A flame of pure thought ... green and unspeakably
vile ... thrust from its own supra-dimension into
the Solar warp, it found one whose malignance
matched its own—and who would bargain with it.
Against them—Ketrik, outlawed and alone!
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Planet Stories Fall 1946.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Ketrik came in from Perlac, came fast, using the Frequency Tuner allthe way. Now his great bulk came forward in the control-seat, his eyesfastened intently on the dark blue disk of Earth that loomed ahead.
"Strange," he muttered. "Strange, no Patrollers! I expected an escortat least, if not a challenge!"
But no one heard. Ketrik, as always, had come alone. The helio fromMark Travers, recorded on the sensitized receivers at Perlac, hadbeen more than a summons and a plea; it had contained an undertoneof urgency. Ketrik had left at once, making the trip from the newlydiscovered outer planet in record time, thanks to the secret power-unitwhich the Earth Council still coveted.
Ketrik thought of that now, as he neared Earth where he had not setfoot for so long. He remembered the tedious negotiations betweenEarth and Perlac, designed to bring the latter planet into the SolarFederation—a status hardly equitable to the Perlac government, dueto Earth's high-handed demands. For Earth still claimed priority onBrownell's "Frequency Tuner," despite the fact that he had been forcedto flee with his invention to Perlac; and since then there had been analarming exodus of Earth's scientists to Perlac where they could workout their ideas unhampered.[1]
The Earth Council remained haughty, adamant. Only six months ago therehad been a skirmish beyond Jupiter in which several Earth Patrollershad gone to flaming destruction against the speedy Perlac ships. The"Perlac Incident" was developing into open, bitter warfare. Venusremained wisely aloof, riding a crest of peace under the reign ofPrincess Aladdian. And on Mars, Dar Vaajo sat brooding on his ancientthrone, silent and watchful.
"Maybe I'm being a fool," Ketrik murmured now as he crossed the orbitof Earth's moon. "Mark Travers guaranteed me safe landing and fullprotection—nevertheless—"
Weary but still cautious, he switched to the auxiliary rocket-power,then went to work dismantling the Frequency Tuner. In a short timehe had jumbled the unit into a confusion of its component parts, andcarefully hid it away. He trusted Mark Travers ... but there wereothers.
As he picked up the grav-beam for his landing, he thought again ofMark. It would be good to see him again after four years. He wonderedif the lad's status as "Member of Council" had changed him any. Evenmore, he wondered at Mark's urgent message.
The city spread below. Then the landing field. Ketrik berthed withpracticed ease, stepped down from the lock.
The guards closed in fast. There were dozens of them. Ketrik had onlytime to glimpse the black-and-silver insignia of the elite CouncilGuard, the drawn guns and grim purpose on their faces. Even as hewhirled back toward his ship, the deadly song of a heat-beam soundedpast his ear—so close he could feel the swirling scorch of it.
Ketrik came erect and motionless. He turned slowly, brain wry with thethought that he'd come into a trap after all. But he smiled—a twistedsmile which failed to erase the hard lines of his face. His eyes werea puzzle, gray and serene but somehow mocking beneath the dark bangstumbling across his forehead.
The Guards formed a watc