Джек Макдевитт - Cryptic - The Best Short Fiction of Jack McDevitt

Pierik picked up a book, loosened his shirt, and collapsed onto the sofa. He propped his head on a pillow, adjusted a table lamp, and opened the cover. A History of Something or Other . He turned a page. A couple of pages. “Hard to believe,” he said to himself in a low tone. He made a noise in his throat. And looked up. “Messenger,” he said, “don’t you know it is not polite to stand there and not address your host?”

I was, somehow, not surprised. “How did you know I was here?”

“You give off a rather clear scent.” His eyes grew and shrank. “Have you come to kill me? Or merely to gloat?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“Ah. Perhaps you will restrict yourself to a social visit?”

“I want you to realize you have no choice but to stop the war.”

“My good friend Night Rider, you must realize that even I cannot do that. These events are caused by factors beyond mortal control.” He closed the book and put it on the table. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Thanks, no.”

“Won’t you at least have a seat?” He indicated an armchair.

“You will act on the war, Pierik.”

“Well.” He gazed around the room. “It’s disconcerting not knowing where to look.”

“Yes.” I was standing before thick dark curtains. “I’m sure it is.”

“Ah, you are over by the window.”

I didn’t move.

“Did you enjoy the event this evening?”

“Not really. But you are quite good.”

“Thank you. From you, that is a supreme compliment.” He looked off to his right. “One of the great problems for someone in my position is getting an honest evaluation. No one will tell me the truth. I could fall on my face out there, and they would all say how wonderful I am.”

“I wonder why that is?”

“It is the price I must pay.” He rubbed his hands together. “And I shall reply to your demand with equal honesty. I cannot change the course of events. Were I to stop hostilities, there are others who would continue. On all sides. The conflict creates purpose for the nation, it is our life blood. It is why we live.”

“That’s absurd.”

“Of course it is. But everyone subscribes to it. And that makes it true .”

“That’s nonsense, Pierik. You will do what I ask or I’ll kill you.”

For a long moment, he said nothing. Then: “You are exactly like us. ‘Do as I say or I will kill you.’ Marvellous. What prompts you to come here and talk morality?”

“I’m not going to debate the issue. If you will not comply, I will take your life.”

He moved the cushions around. “If I call the guards, you will not get out. They’ve been instructed to block the doors.”

“You’ll be dead before they can get in here.”

“I suppose that is so. You do have me at a disadvantage.” He held a hand over his eyes, shielding them from the table lamp. “This is a bit bright.” He reached for it. “I should have it adjusted.” He turned the switch, and all the lamps in the room went out.

It was pitch dark. I heard him move.

“I think now,” he said, “we are on equal terms.” There was a click. The guards were in the outer office, and then the doors opened and they charged into the room.

That let some light in, but I couldn’t see Pierik. “Please don’t do anything foolish, Night Rider. If I am not here to stop them, they will certainly kill you.”

There were only two, but I heard more coming. Both carried flashlights. One crossed the room and blocked the doorway that led to the bedroom. Which told me where Pierik was. The other planted himself in the exit so I couldn’t get out.

I grabbed the tensor. There was more noise in the office, and reinforcements poured in. “Now,” came Pierik’s voice, “whoever you are, whatever you are, this incident is over.” The lights came back on.

Pierik reappeared. “I’d prefer you don’t resist.” The soldiers glanced at one another, but I could read nothing in those masks.

At the dictator’s command they swept through the room, forming a chain, allowing no space for evasion. I began firing. A couple of them cried out and went down. Someone threw a cannister of gray powder. It became a cloud and drifted across the room.

The guards pulled strips of linen across their mouths and noses. And they could see me, looked right at me. More powder flew.

I was coughing. They grabbed me. I fired off several more shots. Got two or three more, but even when they were falling left and right, I saw no emotion. I kept thinking, Masks across their masks .

They secured me, used a cord to bind my hands. I tried to hang onto the tensor, but it fell to the floor, got kicked away, outside the lightbender field, and became visible. One of them found it and handed it to over to Pierik.

“ Bring him here. ” The dictator was delighted.

The guards dragged me across the room, and set me facing him. He reached out tentatively and touched me. My shoulder. My vest. His fingers twisted the cloth. Found my face. Touched the skin.

Apparently it was not a good experience. He pulled back. “What kind of creature are you?” he demanded. “From where have you come?”

“No place you ever heard of,” I said.

Someone else came in. “What is it, Kahba ?” It was Sholah.

Pierik was still watching me. “The one I told you about is here.”

“Really?” He looked at the bodies on the floor, at the guards, at their struggles with an invisible presence. “Indeed.”

“You are just in time to see the conclusion to this very odd event.”

Sholah followed Pierik’s lead. Touched my clothes. He too had a hard time with my skin. “Incredible,” he said. “Kahba, there was a report of a monster in the streets yesterday. I gave it no credence, but—.”

“Was it you ?” Pierik demanded of me.

It might as well have been. “Yes,” I said.

“That brings us to my next question. What is the secret of your invisibility?”

I visualized invisible troops hitting the villages. Maybe McCarver was right. My God. “It is innate,” I said. “We are born with it.”

“If that is true,” said Shola, “he is of no further use to us.”

“Are there more of you?” asked Pierik.

“I am alone.”

“I do not believe you. Where do you come from?”

“An island in the eastern ocean. We have kept its location secret since the rise of civilization.”

“Really?” He did not laugh, but he might as well have. “There is no question that a device that hides one from the light would have its value.”

“It is not a device. It is inborn.”

“So you say. Let us find out.” He looked at the captain. “Throw him off the balcony. We will see how high he bounces.”

They dragged me toward the outer office.

“Wait,” I said. “It is a device. I’ll show you.”

“It’s no matter, Night Rider. We’ll take it from your corpse at our leisure.”

They lifted me off the floor, carried me through the office and out onto the balcony. There, they hoisted me shoulder high. The air, warm minutes ago, was cold. The crowd below cheered.

I looked down six stories. It was a bad moment. “Wait,” I said, “you’ll break it.”

“He has a point,” said Sholah.

The dictator raised a hand to the guards. Hold. Do not fling the miscreant over the side just yet. “It’s also possible,” Pierik said, “we might hurt someone. Down there. ” He made noises in his throat while he thought about it. “Bring him inside for a minute.”

For a minute ? That didn’t sound good.

They set me down again in front of the dictator. “All right, Night Rider, make yourself visible.”