diff options
Diffstat (limited to '36719.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 36719.txt | 1232 |
1 files changed, 1232 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/36719.txt b/36719.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..25d6bb1 --- /dev/null +++ b/36719.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1232 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Scapegoat, by Richard Maples + +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 Scapegoat + +Author: Richard Maples + +Release Date: July 13, 2011 [EBook #36719] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SCAPEGOAT *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Dianna Adair and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + +THE SCAPEGOAT + +By RICHARD MAPLES + + _Who would not have pity for a poor, helpless victim? + Nobody--except another poor victim!_ + +Illustrated by WEISS + + +The old guy didn't have a chance. All he could do was shield his head +with limp arms and moan, while this other fellow--a young, husky +six-footer--gave him a vicious, cold-blooded beating. + +"Hey, there!" I yelled indignantly. "Cut it out!" + +But the kid kept belting away, as if he were methodically working out on +a fifty-pound training bag. Finally, the old man sagged to the pavement. +Then this hoodlum began to kick him. + +I'm not a hero. I'm a newspaper man whose job it is to look at things +objectively. But I know right from wrong. + +My one punch caught the young bruiser back of the ear and spilled him on +the ground. He lay there for a moment, then rolled over. Even by the +street light, it was easy to see his eyes were glassy. + +It gave me lots of satisfaction. I'm not a big man--just compact--but I +take care of myself. I don't drink or smoke and I exercise regularly. +The result is I can handle myself in the clinches. + +The kid sat up and pushed himself unsteadily to his feet. I could see +now that he was a college boy. The red sweater with the terrycloth +border and the white pants with a shortened left leg were a dead +giveaway. + +"Listen here," I said roughly, "you nuts? Beating up an old man!" + +He appeared to be desperately searching for an explanation--something to +say. Then, abruptly, without having uttered a sound, he reeled away and +shambled hurriedly down the street. + +My first inclination was to give chase. But the old man groaned and I +turned to help him. That was when I had it--a virtual brain storm. + +This whole episode, I could see, was a perfect answer to the damnable +criticisms leveled at my series on juvenile delinquency. More than that, +it was an absolute vindication! + + * * * * * + +Barely an hour ago, I'd had to sit at a meeting and take it on the chin +from twenty of the town's leading lights who designated themselves The +Committee for the Protection of Youth. The outfit was, of course, +politically inspired. It had obviously been started by the Mayor and his +gang as a means of torpedoing Jones, the publisher of my paper. Jones, +you see, had become politically ambitious himself. + +Since I was the star on Jones' team, they piled on me. Some of the nicer +things said about my articles were that they constituted filthy +muckraking, were a pattern of irresponsible lies, and were designed +principally to smear the incumbent politicos. The children of the town, +they cried, were being sacrificed to ruthless ambition. + +It wouldn't have been so bad if Jones had stuck by me. But he cut and +ran. Discretion, he had whispered to me from behind a pudgy hand, was +the better part of valor. Then he told them he would discontinue the +articles. + +Now I had first-hand proof of a particularly brutal bit of delinquency. +A cruel assault on a poor, helpless old man! Furthermore, I was the hero +of the incident! + +Bending down to see how seriously the old man had been hurt, I asked, +"What happened, Pop? Was he trying to rob you or something?" He didn't +answer. + +[Illustration] + +I looked around for help, but the street was deserted. The best thing, I +decided, was to take him home. There Nan, my wife, could patch him up +while I found out what had happened. I bent down again and pulled him to +his feet. He staggered. I put one steadying hand on his shoulder and +gripped his wrist with the other. My spine went cold. + +It was his flesh. Not so much that it felt like rubber--but the chill. +Here we were in the middle of a heat wave, the thermometer nudging +ninety, and the old guy's wrist is like an icicle! + +For a second, it threw me. Then I thought of shock. That might explain +it. And Nan, having been a nurse, would be the one to know. + +I started the old man walking. "See if you can make it to my house," I +urged. "It's just around the corner." + +Nan switched on the porch light when she heard us on the steps. Opening +the door, she drew back with a little shriek. The old man was pretty +gruesome-looking at that. But it wasn't just his blood-covered face and +matted white beard. + +There was something spiderish about him. He was angular, and dark, and +skeletal. His eyes, deep-set and brooding, seemed to crouch under his +shaggy, jutting brows. + +"Take it easy, honey," I said. "The old guy just needs some patching +up." + + * * * * * + +She recovered quickly and helped him into the house. After we'd eased +him into the easy chair by the fireplace in the living room, she turned +to me, worried. "Were you in an accident?" + +I gave her the story and she looked at me sharply, but didn't speak. She +went into the bedroom and came back with blankets and medicine bottles. +Tucking the blankets around the old man's legs, she said, "But I don't +understand why you were walking. You went to the meeting in Jones' car. +Why didn't he bring you back?" + +I didn't answer. The old man had closed his eyes and his breathing was +becoming very shallow. "Look at him," I said. "Is he all right?" + +"He's sleeping. Why don't you answer my question?" + +"Jones didn't bring me home because I had words with him and walked away +in a huff." + +"Over the meeting?" + +"Partly." I explained about the meeting and how Jones had back-tracked +when the going got rough. "After all, it was his idea to build +circulation with sensational articles and to use them to attack the +present administration. But when there's a showdown, he acts like a +scared rabbit. And that's what I told him." + +"I'm glad," Nan said, her face brightening. "What did he say to that?" + +"He gave me a lot of bull about it being a mistake to pick on people's +children and how we should stick to old standbys like red-light +districts and dope trafficking." + +Nan slapped the iodine on the table. "Some nerve! What did you tell +him?" + +"I told him he was jerking the rug from under me and that I'd be damned +if I'd write a bunch of warmed-over tripe. Then I walked away." + +"You finally quit!" + +Until then, I don't think I'd ever realized just how much Nan hated my +work. Of course, off and on, we'd really had some knock-down drag-outs, +but I'd never considered them serious. Oh, we often talked about my +going into teaching physical ed. It had been my intention ever since +college. Some day I'd actually do it. + +I shook my head. "No, honey, I didn't quit." + +"But you're going to?" + +I shrugged in a gesture of helplessness. "How can I? An unprovoked +attack against a poor old man is dynamite. It puts me in the driver's +seat. I can write an article that will make every mealy-mouthed +hypocrite who spoke against me tonight eat his words." + + * * * * * + +The fire in her eyes died. "It's always something," she said wearily. +"Year after year, you've come up with one reason or another to stay in +the rotten business. And what does it amount to? Mud-slinging! I'm +beginning to think you like it!" + +She'd never come out so bluntly and, deep down, I felt my resentment +pressing like the sharp edge of a coiled spring. Originally, getting +into the newspaper game had been a sort of fluke. Majoring in physical +ed at college, I often covered the various sports events for the campus +paper. One day, a big-time scandal broke, involving gamblers and one of +the teams, and I found myself in a perfect spot to do an exclusive for a +city paper. My stuff was run verbatim under a by-line and afterward +picked up by the wire services. + +Later, with a trick knee keeping me out of the war, I managed to talk +myself into a job with the newspaper that had run my expose. I was +goaded by a feeling that I ought to be doing something bigger than +teaching children how to play games. + +From the very start, I discovered I had a peculiar talent. If I found +myself anywhere near a skeleton in a closet, I could plainly hear its +rattle. Before long, my reputation was firmly established. + +Nan, whom I'd met at college, knew of my ambition to teach and began +planning toward that end as soon as we married. She started what she +called a quitting fund. This was to stake a move to a small town where +her uncle was principal of the high school. He was supposed to help me +get a foothold in the new career. + +But then Tommy was born and there were bills to pay. After that there +were other reasons, like car payments. By the end of the war, the +teaching plans were no longer discussed, and Nan and I had drawn so far +apart that even the bickering between us had ceased. + +Finally, when Tommy was about ten, she suddenly let me have it. + +It seems the kid was running around with a tough crowd. She wanted to +get him away from the city. He needed the fresh air and the decent, +normal home-life of a small town, she said. And she meant every word of +it. + +Luckily, Jones had come along right about then and offered me a job on +his newspaper, back in the old home town. He had an idea he could drive +the opposition paper out of business by featuring yellow journalism at +the local level. That's where I came in. With my ability to make the +news bleed, he figured he could cinch it. For that reason, he was +willing to double my present salary. So I accepted. + +Nan, of course, was furious, even though I pointed out the extra dough +meant we could start planning again. She didn't calm down until I +promised to quit the job after six months. + + * * * * * + +Yes, it was always something. She was right enough about that. But she +had no right to make such an issue of things. I started to tell her +that, then stopped. Maybe she was picking a quarrel to make me forget +about the old man and the story. I threw a fast block into my +resentment. + +"Honey," I said, "don't be unreasonable. Remember this job with Jones +was supposed to get Tommy away from the city, and the extra dough was +all part of that big plan for the teaching business." + +"What plan?" she flared. "There never was a plan except to pamper your +vanity! Big-shot Potter, the whiz-bang newspaperman! That's all you've +ever been interested in!" + +I had to take a deep breath to keep from yelling back at her. "You're +not being very fair about this. I did it all with you and Tommy in +mind." + +Her voice lowered. "Is that so? Well, how about the promise to quit in +six months? We've saved the money. What marvelous thing do you have in +mind for me and Tommy now?" + +That _hurt_. As a matter of fact, I'd been quite enjoying the stint with +Jones. My series on juvenile delinquency had just about doubled +circulation and that gave me a deep sense of accomplishment. Then, too, +writing the stuff against the Mayor and the rest of the town's +big-wigs--in keeping with Jones' political ambitions--nurtured a feeling +of power that was very satisfying. + +Frankly, the meeting earlier that evening had set me down harder than I +cared to admit. Now, with every chance for a comeback, Nan wanted me to +pass! + +"Listen," I snarled, "so it's hot. So don't take it out on me!" + +Her fists bunched and the color drained from her face. Knowing the +signs, I could tell this was going to be a lulu. + +But the door flew open and Tommy came clomping through the hallway and +into the front room. He's a big kid for his age, mentally and +physically. He spotted the old man right away. + +"Gol_lee_!" he breathed excitedly. "Who's the creep?" + +"Never mind," Nan said, quickly recovering her composure. "He's had an +accident. Just get some money from your father and go to the drugstore +for more bandages. I'll need them." + +I gave him a buck and he ran out the kitchen way, slamming the back door +so hard, the whole house shook. + +The old man's eyes flickered open. He looked at me first, then at Nan. +"Well," he said in a peculiar muffled tone that suggested he was +speaking through an obstruction like a fencing mask, "isn't this cozy!" + +I immediately threw a lot of questions at him. His name, he said, was +Ashe--just plain Ashe. He couldn't remember any other name. He couldn't +remember why he'd been beaten up, nor what had led up to it. He was very +confused. He thought maybe it would all come back to him later. However, +he did remember my rescuing him and he appreciated that very much. +Hearing him say so gave me a nice, tingling glow. I invited him to stay +for dinner and he accepted. + + * * * * * + +Nan objected. "There's only salad," she wailed. "It was too hot to +cook." + +"Salad's fine," I told her. + +"Oh, Ted, please!" + +"Listen here," I said coldly, "I've invited Ashe to stay and he's +accepted. Why all the fuss?" + +She gave me a hurt look, turned, flounced into the kitchen. I started to +follow, thinking I'd made a mistake in being so brusque. Then I thought, +the heck with it. Let her take it any way she wanted. + +Sweat was plastering my shirt and pants to me like a skindiver's outfit. +I needed a shower. I told Ashe to rest easy and went into the bathroom. + +When I came out, Tommy had returned. He and the old man were busily +gabbing. Nan, standing by the kitchen door, frantically signaled me to +join her. In the kitchen, she backed me against the sink. "Get him out +of here!" + +"Why?" I asked, startled. + +"There's something wrong with him." + +"Wrong?" + +"He gives me the willies." + +"It's just the heat," I scoffed. + +"If you must know, he--he leered at me! While you were in the shower. It +was awful!" + +"Nan, do you think that kind of yarn is going to stop me from writing +about what happened tonight? It won't. And you can make up your mind I'm +keeping the job. When I get through with the people in this town, +they'll know they've been dealing with Edward Potter!" + +Tight-lipped, she went to the refrigerator for the supper. + +As soon as we'd sat down, Ashe began to talk. He kept it up through the +entire meal. He'd been everywhere and done everything, to hear him tell +it. Tommy, listening bug-eyed, kept asking questions. It sort of got me. +The hero of the affair, to my own son, was Ashe! + +It was Nan who finally blew the whistle. + +"Mr. Ashe," she said, her voice honed to a razor-edge, "I'm sure Ted +would be much more interested in knowing what led up to the fight +tonight--or are you still confused?" + +There was a beat of three while he studied Nan carefully. Then he said, +"It's quite apparent, Mrs. Potter, that you've absolutely no use for me. +This shows discernment. Most likely, with a woman's instinct, you've hit +upon at least part of the truth. Because of that, it might be wise to +lay all my cards on the table. But I warn you, it will be hard to +believe." + +"That," said Nan, leaning back with a gleam of triumph in her eyes, +"I'll bet on!" + + * * * * * + +It was hard to believe, all right. So hard, in fact, that I thought he +was just pulling Nan's leg. + +He said he'd come from another world, outside our solar system, where +people existed in a kind of liquid state, bouncing about, for the most +part, like large water-filled bladders. They were, however, capable of +taking almost any shape their superior minds willed. They could flatten +and drift about in the water, or they could inflate and rise in the air. +They could even become facsimiles of other living things, taking on the +shape, texture and coloration, a capability which aided greatly in their +main function of traveling as missionaries of goodness amongst the +peoples of the Galaxy. For they were perfect--as perfect as angels. + +As he talked, Nan's face got redder and redder. Finally, when I couldn't +keep from snickering, she jumped up, grabbed her empty plate and headed +for the kitchen. + +"Don't rush off, honey," I said innocently. + +She stopped at the kitchen door and glared at me. "I guess I know when +I'm being kidded!" + +"But," said Ashe in his cold, dry purr, "I'm not kidding." + +It seemed to me the joke had gone far enough. "Don't tell me," I said +sarcastically, "that you're a missionary to Earth!" + +"No," he admitted. "I'm here because I was banished." + +"Oh. A sort of fallen angel!" + +"Exactly." + +Another chill scurried along my spine. It was his tone of voice more +than anything. But then, too, his eyes had a dull, black humorlessness +about them. + +Nan returned to the table and sat down. I noticed a band of perspiration +mustaching her upper lip. Indeed, I seemed to have grown much hotter +myself. + +Irritably, I said, "Ashe, it's too damn warm for games. If you don't +want to explain what happened this evening, that's your privilege. But, +as you know, the story means a lot to me. And I did stick my neck out +for you!" + +He held up a gnarled hand. "One moment, my boy. Let me finish." + +So he finished. And the rest of the story was even nuttier. + +He was a throwback, he said with quiet pride. The perfection which had +taken his people countless years to attain was wiped out the moment he +came into being. They'd tried to reform him, but there was something +fundamental about his evil--as if it were an essence. + +As a last resort, they'd put him into one of their wonderful machines +and thrown the switch. At that agonizing instant, he'd imagined himself +to be water scraping over the edge of a sharp rock. Then he'd come to, +drifting through space. And, much later, he'd touched Earth. Once +landed, he'd taken on many shapes, through the years--mainly, however, +of people who'd died. + + * * * * * + +Even as he talked, I was carefully sliding my chair back. If I could +reach the phone in the hallway without being noticed, it would be +fairly simple to get help. But he saw what I was doing and laughed. + +"Edward," he said, "I know you don't believe me, but stick around until +I prove it." + +What happened next almost made me sick to my stomach. His face, which +had been as wrinkled as a fielder's mitt, all of a sudden took on the +appearance of a disturbed reflection in a pool of water. His flesh began +to writhe like a tangled mass of earthworms. Thirty seconds after it +began, he'd sloughed off thirty years. Even his beard, which had been as +white as shower-room tiling, became a fierce, dead black. + +I heard Tommy pipe, "Gol_lee_!" and Nan sigh--only it sounded more like +a groan. I shook away the dazed feeling and it was immediately replaced +by a great excitement. + +"Listen here," I said hoarsely, "this story will set the whole country +on its ear. With my by-line on it!" + +"Oh, Ted," Nan cried, "don't let him take you in! It's a trick. +It's--it's mass hypnotism or something." + +"The trouble with you," I said, "is you don't believe even what you see +with your own eyes!" + +The next day, I went to see Jones. We'd decided--Ashe and I--upon a +course of action. The existence of Ashe was to remain a secret, but I +was to keep my job with the paper at all costs. Then we could sit back +and wait for the opportune moment to spill it, a time when we had the +best angle and were positive Ashe wouldn't be labeled a hoax. + +Driving to the plant, I was tense enough to snap. It was not entirely +from the unabated heat, either. I didn't like the way Ashe had acted +during the latter part of the evening. + +Naturally I had felt disappointment at not being able to reveal his +presence. But what rankled most was the guy's colossal gall. Okay, so +I'm childish, only I just don't like to have someone gobble up my share +of the dessert. + +He'd also borrowed all the cash in the house and then demanded I draw on +my bank account. I quickly discouraged that. But the topper was his +forcing Nan and me to sleep on the couch while he used the bed. He said +his bruises still hurt, even though they weren't visible. + + * * * * * + +My mood didn't improve when Jones kept me waiting for over an hour. +Surprisingly enough, he was in good spirits. As I entered the office, he +indicated one of the leather chairs and said with a laugh, "Sit down, +Ted. I've got some good news." + +My opinion of him the previous evening obviously hadn't been taken very +much to heart. Sourly, I told him, "As a publisher, you should know that +good news is no news." + +The smile left his face. Then, with a visible effort, he forced it back. +"You have something there, Ted. You certainly have. But point of view is +important, also. You see, they've arrested a gang of kids for +shoplifting. One of them is Tommy, your son." + +I jumped up. "Arrested Tommy!" + +"Now wait, Ted. Don't go off half-cocked. It's a break. Don't you see? +You can cover delinquency with the lid off now. You'll be writing as a +parent in the same boat with other parents...." + +I could still hear his frantic noises after I'd slammed the door behind +me and run the length of the corridor. + +At the police station, I had the distinct feeling they'd been waiting +for me. I knew most of them, especially the big red-headed guy who +beckoned me into a rear office. His name was Thompson--Detective Emanuel +Thompson. He always looked as if he wore a football uniform under his +dark blue suit. My articles had roasted him plenty. He handled juvenile +delinquency cases. + +"Well, Mr. Potter," he greeted me, smiling tightly, "we meet under +unfortunate circumstances." + +"Can the phony sympathy," I said. "You're not the type. Just let me see +my boy." + +He used a red-and-blue handkerchief to wipe the dampness from his beefy +neck. "I think we'd better have a little talk first." + +"I got no talking to do. This is a lousy frame-up against me and the +paper. Get my son out here and do it fast!" + + * * * * * + +He put the handkerchief away, sighed and reached for the phone. + +It really got me when Tommy came into the room. He'd been crying; his +face was streaked, and he looked scared and forlorn. + +"Son," I said, finding it difficult to keep the rasp out of my voice, +"if you've got a hat, put it on and let's go." + +Thompson pulled out his handkerchief again and carefully lowered himself +into the chair behind the desk. "You don't seem to understand, Mr. +Potter. Your boy is in trouble. He's been identified as leading a gang +of kids who spent most of the morning shoplifting in stores all over +town." + +"That's bull," I said. "How could my boy do a thing like that? He's only +twelve. Who identified him, anyway?" + +"The shopkeepers and the other members of the gang." + + * * * * * + +For one awful moment, I felt a great cavity of doubt. "Son," I asked, +"what's this all about?" + +Tommy's face creased with fear and tears brimmed his eyes. "It was +Ashe," he quavered. + +"Ashe?" + +"Yes. I told him about the gang." + +"Gang?" + +"The Red Skulls." + +"What the heck are you talking about?" + +"Some of the fellows got together and built a hut for a club-house over +on the garbage dump. We call ourselves the Red Skulls. I was made +leader. I'm called the Skull Cap." + +"Why haven't I heard about this?" + +"You never asked, Dad. I tried to tell you one night, but you were +hurrying to get to that road-house on the turnpike. You said you had a +big lead on juvenile delinquency." + +"Well, you certainly didn't try very hard," I said angrily. "What was +this gang's purpose?" + +"Oh, different things. One of the fellows has a .22 and we hunt rats. +Then--" + +"Go on." + +"That's all." + +"You started to say something else." + +He kicked at the floor. "Aw, gee!" + +"Let's have it!" + +"We smoked." + +"Smoked!" + +He nodded. + +"And what else?" + +"That's all. Honest!" + +Thompson said, "What about shoplifting?" + +"No," sniveled Tommy. "That was Ashe. He wanted me to talk the gang into +shoplifting, but I wouldn't. Then he changed himself to look like me and +talked the fellows into it when I wasn't around. I only know about it +because I ran into them after they'd been in a store...." + +Thompson gave me a funny look. "Who's this Ashe he keeps talking about?" + +I started to tell him. Then I got a sudden mental flash of how idiotic +it would all sound. "The boy," I said evenly, "is beside himself because +of all he's been through. It's time to call a halt to this farce. I'm +going to hire myself some legal talent." + +He shrugged. "Suit yourself." + +Tommy grabbed my arm and cried, "Please don't leave me, Dad!" + +I pulled away from him, feeling as if I'd dropped him off a cliff. + +Right outside the station, I met Nan. She was pale and breathless. Jones +had phoned the news. She wanted to go to Tommy immediately. + +I guided her to the car and pushed her inside. "Listen here," I said +tensely, "for once, don't make a fuss. Just help me find Ashe. He's the +one who can free Tommy." + + * * * * * + +She began to laugh. "That's a hot one!" she gasped. "That's really a hot +one!" + +I shook her, thinking she was hysterical. + +She stopped laughing and swallowed hard. "Ashe is home." + +"Home?" + +"Blind drunk, with a blonde on his knee." + +I tramped so hard on the accelerator that it must have scraped the +ground all the way home. Ashe didn't hear me pull up to the house +because the radio was going full blast. I hit the light switch in the +hallway and the brightness flared against the lengthening afternoon +shadows, spotting him and the blonde on the living room couch. + +The blonde looked as if she'd come from a burlesque runway. Ashe dumped +her on the floor and staggered to his feet. He'd changed his appearance +again. Now he looked a strikingly handsome twenty-five. He came forward +to throw a heavy arm around my shoulder. + +"Glad to see you, Ted," he mouthed. "Ran out of money. Must have more. +Small loan...." + +I put both hands on his chest and pushed. He stumbled back and thudded +against the wall. "The police have picked up Tommy," I said flatly. +"He's been charged with the shoplifting you did today." + +He sobered instantly. He jerked the blonde to her feet, booted her out, +slammed the door and came back to me. "Ted, I'm shocked to hear this. +Tell me about it quickly. We must do something right away." + +The blonde had begun to howl and scream curses. I could hear doors and +windows opening all the way down the street. "You monster!" Nan spat, +and hurried outside. Presently the girl quieted down. + +"Ted," Ashe whispered, "I'm ashamed of myself. Here you befriended me +and all I've done is get you and your family in trouble." He held a +cupped hand over his eyes as if he were shading tears. "Can you possibly +find it in your heart to forgive me?" + +I was moved. After all, a poor, homeless alien being couldn't very well +be expected to understand our manners and feelings. Yet this one did. +All because he'd been touched by my friendship. + +"Ashe," I said, feeling the the warmth of good will, "I'm happy to hear +you say that. Bygones are bygones. The important thing is springing +Tommy." + +"Exactly," he said. "We'll go and explain everything to the police. But +we'll do it in grand style. This is your big show. We must have Jones +and the Mayor. We must have photographers, reporters, television, +radio--everything!" + + * * * * * + +Nan returned. "The girl will be all right. She was just upset." + +"Honey," I told her excitedly, "we're about to stand the whole country +on its collective ear. Ashe is going to reveal his identity!" + +Nan's face pinched into a look of disgust. "You mean you're trusting +this--this creature again?" + +"Sure, honey. Anyone can make a mistake." + +"That's right!" she exploded. "You're making one now! Oh, Ted, stop +being such a fool!" + +"Listen here," I said, "this is the last two minutes of the game. We're +trying to score before the gun--and you start an argument!" + +She began to blubber. + +Why must she always be so unreasonable? Why the constant bickering and +tension and unhappiness? I was sick to death of it. I grabbed Ashe's +arm. "Come on," I said, "let's go." + +Even outdoors, the air felt hot and clammy. I headed the car for the +plant, figuring I could do my phoning from there as well as pick a crew. +But on Main Street, Ashe spotted a cab and made me stop. + +He said he'd better go on ahead. He thought things would work smoother +that way. He could start the ball rolling on the release of Tommy, and I +wouldn't be held up by having to tell people who he was. + +I drove on alone. But it was a mistake. People simply didn't believe my +story about an alien being. In various ways and tones of voice, they all +suggested I go home and sleep it off. In desperation, I went up to +Jones' house, even though he'd already told me on the phone that he was +in the middle of a dinner party. + +He came up close to me and sniffed my breath. + +"Don't worry," I told him. "I never touch it. But maybe I should smell +yours. Anyone who turns his back on the biggest story of all time must +be drunk!" + +He jerked the cigar from his mouth and gave me a narrow-eyed, searching +look. "Ted, I just hope for your sake this isn't some kind of a joke." + + * * * * * + +Fifteen minutes later, we pulled up to the police station in a three car +convoy, with a big crew from the paper. I led the group inside, feeling +the excitement grow in me. I marched up to the desk sergeant. "Where is +he?" + +The desk sergeant looked startled. "Who?" + +Well, he wasn't there. He just wasn't there! It was like getting tackled +two yards from a touch-down by a tackler you hadn't realized was +anywhere near! + +Jones pushed forward, chewing agitatedly on his cigar. "Edward, you've +got some nerve, pulling a stunt like this! It's an outrage!" + +"Take it easy," I said weakly. "Something's gone wrong." + +"It certainly has. You must have gone insane!" + +"Listen here! If you don't stick with me on this, I'm all through with +the paper!" + +"That suits me fine!" + +I watched him leave, trailing cigar smoke. The others followed. My face +burned and sweat trickled down my back and along my sides. I wanted to +hit out at something.... + +A hand gripped my elbow. It was Sergeant Thompson. "Mr. Potter, you +shouldn't let this get you down. People's kids get in scrapes all the +time. Tomorrow you'll have a talk with the judge and everything will +turn out okay." + +I jerked my elbow away. "In other words, you think I'm batty, too!" + +"No," he said, gripping my elbow again and starting me toward the door. +"It's been hot and you just need some rest." + +"Thompson," I said, dragging myself to a halt, "I know it sounds nuts, +but this Ashe character really exists. Help me find him and you can cut +yourself a slice. It'll be big time!" + +The grip on my elbow increased. "Go home, Mr. Potter, and get a good +night's sleep." + +"But it's on the level, Thompson. Jones and I busted up. I'm playing on +your team now!" + +His face got all flushed. "My job isn't a game and I don't belong to any +team. Get wise, will you? Stay in your own back yard for once. It could +stand a lot of weeding!" He pushed me out the door then--so hard, I +almost fell. + + * * * * * + +Standing there, feeling the heat press in on me, I tried to dope out the +next move. My car was still at Jones' place, so I'd need a cab. I turned +toward the drugstore at the end of the block where I could phone. +Walking along, I recalled Ashe had taken a cab earlier in the evening. +If I could talk to the driver, I might get a lead on his whereabouts. I +walked faster. + +I thought of Thompson and his remark about the back yard ... and the +weeds. Again, for the third time, a chill traveled the length of my +spine. I began to run. I ran past the drugstore and all the way home. + +They were both in the bedroom. Nan stood in the far corner with her back +against the wall. Her shoulders were scratched and her lip cut. She held +a heavy bookend poised to strike at Ashe, who was in front of her, +moving stealthily forward. + +The moment I spun him around, I froze in amazement. I couldn't recognize +him. Then, all at once, I realized I was looking at the spitting image +of myself. + +He broke from my grasp and darted to the window. Before I could follow, +Nan had dropped the bookend and flung herself into my arms. "Oh, Ted," +she sobbed, "I _knew_ it wasn't you!" + +I kissed her and gently disengaged her arms. "I've got to get Ashe," I +said. + +When I vaulted through the window and circled the house, I spotted him +rushing down the street. I caught him around the corner at the same spot +where I'd first seen him. + +I slugged him. Yet I knew it was useless the instant the blow landed. He +felt just like sponge rubber. But I kept hitting him. I didn't bother +listening to his cries and I didn't give a damn that he'd changed +himself back to an old man. + +The blow on the back of my neck was so sudden, I didn't feel it. The +only sensation was unbalance, as if I were walking uphill. Then I was +slapped with the sidewalk. + +Looking up, I could see he was young, clean-cut and well built. His +long, horsy face was furious. "You crazy?" he yelled. "Beating up an old +man!" + +I searched desperately for an explanation--something to say. Then, +abruptly, without having uttered a sound, I reeled away and shambled +hurriedly down the street ... home, to Nan. + + +--RICHARD MAPLES + + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction June 1956. Extensive +research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this +publication was renewed. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Scapegoat, by Richard Maples + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SCAPEGOAT *** + +***** This file should be named 36719.txt or 36719.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/7/1/36719/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Dianna Adair and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |