thevillagers would have little or no harvest to celebrate during theapproaching festival. The wind grew in force, lashing at the tallfestival pole, which bent, crashed down in the village square, andpartially demolished the front of the inn.
During this period, there was no human activity, since everyone hadtaken what shelter he could find.
At 0448, the rain slackened, the wind died down, and people startedgathering in the square. For a time, they milled about, wading throughthe ebbing flood. They examined the damage, then they gathered ingroups, talking earnestly.
The dry wind came up at 0510, and by 0550, the entire village was on themarch toward my station. Their intentions were quite easy to determine.They were armed with pitchforks, scythes, axes, and other tools whichcould be converted to offensive use. I established a protective screen,but realized that to set up a permanent defense would be impractical andeven harmful. I therefore called the cruiser, requesting evacuation formyself and for young Forell. Prior to evacuation, I demolished all myfixed equipment, so that the only things left for the villagers to findwhen they entered the station were damaged remains of those thingsnormal for a recluse scholar of their era.
Franz Jaeger Observer 2/c
INFORMAL MEMO
130-265
From: Evaluations Officer To: Explorations Officer Subject: Interrogation
Enclosed is a digest of the interrogation of one, Elwar Forell, who wasevacuated from forty-eight seventy-one, in company with GuardsmanJaeger. This boy was abjectly terrified and had to be calmed severaltimes during questioning. He was pitiably hysterical when recalling hisconversation with Captain Klorantel, who, you will remember, is acapriform humanoid.
The subject appears to be an intelligent specimen of his race, and whenhe had conquered his hysteria, was extremely co-operative, showingactive interest in his surroundings. I believe he would be able toassimilate training, and would make a valuable addition to the StellarGuard. I recommend his retention and training.
If Elwar is a typical "son of a simple peasant," and if the planet fromwhich he comes has any considerable number of "simple peasants" withsons like him, I can foresee some strangely interesting problems inconnection with further dealings on that planet.
FONZEC 1 enclosure
DIGEST
Interrogation of Elwar Forell, native of Planet 3-G3-9/4871.
"My Masters, I did mean no harm, but only good. I have long known thatmy master was possessed of power denied to most men. When I wasapprenticed to him five years ago, I thought I would one day learn someof the dark secrets of the hidden worlds, but never did my mastermention aught of those secrets he so surely knew. He taught me only ofthose things known to the scholars. He told me of reading, of writing,and of ciphering, and taught me many facts of our world which are knownto the learned. I wished to know of many other things, but of these hewas silent. Even so, I am grateful for his teachings, for how else couldthe son of a simple peasant gain the knowledge of the scholars?
"I saw that my master often repaired to a room which I was never allowedto enter. This room he cleaned himself. And he always entered in thegreatest of secrecy, being quite cross with me when I once betrayedcuriosity. I remained curious, however, and fell at last to watching himin secret as he opened the door.
"He slid aside a secret panel, then turned a wheel this way and that,finally pushing a handle. I watched, at last learning to what numbers hedid turn the wheel, and how he pushed the handle. During his absences, Iwent sometimes to that room of magic, and I read the books of power,though there was much I could not read, since much of the writing was instrange tongues and I dared not ask my master the meanings of thestrange words. But for his own convenience, my master had written manyinstructions plainly. And these, I read.
"I did learn that there were powers beyond those of men. I learned thatthese strange instruments on the table did have strange ability to callforth demons and spirits, but never until that day did I dare touchother than the books and papers. And those I took great care to restoreto their original condition.
"For three months past, my father's land and the fields of his neighborshave been dry. During this time, there has been no rain, nor hint ofrain, and the peasants have cried out for relief. They have appealedeven to my master, who has told them that he has no strange powers--thathe can do naught to call up rain. But they did not believe him, nor didI, Elwar, who knew better than this. I had seen the books of power, andI knew the demons could cause the skies to deliver water if rightlyasked. So, I visited the room of magic upon the occasions of my master'sabsence. And I tried to decipher his writings that I might find themeans to ask for the skies to open. Always, when I felt my master'spresence approaching, I left the room, taking care to properly lock thedoor and to hide all evidence of my entry.
"On that day of direful events, I found a paper in my master's hand. Itmentioned fire in the forests. It mentioned rain. And it had on it wordsof power.
"For a time, I practiced the strange syllables. Many times did I speakthem aloud, then I pressed the bosses on the table, as shown by one ofthe books. There was a light. Then, the great ball glowed with color, toshow me the first demon.
"He spoke. And I conquered my fear, to repeat the syllables I hadlabored to learn. Once again, he spoke, and I could not understand him.I could think of nothing but to say again those words which I hopedwould bring the rain we so badly needed. I took my hands from the bossesand stood, wondering what would happen. The ball became dark.
"I stood, waiting. And nothing happened. Finally, thinking nothing wasto occur, I turned and started to leave the room. Then, a great voicespoke. Again, the wall was alight. Within it was a fearsome demon whoglared at me ferociously and demanded something in that tongue of power.I could not think. I stood, trembling fearfully. And he spoke again.Then did I repeat again the words I had learned, and ran from the room.
"It became dark. The lightnings flashed, and the rain fell, and mymaster came, but not as I had ever seen him before. He did not walk fromthe forest as was his wont, but appeared before me from the air. Istarted back in fright, for now I was certain beyond doubt that he was aman of great wizardry. I thought he would beat me, or possibly cast meunder a spell.
"Never has he beaten me, always saying that it was wrong to beat anapprentice, and that those who so did were lacking in their senses. Andthis is but another proof of his sorcery, for who, other than asorcerer, could handle his servants without beating them?
"I dared do nothing other than to tell him of my misdoing, and herushed to the room, taking me with him. He pressed the bosses, turningone that I had not known of, and the demon appeared again and talkedwith him. Then, my master made strange passes about the instruments andthe village was shown in the ball.
"At last the rain stopped. A wind blew--hot and dry, as from thepit--and the people came and did try by violence to enter. But theycould not. At last, the great machine came, and though we could not atfirst see it, we entered and were carried away through the sky.
"The people watched the house burn, then entered, to scatter the ashes.
"And I am here, and afraid."
* * *
Doer Kweiros flipped off the playback and gazed at the unresponsivewall. He rubbed the back of his head, looked at the viewsphere, thenchecked the playback index and tapped the rewind.
"Oh, me," he complained sorrowfully, "how do we get into these things?"
He looked toward the communicator controls unhappily, then reached outand dialed a number. The sphere lit and an alert face looked at himinquiringly.
"How is that Forell boy?"
"Soaking up information like a sponge, sir."
Kweiros nodded. "Gathered he might," he remarked. "Send him up here,will you? And have Jaeger come with him."
"Yes, sir."
Kweiros snappe
d the communicator off, sat back to drum idly on his desk,then got up and walked over to his master file control board. He glancedat the index, then punched out a sequence on the buttons. There was asubdued hum and a door opened. Kweiros reached into the compartment, totake out several tape reels. He glanced at them, nodded, and went backto the desk, where he spread them out and looked from one to another.Finally, he selected one of the smaller reels and started to thread itinto the playback.
There was a light tap on the door and he looked up.
"So soon? Come in."
A tall, sharp-featured guardsman entered and stood at attention. Besidehim was a boy, who looked curiously and a little fearfully at theofficer, who waved to chairs.
"Sit down, both of you. I'm not going to claw you. Just want to go overa few things. I've some ideas, but I want to be sure of a couple ofpoints." The captain glanced at the reels before him.
"One