Chapter 25
"We've got a problem here," Admiral Newton said as they followed themarines who were taking the mine operatives to the cruiser to be takenback to Simonides for their trials.
"I know it," Hanlon said thoughtfully. "The Guddus are too high in thescale for the planet to be colonized, and too low at present to beadmitted to the Federation as true members. Yet they have immense wealthand resources the Federation can use, and something will have to be doneto protect them from thieves and others who might again try to enslavethem."
"That will never be allowed again. We'll have to make some sort of atreaty with them, probably establish a small base here, and perhaps makesome arrangements to mine their ores--if we have anything we can givethem in repayment. I imagine you'd better hold yourself in readiness tohead the commission that comes to handle that treaty."
"Gee, thanks for that, Dad. They're such swell people when you get toknow them. Ordinarily they live like 'children of nature,' in theforests, without need of homes or tools or anything. They feed from theelements in the soil, so there's no food problem. We did give themnitrates here, but that was because they had exhausted the elements inthe dirt floors of their prison huts. In the woods that won't be needed.Oh, well, when we get technies here, with transformers, we can find outwhat to do with them."
"I'm going back to the fleet now," the elder SS man said. "I suppose youwant to go back to Simonides to handle the details of the trials ofthese men. Incidentally, what about this ... Philander, did you say hisname was? Why don't you think he'll need punishment?"
Hanlon explained rapidly, finishing, "So you see, with some psychiatrictreatments, I'm sure that inferiority can be cleaned up and then he'llbe a real asset to us or whoever hires him." A sudden gleam came intohis eyes. "Say, if we make that treaty with the Guddus, he'd be just theman to take charge here, under Corps direction."
"Well, run along and see to it, then. And Spence, did I remember to tellyou how proud I am of you?"
Hanlon hugged his father. "Thanks, Dad. I hope you always will be. Isuppose the cruiser Commander will let me ride with him?"
Newton smiled fondly. "Not 'let you,' Son. You merely tell him you'regoing to go along. Admiral Ferguson assigned that ship to you on specialduty."
Hanlon's smile was embarrassed. "I still think I'm too much of a kid forso much responsibility."
"Quit looking for sympathy." It was an affectionate growl.
"Okay, then. Safe flights, Dad--see you on Sime soon."
"Yes, I'll probably be there a day or so after you. Safe flights."
* * * * *
Once the cruiser was in space, and the pressure of acceleration abated,Hanlon sent word to the guards to bring Philander to his cabin. Whenthey had done so, he excused them, saying he would be responsible forthe safety of their prisoner.
"Sit down, sir," Hanlon said kindly to the wondering man.
"What's this all about, Hanlon?" Philander puzzled. "Who are you,anyway?"
"I was assigned to find out what it was centering on Simonides thatseemed inimical to the peace of the Federation. The trail led me toAlgon."
"Where you used me to further your schemes, eh?" the tone was bitter.
"Please, Mr. Philander, don't misjudge me until you know all about it.First, let me ask you, did you know who 'His Highness' really was?"
The mining engineer shrugged. "You probably know already, so why ask me?Prime Minister of Simonides, of course ... but you said 'was'?"
"He's dead now. Did you also know he wasn't human--that he was an alienfrom some ..."
"Not human? You're crazy. He was as human as any of us."
"When we get back I'll show you a full-length X-ray of him if you wish.He was planning the conquest of our entire Federation and Galaxy. TheCorps experts are still working to find out just what the details of hisscheme were, but that much we do know. Did you know about all thewarships he was building on Algon?"
"Ships? On Algon?" The surprises were coming too fast for Philander toadjust to them.
"Yes. Did you think your mine was all there was there? We know of ninemines of one kind or another, a number of factories, smelters, and threegreat shipyards. Incidentally, everything is now in the hands of theCorps."
Philander shook his head in stupefaction. "I'm not calling you a liar,sir, but it's hard to believe you. I knew there were several mines, butnot that many, nor about the rest."
"It's all true enough. And I'm still 'George' to you, my good friend,not 'sir'."
That was a little too much for the older man. "What a mess I've made ofmy life," he groaned.
Hanlon was intensely sorry and sympathetic, but in a way he was glad tosee this present mood. It would undoubtedly make easier what he wantedto do. He went over, sat on the arm of Philander's chair and put his armabout the other's shoulder. He gently touched that terrible scar. "Whenand how did you get this?"
Philander shrank away from him, but the story raced across the surfaceof his mind, and Hanlon read it.
When he (Philander) was about eight, a gang of boys were playing aboutan old, tumbled-down building, and somehow knocked out the prop holdingup its remains. Three others were hurt, Philander got that cut-scar, andhis brother was killed.
"And you've felt all these years you were to blame for his death!"Hanlon exclaimed. "When we get back I'm going to have the best plasticsurgeon remove that scar, so it will no longer be a constant reminder.Then a top psychiatrist will give you some therapy, and help you getyour mind at rest. After that you'll be ready to take your place insociety as a very valuable citizen."
"You forget what's going to happen to me because of my part in thisplot," Philander was still bitter and unconvinced.
"Nothing's going to happen to you--you weren't guilty of anything excepthaving been hypnotized by an alien supermentality," Hanlon saidconvincingly. "I'll see to that, myself."
Philander looked up in surprise. "You mean you ... a young fellow likeyou ... can tell the ..."
"Not exactly," Hanlon interrupted with a grin. "But this was myassignment, and my recommendations will govern. The main thing is, willyou consent to the plan I've suggested?"
Philander sat for long, thoughtful minutes, then looked up piteously."If you only can do it!"
* * * * *
When the cruiser reached Simonides and Hanlon had seen the other mineworkers safely in the Corps prison at Base, and Philander installed in aroom next to his at the hotel, he called Admiral Hawarden.
"Congratulations on the mop-up, which I understand was one hundred pointoh oh oh percent," the officer said.
"Yes, the other end's under control. How about Bohr's notes?"
"They finished last night. We've got a complete list of all theunderlings who knew any of the main parts of the conspiracy, and the SSagents have jugged them all."
"Good work."
"You did a grand job, sir. Again, my congratulations."
"Thanks, Admiral Hawarden. I've got to get busy now, on my report to theCouncil."
"Call on me for any help I can give. I'd offer you my confidentialsecretary to dictate them to, if it wasn't so secret."
"Thanks. She would be a big help, but we'd better not."
"How'd you know it was a 'she'?"
"Even a pigeon can admire a shapely shape," Hanlon quipped as hedisconnected.
The young SS man was just finishing his report the next day when AdmiralNewton walked into his hotel room.
"Gosh, Dad, am I _especially_ glad to see you this time!" his sonenthused. "I need you to check this report."
"Let's see what you've got." Newton settled down in a big chair to studythe report, while Hanlon fidgetted about the room, anxiously.
"A very clear, concise and complete report, Spence," Newton applaudedwhen he finished reading.
"Where do I send it, and to whom?"
His father looked at him quizzically. "Have you forgotten about thespecial mail box for SS me
n?"
The younger man looked astounded. "You mean, even a thing like thismerely goes in there?"
Newton nodded. "However, in this case, since I would have been the oneto pick it up, I'll take it to Base and transmit it to the Council.Incidentally, future reports should be marked on the envelope 'Report toFederated Council'."
A couple of hours later Admiral Hawarden called Hanlon at the hotel,where he had just finished making arrangements for Philander's operationand treatments.
"Your father and I want you to come to Base at once, sir."
When he arrived in Hawarden's private office, the admiral handed him apair of silver bars. "These are yours now, Captain Hanlon."
The young man looked up in surprise.
"You were told promotions were swift in the SS--for those who produce,"his father chuckled. "The Council was very gratified with your report,and ordered the promotion."
Hanlon looked at the two insignia, and his fingers stroked them almosttenderly.
"You miss the uniform, don't you, Spence?" sympathetically.
Hanlon gulped and nodded silently, very close to tears.
"Are you sorry you made the choice you did--to give all that up?"
A long, poignant moment of silence, then Hanlon threw back his head in agesture of pride. "No, Dad. I'm honestly glad I did it. To be able tofree those fine Guddus from slavery, and to save the Federation fromthat horrible plot--it was well worth the little suffering it'll costme. But," and his smile was pathetic, "I do miss the uniform. I was soproud, wearing it."
A moment, then Hawarden spoke. "Here are the transcripts of the Bohrnotes," and soon the two SS men were deep in the study of them. Whenthey had finished some time later, they agreed it was a verycomprehensive plan.
"But did you notice," Hanlon's eyes were cloudy, "he doesn't say a thinganywhere about the part his planet or system were to play in theconquest?"
"Yes, I'd noticed that." It was a duet from the two others, and Newtonadded, "For all there is here, you'd almost feel sure he was playing alone hand."
"If that's true," Hawarden said thankfully, "none of the other men we'vepicked up matter--we might as well let them go."
"I'd say so," Newton agreed, "if we can prove Bohr was in this forhimself, and was controlling them."
"From what I saw of him," Hanlon said seriously after a long moment ofthought, "I'd say he was capable of trying it. He certainly had 'thewill to power.' And he was no dummy--he had a really powerful mind. Buthe was cold beneath that suave, soft-seeming exterior. He was utterlywithout compassion, mercy, or any feeling of justice. He wouldn't carewho or what was damaged as long as he could get what he wanted. I doubtif there was anyone he could really call a friend, or to whom he couldtalk in full confidence."
"Except possibly that bird you told ..." his father began, absently,when Hanlon interrupted with a whoop.
"Hey, that's it!" He jumped up and ran to the visiphone, and dialed thezoo. "Bring that toogan of Bohr's back to Base!"
"What, again?" the indignant curator asked.
"I'm sorry, sir, but this is probably the last time we'll need it.Please get it here immediately."
"What's the excitement?" Newton asked curiously.
"Your remark reminded me of something I noticed only dimly in its mind,and didn't pursue at the time."
While they were waiting for the bird, Hanlon asked, "What about the newships? Have the experts got 'em figured out yet?"
"Not entirely. The hulls are about the same as the Snyder ships, onlylarger. But that new power system is so radically different they'regoing rapidly nuts trying to understand it. And they do havetractor-beams."
No sooner had the messenger left after delivering the toogan than Hanlonhad it out of the cage, and perched on the arm of his chair. Then fornearly an hour he sat there, deaf, dumb and blind to all else while heexplored every nook and cranny of that avian mind.
"Got it!" he yelled at last, and the bird, freed from control, spranginto the air and flew wildly about, seeking escape.
"What did you learn?" the admirals were as excited as he.
"We've nothing to fear. Bohr was entirely on his own. The people of hisplanetary system--Canopus--are so far advanced they live on a completelyco-operative basis, every one instinctively working for the common goodof all. Bohr was an atavism--they caught him trying to 'take over'there, and banished him. He came here, for his restless mind and savageurge to dominate others would not let him rest until he was absoluteruler of some world or system--the bigger the better from hisviewpoint."
"And you got all that from a bird?" incredulously.
"Yes. You were right when you said Bohr didn't have a friend except thetoogan. I think that's why he sort of liked me--perhaps he felt I wouldbe one. All men have the need to talk to someone, some times, so Bohrchose this toogan, who is really quite intelligent, and who could talkback with him. The bird doesn't 'remember' it all, of course, but it'sall engraved on his brain."
"That means, then," Newton said thankfully, "that we won't have to worryabout a war with another system or galaxy."
"Yes, and that's a real help," Hawarden added. "Even one man, or entity,like Bohr, could have given us a bad enough time, and perhaps evenwrecked the Federation."
"Well, I guess that winds it up except for a lot of detail work," Newtonrose. "I've got to get back to my own job on Estrella. Hawarden, callthe port and have them ready my ship, please. And it's been good seeingyou again. Thanks for everything."
"Safe flights, Newton," and the admiral started calling the spaceport.
"You'll get your orders in a day or two about going back to Algon withthe commission," Newton told Hanlon. "Might as well stay here untilthen."
After affectionate farewells he started out, then stopped, bursting intoa laugh.
"What's the gag, Dad?"
"It just came to me that this was once where the son told the father allabout 'the birds and the bees'."
"Well," Hanlon quipped, but kept his face straight. "I figured you wereold enough now to know."
The End
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