William Forstchen - Into the Sea of Stars

"For they had destroyed Paradise!" He shouted the words, and Ian was tempted to tell him that he was not preaching to the multitude, but thought better of it.

"We saw what was coming, we had spoken out against it, and for our effort those fools had us exiled. I learned, Ian Lacklin, what is the nature of power. I could hop to one of my colonies right now, command ten thousand to kill themselves, and they would do so without question and consider it an honor. That, Ian Lacklin, is power- and it rests in my hands.

"Never again shall I ever let happen what those on Earth forced us to do."

They finally swung in to the dark side of the planet, and its surface was banded by necklaces of lighting that illuminated the planet as if it were day. Ian was amazed at the power being harnessed there. Smith's people were literally tearing the planet apart. As if reading his thoughts, Smith suddenly spoke again.

" Gregor gave me a report on our progress before you joined me. He said that it was recently calculated that if growth continues at its current rate, we will totally con sume the mass of that planet in four hundred years. Al ready we are developing five of the moons on the first gas giant."

"Which one is that?"

"It's called Janet."

"Of course." Ian said it with such understanding that Smith suddenly reached out and touched him on the arm and smiled briefly.

"But as I was saying, I saw the path. Once the Time of Blooding had finished, I realized that the warrior code must stay. So with the coming of the next generation, I encouraged its development along with rigorous training of the mind and total discipline. Ian, I knew that the odds were still against us. I had set a course that would take seven hundred years-fearing that if we went to the closer stars, we would find ourselves in competition. I knew many were bound for the galactic core, but space is im mense. We had contact with several colonies on the way out, but most we would not reach. Two did make starfall here at Delta Sag and we were forced to deal with them, since of course they were not of us."

"I know. I found the results of your actions."

Smith ignored his comment and continued.

"I created a warrior — guard elite, and I acted as a guide to the future so that there would be a continuity with the past. As least, that is what I told them, but I knew what would happen after only several generations.

"I was awakened every twenty years, or when there was a crisis to advise- to give counsel and to plan. The first time I was greeted like an old friend returning. The second time only a few from the 'Earth Time,' as they were calling it, still remembered me. And on the fourth time, there was not one in fifty. And I started to become first an advisor, then a legend, and finally a god-as I knew I would."

He smiled at Ian as he said the words, and a man who had sounded before to be so sane now took on a different edge, his powerful appearance and deep rich Voice lending only more power to the image of something almost su perhuman.

"My awakening became a religious event, a long- cherished high holy day by which people measured their lives. When I knew the time to be right, I laid out the next step-the bonding of all by one common blood. It became a most sacred privilege to bear my child, even if induced artificially. And it became the most cherished dream of a maiden to surrender her virginity to me and then to bear my child." Smith looked at Ian and gave a slightly lascivious smile.

"It was easy to keep track of the genetics of it, and within a few hundred years every single person became a descendent of myself. I am, therefore, truly the Father of all my people!"

He shouted out the words and laughed as he did so, and then fixed Ian with his gaze.

"And I knew one other part of the formula that was necessary for our health and survival. A people must al ways have a dream. And I gave them the dream. That we would increase in number and then return one day to the paradise that had been fouled by those who are not of our blood. They would return to the promised land, led by their Father-and we would purge the Earth of its filth. We would take our revenge for having been driven out. We would take our revenge for the Blooding Time. And we would then dwell in the realm of Paradise for ever!"

Smith grabbed lan's arm with such force that Ian feared the madman's grip would burst right through his skin and shatter the bone beneath.

"And you, Ian Lacklin, you gave me the means of my return. Your people are weak, your own ship's computer tells me you number not half a billion on the entire planet. You have but a weak central government controlled by an overgrown bureaucracy. There is no way that you can defy me. We have searched to transcend light for a millennium, and to think that its discovery would be a mere accident by an amateur back on Earth. But now I know. I have the data in your machine to tell me how. And then I shall return in glory and my people can at last return to Paradise!"

I an felt a moment of disorientation. The darkness was strange. Shortly after his return from his meeting, a meal had been delivered that outshone anything they had experienced since Earth. In spite of the circumstances, Ian was enthralled with the dinner plates; each was stamped "Souvenir of the 2064 New York World's Fair." Ian slipped one of the coffee saucers into his jacket pocket. It now rested next to the alien artifact.

It had already occurred to the crew of Discovery that this was to be some sort of ceremonial last supper-and they were suddenly convinced of it when the lights were dimmed. Nervously they sat together until eventually exhaustion and the need for a final private moment had sent them to their own small areas.

As if stirred by a distant voice, Ian "awoke from his sleep and looked toward the doorway. A shadow filled the dimly lit corridor-Smith. Leaving the others to what he feared might be a final rest, Ian stood and followed Smith to the audience chamber.

"Have you decided?"

"First, I give you permission to sit." And Smith beck oned for him to sit on the small stool placed before the dais.

Smith was dressed in the flowing ceremonial robes of the warrior, his sword resting on the floor by his right hand. The soft lamplight behind him haloed his salt-and- pepper hair and cast darkened shadows that hid his beard and ebony features.

Ian gave him a nod of thanks and settled down onto the stool. Smith said nothing, and Ian finally broke the silence.

"I can't understand one thing."

"Go on."

Ian drew in his breath and finally committed himself. "You have the information that you need from us. We therefore serve no logical purpose by living. You, if any one, have learned to kill without prejudice or sentiment. If we do not serve a purpose, then why don't you kill us?"

Smith leaned forward and his features emerged from the shadows. "You are correct, Ian Lacklin. You've sur mised that you still serve a purpose, and now you ask me what it is."

"Yes."

Smith chuckled softly. "Are the universities still the same as when I was there?"

The change of tack threw Ian off balance for a second, but he quickly picked up on it. "I have a feeling that it's universal and timeless."

"Still the same administrators?" He chuckled softly. "You know, I could never figure out how people so dumb and so deceitful ever got into education."

Ian nodded and found himself chuckling, as well.

"And still the same dumb jocks who your dean forces you to pass, in spite of their idiocy?"

"I think I know what jock means, we call them ozone heads. But yes-it is still the same. Most schools are still places were education is second to the god of sports."

"It's just that I was once a full professor of philosophy," Smith said sadly, "and I know that you were a professor of history, specializing in my time."