SHAMAR'S WAR
BY KRIS NEVILLE
ILLUSTRATED BY GUINTA
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Galaxy Science Fiction February 1964.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
He was Earth's secret weapon, as
deadly as a sword—and two-edged!
I
The year was 2346, and Earth, at the time, was a political democracy.
The population was ruled by the Over-Council and, in order ofdecreasing importance, by Councils, and Local Councils. Each wascomposed of representatives duly apportioned by popular vote betweenthe two contending parties. Executive direction was provided by avariety of Secretaries, selected by vote of the appropriate Councils.An independent Judiciary upheld the laws.
A unified Earth sent colonists to the stars. Back came strange talesand improbable animals.
Back, too, came word of a burgeoning technological civilization on theplanet Itra, peopled by entirely humanoid aliens.
Earth felt it would be wise for Itra to join in a Galactic Federationand accordingly, submitted the terms of such a mutually advantageousagreement.
The Itraians declined....
Space Captain Merle S. Shaeffer, the youngest and perhaps the mostnaive pilot for Trans-Universe Transport, was called unexpectedly tothe New York office of the company.
When Capt. Shaeffer entered the luxurious eightieth story suite, OldTom Twilmaker, the President of TUT, greeted him. With an arm aroundhis shoulder, Old Tom led Capt. Shaeffer to an immense inner office andintroduced him to a General Reuter, identified as the Chairman of theInterscience Committee of the Over-Council.
No one else was present. With the door closed, they were isolated inOlympian splendor above and beyond the affairs of men. Here judgmentswere final and impartial. Capt. Shaeffer, in the presence of two of themen highest in the ruling councils of Earth, was reduced to incoherentawe.
General Reuter moved about restlessly. Old Tom was serene and beatific.
When they were seated, Old Tom swiveled around and gazed longin silence across the spires of the City. Capt. Shaeffer waitedrespectfully. General Reuter fidgetted.
"Some day," Old Tom said at last, "I'm going to take my leave of this.Yes, gentle Jesus! Oh, when I think of all the souls still refusingto admit our precious Savior, what bitterness, oh, what sorrow is mywealth to me! Look down upon the teeming millions below us. How manyknow not the Lord? Yes, some morning, I will forsake all this and goout into the streets to spend my last days bringing the words of hopeto the weary and oppressed. Are you a Christian, Merle?"
General Reuter cracked his knuckles nervously while Capt. Shaeffermuttered an embarrassed affirmative.
"I am a deeply religious man," Old Tom continued. "I guess you've heardthat, Merle?"
"Yes sir," Capt. Shaeffer said.
"But did you know that the Lord has summoned you here today?" Old Tomasked.
"No, sir," Capt. Shaeffer said.
"General Reuter, here, is a dear friend. We've known each other, oh,many years. Distantly related through our dear wives, in fact. And weserve on the same Board of Directors and the same Charity Committees....A few weeks ago, when he asked me for a man, I c