be had. He knew he was straining to believe things +he wanted to believe, yet it seemed as if this were almost the very +thing Venor had tried to convey the day before but had left unspoken. + +There was only one possibility of establishing contact, however, and +that was through Sal Karone. A remote chance indeed, Cameron thought, in +view of the relationship between the Markovian and his _sargh_. As a +last resort it was worth trying, however. + +It looked as if they would not have even this chance as the evening grew +darker. Cameron kept watch through the windows in the hope of signaling +Sal Karone in case he should appear. They hoped he might come to the +room for a final check of their needs for the night as he usually did. + +But he did not appear. + + * * * * * + +Cameron finally went to bed after Joyce was long asleep. He turned +restlessly, beating his mind with increasing wonder as to how it could +be so incredibly true that the Idealists were the actual masters of the +Nucleus. That they had somehow tamed the murderous, piratical +Markovians. He couldn't have known this was it! + +One thing he could understood, however, was the Markovians reluctance to +have visitors--and their careful watch over them. Marthasa had been more +than a host, he thought. He was a guard as well, trying to keep the +Terrans from discovering the unpleasant reality concerning the influence +of the Ids. He had slipped in allowing the visit to Venor. + +At dawn there was the sound of their door opening and Cameron whirled +from his dressing, hopeful it might be Sal Karone. It was Marthasa, +however, grim and distant. "I have obtained word that your deportation +can be accomplished today. Premier Jargla has been informed and concurs. +The Council has been notified and offers no protestations. You will +ready yourselves before the evening hour." + +He slammed the door behind him. Joyce turned down the covers in the +other room and sat up. "I wonder if he isn't even going to feed us +today?" + +Cameron made no answer. He finished dressing hurriedly and kept a +frantic watch for any sign of Sal Karone. + +At last there was a knock on the door and the Id appeared with breakfast +on a cart. Cameron exhaled with relief that it was not one of the other +_sarghs_ in the household. + +Sal Karone eyed them impassively as he wheeled in and arranged the food +on the table by a window. Cameron watched, estimating his chances. + +"Your Chief, Venor, was very kind to us yesterday," he said quietly. +"Our biggest regret in leaving is that our conversation with him must go +unfinished." + +Sal Karone paused. "Were there things you had yet to say to him?" he +asked. + +"No--there were things Venor wanted to tell us. You heard him. He wanted +us to come back. It is completely impossible for us to see him again +before we go?" + +Sal Karone straightened and set the utensils on the table. "No, it is +not impossible. I have been instructed to bring you back to the village +if it should be your request." + +Cameron felt a surge of eager excitement within him. "When? Our +deportation is scheduled for today. How can we get there? How can we +avoid Marthasa and the Markovians?" + +"Stand very quietly," said Sal Karone, that sense of power and command +in his voice and bearing as Cameron had seen it once before aboard the +spaceship. "Now," he said. "Close your eyes." + +There was a sudden wrenching twist as if two solid surfaces had slammed +them from front and back, and a third force had thrust them sideways. + +They opened their eyes in the wooden house of Venor, in the village of +the Idealists. + + * * * * * + +"We owe you apologies," said Venor. "We hope you are not harmed in any +way." + +Cameron stared around uncertainly. Joyce clutched his hand. "How did +we--?" Cameron stammered. + +"Teleportation is the descriptive term in your language, I believe," +said Venor. "It was rather urgent that you come without further delay so +we resorted to it. Nothing else would do in the face of Marthasa's +action. Sit down if you will, please. If you wish to rest or eat, your +quarters are ready." + +"Our quarters--! Then you _did_ expect us back. You knew this was going +to happen exactly as it has!" + +"Yes, I knew," said Venor quietly. "I planned it this way when word +first came to us of your visit." + +"I think we are entitled to explanations," Cameron said at last. "We +seem to have been pieces in a game we knew nothing about." + +And it had taken this long for the full impact of Venor's admission of +teleportation to hit him. He closed his eyes in a moment's reaction of +fright. He didn't want to believe it--and knew he must. These +Idealists--who could master galaxies and tame the wild Markovians--was +there anything they could not do? + +"Not a game," Venor protested. "We planned this because we wanted you to +see what you have seen. We wanted a man of Earth to know what we have +done." + +"But don't the Markovians realize the foolishness of deporting us +because we stumbled onto the relationship between you and them? And if +you are in control how can they issue such an order--unless you want +it?" + +"Our relationship is more complex than that. There are different levels +of control. We operate the one that brought you here--" He let Cameron +consider the implication of the unfinished statement. + +Then he continued, "To understand the Markovians' reason for deporting +you, consider that on Earth men have tamed wolves and made faithful, +loyal dogs who can be trusted. Dogs who have forever lost the knowledge +their ancestors were fierce marauders ready to rip and tear the flesh of +any man or beast that came their way. + +"Consider the dogs only a generation or two from the vicious wolves who +were their forebears. The old urges have not entirely died, yet they +want to know man's affection and trust. Could you remind them of what +their kind once was without stirring up torment within them? + +"So it is with the Markovians. They are peaceful and creative, but only +a few generations behind them are pirates who were not fit to sit in the +Councils of civilized beings. They have no tradition of culture to +support them. It knocks the props out from under them, so to speak, to +have it known what lies behind them. They cannot be friends with such a +man. They cannot even endure the knowledge among themselves." + +"Then I was right!" Cameron exclaimed. "Their phony history _was_ set up +to deceive their own people as well as others." + +"Yes. The dog would destroy all evidence of his wolf ancestry. It has +been an enormous project, but the people of the Nucleus have been at it +a long time. They have concocted a consistent history which leaves out +all evidence of their predatory ancestry. The items of reality which +were possible to leave have been retained. The gaps between have been +bridged by fictionized accounts of glorious undertakings and +discoveries. Most of the Markovian science has been taken from other +cultures, but now their history boasts of heroes and discoverers who +never lived and who were responsible for all the great science they +enjoy." + +"But nothing stable can be built upon such an unhealthy foundation of +self-deception!" Cameron protested. + +"It is not unhealthy--not at the present moment," said Venor. "The time +will come when it, too, will be thrust aside and a tremendous effort of +scholarship will extract the elements of truth and find that which was +suppressed. But the Markovians themselves will do it--a generation of +them who can afford to laugh at the fears and fantasies of their +ancestors." + +"This tells us nothing of how you were able to make a creative people +out of a race of pirate marauders," said Cameron. + +"I gave you the key," said Venor. "It was one used long ago by your own +people before it was abandoned. + +"How was the savage wolf tamed to become the loyal, friendly dog? Did +ancient man try to exterminate the wolves that came to his caves and +carried off his young? Perhaps he tried. But he learned, perhaps +accidentally, another way of conquest. He found the wolf's cubs, and +learned to love them. He brought the cubs home and cared for them +tenderly and his own children played with them and fed them and loved +them. + +"It took time, but eventually there were no more wild wolves to trouble +man, because he had discovered a great friend, the dog. And man plus dog +could handle wolf with ease. Dog forgot in time what his forebears were +and became willing to defend man against his own kind--because man loved +him. + +"It happened again and again. Agricultural man hated the wild horse that +ate his grain and trampled his fields. But he learned to love the horse, +too, after a while. Again--no more wild horses." + +"But you can't take a predatory, savage pirate and love him into +decency!" Cameron protested. + +"No," Venor agreed. "It is too difficult ordinarily at that level, and +wasteful of time and resources. But I didn't say that is what happened. +You don't tame a wolf by loving it, but the _cubs_--yes. And even +pirates have cubs, who are susceptible to being loved. + +"The first weapon was hate. But after learning the futility of it, +sentient creatures discovered another, the succeeding evolutionary +emotion. It is pure savagery in its destructive power, a thousand times +more effective in annihilating the enemy. + +"You've thought 'Love thy enemy' was a soft, gentle, futile doctrine! +Actually, instead of merely killing the enemy it twists his personality, +destroys his identity. He continues to live, but he has lost his +integrity as an entity. The wolf cub never becomes an adult wolf. He +becomes Dog. + +"It is not a doctrine of weakness, but the ultimate weapon of +destruction. It can be used to induce any orientation desired in the +mind of the enemy. He'll do everything you want him to--because he has +your love." + + * * * * * + +"How did you apply that to the Markovians?" asked Joyce in almost a +whisper. + +"It was one of the most difficult programs we have ever undertaken," +said Venor. "There were comparatively few of us and such a tremendous +population of Markovians. We had predicted long ago, even before the +organization of the Council, the situation would grow critical and +dangerous. By the time the Council awoke to the fact and started its +futile debates we had made a strong beginning. + +"We arranged to be in the path of a Markovian attack on one of the +worlds where our work was completed. The Markovians were only too happy +to take us into slavery and use us as victims in their brutal sports." + +"You didn't deliberately fall into a trap where you allowed yourselves +to be killed and tortured by them?" exclaimed Cameron. + +Venor smiled. "The Markovians thought we did. We could hardly do that, +of course. Our numbers were so small compared with theirs that we +wouldn't have lasted very long. And, obviously, it would have been +plain stupid. There is one key that must not be forgotten: An effective +use of love requires an absolute superiority on the levels attainable by +the individual to be tamed. So, in this case, we had to have power to +keep the Markovians from slaughtering us or we would have been unable to +accomplish our purpose. + +"Teleportation is of obvious use here. Likewise, psychosomatic controls +that can handle any ordinary wound we might permit them to inflict. We +gave them the illusion of slaughtering and torturing us, but our numbers +did not dwindle." + +"Why did you give them such an illusion?" Joyce asked. "And you say you +_permitted_ them to inflict wounds--?" + +Venor nodded. "We were in their households, you see, employed as slaves +and assigned the care of their young. The cubs of the wolf were given +into our hands to love--and to tame. + +"These Markovian children were witnesses to the supposed torture and +killing of those who loved them. It was a tremendous psychic impact and +served to drive their influence toward the side of the slaves. And even +the adults slowly recognized the net loss to them of doing away with +servants so skilled and useful in household tasks and caring for the +young. The games and brutality vanished spontaneously within a short +time. Markovians, young and old, simply didn't want them any longer. + +"During the maturity of that first generation of young on whom we +expended our love our position became more secure. These were no longer +wolves. They had become dogs, loyal to those who had loved them, and we +could use them now against their own kind. Influences to abandon piracy +against other peoples began to spread throughout the Nucleus. + +"Today the Markovians are no longer a threat capable of holding the +Council worlds in helpless fear. They long ago ceased their +depredations. Their internal stability is rising and is almost at the +point where we shall be able to leave them. Our work here is about +finished." + +"Surely all this was unnecessary!" Joyce said. "With your powers of +teleportation and other psionic abilities you must possess it should +have been easy for you to _control_ the Markovians directly, force them +to cease their piracy--" + +"Of course," said Venor. "That would have been so much easier for us. +And so futile. The Markovians would have learned nothing through being +taken over by us and operated externally. They would have remained the +same. But it was our desire to change them, teach them, accomplish +genuine learning within them. It is always longer and more difficult +this way. The results, however, are more lasting!" + +"_Who_ are you people--_what_ are you?" Cameron said with sudden +intensity. "You have teleportation--and how many other unknown psychic +powers? You have forced us to believe you can tame such a vicious world +as the Markovian Nucleus once was. + +"But where is there a life of your own? With all your powers you must +live at the whim of other cultures. Where is _your_ culture? Where is +your own purpose? In spite of all you have, your life is a parasitical +one." + +Venor smiled gently. "Is not the parent--or the teacher--the servant of +the child?" he said. "Has it not always been so if a species is to rise +very far in its conquest of the Universe? + +"But this does not mean that the parent or teacher has no life of his +own. You ask where is our culture? The culture of _all_ worlds is ours. +We don't have great cities and vast fleets. The wolf cubs build these +for us. They carry us across space and shelter us in their cities. + +"Our own energies are expended in a thousand other and more profitable +ways. We have sought and learned a few of the secrets of life and mind. +With these we can move as you were moved, when we choose to do so. From +where I sit I can speak with any of our kind on this planet or any world +of the entire Nucleus. And a few of us, united in the effort, can touch +those in distant galaxies. + +"What culture would you have us acquire, that we do not have?" Venor +finished. + + * * * * * + +Without answer, Cameron arose and strode slowly to the window, his back +to the room. He looked out upon the rude wooden huts and the towering +forest beyond. He tried to tell himself it was all a lie. Such things +couldn't be. But he could feel it now with increasing strength, as if +all his senses were quickening--the benign aura, the indefinable wash of +power that seemed to lap at the edge of his mind. + +Out of the corner of his eye he could see Joyce's face, almost radiant +as she, too, sensed it here in the presence of the Ids. + +Love, as a genuine power, had been taught by every Terran philosopher of +any social worth. But it had never really been tried. Not in the way the +Ids understood it. Cameron felt he could only guess at the terrible +discipline of mind it required to use it as they did. The analogy of the +wolf cubs was all very well, and man had learned to go that far. But +there is a difference when your own kind is involved, he thought. + +Perhaps it was out of sheer fear of each other that men continued to try +to sway with hate, the most primitive of all their weapons. + +It's easy to hate, he thought. Love is hard, and because it is, the +tough humans who can't achieve it and have the patience to manipulate it +must scorn it. The truly weak ones, they're incapable of the stern and +brutal self-discipline required of one who loves his enemy. + +But men had known how. Back in the caves they had known how to conquer +the wolf and the wild horse. Where had they lost it? + +The vision of the buildings and the forest with its eternal peace was +still in his eyes. What else could you want, with the whole Universe in +the palm of your hand? + +He turned sharply. "You tricked us into betraying ourselves to Marthasa, +and you said that you planned it this way when you first heard of our +coming. But you have not yet said why. Why did you want us to see what +you had done?" + +"You needed to have evidence from the Markovians themselves," said +Venor. "That is why I led you to the point where the admission would be +forced from them. The problem you came to solve is now answered, is it +not? Is there anything to prevent you returning to Earth and writing a +successful paper on the mystery of the Markovians?" + +"You know very well there is," said Cameron with the sudden sense that +Venor was laughing gently at him. "Who on Earth would believe what you +have told me--that a handful of meek, subservient Ids had conquered the +mighty Markovian Nucleus?" + +He paused, looking at Joyce who returned his intense gaze. + +"Is that all?" said Venor finally. + +"No that is not all. After taking us to the heights and showing us +everything that lies beyond, are you simply going to turn us away +empty-handed?" + +"What would you have us give you?" + +"This," said Cameron, gesturing with his hand to include the circle of +all of them, and the community beyond the window. "We want what you have +discovered. Is your circle a closed one--or can you admit those who +would learn of your ways but are not of your race?" + +Venor's smile broadened as he arose and stepped toward them, and they +felt the warm wave of acceptance from his mind even before he spoke. +"This is what we brought you here to receive," he said. "But you had to +ask for yourselves. We wanted men of Earth in our ranks. There are many +races and many worlds who make up the Idealists. That is why it is said +that the Ids do not know the home world from which they originally came. +It is true, they do not. We are citizens of the Universe. + +"But we have never been represented by a native of Earth, which needs us +badly. Will you join us, Terrans?" + + +THE END + +[Illustration] + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + +This etext was produced from _Astounding Science Fiction_ November 1955. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright +on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errors +have been corrected without note. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Cubs of the Wolf, by Raymond F. 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