Zach Hughes: Tiger in the Stars

ever be able to break the barrier, that it was unlikely that we could develop a way around the old Einsteinian laws.» He let his gaze take in each one of them. «It is a serious step. I will abide by majority rule.» «Do you vote yes?» Ellen asked. «Of course,» Plank said, smiling. «That's why we're here.» «Then it's two aye votes,» Ellen said. «Three,» Joker Osbourne said. «Carried,» said Martha and Tom Peters together. The object that passed through the barrier was the size of the tip of Ellen's little finger. It went through and continued to move, unhindered, toward the far corners of the expanding universe. It was a time of celebration. The old brandy supplied by Matt Plank was broken out. When the short period of congratulating themselves was over, work began. All the data was compiled and organized into a form that could be easily followed by Matt's technicians. When all was ready, Plank beamed a message toward the nearest blinkstat relay and sent the Pride after it. They made rendezvous with a ship from Plank's World. Matt himself was aboard. The data was handed over. «You're going back now?» Matt asked. «Yes.» «Give us some time, John. A year.» «That's not too much to ask.» «We'll be able to accomplish a lot in a year. With what you've given us we can duplicate their techniques. Of course, I'd have two or three if you gave me a choice.» John shook his head. «All right. A year, then. I'm not going to spread the word, not yet. But when you're ready to go through, contact me. We owe it to others to at least warn them. Meantime, I'm going to be working. We'll have a few things ready just in case.» «Good.» He spent the year refining his findings. His results were sent back into the receivers of Matt's organization. Word from Plank's World spoke of glowing successes in atomic flow technique. Force-field-equipped ships were cruising the periphery, some of them in contact with the Pride. On the eve of decision, Plank gathered his crew in the lounge over the finest vintage produced on a million worlds. «You all have a choice, you know.» «I'm going with you,» Ellen said. «Life would be too dull back at the university,» Joker Osbourne said. «I'm going, but I'm not sure why,» Susan Lite said. «I won't tell you I'm not scared out of my wits.» «I'm not sure it's time,» Tom Peters said. «We have a galaxy,» Martha said. «Isn't that enough?» Many others before them had said the same. «We have no territorial ambitions,» John Sahara Plank in said. «We seek only knowledge.» He looked at Tom and Martha. «We can call in one of Matt's cruisers and off-load you.» «No,» Martha said, looking at her husband. «We would only wonder.» The Sahara Plank nosed up to the barrier. From her, certain forces were transmitted. She moved through slowly, on steering jet power, inching her way. Inside the ship, the passage created a prickling sensation on the napes of the crew's necks and, almost unheard, there was a low, grating roar. There was no time to think again. No way to reverse their decision. Free in space, the Pride was checked. She was intact. Tapes were studied. The passage was analyzed in every way. Behind them, the barrier was intact. Everything had gone as planned. The only abnormality was the low roar that each of them had heard. They replayed it on the ship's sound system, measured its frequency, subjected it to all the tests of science. «It shouldn't have happened,» Plank said. «A resonance of some sort,» Tom Peters suggested. «All right, tell me why,» Plank said, as Tom went back to work. Hours later, they still had no answer. «We can be on the fringe of the nearest galaxy in one blink,» Plank said. «Perhaps we will still have the element of surprise in our favor.» «Perhaps,» Susan said. «We can turn back.» «And never know?» Susan asked. «We'll sleep on it,» Plank said. Alone in their cabin, he replayed the sound of the barrier. It was Ellen who said it, although he, himself, had been thinking it. «Remember when we visited the zoological park?» she asked. «Yes,» he said absently, deep in thought. «Run the tape again and close your eyes. Place yourself back there in the park. Remember the sounds.» He punched the button. The low roar began. He closed his eyes. «Tiger, tiger burning bright,» Ellen said. The sound became the low, snarling, threatening call of a great jungle cat. «I think,» Plank said, «we've attracted their attention.» «Then there's no turning back,» Martha Peters said, with a sigh. «Afraid not,» Plank said. «Full alert, everybody. We want to do our best to go in on our own power.» «It would save time and searching if we just let them bring us in,» Joker said. «When my grandfather and grandmother were out here, they were jerked in without any choice,» Plank said. «I think it would be psychologically beneficial if we could resist just enough to do it on our own.» «Here we go,» Susan Lite said. She was in contact with the mental amplifier. Her voice was tense. Quickly Martha and Ellen linked hands with Susan. Plank, a bit tense himself, watched the ship's instruments. They were undisturbed, but something was in the air, an intangible force. The hair on the back of his neck seemed to stand on end. He felt a charged tension. There was total silence as the struggle continued. Susan, the main force in the mental resistance, began to show the strain. Plank went to her, put his hand atop Ellen's as it clasped Susan's hand, closed his eyes and, although he had not been able to develop any of the para abilities, willed his mind to help in any way it could. The ship's lights dimmed, became black. In the total darkness of space the struggle continued. Plank could hear someone breathing in quick, hard pants. Sweat began to bead his forehead, and then the lights flickered and were full, and the hum of

life was back in the Pride. Susan, breath fast and shallow, was failing from the seat; he caught her and leaned her back and used his handkerchief to wipe the moisture from her face. She was crying. «Pure force,» Susan panted. «They'll try again,» Plank said. «I can't—» Susan began. Suddenly she stiffened and the air of the cabin was charged with fire. It rolled around and past them and the sound in Plank's ears was Susan screaming. But the fire stopped, and once again there was that frozen, frightening moment of absolute silence, save for Susan's labored breathing. When it was over, the stars were the same. The Pride was still stationary in space just inside the barrier. Tom Peters ran from the cabin and reappeared with a glass in his hand. Susan accepted the brandy gratefully, but weakly.

«And all of you can do it,» she said. «It's all here.» She indicated an area

behind her right ear. «You feel it and just will a wall against it. Look at me, Martha.» Martha looked into Susan's eyes, and a glazed look came over her. In a moment she sighed. «Yes,» she said. And then, more excitedly, «Yes!» «Now you, Ellen,» Susan said, but she had no time. The ship lurched. Quickly Susan went back into the trancelike state of resistance to the powerful mental forces that were trying to jerk the Pride out of its place in space. And this time Martha helped and it was over quickly. «I learned,» Susan said, excitement in her eyes. «They couldn't have

guessed, but the force, the feel of it, was as if I were being opened up. And each time I seemed to be stronger.» «It's as if some new area of the brain has been suddenly activated,» Martha Peters said. «It's so simple,» Susan said. «Anyone can do it. It's just a matter of knowing…» She paused. «This is not a good analogy, but it's like knowing which key to turn. I can show all of you.» «They were trying to move the ship,» Plank asked, «no doubt?» «No doubt,» Susan said. «Now, quickly, before they come again.» Ellen felt the force as Susan looked into her eyes and entered her mind.