TEDRIC
By E. E. SMITH, Ph. D.
Illustrated by J. Allen St. John
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Other Worlds March1953. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Aided by Llosir, his strange, new god, Tedric enters into battle withSarpedion, the sacrifice-demanding god of Lomarr in this story ofscience and swash-buckling adventure which marks the return of "Doc"Smith, author of the Skylark series, Lensman series, etc.
"The critical point in time of mankind's whole existence isthere—RIGHT THERE!" Prime Physicist Skandos slashed his red pencilacross the black trace of the chronoviagram. "WHY must man be sostupid? Anyone with three brain cells working should know that forthe strength of an individual he should be fed; not bled; that forthe strength of a race its virgins should be bred, not sacrificed topropitiate figmental deities. And it would be so easy to straightenthings out—nowhere in all reachable time does any other one man occupysuch a tremendously—such a uniquely—key-stone position!"
"Easy, yes," his assistant Furmin agreed. "It is a shame tolet Tedric die with not one of his tremendous potentialities realized.It would be easy and simple to have him discover carburization andthe necessary techniques of heat-treating. That freak meteorite neednot lie there unsmelted for another seventy years. However, simplecarburization was not actually discovered until two generations later,by another smith in another nation; and you know, Skandos, thatthere can be no such thing as a minor interference with the physicalevents of the past. Any such, however small-seeming, is bound to becatastrophically major."
"I know that." Skandos scowled blackly. "We don't know enough abouttime. We don't know what would happen. We have known how to do it for ahundred years, but have been afraid to act because in all that time noprogress whatever has been made on the theory."
He paused, then went on savagely: "But which is better, to haveour entire time-track snapped painlessly out of existence—if theextremists are right—or to sit helplessly on our fat rumps wringingour hands while we watch civilization build up to its own totaldestruction by lithium-tritiide bombs? Look at the slope of thatcurve—ultimate catastrophe is only one hundred eighty seven yearsaway!"
"But the Council would not permit it. Nor would the School."
"I know that, too. That is why I am not going to ask them. Instead, Iam asking you. We two know more of time than any others. Over the yearsI have found your judgment good. With your approval I will act now.Without it, we will continue our futile testing—number eight hundredeleven is running now, I believe?—and our aimless drifting."
"You are throwing the entire weight of such a decision on me?"
"In one sense, yes. In another, only half, since I have alreadydecided."
"Go ahead."
"So be it."
"Tedric, awaken!"
The Lomarrian ironmaster woke up; not gradually and partially, like oneof our soft modern urbanites, but instantaneously and completely, asdoes the mountain wild-cat. At one instant he lay, completely relaxed,sound asleep; at the next he had sprung out of bed, seized his swordand leaped hal