Youth, Page 4

lost theories dating fromBeforethewars. Mind you, their theory had a rigidly mathematicaldevelopment and it predicted just such a Galaxy as they describe. So yousee, they have all the worlds they wish. They are not land-hungry.Certainly not for our land."

  "Reason would say so, if what you say is true. But creatures may beintelligent and not reasonable. Our forefathers were presumablyintelligent, yet they were certainly not reasonable. Was it reasonableto destroy almost all their tremendous civilization in atomic warfareover causes our historians can no longer accurately determine?" TheIndustrialist brooded over it. "From the dropping of the first atom bombover those islands--I forget the ancient name--there was only one end insight, and in plain sight. Yet events were allowed to proceed to thatend."

  He looked up, said briskly, "Well, where are we? I wonder if we are noton a fool's errand after all."

  But the Astronomer was a little in advance and his voice came thickly."No fool's errand, sir. Look there."

  VI

  Red and Slim had trailed their elders with the experience of youth,aided by the absorption and anxiety of their fathers. Their view of thefinal object of the search was somewhat obscured by the underbrushbehind which they remained.

  Red said, "Holy Smokes. Look at that. It's all shiny silver orsomething."

  But it was Slim who was really excited. He caught at the other. "I knowwhat this is. It's a space-ship. That must be why my father came here.He's one of the biggest astronomers in the world and your father wouldhave to call him if a space-ship landed on his estate."

  "What are you talking about? Dad didn't even know that thing was there.He only came here because I told him I heard the thunder from here.Besides, there isn't any such thing as a space-ship."

  "Sure, there is. Look at it. See those round things. They are ports. Andyou can see the rocket tubes."

  "How do you know so much?"

  Slim was flushed. He said, "I read about them. My father has books aboutthem. Old books. From Beforethewars."

  "Huh. Now I know you're making it up. Books from Beforethewars!"

  "My father _has_ to have them. He teaches at the University. It's hisjob."

  His voice had risen and Red had to pull at him. "You want them to hearus?" he whispered indignantly.

  "Well, it is, too, a space-ship."

  "Look here, Slim, you mean that's a ship from another world."

  "It's _got_ to be. Look at my father going round and round it. Hewouldn't be so interested if it was anything else."

  "Other worlds! Where are there other worlds?"

  "Everywhere. How about the planets? They're worlds just like ours, someof them. And other stars probably have planets. There's probablyzillions of planets."

  Red felt outweighed and outnumbered. He muttered, "You're crazy!"

  "All right, then. I'll show you."

  "Hey! Where are you going?"

  "Down there. I'm going to ask my father. I suppose you'll believe it if_he_ tells you. I suppose you'll believe a Professor of Astronomy knowswhat--"

  He had scrambled upright.

  Red said, "Hey. You don't want them to see us. We're not supposed to behere. Do you want them to start asking questions and find out about ouranimals?"

  "I don't care. You said I was crazy."

  "Snitcher! You promised you wouldn't tell."

  "I'm _not_ going to tell. But if they find out themselves, it's yourfault, for starting an argument and saying I was crazy."

  "I take it back, then," grumbled Red.

  "Well, all right. You better."

  In a way, Slim was disappointed. He wanted to see the space-ship atcloser quarters. Still, he could not break his vow of secrecy even inspirit without at least the excuse of personal insult.

  Red said, "It's awfully small for a space-ship."

  "Sure, because it's probably a scout-ship."

  "I'll bet Dad couldn't even get into the old thing."

  So much Slim realized to be true. It was a weak point in his argumentand he made no answer. His interest was absorbed by the adults.

  Red rose to his feet; an elaborate attitude of boredom all about him."Well, I guess we better be going. There's business to do and I can'tspend all day here looking at some old space-ship or whatever it is.We've got to take care of the animals if we're going to be circus-folks.That's the first rule with circus-folks. They've got to take care of theanimals. And," he finished virtuously, "that's what I aim to do,anyway."

  Slim said, "What for, Red? They've got plenty of meat. Let's watch."

  "There's no fun in watching. Besides Dad and your father are going awayand I guess it's about lunch time."

  Red became argumentative. "Look, Slim, we can't start acting suspiciousor they're going to start investigating. Holy Smokes, don't you everread any detective stories? When you're trying to work a big dealwithout being caught, it's practically the main thing to keep on actingjust like always. Then they don't suspect anything. That's the firstlaw--"

  "Oh, all right."

  Slim rose resentfully. At the moment, the circus appeared to him arather tawdry and shoddy substitute for the glories of astronomy, and hewondered how he had come to fall in with Red's silly scheme.

  Down the slope they went, Slim, as usual, in the rear.

  VII

  The Industrialist said, "It's the workmanship that gets me. I never sawsuch construction."

  "What good is it now?" said the Astronomer, bitterly. "There's nothingleft. There'll be no second landing. This ship detected life on ourplanet through accident. Other exploring parties would come no closerthan necessary to establish the fact that there were no super-denseworlds existing in our solar system."

  "Well, there's no quarreling with a crash landing."

  "The ship hardly seems damaged. If only some had survived, the shipmight have been repaired."

  "If they had survived, there would be no trade in any case. They're toodifferent. Too disturbing. In any case--it's over."

  They entered the house and the Industrialist greeted his wife calmly."Lunch about ready, dear."

  "I'm afraid not. You see--" She looked hesitantly at the Astronomer.

  "Is anything wrong?" asked the Industrialist. "Why not tell me? I'm sureour guest won't mind a little family discussion."

  "Pray don't pay any attention whatever to me," muttered the Astronomer.He moved miserably to the other end of the living room.

  The woman said, in low, hurried tones, "Really, dear, cook's that upset.I've been soothing her for hours and honestly, I don't know why Redshould have done it."

  "Done what?" The Industrialist was more amused than otherwise. It hadtaken the united efforts of himself and his son months to argue his wifeinto using the name "Red" rather than the perfectly ridiculous (viewedyoungster fashion) name which was his real one.

  She said, "He's taken most of the chopped meat."

  "He's eaten it?"

  "Well, I hope not. It was raw."

  "Then what would he want it for?"

  "I haven't the slightest idea. I haven't seen him since breakfast.Meanwhile cook's just furious. She caught him vanishing out the kitchendoor and there was the bowl of chopped meat just about empty and she wasgoing to use it for lunch. Well, you know cook. She had to change thelunch menu and that means she won't be worth living with for a week.You'll just have to speak to Red, dear, and make him promise not to dothings in the kitchen any more. And it wouldn't hurt to have himapologize to cook."

  "Oh, come. She works for us. If we don't complain about a change inlunch menu, why should she?"

  "Because she's the one who has double-work made for her, and she'stalking about quitting. Good cooks aren't easy to get. Do you rememberthe one before her?"

  It was a strong argument.

  The Industrialist looked about vaguely. He said, "I suppose you'reright. He isn't here, I suppose. When he comes in, I'll talk to him."

  "You'd better start. Here he comes."

  Red walked into the house and said cheerfully, "Time for lunch, I
guess." He looked from one parent to the other in quick speculation attheir fixed stares and said, "Got to clean up first, though," and madefor the other door.

  The Industrialist said, "One moment, son."

  "Sir?"

  "Where's your little friend?"

  Red said, carelessly, "He's around