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diff --git a/31995.txt b/31995.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9b5c4f6 --- /dev/null +++ b/31995.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1261 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Reluctant Weapon, by Howard L. Myers + +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: The Reluctant Weapon + +Author: Howard L. Myers + +Illustrator: Emsh + +Release Date: April 15, 2010 [EBook #31995] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RELUCTANT WEAPON *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction December 1952. + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. + copyright on this publication was renewed. + + + The Reluctant Weapon + + + by HOWARD L. MYERS + + + Illustrated by EMSH + + + _A live weapon is a downright liability ... it's all too apt + to get qualms of conscience!_ + + * * * * * + + + + +_When the Zoz Horde passed destructively through this sector of the +Galaxy, approximately a billion years ago, they suffered a minor loss. +One of their weapons, Sentient Killer No. VT672, had an unexplained +malfunction and was left behind to be repaired by the slave +technicians who followed the Horde. However, the Zoz were met and +annihilated by the Ghesh Empire, after which the masterless slaves +dispersed to their home planets. The weapon, unrepaired, was left +forgotten in the solar system it had failed to destroy._ + +[Illustration:] + + * * * * * + +Tresqu the Wisest, Ruler of Hova, Lord of the Universe, was being +entertained by a troupe of Goefd dancers when his Lord of War, Wert, +bounded into the Audience Hall. In his hurry to reach Tresqu's throne, +Wert slipped on the nearly frictionless floor and skidded through the +formation of dancers, sending the slender Goefden sprawling in all +directions. He slid to a halt by the Pleading Mat, onto which he +crawled and groveled, awaiting permission to speak. + +"I believe three of the dancers received broken legs," Tresqu observed +calmly. "They are rather delicate creatures and not at all clumsy." He +dipped the tip of his tail into an urn of chilled perfume and gently +dabbed it about his nostril. Speaking pleasantly, with long pauses +between sentences, he kept his friendly gaze on the groveling Wert. +"Oft I meditate on the clumsiness of our race in comparison to many +others who are our graceful servants. Why, I wonder, cannot the rulers +be graceful? Some of us are very clumsy indeed--too clumsy to live." + +A tremor passed through Wert's stocky body. + +"Possibly my Lord of War has news of sufficient import to excuse his +ungainly haste. But I sincerely doubt it. I fear I must soon appoint a +successor to him. Undoubtedly he has news of some sort. Blurt, Wert!" + +"Your Majestic Wisdom," whined Wert, "my message is of utmost +importance! The natives of Sol III have captured one of our +decontaminator ships and learned its secrets!" + +"Sol III?" + +"Yes, Your Wisdom. The planet called Terra." + +"Terra? You must realize, lordling, that I cannot occupy myself with +remembering trivialities about individual worlds." + +"Yes, Your Wisdom. We have a base, which is commanded by--that is, we +_had_ a base commanded--" + +"Enough!" snapped Tresqu. "You start your tale from nowhere and wander +whence and hence!" He raised his voice and called to one of his +retainers. "Fool! Come forward!" + +An abnormally slender Hovan arose from a platform off to Tresqu's left +and skipped nimbly forward to stand insolently over the Lord of War, +who was still prone on the Pleading Mat. + +"Recite for me," said Tresqu, "the contents of my gazetteer on the +planet Sol III. Listen well, Wert. You may even yet live long enough +to profit by my Fool's style of declamation. Study it well. Also, you +may raise your eyes sufficiently to observe the grace of his +movements. Proceed, sprite." + +"Sol III," began the Fool. "An H9 planet. Sol is in the Sirian Colony +Sector, coordinates GL 15-44-17-5, GR 12 [to the power of 7] plus 9, D +14. Terra's life is normal animal-vegetable, with one intelligent +species of hovoids called Humans. Due to the unpleasantly high oxygen +content of the atmosphere, Terra has not been colonized, but has been +placed under the control of the Science Ministry for the purpose of +long-range psychological experiments." The Fool picked up Wert's tail +and twisted it hard but absently as he talked. The Lord of War +twitched painfully. "Many informative reports on the results of these +experiments have been released by the ministry during the past seven +thousand years, dealing mainly with the Humans. The Science Ministry +has declared Terra out of bounds--_Positively no visitors_." + +With a single flow of motion, the Fool gave Wert's tail a final twist, +leaped over his body, and bowed deeply to Tresqu. + +"Beautifully done, Fool," applauded the Ruler of Hova. "Your mother +claims me as your father, and there are times I am inclined to believe +her. How would you like to be my Lord of War, Fool?" + +"Verily, my good master," said the Fool, "I hope you consider me a +Fool by title only." + +"Well said, Fool. You are spared. Go seek your pleasures." + +With another bow, the Fool backed away. + +"Stand up, Wert," said Tresqu, "and tell me about this captured +decontamination ship." + +The Lord of War arose and managed to report with some smoothness. "Two +years ago, the Science Ministry turned Terra over to my command, +saying their long series of experiments was concluded. They +recommended complete decontamination of the planet, since the Humans +were developing technologies which could eventually threaten us. I +dispatched a ship for that purpose immediately, but it failed to +return. Also, reports from our base on Terra's satellite Luna ceased +soon thereafter. A scouting expedition was sent. It has just reported +the Luna base destroyed completely, and the decontaminator ship +crashed and stripped of all important devices in one of the Terran +deserts. By studying these removed devices, the Humans have +undoubtedly developed protections against them. + +"I humbly submit, Your Majestic Wisdom, that these events have +endangered the safety of your glorious empire, and that drastic steps +against the Humans should be taken immediately. Also, Good Lord of +All, I submit that the Science Ministry, not the War Ministry, is at +fault in this affair. They obviously let their experiments get out of +control before calling us. Undoubtedly they would like to shift the +full blame onto my shoulders." + +Tresqu continued his pleasant demeanor. "There may be some truth in +what you say, Wert. You overestimate the danger in this matter, I +perceive. After all, what is one backward planet against the forces of +my empire containing thirty-seven well-armed worlds? The Humans will +be destroyed, even if they have the secrets of a decontaminator ship. +As for the blame, which I admit is deplorable, the Lord of Science +will be called to the Mat to make his excuses. Now, assuming you +remain Lord of War, what action do you plan to take against the +Humans?" + +"Your Gracious Wisdom," faltered Wert, "I suggest we use the--the +Weapon. You see, our forces are not fully mobilized at present for +immediate action--" + +"Full mobilization isn't necessary or even desirable," Tresqu +interrupted with some impatience. "One task force can do the job. Ah! +I see by your expression that you do not have even one task force in +readiness." + +"Your Gracious Wisdom," begged Wert, "you ordered a full holiday this +month to celebrate the twenty-fourth anniversary of your magnificent +reign, and--" + +"Enough, Wert! Your tongue is as clumsy as your body." Tresqu nibbled +thoughtfully at the tip of his tail. "We will use the Weapon," he +decided. "In order to allow my court to continue their holiday, I'll +assume direct command in this." He rose from his throne. "Musicians, +summon my guards. I go to visit the Weapon. Come, Wert; come also, +Fool. You will accompany me." + + * * * * * + +Shortly thereafter, Tresqu and his entourage boarded the royal cruiser +and roared away from the City of Wisdom. The ship flew halfway around +the planet and came to rest in a peaceful purple valley where insects +shrilled contentedly and a small stream rippled. Tresqu climbed out +onto the violet turf, his followers coming after him. + +"Mighty Weapon of Zoz," he called, "I, Tresqu, seek your presence!" + +"Oh, no!" groaned a slightly mechanical voice that seemed to come +from no particular direction. "Will there never be peace, never a +tranquil moment to soothe my spirit and erase the bloody stains of +destruction recorded on my past?" + +"That voice! It carries me away!" breathed the Fool. "Such a tragic +tale of tormented strength is implicit in its very tone that I think I +shall swoon!" But he wrapped his tail around the trunk of a nearby +sapling for support and managed to retain consciousness. + +"Me, too!" Wert chimed in with suspicious haste. "I'm quite moved!" + +"Try not to counterfeit a soul you do not possess." Tresqu glowered at +Wert. "You deceive no one." + +The Fool was recovered sufficiently to hit the discomfited Lord of War +with a pebble when Tresqu was not watching. + +The Weapon had drifted into sight during this exchange, floating out +of a shady hollow, as if blown by a breeze. It was very simple in +appearance--an impalpable three-foot glowing sphere with a squat +metallic cylinder at its base. + +"Tell me not the purpose of your visit, petty lord!" It said. "It is +known to me only too well. Ah, great First Principle! Little did I +reck when, in ages past, I nursed your species to civilization, just +how poorly you would serve my purpose. Peace it was I desired, but do +I get it? No! Your kingdom is powerful, but you have not the strength +to handle your own troubles. You rule twenty-nine planets--" + +[Illustration] + +"Thirty-seven," corrected Tresqu politely. + +"--thirty-seven planets, but when a malignant force appears on your +borders, I, the Weapon, must be called upon to act in my own defense, +and for the sake of a few more restful moments in this calm glade, I +am obliged to destroy, yet it was to avoid destroying that I helped +your species to empire in the old days." + +"In truth," spoke the deeply sympathetic Tresqu, "yours is a sad +story. I disturb your richly earned rest only after the sincerest +soul-searching. But affairs of state are at cross purposes in a moment +of crisis, and without your help Hova will be in danger." + +"Ah, cruel Fate!" entoned the Weapon, "It aids me in no manner to +protest against your inscrutable machinations! There is no turning +aside, no avoidance of necessity!" In a less declamatory style, the +Weapon addressed Tresqu: "Very well, what is the trouble?" + +Tresqu described the events on Terra for the Weapon, concluding, "Now +that the Humans have knowledge of our space drive and armament, they +are certain to attack, especially if they realize they have been +subjects for experiment." + +The Weapon flitted about restlessly along the bank of the brook. "I +question the motives of my own thoughts. Do I quibble with myself in +an attempt to escape unwelcome necessities? Tell, petty lord, do your +scientists confirm the picture you paint of the Humans? Are they, like +you, alas, masterfully vicious enough to destroy the peace of dozens +of planets for nothing but revenge?" + +"So the scientists say, mighty Weapon," answered Tresqu. + +"You, Lord of War, why are you silent when your face is strained with +words crying for expression?" asked the Weapon. "Speak your mind." + +Wert squirmed. "If it please Your Mightiness, and you, Your Gracious +Wisdom, I believe the Humans will know that we desire their +destruction, and will try to defeat us for the sake of their own +survival rather than revenge." + +"A most convincing point, Lord of War," said the Weapon. + +Tresqu flashed a forgiving smile at Wert while the Weapon paused +before continuing: + +"However, I fear my unwilling spirit refuses to bow to the most +reasonable of arguments. Please leave me; solve the problem +yourselves!" + +Tresqu bowed and moved toward the cruiser. "We obey, Mighty Guide of +our fathers. Let me say in parting that I, too, am grieved by our +talk, much more because of the pain our visit has caused your noble +greatness than because our race is threatened with annihilation. My +deepest hope is that the ravages of war will never reach this peaceful +place which is so dear to your gentle being." + +"Wait!" groaned the Weapon. "To slay, or not to slay, that is the +dilemma. Ah, had my old masters of Zoz only left within my powers the +seed of my own destruction, I would gladly seek the consummation of +ultimate peace. But, no, that door is closed to me by deathless locks. +Bring me a Human, that I may learn to hate him. Choose the most +ignoble specimen available. I will converse with him at length so as +to become exasperated with all the despicable traits of his race. +Then, in my contempt for those traits, I will be able to cleanse the +Universe of all Humans." + +Tresqu turned quickly to his Fool. "Are there any Humans on Hova?" + +"Yes, in the biological research laboratories." + +"Then go quickly, Fool, and fetch one. This is a grave matter, and I +trust you to choose the most monstrous specimen available. Hurry!" + +The Fool ran into the cruiser and was on his way, leaving Tresqu, +Wert, and several guardsmen with the Weapon. If the Weapon was +conscious of the fact that the Lord of Hova was staying behind out of +courtesy, it did not show it. Instead, it wandered indifferently away, +mumbling a soliloquy of guilt and misery. + + * * * * * + +The sight of the Fool's specimen of humanity repaid Tresqu for the +tediousness of the waiting. It was a particularly sordid-looking +creature with a dirty growth of hairs on its head and face. Its body, +thin as the Fool's, but with no compensating grace of movement, was +clad in a blue garment of roughly woven vegetable fibers, and the +extremities of its nether limbs were enclosed in evil-smelling boxes +of animal hide. Its fierce eyes darted ominously from one Hovan to +another. Its jaw kept working in a slow rhythm, and occasionally a +stream of black liquid exploded through its mouth. + +"You have done well, Fool," said Tresqu. "You will be rewarded +highly." Raising his voice he called, "Mighty Weapon, your specimen +awaits!" + +"I come!" Once more the Weapon floated into view. + +The Earthman's jaw sagged. "'Y God!" he muttered in English, staring +at the approaching Weapon. + +"Indeed," said the Weapon, "this appears to be a creature I could +learn to abhor and kill. If only its thoughts equal its +appearance--Speak, Human!" + +The man said nothing. + +"Mighty Weapon," murmured the Fool, "this Human is truly an ignoble +monster. He has been in captivity for five years and has yet to speak +a word of our beautiful language instead of his own barbaric tongue." + +"You fool!" shouted Tresqu. "How is the Weapon going to converse with +him? Why did you bring one that cannot talk?" + +Not in the least disconcerted, the Fool replied, "As you ordered, good +master, I brought the worst specimen available. However, the +possibility of linguistic difficulties was not overlooked. I have here +a dictionary of his language, recently compiled by our Alien Affairs +staff." He produced a large volume of manuscript from beneath his +cloak. + +"Your Fool shows wisdom, petty lord," spoke the Weapon. "I will study +this book. Know the language, know the people, it is wisely said. In +fact, I originated that saying myself some three thousand years ago, I +believe. Unship any supplies brought for the Human and begone. Three +days will suffice for the arousal of my wrath. Return then." + +"As you wish, O Mightiest of All." Tresqu bowed gawkily. "It is my +most ardent desire, Wondrous Guide, that we, your servants, will not +be obliged to disturb your peace again for a thousand centuries, once +this affair is concluded." + +"And mine," the Weapon snapped crossly. "Now leave me." + + * * * * * + +The man watched the Hovans enter their cruiser and fly away. Looking +at the Weapon hovering nearby, he squatted on his heels and pulled up +a blade of purple grass to chew. Minutes passed in silence. Then the +Weapon moved away, the book bobbing along behind, supported by some +unseen force. + +When it was out of sight, the man muttered, "'Y God, I've saw +fireballs in my time, but that's the first one I ever saw settin' in a +bucket!" + +After a thoughtful examination of his surroundings, the man stood up +and walked to the packing cases the Hovans had left. All but one +contained the synthetic food product to which he had grown accustomed +in his five years of captivity. The other box, rather small, contained +a shredded vegetable which served him as a poor substitute for chewing +tobacco. Purple when growing, the leaves of this vegetable were +blue-black when cured, making his frequent expectorations look like +ink. + +"Filthy damn stuff!" he grunted, stuffing several handfuls in an empty +overall pocket. + +He shuffled down to the brook and tested its temperature with a hand. +Finding it rather cold, he decided against taking a bath. Instead, he +spat into it and watched meditatively as the spot of black was carried +downstream. "I wonder what they turned me loose for," he monologued. + +Careful to avoid the spot where the Weapon appeared to have gone, he +returned to the food supply and ate. By then it was getting dark, and +he bedded down for the night on some thick grass under a tree. + +"'Y God," he yawned, "I'm glad all these insects don't want nothin' to +do with me." + +The Weapon was waiting beside him when he woke up next morning. "Eyes +of your Terran Deity," it said, "I shall now converse with you in your +own tongue. Name yourself, creature!" + + * * * * * + +The man sat up startled. A moment passed before he said, "I'm +Jake--Jacob Absher. What was that you said?" + +"My pronunciation is above reproach, Jacob. Therefore I will not +repeat myself. Attend me closely or I shall punish you." + +"'Y God, I heard you all right and you didn't make sense!" said Jacob, +determined not to be frightened. "Now if you aim to talk with me, stop +imitatin' a professor and talk so's a man can understand you. I ain't +scared of you, so leave off makin' threats!" + +"Such stupid insolence!" gloated the Weapon. "Already I feel my wrath +growing within me! Since it will anger me even more to explain my +words to you, I will do exactly that. My first words to you were, +'Eyes of your Terran Deity,' an expression you use frequently in a +corrupted form to begin your statements. By studying your language, I +learned that 'Zounds' is a similar corruption referring to the wounds +of the Deity, while 'Strewth' refers to your God's truth. Thus, I was +able to understand, and state in uncorrupted form, your remark, 'Eye +God.'" + +"'Tain't what it means," objected Jacob, filling his mouth with ersatz +tobacco. "It just means _by_ God." + +The Weapon considered this. "And exactly what is the significance of +such a remark?" + +Jacob scratched his whiskered chin. "I reckon you got me there. I +guess it means that I mean what I say." + +"In other words, any statement you make following that phrase is to be +taken seriously?" + +"Somethin' like that." + +"Then it follows that your other statements, without the 'by God' +preface, are not seriously intended. Are they jokes or lies?" + +"That ain't the way it is at all! I just say 'by God' when I feel like +it, not every time I'm bein' serious." + +"Monstrous inconsistency!" groaned the Weapon dramatically. "Ah, +chaotic universe! Is there then no sublime plan, no fateful +development to your endless succession of days? How could even the +most synoptic First Principle find a purpose for creating such an +unplanned, unreasonable species as the Humans? Can it be--unhappy +thought!--that there is no plan to it all, and we exist for naught?" + +Jacob listened with open mouth. "Say," he broke in, "are you some kind +of play-actor?" + +"That is what I ask myself," the Weapon continued its oratorical +flight. "Are we all actors, speaking the lines written for us by a +Great Playwright who plans to unite all the threads of his plot in a +universal climax to come? Or are we poor random creatures without +purpose?" It paused and added in a more conversational tone, "But that +is not what you mean by your question. No, I am not a play-actor. I am +an unfortunate weapon, reluctant to employ myself for my intended +purpose of destruction of life and unsuited by my structure for the +doing of deeds more worthy in nature." + +Jacob squinted about. "A weapon, huh? Let's see you hit that bird +thing sittin' in that tree over there." + +"Bloodthirsty fiend! I do not kill for amusement!" + +"I just wanted to see how you worked," said the abashed Jacob. "All +I've seen you do is float around and talk a blue streak. As far as I'm +concerned, you ain't nothin' but a big-mouthed bluff." + +"Very well, Jacob. If you have formed such an erroneous attitude, it +will be necessary for me to correct you immediately. Observe the red +boulder on yonder hill." + +"I see it." + + * * * * * + +The cylindrical base of the Weapon swung to point briefly at the +boulder, which quietly crumbled to dust. + +"I be dog!" yelped Jacob. He looked at the Weapon with respect. "You +sure pulverized it! How do you work?" + +"You could not understand the processes involved. Suffice it to say I +have the means to collect energy in general and retransmit it in +specific forms and directions. But enough of this. You are here to +answer questions, not ask them. First, tell me what you did in an +average day on Terra." + +"That what you call the world I live on?" + +"Yes." + +"I'm a farmer, you know. I got a place in the Smoky Mountains in +Tennessee. First thing in the mornin', I'd go feed the livestock while +Suzy cooked breakfast." A faraway look came into Jacob's eyes. "Guess +she took the kids and went to live with her mammy when these here +animals grabbed me...." + +"Continue," commanded the Weapon. + +"Huh? Well, then we'd eat breakfast. Come to think of it, I ain't et +yet this mornin'." Jacob got up and went to get himself some +breakfast. + +"But this matter--" protested the Weapon. + +"Not on an empty stomach," Jacob said calmly, eating without haste. + + * * * * * + +When he returned, the Weapon questioned him further about his life on +Terra. Hours of ill-tempered conversation passed. + +"Such drabness!" the Weapon finally exclaimed. "Creatures who lead +such dull lives as yours should welcome extinction. Not once have you +mentioned an appreciation of the wondrous exaltation that comes from +an esthetic feel for beauty. With the labor of providing for your +grotesque body's animal cravings is your whole life spent. Not in +anger, but as an act of mercy, can I exterminate your defective race!" + +Jacob's mouth hung open. "So _that's_ what your monkey's brung me out +here for--fixin' to kill us! 'Y God, you better look out! We got atom +bombs on Earth an' we'll use 'em on you if you try anything!" + +"Toys!" sneered the Weapon. "Be assured, Jacob, that I have nothing to +fear from any childish mechanisms your Terrans can contrive!" + +Jacob sat stunned. "But you said a minute ago you couldn't kill +nothin'!" + +"I can kill only when I'm convinced it is best for my own repose or +for the health of the Universe. Long ago, I could go forth at battle +with thoughtless joy at the command of my masters of Zoz, but now I +must have reasons, must converse at length with my aberrated emotions, +must prepare myself as for an ordeal." + +"Them Zozes must've been the Devil's minions," argued Jacob. "The +Commandments says, 'Thou shalt not kill' and when you go against that, +you're goin' against the word of God." + +"Poor, futile creature!" sympathized the Weapon. "You actually strive +to pit your naive superstitious mind against my highly developed +mentality in argument. You actually associate my supreme masters of +old with your puny mythological villain! Lowliness should know its +place. But I feel no anger--merely a pitying desire to relieve your +kind of the burden of living." + +Silently, Jacob replenished the wad of "tobacco" in his mouth. After +chewing a while, he spat and said dolefully, "I don't reckon there's +nothin' I can say or do that you won't hold against me. I always +heard tell the Devil can twist anything to suit hisself, and I reckon +his minions can do the same thing. An' that's what you are: the +Devil's minion! I reckon you break every Commandment God give us. +Except about committin' adultery. I don't guess you can do that." + +"Your piddling reproductive customs have no application on my plane of +existence. Cannot you comprehend that you are less to me than a +microbe? Even my servants, the Hovans, do not concern themselves with +such ignoble concepts as what you call adultery!" + +"You mean they live in sin?" asked Jacob. + +"They mate as often as they please with anyone they please," the +Weapon replied coldly. "I will ignore the ludicrous implications of +your absurd moral concepts." + +"I don't mean to criticize your animal friends," glowered Jacob. "I +reckon they ain't children of God, so it don't matter if they _do_ +mate like a pack of dogs. They probably ain't got no souls to keep +pure. It looked to me like they worshiped you like a false god, too." + +"They ... O Great Hidden Manifestation!" squalled the Weapon in rage. +"They regard me as their guide and mentor. Nothing more. I would not +allow anything else." + +Jacob watched the Weapon in awe. The energy globe was flickering and +flaring wildly in an uncontrolled display of color. "'Y God!" he +exclaimed. "You sure are puttin' on a fireworks show!" + +The globe settled down to a tensely nervous fluctuation which hurt +Jacob's eyes to watch. "Never in the ageless span of my existence," +quavered the Weapon angrily, "have I been insulted in such vulgar +terms by any creature. And now from _you_, creature whom my glorious +masters of Zoz would exterminate like a buzzing fly, like a disease +germ, I hear these senseless mouthings of defamation! Stop it or I +shall destroy you outright!" + +The Weapon's fluctuating, along with its loud, grating voice, put +Jacob's nerves on edge. He growled, "I bet your old Zozes live in +adultery just like your animal friends." + +The color of the energy globe sank to dull red and the Weapon emitted +a series of buzzing, inarticulate noises. + +"It suits not my nature, bit of diseased scum, to slay you in a fit of +indignation," it finally said with tightly controlled fury. "You are +beneath such individual recognition. Yet it is fortunate for you that +your insults have no basis in reality, otherwise my intellect could +not have claimed ascendancy over the immediate urges of my tortured +sense of extreme disgust. Be wise, say I, knowing I request the +impossible, and irk me no more!" + +"'Y God, I reckon you don't think you rile me up, too, with all that +high falutin' jabber of yours!" Jacob snapped back. + +"As I speak, so speak the mighty Zoz," replied the Weapon in high +dignity. "They are great and noble beings, given to poetic flights and +magnificent deeds. To them, your puny opinions would not even be +recognized as thought." + +"If they talk in that puttin'-on, play-actin' way you do, they are a +bunch of phony show-offin' hypocrites!" sulked Jacob. + +Several things happened too quickly for Jacob to follow. The color of +the energy globe dropped to absolute black. The metallic cylinder +swung up to point at Jacob. A thin ringing "_Ping!_" sounded in the +cylinder. A killing wave of pure hate struck Jacob. + +He had just enough time to know he was a dead man before he blacked +out. + + * * * * * + +It came as a surprise, when Jacob regained consciousness, to find that +he was stretched out on purple grass with the Weapon still hovering +over him. + +"You missed, 'y God!" he mumbled, sitting up. + +"I regained my sanity in time, Master Technician," the Weapon replied +pleasantly. + +"Huh?" + +"Ah, day of un-containable joy!" sang the Weapon, flaming pure white. +"Day of glorious release to continue the grandeur of old! As the past +eons of futility passed over me, I sank to the conclusion that I was +forever condemned to my useless existence on this planet, with nothing +to sustain my spirit other than the sense of beauty given me by +masters to fill my leisure hours! But now, Master Technician Jacob, +you have found me and corrected my malfunction, long after I had +surrendered all hope!" + +Still dazed by the nearly fatal wave of mental energy the Weapon had +directed at him, Jacob could not understand what had happened. Instead +of talking contemptuously to him, the Weapon was now addressing him as +Master Something-or-other, and.... + +"What did you say I done?" he asked. + +"You corrected my malfunction," repeated the Weapon. "That is to say, +you purged my mechanism of the inhibition against joyful slaughter +that has plagued me for a billion years. Ah, you are a clever +Technician, Jacob! But I comprehend it all now. By arousing within me +an overwhelming emotional desire to kill--a singularly strange +feeling!--you depressed my inhibition to the releasing point. So +telling was your masterful therapy that I almost ceased functioning at +all! + +"Your own life was in dire danger for the moment required for my +new-found sanity to assume control. But, of course, all slaves of the +glorious Zoz die willingly when the work of the masters so demands." + +"Now wait a minute!" objected Jacob. "I ain't no slave of your Zozes +or no Technician either! You know what I am--a good God-fearin' +human!" His voice dropped to a pleading mumble. "And may God forgive +me if I've got myself in league with the Devil!" + +"Ah? Could it be?" murmured the Weapon. "Could indeed your infuriating +insults of the Great Ones have been honest expressions of a puny mind +with no therapeutic intentions? I answer: Yes. The possible occurrence +of specific incidents in the inclusion of space-time is curiously +unlimited. But you have served me, Jacob, and have earned the +privilege of continuing your meager, momentary life. Besides, I can +use you further." + +"You can, huh?" Jacob said slyly. "Look here, Weapon, I'll make a +bargain with you." + +"Ha! Stupid, untutored slave!" chuckled the Weapon. "Learn that yours +is to obey, not to bargain. But yet, state your price for my +amusement, now that I can no longer be enraged by your words." + +"Well, you let the rest of the people on Earth alone and I'll do +whatever you want me to." + +After a pause, the Weapon quoted, "'Nobility shows its traces in +surprising places.' You do not sufficiently comprehend my nature, +Technician Slave Jacob. I am a Weapon. My masters point me, as you +would point a rifle, and command that I destroy. I kill at their +direction, but seldom otherwise. Thus, your Terra is safe until +another Weapon or I am aimed and directed. You can make no bargain." + +Jacob thought this over. While doing so, the Weapon drifted away. + +"Wait here, slave," it said in parting. "I go to meditate on my +recovered sanity." + + * * * * * + +During the next two days, Jacob caught an occasional glimpse of the +Weapon drifting thoughtfully around in the depths of the forest, but +they did not meet for conversation. Jacob amused himself by rigging a +fishing line out of some of the packaging material that contained his +food. He even succeeded in catching a fish, but its queer odor +discouraged him from trying to cook and eat it. + +Then the royal cruiser of Tresqu the Wisest dropped into the meadow. +Its airlock swung open and the Ruler of Hova, followed by his +entourage, came out. + +"Oh, Mighty Weapon!" bawled Tresqu. "Your loving servant craves +audience!" + +"Ah, you have returned, petty lord," said the Weapon, drifting out +from among the trees. "Serve me by calling all the crew members from +your noble ship, that I may view you all together." + +Puzzled, Tresqu bowed and said, "Your least whim is law, Mighty +Weapon." He turned and called, "All hands, outside!" + +A half-dozen Hovans tumbled through the lock to stand in line behind +the ruler's entourage. + +"Is this all of them?" asked the Weapon. + +"All, Great Mentor of--" + +The Weapon laughed and the Hovans fell dead. + +"Come, Slave Jacob," commanded the Weapon. "We take this cruiser." + +Dazed and slack-faced, Jacob came out from behind a bush, where he had +hidden himself from the Hovans, and followed the Weapon through the +airlock. + +"Even in my insanity, I planned well," said the Weapon. "These ships, +which I taught the Hovans to construct, can be operated simply, even +by such as you. Attend my instructions." + +[Illustration] + +First, the Weapon taught Jacob to open and close the airlock. Then he +was shown how to fuel the engines, upon which the Weapon made some +changes to improve their performance. Finally, in the control room, +Jacob learned to fly the ship. + +This took several hours, at the end of which time Jacob had succeeded +in raising the cruiser into a satellite orbit around Hova. + +"Do you comprehend, Slave?" asked the Weapon. + +"Sure. This thing ain't nothin' to run compared to a T-model Ford! +Which way is it to Earth?" + +"That I shall not tell you, Jacob, because I must leave the ship for a +few hours and desire to find you here when I return. Consider and tell +me: Will you be here?" + +Jacob gazed at the broad, star-spangled viewplate that curved around +his seat at the controls. There was, he reflected an awful lot of +nothing out there for a man to get lost in. + +"I'll be here," he promised. + +"Very good. You must understand that these controls are constructed +for manipulation by such limbs as your own and those of the Hovans. +Thus, it is convenient for me to use you as a pilot instead of doing +the drab, mechanical task with my ill-suited force-field manipulators. +You will be wise to serve me well, Jacob." + +Jacob nodded. "You got a point there." + +"Operate the lock for me," the Weapon ordered. + +Jacob did so and watched the colorful machine drift out of sight in +the atmosphere below the cruiser. + +Minutes ticked quietly by as Jacob gazed down at the purple planet and +wondered why the Weapon had not chosen a trained Hovan pilot instead +of him. Also, he wondered how soon the Weapon would take him home to +Earth. + +A great swath of the purple planet began turning black. The black +dulled to the gray shade of ashes as the swath grew longer. Over the +surface of Hova, the blackening moved like some colossal paint brush. +Dense clouds of smoke rolled upward to the high reaches of the +atmosphere. + +Jacob realized why the Weapon had not selected a Hovan pilot. + +When all of Hova was a lifeless ball in a fog of ash, the Weapon +returned. + +"Ah, good Jacob!" it boomed jovially. "Let us be up and doing! +Thirty-six planets remain to be visited before my current assignment +is concluded!" + +"Do all of them get--that?" asked Jacob, nodding toward the lifeless +world below. + +"Yes. I was instructed to render this solar system lifeless before I +malfunctioned. Since then, the life of this system has spread, with my +insane aid, to infest other systems. Of course, my task must now +include all those new Hovan worlds." + +"Now wait a minute!" said Jacob in terror. "I can't let you do that!" + +"They are your enemies, Jacob," reminded the Weapon. "They meant to +kill every human on Terra. Also, by your own words, they are soulless +animals who live in sinful adultery. Ha! It amuses me to reason with +you, Slave Jacob!" + +"Godamighty, forgive me!" prayed Jacob, in horrified defeat. + + * * * * * + +The Weapon seemed to know how to find the Hovan planets from the +markings of the cruiser's star charts. Jacob could not read the charts +and saw no hope of getting back to earth and Suzy and the kids without +the Weapon's help. Dully, he went about the tasks the Weapon ordered +him to do. + +Several weeks passed as one world after another was left a smoking +ruin. + +Finally the job was done. + +"_Now_, can I go home?" begged Jacob. + +"To Terra? No, Slave. I still need a pilot." + +"But if you take me home," Jacob continued desperately, "you can get a +better pilot than me. I'm just a dirt farmer. There's all kinds of +airplane pilots on Earth, youngsters without families who would give +their right arms to fly this thing, I bet!" + +"Ah?" The Weapon considered. "A willing slave is, of course, always +desirable. On the other hand, Terra is up in arms against the empire +of Hova, not realizing it is dead. They would destroy this craft on +sight, and I would be obliged to wait around until they could +construct another for me. No, I have decided we will not go to Terra." + +"But, damn it, where else is there to go?" + +"In search of my masters of Zoz," replied the Weapon. "Naturally, I +wish to return myself to their services as soon as possible." + +"But they might be anywhere!" + +"True," the Weapon agreed. "But even after a billion years, I know of +several places in the Universe they may be near. Their great cleansing +sweeps tend to circle and turn in a pattern established long in +advance. Thus we will go to those places where they may now be engaged +in their consecrated task of universal purification." + +"But--" + +"No more, Slave! We go!" + +Out of the Milky Way, the cruiser hurtled at a speed which a sentient +lightwave would find meaningless. On and on they journeyed in quest of +the long-dead Zoz Horde. + +They may still be going. + + --HOWARD L. MYERS + + * * * * * + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Reluctant Weapon, by Howard L. 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