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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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Galactic Ghost - -Author: Mack Reynolds - -Release Date: November 13, 2020 [EBook #63741] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GALACTIC GHOST *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="titlepage"> -<h1>THE GALACTIC GHOST</h1> - -<h2>By MACK REYNOLDS</h2> - -<p><i>Gracefully, quietly, it came ... landing on a<br /> -deserted New Jersey field. Wonder and fear struck<br /> -at the bowels of the Earth-people—not because of<br /> -the ship itself, but because of its strange message.</i></p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Planet Stories March 1954.<br /> -Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that<br /> -the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>Despite the widely publicized radar posts encircling our nation and the -continuously alerted jet squadrons at its borders, the space ship was -about to land before it was detected.</p> - -<p>It settled gracefully, quietly, onto an empty field in northern New -Jersey. And so unexpected was the event, so unbelievable the fact that -man was being visited by aliens from space, that it was a full half -hour before the first extra was on the streets in New York, and forty -minutes before the news buzzed through the Kremlin.</p> - -<p>It might have taken considerably longer for man in earth's more -isolated areas to hear of the event had not the alien taken a hand at -this point. Approximately an hour after the landing, into the mind -of every human on earth, irrespective of nation, language, age, or -intellect, came the thought telepathically:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> -<p><i>We come in peace. Prepare to receive our message.</i></p></div> - -<p>It was a month before the message came.</p> - -<p>During that period, more than ninety-nine per cent of the earth's -population became aware of the visitor from space. Radio, television, -newsreel, telegraph and newspapers reached the greater number; but word -of mouth and even throbbing drums, played their part. In four weeks, -savages along the Amazon and shepherds in Sinkiang knew that visitors -from the stars had arrived with a message for man.</p> - -<p>And all awaited the message: scientist and soldier, politician and -revolutionist, millionaire and vagrant, bishop and whirling dervish, -banker and pickpocket, society matron and street walker. And each was -hoping for one thing, and afraid he'd hear another.</p> - -<p>All efforts at communication with the alien ship had failed. The -various welcoming delegations from the State of New Jersey, from the -United States, and even from the United Nations, were ignored. No sign -of life aboard was evident, and there seemed no means of entrance to -the spacecraft. It sat there impassively; its tremendous, saucer-like -shape seemed almost like a beautiful monument.</p> - -<p>At the end of a month, when world-wide interest in the visitor from -space was at its height, the message came. And once again it was -impressed upon the mind of every human being on earth:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> -<p><i>Man, know this: Your world is fated to complete destruction. -Ordinarily, we of the Galactic Union would not have contacted man -until he had progressed much further and was ready to take his place -among us. But this emergency makes necessary that we take immediate -steps if your kind is to be saved from complete obliteration.</i></p> - -<p><i>In order to preserve your race, we are making efforts to prepare -another planet, an uninhabited one, to receive your colonists. -Unfortunately, our means for transporting you to your new world are -limited; only a handful can be taken. You are safe for another five -of your earth years. At the end of that period we will return. Have a -thousand of your people ready for their escape.</i></p></div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The President of the United States lifted an eyebrow wearily and rapped -again for order.</p> - -<p>"Gentlemen, please!... Let us get back to the fundamental question. -Summed up, it amounts to this: only one thousand persons, out of a -world population of approximately two billions, are going to be able to -escape the earth's destruction. In other words, one out of every two -million. It is going to be most difficult to choose."</p> - -<p>Herr Ernst Oberfeld tapped his glasses fretfully on the conference -table. "Mr. President, it need not be quite as bad as all that. After -all, we must choose the earth's best specimens to carry on our race. I -believe we will find that the combined populations of Europe and North -America total somewhat less than a billion. If we go still further and -eliminate all inferior...."</p> - -<p>Monsieur Pierre Duclos flushed. "Herr Oberfeld should keep in mind that -his presence at this meeting at all was opposed vigorously by some of -the delegates. Isn't it somewhat too soon after his country's debacle -to again broadcast its super-race theories?"</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>The British representative spoke up. "My dear Duclos, although I agree -with you completely in essence, still it must be pointed out that if we -were to handle this allocation on a strictly numerical basis, that our -Chinese friends would be alloted something like 200 colonists, while -Great Britain would have perhaps twenty."</p> - -<p>Maxim Gregoroff grunted, "Hardly enough for the Royal family, eh?"</p> - -<p>Lord Harriman was on his feet. "Sir, I might echo what Monsieur Duclos -has said to Herr Oberfeld. It was in spite of the protest from a -considerable number of delegates to this conference that your nation -is represented at all."</p> - -<p>Gregoroff's fist thumped on the table and his face went beet red. -"It is as expected! You plan to monopolize the escape ship for the -imperialistic nations! The atom bomb will probably be used to destroy -all other countries!"</p> - -<p>The President of the United States held up his hand. This whole -thing was getting more chaotic by the minute. As a matter of fact, -instructions from Congress were that he explain that the United States -expected to have at least one third of the total. This, in view of the -fact that the aliens had landed in New Jersey, obviously seeing that -the United States was the foremost nation of the world, and, further, -in view of the fact that this country was a melting pot of all nations -and consequently produced what might be called the "average" member of -the human race.</p> - -<p>However, that would have to wait. Order had to be brought to this -conference if anything was to be accomplished.</p> - -<p>"Gentlemen, gentlemen, please!" he called. "These accusations. We are -getting nowhere. I have taken the liberty to make arrangements to have -the representative of the newly formed Congress of American Sciences -address you. Are you agreeable?" He raised his eyebrows inquiringly, -and meeting no objection, pressed the button on the table before him.</p> - -<p>Professor Manklethorp was ushered in, bobbed his head to the assembled -delegates and came to the point immediately. "The problem which you -are discussing has many ramifications. I would like to bring to your -attention a few which should be examined with care.</p> - -<p>"First, the choice of colonists must not be on a national basis, nor -on one based upon political or monetary prominence. If it is, we, as a -race, are doomed. This new planet, no matter how well prepared for us -by the Galactic Union, is going to be a challenge such as man has never -faced before. This challenge cannot be met by politicians, no matter -how glib, nor by wealthy men, no matter how many dollars they possess, -nor by titled ones, no matter how old and honored their names. We must -pick trained specialists who will be able to meet the problems that -arise in the new world.</p> - -<p>"Our congress recommends that all persons, of all nations, who -have college degrees, be given thorough tests both for I.Q. and -for accumulated knowledge, and that the highest thousand be chosen -irrespective of nation or race."</p> - -<p>Pandit Hari Kuanai smiled quietly. "May I ask the learned professor a -question?"</p> - -<p>"Of course. That is why I am here. We want only to have this matter -decided on a strictly scientific basis."</p> - -<p>"My poverty stricken country has a population of possibly one fifth of -the world total, but fewer university men than one of your large cities -might boast. Your desire to choose men by their I.Q. has its merits, -but I have no doubt that in my country we have men of tremendous -intelligence who cannot even read or write, aside from having a -university degree. Must my widely illiterate people go unrepresented in -the new world?"</p> - -<p>A muscle twitched in the professor's face. "Needless to say, the -Congress of American Sciences has considered that. However, we must -view this matter in a spirit of sacrifice. The best of the world's -population must go to the new world. Possibly whole nations will -go without representation. It is too bad ... but, unfortunately, -necessary."</p> - -<p>Sven Carlesen put up his finger for recognition. "It seems to me there -is another serious loophole in the professor's recommendation. He wants -the thousand to be made up of university graduates of high I.Q. and -considerable accumulated knowledge. I am afraid I foresee the new world -being populated with elderly scholars." He smiled. "Like the professor -himself, who, I understand, has a phenomenal I.Q."</p> - -<p>Monsieur Duclos nodded. "He is right. We must consider the need to send -perfect physical specimens." He looked down at his own small and bent -body. "Gentlemen," he said wryly, "has it occurred to you that none of -us here at this conference are suitable to be represented among the -thousand?"</p> - -<p>They ignored him.</p> - -<p>A pale faced delegate in black, who had thus far said nothing, spoke -up softly, "I have been instructed to inform you that our organization -demands that all of the colonists be of the true faith."</p> - -<p>His words were drowned by the shouting of half a dozen of the -conference delegates. Loud above them all could be heard the bellow of -Maxim Gregoroff.</p> - -<p>"Our Union now includes the population of approximately half the world. -Our allotment, consequently, will be five hundred colonists, of the one -thousand. We will choose them by our own methods."</p> - -<p>Lord Harriman murmured, "Undoubtedly, by starting at the top of the -party membership list and taking the first five hundred names beginning -with your leader."</p> - -<p>The President of the United States ran his hand through his hair and -then roughly down the side of his face. A messenger handed him a slip -of paper. He read it and intensified his pounding on the table.</p> - -<p>"Gentlemen," he shouted. "If Professor Manklethorp is through, we have -here a request from the International Physical Culture Society to have -their representative heard."</p> - -<p>"I know," Sven Carlesen said. "He wants all of the colonists to be able -to chin themselves twenty-five times as the first requisite."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>At the end of the five year period the space ship came again, settling -into the identical field where it had first landed. This time a -delegation awaited it, and a multitude that stretched as far as the eye -could see.</p> - -<p>A telepathic message came from the visitor from space almost -immediately.</p> - -<p><i>Choose from your number three representatives to discuss the situation -with us.</i></p> - -<p>Within ten minutes, three advanced and entered the ship by way of a -port that opened before them as they approached. Among their number -was Pierre Duclos. A passage stretched before them, and, seeing no -one, they hesitated a moment before following it to its further end. -Monsieur Duclos led the way, depending only slightly on his cane to aid -his bent body.</p> - -<p>A door opened and they were confronted by the figure of a man seated -at a desk. It was several moments before they realized that the entity -before them was masked so cleverly that they had been led to believe -him human.</p> - -<p>He said in faultless English, "I note that you have penetrated my -disguise. I thought it would be easier for you if I hid my true -appearance. Until your people are used to alien life forms, I must use -this measure."</p> - -<p>Monsieur Duclos bowed. "We appreciate your consideration, but I assure -you that our...."</p> - -<p>The alien waved a gloved hand. "Please, no argument. My appearance -would probably nauseate you. But it is of no importance. Pray be -seated." He noted the cane, and nodded to the little Frenchman. "You -sir, must be highly thought of to rate being chosen one of the thousand -in view of your age and health."</p> - -<p>Although he was not at ease in the presence of the representative of -the Galactic Union, Monsieur Duclos allowed himself a wry smile. "You -misunderstand. I am not one of the colonists. My presence here at this -meeting is an honor that has been awarded me in return for some small -services in aiding in the selection of the favored ones."</p> - -<p>"And what were these services?"</p> - -<p>"Of no real importance. I suppose you might say that the most important -was that I was the first to refuse to be a colonist."</p> - -<p>Bently, one of the other earthmen spoke up, "Had it not been for Pierre -Duclos, it is doubtful if the thousand would have been chosen, and -even possible that there would be no earth to which to return for your -colonists."</p> - -<p>Behind the mask the eyes of the alien gleamed. "Enlighten me further, -please."</p> - -<p>Duclos demurred. "You honor me over-much, Mr. Bently. Let us approach -the problem of the colonists and their transportation."</p> - -<p>But John Bently went on. "For more than two years after your ship's -departure, complete confusion reigned in regard to selection of the -thousand. Happily, all out warfare between nations had been avoided -although conditions were rapidly coming to a point where it was -momentarily expected.</p> - -<p>"Each race, each nation, each religion, even each sex, thought they -should have the greater representation. And each of these groups in -turn were divided into sub-groups by wealth, age, class, education and -others. Almost everyone on earth knew of some reason why he should be -one of the colonists. And most of us were willing to take any steps to -make our desire come true."</p> - -<p>The alien said, "That was to be expected. And then?"</p> - -<p>"And then Pierre Duclos formed his Society of Racial Preservation whose -first requisite for membership was a refusal to become one of the -colonists. The purpose of the organization was to find the thousand -most suitable colonists without regard to race, nationality, creed, -color, education, class, wealth or any other grouping.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"At first, the growth of membership was slow, but, after a time, man -saw that his chance of survival as an individual was practically -nil, that his chance of being chosen was at best less than one in -two million. When he realized this, his next desire was to make sure -that, even though he as an individual was doomed, the race survived. -Membership in the society grew rapidly and internationally. The -members, you might say, were fanatical. Why not? They knew that they -had less than five years to live. Why not sacrifice those last years of -life to such a noble cause?</p> - -<p>"As the society grew in strength, nothing could stand before it. -Governments that stood in the way were overthrown, social systems -abolished, prejudices and institutions that had stood for centuries -were wiped out. It became necessary to institute world government, to -guarantee to all equal opportunity. Step by step, the society took the -measures necessary to insure the selection of the best specimens earth -had to offer.</p> - -<p>"And scientific development was pushed to the utmost. We wished to -send our colonists off with as much as earth could possibly give them. -We eliminated a dozen diseases that have plagued us for centuries; we -devised a thousand new tools and techniques."</p> - -<p>"In short," said the alien, "because of this stimulus, man has -progressed as much in this past few years as he could have expected in -the next fifty."</p> - -<p>"That is correct," Pierre Duclos said. "It is unfortunate that now we -have on our threshold a world really worth living in, that it is fated -to be destroyed."</p> - -<p>"I see," said the alien, what would have been a smile on a human -face flickered on his. "I am glad to report that the danger which -confronted the earth has been removed and the need to populate the new -planet with colonists in order to preserve your race is now eliminated.</p> - -<p>"Gentlemen, the earth is safe. Man may go on with his plans without -fear of destruction."</p> - -<p>Monsieur Duclos fingered his cane thoughtfully while the other two -earthmen jumped to their feet, thumped each other's backs, shouted, and -otherwise demonstrated their joy. They finally dashed from the room and -from the space craft to give the news to the world.</p> - -<p>The alien eyed the little Frenchman. "And why have you remained?"</p> - -<p>"I do not believe the world was faced with destruction, monsieur. I -have come to the conclusion that you have perpetrated a farce upon -mankind."</p> - -<p>The alien sat himself down at the desk again. "I see you will need an -explanation. But you are wrong, you know. Faced with destruction you -were. The destruction, however, was not a matter of collision with some -other body, or whatever you might have imagined. The destruction would -have come from within. Man was on the verge of destroying himself. One -more conflict, or, at most, two, would have done it.</p> - -<p>"The Galactic Union has long been aware of man who has developed -mechanically in a phenomenal manner but has not been able to develop -socially to the point where his science is less than a danger. This -ship was sent to you in hopes of accomplishing exactly what has been -accomplished. We believed your racial instinct would be strong enough -to unite you when the race as a whole thought it was threatened with -extinction."</p> - -<p>The alien got to his feet. "I am afraid we must leave now. Let me -say that I hope that man will soon be able to take his place in the -Galactic Union."</p> - -<p>Monsieur Duclos winced. "The Galactic Union," he said. "The League of -Nations and the United Nations were bad enough." He smiled wryly. "And -I thought that with the establishment of a world government, we had -abolished such conferences forever. I can just see myself as the first -delegate from earth. Heaven forbid!"</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Galactic Ghost, by Mack Reynolds - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GALACTIC GHOST *** - -***** This file should be named 63741-h.htm or 63741-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/7/4/63741/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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. 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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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Galactic Ghost - -Author: Mack Reynolds - -Release Date: November 13, 2020 [EBook #63741] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GALACTIC GHOST *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - -THE GALACTIC GHOST - -By MACK REYNOLDS - -_Gracefully, quietly, it came ... landing on a -deserted New Jersey field. Wonder and fear struck -at the bowels of the Earth-people--not because of -the ship itself, but because of its strange message._ - -[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from -Planet Stories March 1954. -Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that -the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -Despite the widely publicized radar posts encircling our nation and the -continuously alerted jet squadrons at its borders, the space ship was -about to land before it was detected. - -It settled gracefully, quietly, onto an empty field in northern New -Jersey. And so unexpected was the event, so unbelievable the fact that -man was being visited by aliens from space, that it was a full half -hour before the first extra was on the streets in New York, and forty -minutes before the news buzzed through the Kremlin. - -It might have taken considerably longer for man in earth's more -isolated areas to hear of the event had not the alien taken a hand at -this point. Approximately an hour after the landing, into the mind -of every human on earth, irrespective of nation, language, age, or -intellect, came the thought telepathically: - - _We come in peace. Prepare to receive our message._ - -It was a month before the message came. - -During that period, more than ninety-nine per cent of the earth's -population became aware of the visitor from space. Radio, television, -newsreel, telegraph and newspapers reached the greater number; but word -of mouth and even throbbing drums, played their part. In four weeks, -savages along the Amazon and shepherds in Sinkiang knew that visitors -from the stars had arrived with a message for man. - -And all awaited the message: scientist and soldier, politician and -revolutionist, millionaire and vagrant, bishop and whirling dervish, -banker and pickpocket, society matron and street walker. And each was -hoping for one thing, and afraid he'd hear another. - -All efforts at communication with the alien ship had failed. The -various welcoming delegations from the State of New Jersey, from the -United States, and even from the United Nations, were ignored. No sign -of life aboard was evident, and there seemed no means of entrance to -the spacecraft. It sat there impassively; its tremendous, saucer-like -shape seemed almost like a beautiful monument. - -At the end of a month, when world-wide interest in the visitor from -space was at its height, the message came. And once again it was -impressed upon the mind of every human being on earth: - - _Man, know this: Your world is fated to complete destruction. - Ordinarily, we of the Galactic Union would not have contacted man - until he had progressed much further and was ready to take his - place among us. But this emergency makes necessary that we take - immediate steps if your kind is to be saved from complete - obliteration._ - - _In order to preserve your race, we are making efforts to prepare - another planet, an uninhabited one, to receive your colonists. - Unfortunately, our means for transporting you to your new world are - limited; only a handful can be taken. You are safe for another five - of your earth years. At the end of that period we will return. Have - a thousand of your people ready for their escape._ - - * * * * * - -The President of the United States lifted an eyebrow wearily and rapped -again for order. - -"Gentlemen, please!... Let us get back to the fundamental question. -Summed up, it amounts to this: only one thousand persons, out of a -world population of approximately two billions, are going to be able to -escape the earth's destruction. In other words, one out of every two -million. It is going to be most difficult to choose." - -Herr Ernst Oberfeld tapped his glasses fretfully on the conference -table. "Mr. President, it need not be quite as bad as all that. After -all, we must choose the earth's best specimens to carry on our race. I -believe we will find that the combined populations of Europe and North -America total somewhat less than a billion. If we go still further and -eliminate all inferior...." - -Monsieur Pierre Duclos flushed. "Herr Oberfeld should keep in mind that -his presence at this meeting at all was opposed vigorously by some of -the delegates. Isn't it somewhat too soon after his country's debacle -to again broadcast its super-race theories?" - -The British representative spoke up. "My dear Duclos, although I agree -with you completely in essence, still it must be pointed out that if we -were to handle this allocation on a strictly numerical basis, that our -Chinese friends would be alloted something like 200 colonists, while -Great Britain would have perhaps twenty." - -Maxim Gregoroff grunted, "Hardly enough for the Royal family, eh?" - -Lord Harriman was on his feet. "Sir, I might echo what Monsieur Duclos -has said to Herr Oberfeld. It was in spite of the protest from a -considerable number of delegates to this conference that your nation -is represented at all." - -Gregoroff's fist thumped on the table and his face went beet red. -"It is as expected! You plan to monopolize the escape ship for the -imperialistic nations! The atom bomb will probably be used to destroy -all other countries!" - -The President of the United States held up his hand. This whole -thing was getting more chaotic by the minute. As a matter of fact, -instructions from Congress were that he explain that the United States -expected to have at least one third of the total. This, in view of the -fact that the aliens had landed in New Jersey, obviously seeing that -the United States was the foremost nation of the world, and, further, -in view of the fact that this country was a melting pot of all nations -and consequently produced what might be called the "average" member of -the human race. - -However, that would have to wait. Order had to be brought to this -conference if anything was to be accomplished. - -"Gentlemen, gentlemen, please!" he called. "These accusations. We are -getting nowhere. I have taken the liberty to make arrangements to have -the representative of the newly formed Congress of American Sciences -address you. Are you agreeable?" He raised his eyebrows inquiringly, -and meeting no objection, pressed the button on the table before him. - -Professor Manklethorp was ushered in, bobbed his head to the assembled -delegates and came to the point immediately. "The problem which you -are discussing has many ramifications. I would like to bring to your -attention a few which should be examined with care. - -"First, the choice of colonists must not be on a national basis, nor -on one based upon political or monetary prominence. If it is, we, as a -race, are doomed. This new planet, no matter how well prepared for us -by the Galactic Union, is going to be a challenge such as man has never -faced before. This challenge cannot be met by politicians, no matter -how glib, nor by wealthy men, no matter how many dollars they possess, -nor by titled ones, no matter how old and honored their names. We must -pick trained specialists who will be able to meet the problems that -arise in the new world. - -"Our congress recommends that all persons, of all nations, who -have college degrees, be given thorough tests both for I.Q. and -for accumulated knowledge, and that the highest thousand be chosen -irrespective of nation or race." - -Pandit Hari Kuanai smiled quietly. "May I ask the learned professor a -question?" - -"Of course. That is why I am here. We want only to have this matter -decided on a strictly scientific basis." - -"My poverty stricken country has a population of possibly one fifth of -the world total, but fewer university men than one of your large cities -might boast. Your desire to choose men by their I.Q. has its merits, -but I have no doubt that in my country we have men of tremendous -intelligence who cannot even read or write, aside from having a -university degree. Must my widely illiterate people go unrepresented in -the new world?" - -A muscle twitched in the professor's face. "Needless to say, the -Congress of American Sciences has considered that. However, we must -view this matter in a spirit of sacrifice. The best of the world's -population must go to the new world. Possibly whole nations will -go without representation. It is too bad ... but, unfortunately, -necessary." - -Sven Carlesen put up his finger for recognition. "It seems to me there -is another serious loophole in the professor's recommendation. He wants -the thousand to be made up of university graduates of high I.Q. and -considerable accumulated knowledge. I am afraid I foresee the new world -being populated with elderly scholars." He smiled. "Like the professor -himself, who, I understand, has a phenomenal I.Q." - -Monsieur Duclos nodded. "He is right. We must consider the need to send -perfect physical specimens." He looked down at his own small and bent -body. "Gentlemen," he said wryly, "has it occurred to you that none of -us here at this conference are suitable to be represented among the -thousand?" - -They ignored him. - -A pale faced delegate in black, who had thus far said nothing, spoke -up softly, "I have been instructed to inform you that our organization -demands that all of the colonists be of the true faith." - -His words were drowned by the shouting of half a dozen of the -conference delegates. Loud above them all could be heard the bellow of -Maxim Gregoroff. - -"Our Union now includes the population of approximately half the world. -Our allotment, consequently, will be five hundred colonists, of the one -thousand. We will choose them by our own methods." - -Lord Harriman murmured, "Undoubtedly, by starting at the top of the -party membership list and taking the first five hundred names beginning -with your leader." - -The President of the United States ran his hand through his hair and -then roughly down the side of his face. A messenger handed him a slip -of paper. He read it and intensified his pounding on the table. - -"Gentlemen," he shouted. "If Professor Manklethorp is through, we have -here a request from the International Physical Culture Society to have -their representative heard." - -"I know," Sven Carlesen said. "He wants all of the colonists to be able -to chin themselves twenty-five times as the first requisite." - - * * * * * - -At the end of the five year period the space ship came again, settling -into the identical field where it had first landed. This time a -delegation awaited it, and a multitude that stretched as far as the eye -could see. - -A telepathic message came from the visitor from space almost -immediately. - -_Choose from your number three representatives to discuss the situation -with us._ - -Within ten minutes, three advanced and entered the ship by way of a -port that opened before them as they approached. Among their number -was Pierre Duclos. A passage stretched before them, and, seeing no -one, they hesitated a moment before following it to its further end. -Monsieur Duclos led the way, depending only slightly on his cane to aid -his bent body. - -A door opened and they were confronted by the figure of a man seated -at a desk. It was several moments before they realized that the entity -before them was masked so cleverly that they had been led to believe -him human. - -He said in faultless English, "I note that you have penetrated my -disguise. I thought it would be easier for you if I hid my true -appearance. Until your people are used to alien life forms, I must use -this measure." - -Monsieur Duclos bowed. "We appreciate your consideration, but I assure -you that our...." - -The alien waved a gloved hand. "Please, no argument. My appearance -would probably nauseate you. But it is of no importance. Pray be -seated." He noted the cane, and nodded to the little Frenchman. "You -sir, must be highly thought of to rate being chosen one of the thousand -in view of your age and health." - -Although he was not at ease in the presence of the representative of -the Galactic Union, Monsieur Duclos allowed himself a wry smile. "You -misunderstand. I am not one of the colonists. My presence here at this -meeting is an honor that has been awarded me in return for some small -services in aiding in the selection of the favored ones." - -"And what were these services?" - -"Of no real importance. I suppose you might say that the most important -was that I was the first to refuse to be a colonist." - -Bently, one of the other earthmen spoke up, "Had it not been for Pierre -Duclos, it is doubtful if the thousand would have been chosen, and -even possible that there would be no earth to which to return for your -colonists." - -Behind the mask the eyes of the alien gleamed. "Enlighten me further, -please." - -Duclos demurred. "You honor me over-much, Mr. Bently. Let us approach -the problem of the colonists and their transportation." - -But John Bently went on. "For more than two years after your ship's -departure, complete confusion reigned in regard to selection of the -thousand. Happily, all out warfare between nations had been avoided -although conditions were rapidly coming to a point where it was -momentarily expected. - -"Each race, each nation, each religion, even each sex, thought they -should have the greater representation. And each of these groups in -turn were divided into sub-groups by wealth, age, class, education and -others. Almost everyone on earth knew of some reason why he should be -one of the colonists. And most of us were willing to take any steps to -make our desire come true." - -The alien said, "That was to be expected. And then?" - -"And then Pierre Duclos formed his Society of Racial Preservation whose -first requisite for membership was a refusal to become one of the -colonists. The purpose of the organization was to find the thousand -most suitable colonists without regard to race, nationality, creed, -color, education, class, wealth or any other grouping. - - * * * * * - -"At first, the growth of membership was slow, but, after a time, man -saw that his chance of survival as an individual was practically -nil, that his chance of being chosen was at best less than one in -two million. When he realized this, his next desire was to make sure -that, even though he as an individual was doomed, the race survived. -Membership in the society grew rapidly and internationally. The -members, you might say, were fanatical. Why not? They knew that they -had less than five years to live. Why not sacrifice those last years of -life to such a noble cause? - -"As the society grew in strength, nothing could stand before it. -Governments that stood in the way were overthrown, social systems -abolished, prejudices and institutions that had stood for centuries -were wiped out. It became necessary to institute world government, to -guarantee to all equal opportunity. Step by step, the society took the -measures necessary to insure the selection of the best specimens earth -had to offer. - -"And scientific development was pushed to the utmost. We wished to -send our colonists off with as much as earth could possibly give them. -We eliminated a dozen diseases that have plagued us for centuries; we -devised a thousand new tools and techniques." - -"In short," said the alien, "because of this stimulus, man has -progressed as much in this past few years as he could have expected in -the next fifty." - -"That is correct," Pierre Duclos said. "It is unfortunate that now we -have on our threshold a world really worth living in, that it is fated -to be destroyed." - -"I see," said the alien, what would have been a smile on a human -face flickered on his. "I am glad to report that the danger which -confronted the earth has been removed and the need to populate the new -planet with colonists in order to preserve your race is now eliminated. - -"Gentlemen, the earth is safe. Man may go on with his plans without -fear of destruction." - -Monsieur Duclos fingered his cane thoughtfully while the other two -earthmen jumped to their feet, thumped each other's backs, shouted, and -otherwise demonstrated their joy. They finally dashed from the room and -from the space craft to give the news to the world. - -The alien eyed the little Frenchman. "And why have you remained?" - -"I do not believe the world was faced with destruction, monsieur. I -have come to the conclusion that you have perpetrated a farce upon -mankind." - -The alien sat himself down at the desk again. "I see you will need an -explanation. But you are wrong, you know. Faced with destruction you -were. The destruction, however, was not a matter of collision with some -other body, or whatever you might have imagined. The destruction would -have come from within. Man was on the verge of destroying himself. One -more conflict, or, at most, two, would have done it. - -"The Galactic Union has long been aware of man who has developed -mechanically in a phenomenal manner but has not been able to develop -socially to the point where his science is less than a danger. This -ship was sent to you in hopes of accomplishing exactly what has been -accomplished. We believed your racial instinct would be strong enough -to unite you when the race as a whole thought it was threatened with -extinction." - -The alien got to his feet. "I am afraid we must leave now. Let me -say that I hope that man will soon be able to take his place in the -Galactic Union." - -Monsieur Duclos winced. "The Galactic Union," he said. "The League of -Nations and the United Nations were bad enough." He smiled wryly. "And -I thought that with the establishment of a world government, we had -abolished such conferences forever. I can just see myself as the first -delegate from earth. Heaven forbid!" - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Galactic Ghost, by Mack Reynolds - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GALACTIC GHOST *** - -***** This file should be named 63741.txt or 63741.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/7/4/63741/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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. 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