in an oddly human gesture.These foreigners were strange creatures indeed.
* * * * *
Albert, thin, pale, but happy, sat at a table in one of the smallercafeterias in Earth Center, talking to the Chief over a second helpingof dessert. The fearful energy drain of esper activity, combined withthe constant dodging to avoid IC hunting parties, had made him a gauntshadow--but he had managed to survive until a Patrol ship arrived toinvestigate the strange stories told by tourists, of a man who hauntedthe towns of Lagash and Vaornia, and the road between.
"That's all there was to it, sir," Albert concluded. "Once I figured itout that not even IC could get away with mass murder, it was easy. Ijust kept popping up in odd places and telling my story, and then, tomake it impressive, I'd disappear. I had nearly two days before ICcaught on, and by then you knew. The only trouble was getting enough toeat. I damn near starved before the Patrol arrived. I expect that we owequite a few farmers and shopkeepers reparations for the food I stole."
"They'll be paid, providing they present a claim," the Chief said. "Butthere's one thing about all this that bothers me. I know you had no psipowers when you left Earth on this mission, just where did you acquirethem?"
Albert shook his head. "I don't know," he said. "Unless they were latentand developed in Antar's peculiar climatic and physical conditions. Ormaybe it was the shock of that meeting with the Bandersnatch. All I'msure of is that I didn't have any until after that meeting with Shifaz."
"Well, you certainly have them now. The Parapsych boys are hot on yourtail, but we've stalled them off."
"Thanks. I don't want to imitate a guinea pig."
"We owe you at least that for getting us a case against IC. Even theirshysters won't be able to wiggle out of this one." The Chief smiled."It's nice to have those lads where they can be handled for a change."
"They do need a dose of applied conscience," Albert agreed.
"The government also owes you a bonus and a vote of thanks."
"I'll appreciate the bonus," Albert said as he signaled for thewaitress. "Recently, I can't afford my appetite."
"It's understandable. After all, you've lost nearly eighty pounds."
"Wonder if I'll ever get them back," Albert muttered as he bit into thethird dessert.
The Chief watched enviously. "I wouldn't worry about that," he said."Just get your strength back. There's another assignment for you, onethat will need your peculiar talents." He stood up. "I'll be seeing you.My ulcer can't take your appetite any more." He walked away.
Inside Albert, the Zark alerted. A new assignment! That meant anotherworld and new sensations. Truly, this host was magnificent! It had beena lucky day when he had fallen in running from the Bandersnatch. TheZark quivered with delight--
And Albert felt it.
Turning his perception inward to see what might be wrong, he saw theZark for the first time.
* * * * *
For a second, a wave of repulsion swept through his body, but as hecomprehended the extent of that protoplasmic mass so inextricablyintertwined with his own, he realized that this thing within him was thereason for his new powers. There could be no other explanation.
And as he searched farther, he marveled. The Zark was unspecialized in away he had never imagined--an amorphous aggregation of highly evolvedcells that could imitate normal tissues in a manner that would defyordinary detection. It was something at once higher yet lower than hisown flesh, something more primitive yet infinitely more evolved.
The Zark had succeeded at last. It had established communication withits host.
"Answer me, parasite," Albert muttered subvocally. "I know you'rethere--and I know you can answer!"
The Zark gave the protean equivalent of a shrug. If Albert only knew howit had tried to communicate--no, there was no communication betweenthem. Their methods of thought were so different that there was nopossible rapport.
It twitched--and Albert jumped. And for the first time in its long life,the Zark had an original idea. It moved a few milligrams of itssubstance to Albert's throat region, and after a premonitory glottalspasm, Albert said very distinctly and quite involuntarily, "All right.I am here."
Albert froze with surprise, but when the shock passed, he laughed."Well, I asked for it," he said. "But it's like the story about the manwho talked to himself--and got answers. Not exactly a comfortingsensation."
"I'm sorry," the Zark apologized. "I do not wish to cause discomfort."
"You pick a poor way to keep from doing it."
"It was the only way I could figure to make contact with your consciousmind--and you desired that I communicate."
"I suppose you're right. But while it is nice to know that I really havea guardian angel, I'd have felt better about it if you had white robesand wings and were hovering over my shoulder."
"I don't understand," the Zark said.
"I was trying to be funny. You know," Albert continued after a moment,"I never thought of trying to perceive myself. I wonder why. I guessbecause none of the medical examinations showed anything different fromnormal."
"I was always afraid that you might suspect before I could tell you,"the Zark replied. "It was an obvious line of reasoning, and you _are_ anintelligent entity--the most intelligent I have ever inhabited. It istoo bad that I shall have to leave. I have enjoyed being with you."
"Who said anything about leaving?" Albert asked.
"You did. I could feel your revulsion when you became aware of me. Itwasn't nice, but I suppose you can't help it. Yours is an independentrace, one that doesn't willingly support--" the voice hesitated asthough searching for the proper word--"fellow travelers," it finished.
Albert grinned. "There are historical precedents for that statement, butyour interpretation isn't quite right. I was surprised. You startledme."
He fell silent, and the Zark, respecting the activity of his mind,forbore to interrupt.
* * * * *
Albert was doing some heavy thinking about the Zark. Certainly it hadprotected him on Antar, and with equal certainty it must have beenresponsible for the psi powers he possessed. He owed it a lot, forwithout its help he wouldn't have survived.
There was only one thing wrong.
Sexless though it was, the Zark must possess the characteristics oflife, since it was obviously alive. And those characteristics wereunchanging throughout the known universe. The four vital criteriadefined centuries ago were still as good today as they werethen--growth, metabolism, irritability--and _reproduction_. Despite itslack of sex, the Zark must be capable of producing others of its kind,and while he didn't mind supporting one fellow traveler, he was damnedif he'd support a whole family of them.
"That need never bother you," the Zark interrupted. "As an individual, Iam very long-lived and seldom reproduce. I can, of course, but theprocess is quite involved--actually it involves making a twin out ofmyself--and it is not necessary. Besides, there cannot be two Zarks inone host. My offspring would have to seek another."
"And do they have your powers?"
"Of course. They would know all I know, for a Zark's memory is notconcentrated in specialized tissue like your brain."
A light began to dawn in Albert's mind. Maybe this was the answer to thecorporate conscience he had been wishing for so wistfully on Antar."Does it bother you to reproduce?" he asked.
"It is annoying, but not painful--nor would it be too difficult after apattern was set in my cells. But why do you ask this?"
"The thought just occurred to me that there are quite a few people whocould use a Zark. A few of the more honest folks would improve thisConfederation's moral tone if they had the power--and certainly psipowers in law enforcement would be unbeatable."
"Then you would want me to reproduce?"
"It might be a good idea if we can find men who are worthy of Zarks. Icould check them with my telepathy and perhaps we might--"
"Let me warn you," the Zark
interjected. "While this all sounds veryfine, there are difficulties, even with a host as large as yourself. Ishall need more energy than your body has available in order toduplicate myself. It will be hard for you to do what must be done."
"And what is that?"
"Eat," the Zark said, "great quantities of high energy foods." Itshuddered at the thought of Albert overloading his digestive tract anymore than he had been doing the past week.
But Albert's reaction went to prove that while their relationship wasphysically close, mentally they