“Forgive the rather gloomy appearance,” said the voice, “but I find it hard to bear too much direct light these days. As you guess, I am Olono Sharvis. You have been seeking me a long time. It is a pleasure that we are able to meet at last.”
Marca turned and looked behind him. Olono Sharvis stood there.
Olono Sharvis was a beautiful monstrosity.
His snake-like voice was matched by a long, tapering head of mottled red and pink. He had facetted eyes, a flat, well-shaped nose and a shrunken, toothless mouth. His bulky body, however, was not at all snake-like. It was almost square, and his legs were short and firm. His hands, as he moved them, seemed sinuously boneless. Bizarre as he was, there was something attractive about his appearance, but the first impression was one of height —for Olono Sharvis must have been a full ten feet tall. He could not always have been like this, or Marca would have heard . . .
“You are right,” hissed Sharvis, “my body is the result of extended experiments over a great many years. I have made alterations not merely for convenience, but also to satisfy my own aesthetic tastes.” Sharvis was blatantly reading his mind. He must be a telepath of a high order, for Marca had no hint that this was happening.
“Do not overrate my powers,” Sharvis continued. “I can read only your conscious thoughts as they occur— otherwise your thoughts are tangled, conflict, and are confusing. Your mind is, in fact, something of a mystery to me—it harbours so many paradoxical thoughts ...”
“How did you find me? ” Marca spoke for the first time, realising that his mouth felt a little numb.
“A minor invention of my own that brings me information from all over the planet. Call it a micro eye—a device a little larger than an electron. I use many thousands of them. I saw what the ungrateful Take did to you and sent a servant post-haste to pick up your parts and bring them here.”
“A servant? ”
“Not a human being, I find it hard to get servants these days ...”
“How long have I been here? ”
“ More than a month, I’m afraid. The initial operation failed. I nearly lost you. You need not worry, by the way, that I have tampered with your mind and body. I pride myself that I have done a perfect repair—no-one would know. The only indication is the red scar around your neck, but that will disappear. How do you feel? ”
“Very well.” Memories were coming back—Alodios, what Take had said . . .
“Again I must be candid. Perhaps I will lose your trust, but I did perform an operation on your artist friend, although I warned him first of what I was going to do, warned him of the consequences, yet he still insisted.” The tiny mouth smiled. “ I am an equable soul, Clovis Marca—I only do for people what they ask. I use no coercion. Ah, you are thinking of the Krau-Sect days. But I was young and headstrong then—I knew no such humility as I know now.”
Olono Sharvis’s sense of humour was proving too obscure for him. He lay back on the couch and looked at the dancing colours of the walls. He felt relaxed and energetic, and he felt more attraction than fear for the self-mutated scientist. “You know, then, what I sought from you? ”
“Sought. Do you, then, no longer seek it? I assure you I can give you what you want—eternal life.”
“And what’s your price—my soul? ”
Sharvis laughed softly. “Let us not descend to mysticism. What is a soul? You mean your id, your ego? They will remain intact. I am here only to serve you, Clovis Marca—to give you your heart’s desire.”
“Take seemed to think your motives were more malicious.”
“Take and I have known one another too long for me to think of him with complete objectivity, and the same goes for him—perhaps we hate one another—but it is an old, sentimental hatred, you understand. I gave Take his freedom, I gave him immortality—are those the actions of a malicious man? ”
“Take seems to think you stole something from him, too—his humanity.”
“For a man with little humanity in him, with few resources of spirit, then perhaps ever-lasting youth will bore him, will make him feel he has lost his humanity. It is Take’s fault, not mine, that his imagination is limited so he spends his time moping about the galaxy, a self-elected martyr, instead of enjoying my gift to him. Think of that gift as recompense to Take for what he suffered from me in those irresponsible days of my youth.”
“I have never been a subtle man, Olono Sharvis, and I find your words a trifle confusing ...”
“Perhaps not subtle—but forthright and intelligent. Your intelligence must surely respond to what I am saying? ”
“You have been guilty of many evil acts have you not? ”
“Evil? No. I serve no abstract Good or Evil—I have no time for mysticism—I am entirely neutral. When called upon to do so, I do only what is asked of me. It is the truth.”
“I believe you. Yes, I believe you.”
“Well, well, I will not press you to accept what I can offer you. To tell you the truth I lack the materials to give you an absolutely perfect chance of immortality, to make you invulnerable as well as immortal, so I suppose ...”
“You mean, even if I agreed—or rather asked you to make me immortal, you could not do it properly? ”
“Oh, yes, I could make you immortal—but you could still be killed.”
“I hadn’t thought of it before, but such a condition could be nerve-racking, never knowing when you might be—”
“True, true. So consider carefully.”
“What happened to Take after he killed me? ”
“He is still on the planet—actually he is outside my laboratory now. He has been trying to get in for ten days without my noticing. I don’t know what he wants here. I have told him before that he is free to come and go as he pleases, but he is a narrow, suspicious man. I expect we shall see him soon. If so, I have a bargain to offer him. I told you that I refuse no-one what they ask, do to no-one what they do not want. I will leave you now—I have more than your particular problem on my mind. Feel free to go where you choose—you may find my home interesting.”
Olono Sharvis turned and seemed to drift away into the flickering wall and disappear.
Marca smiled. His suspicions of Take had been right. Sharvis’s motives and actions were neither good nor evil—it was what one made of them that counted. He began to debate whether he wanted immortality without invulnerability . . .
twelve Bargain
Olono Sharvis’s vast network of laboratories impressed Clovis Marca. He had visited similar places on Earth but none so spectacular, none designed not simply for function but also for beauty. The complex underground building—built, he remembered, by the efforts of one man—was, in fact, a palace of incredible beauty. There were chambers in it which far outweighed the old cathedrals of Earth in their ability to transport the mind into realms other than the physical. They moved Clovis Marca deeply and he felt that no-one capable of creating such superb architecture could be evil.
In one very large chamber he found several works that were not by Sharvis. They were unmistakably by Alodios. When Marca discovered Sharvis, sitting thoughtfully in a chair in a room of soft, dark colours, he asked him about them.
“Normally,” Sharvis told him, “I ask no price for my gifts—but Alodios insisted. He was the only modern artist I admired, so I was pleased to accept them. I hope you enjoy them. I hope that someday others will come to see them.”
“You would welcome visitors, then? ”
“Particularly men and women of taste and intellect, yes. Alodios was with me for some time. I enjoyed our talks very much.”
Memory of Alodios’s trapped, tormented eyes returned and he felt troubled.
Sharvis’s voice sounded sad. “I can refuse no-one, Marca. In many ways I would have preferred Alodios’s company, but in the end, I had to do what he demanded of me. I fear that you will not stay long, for one reason or another.”
Confused again, Marca left the room.
Sharvis’s * palace
’ was a place of timelessness, but it was probably a day or two later that the scientist sought Marca out as he listened to the singing words of the mobiles in the Alodios chamber.
“You must hate me for interrupting,” whispered Sharvis, “but our friend Take has arrived at last. He finally took the simple way in and entered by the main door. I am glad he has arrived, for I wanted to speak to you both together. I will leave you to finish the novel, if you like ...”
“No—you have aroused my curiosity. No, I will come.”
Leaving the mobiles, Marca went with Olono Sharvis to the room where he had first met him. Take was there, standing sullenly in the middle of the room, the coloured shadows playing across his face. He had his hands clasped behind his back and he had a defeated look about him. He nodded to Marca.
“I see I was unsuccessful. My cowardice got the better of me when I saw Sharvis’s robot coming—I thought he was after me, so I left. I should have battered your skull to pulp. I am sorry, Marca.”
Marca felt disturbed as he confronted his murderer, he also felt a little hostile, but this feeling was replaced by a certain sympathy. “I’m not, Take. Perhaps you acted as you thought best—but I’m afraid that my impression of Olono Sharvis is not the same as yours.”
“Smug cretin! ” Take sat down, staring angrily at Marca before turning his attention to the huge scientist. “And a gullible one—what have you said to him, Olono? ”
“I have only answered his questions truthfully, Ezek.”
“Glibly, you mean. Your * truth ’ and mine are very different.”
Astonished that Take’s hatred for Sharvis could remain so firm, Marca said: “He has been fair with me. He has not lied, has not tried to encourage me to become immortal. In fact, to some degree he has tried to dissuade me.”
“To some degree! ” Take laughed and his laughter, though as musical as his voice, seemed harsh. “Well, Olono—you told me that if I waited you would tell me something I wished to hear. Have you found a means of killing me and will you use it? That’s all I want to hear from you.”
“Then that is what you shall hear. You have it exactly.”
Take was startled. “This is another of your tricks . . . ”
“Have I ever tricked you, Ezek? I have always been straightforward with you.”
“You devious fiend ...”
“Please, Ezek—these outbursts only do you discredit.” The scientist waved a boneless hand. “Calm yourself and I will explain.” He glanced at Marca. “Would you have immortality if I guaranteed you invulnerability as well? ” Marca thought for a second, then: “Yes,” he said. “And Take would have death. Well, Ezek, here is what I can do. I can use your body—with simple modifications I can make it a duplicate of the one Clovis Marca has now—and give it to Clovis Marca. I have mentioned to him that I do not have all the resources for producing another invulnerable body such as yours, but, at the cost of your life, I can give him yours. Now, think carefully, are you willing to do this? ”
Take shook his head. “Another of your jokes, Olono. You know I would not do that—”
Marca broke in: “I thought so. You have talked about the horror of immortality, but, now it comes to it, you want to keep your life after all! ”
Take lost his temper. “I can think of no words to describe your crassness, Clovis Marca. You were once admired for your sense—you must be a fraud! ”
“Please,” hissed Sharvis, seating his huge body on a couch. “I dislike to see two men such as you insulting one another. Make up your minds.”
Marca breathed heavily, controlling his own anger. “But I am right, I think, Take.”
Take did not speak for a moment, but when he did, his voice was wistful. “I desire death probably with a greater intensity than you desire eternal life, Marca. You have missed the subtlety of Olono’s bargain. He knows that I have striven to prevent you from doing something that will cause you terrible misery, that I would have no other human being suffer what I suffer. There is only one emotion that moves me, now, and it is that suffering. Happiness and love are denied me. I sought only to prevent that suffering in you. Now he offers me peace at the price of passing my curse on to you—do you see? ”
Marca waved his hand impatiently. “Let me have it, let me have it—I will make use of it, if you dare not! ” Take moved way, walking towards the shifting wall.
“What does all this mean? Is there a solution? Before you continue, let me point out that a war has started between Earth and the outworlders—the project has been abandoned, Narvo Velusi and Fastina Cahmin have disappeared, Andros Aimer has seized power and it is likely that the Earth’s chance of escaping the galaxy are negligible.”
Marca was shocked. “They have two hundred years. This could only be a minor incident, things will calm down. The people will listen to me.”
“Still complacent? Then try to convince them—return now—mortal like them—and you might do it. You will not otherwise.”
“ Make up your mind, Ezek,” said Sharvis from behind them.
Take turned slowly round, his oddly-held head regarding Marca with a deep searching look. Then he shrugged. “ You are a saint, Clovis Marca, though you do not know it. Who else would relieve me of such a burden? ”
Sharvis got up. “Good, gentlemen. If you will say goodbye to one another, I will ready my equipment at once.”
thirteen Life of Sorts
When Marca eventually awoke it was with a feeling of intense numbness throughout his body, as if he was paralysed. Yet when he tried to move his arms, he found that they responded perfectly. He smiled at Olono Sharvis.
“Thank you. You have done it, I take it? ”
“Yes. Poor Ezek’s few remains were flushed away two days ago. What a shame that this was the only way. There are still only two immortals in the galaxy—yet two who will at least enjoy what they have. Perhaps you will tell others of what I can do—tell them where they can find me?”
“Of course.”
“While I was operating, I received a couple of visitors.
You know them both, I believe.”
“Who are they? ”
“One is Philas Damiago—a mutual acquaintance. He brought a young woman here. She was in an hysterical condition. Luckily I was able to do something for her. I think she will be all right now. Fastina Cahmin.”
“Fastina! She has followed me again.” He made to get up, then he relaxed. “Good. I remember I felt very tenderly towards her. Now that I am immortal, perhaps we can spend more time together.” He stretched. It was a reflex action. It gave him no satisfaction. “Ah, the years of pleasure ahead! ”
“Yes, indeed,” said Olono Sharvis. “Come—you may find a moment’s difficulty getting your balance, but that will go. Let us join your friends.”
This time he confronted Damiago and Fastina in the Alodios chamber. He had seen no mirror, so he did not know if his appearance were changed. As he entered the room, Fastina’s face brightened with pleasure.
“Clovis! Clovis! You are all right. I wasn’t sure . . . ” as she came towards him, she glanced somewhat apprehensively at Sharvis.
“Many people suspect Olono Sharvis’s motives,” he said, “but you can take it from me, he’s my benefactor.” He looked at her in surprise as her expression changed to alarm. “What is it? ”
“Your voice—it’s—it’s ...”
His voice sounded normal to him. “Your memories contain a pleasanter voice, perhaps? ” He smiled. It wasn’t very easy, he had to make his lips move in a smile, it was a conscious action. She appeared to notice it, too, which was worse.
She said quietly. “There’s something wrong, Clovis.” Behind them there was a rustle as Sharvis folded his arms.
“No—I’m still feeling numb, that’s all—after the operation. It will wear off, won’t it, Sharvis? ”
Sharvis shook his head. “ I’m afraid not.”
Marca didn’t comprehend for a moment. “What. . .? ”
??
?But you will get used to it. I have.”
“You? You have this—this lack of sensation? ”
“Mental sensations soon replace the physical kind. I find much that is stimulating, still.” Sharvis smiled politely.
Marca felt despair. “Then you did trick me? ”
“Soon you will appreciate such intellectual experiments. Take was too weak. But you are strong. Believe me, Clovis Marca.”
Damiago stepped forward. “Well,” he said to Fastina, “I brought you here.”
She nodded.
Damiago looked at Marca. His lean face had some sort of emotion in it. It meant nothing to Marca. Then Damiago looked at Sharvis.
Damiago smiled admiringly at the scientist, and the scientist smiled back. Damiago shook his head. “You have made him invulnerable, too? You took that away from him. You frighten me, Olono. I wish I had the courage to learn from you.”
Sharvis’s smile widened as he continued to look into Damiago’s face. “Courage? ” he said. “You have something much more valuable—you have common sense.” Marca was still baffled. He could not believe that Sharvis had duped him.
“Well,” said Damiago, “I’d better be going.” Fastina had recovered a little. She said urgently to Clovis: “Did you know that Narvo was dead? Murdered by Aimer’s men? Earth is in chaos. As soon as I realised what Aimer was prepared to do, I left in Narvo’s ship. I knew you’d gone to the Bleak Worlds and I was lucky—I came to Klobax first. I was fired on twice by ships heading for Earth. They must be making weapons on the outworlds. Aimer has banned everyone not already there from landing. He’s even deported a lot of people—even those from Mars and Ganymede. You know what that means to people—few can survive for long away from Earth. They’re attacking. You’ve got to come back, depose Aimer, set up some sort of sane government again. You’re the only one who can, Clovis.” Marca nodded. “It’s in my interest.” He thought again and looked at Sharvis. “Or is it? ”