--And Devious the Line of Duty

 Sometimes the most diligent and loyal thing an old man can do is fumble, drink beer, and let a young man get into trouble. .. . 

 by Tom Godwin

 Illustrated by Schelling

"We're almost there, my boy. " The big, gray-haired man who would beLieutenant Dale Hunter's superior--Strategic Service's Special Agent, George Rockford--opened another can of beer, his fifth. "There will beintrigue already under way when this helicopter sets down with us. Attempted homicide will soon follow. The former will be meat for me. Youwill be meat for the latter. "

Rockford was smiling as he spoke; the genial, engaging smile of a fondold father. But the eyes, surrounded by laughter crinkles, were asunreadable as two disks of gray slate. They were the eyes of a pokerplayer--or master con man. 

"I don't understand, sir, " Hunter said. 

"Of course not, " Rockford agreed. "It's a hundred light-years back toEarth. Here on Vesta, to make sure there _is_ an Earth in the future, you're going to do things never dreamed of by your Terran Space Patrolinstructors there. You'll be amazed, my boy. "

[Illustration]

Hunter said nothing but he felt a growing dislike for the condescendingRockford. Only a few weeks ago President Diskar, himself, had said: _Formore than a century these truly valiant men of the Space Patrol havebeen our unwavering outer guard; have fought and died by legions, thatEarth and the other worlds of the Terran Republic might remain free--_

"I suppose you know, " Rockford said, "that there will be no more thanfour days in which to stop the Verdam oligarchy from achieving itslong-time ambition of becoming big enough to swallow the TerranRepublic. "

"I know, " Hunter answered. 

Jardeen, Vesta's companion world, was the key. Jardeen was large andpowerful, with a space navy unsurpassed by that of any other singleworld. A large group of now-neutral worlds would follow Jardeen's leadand Jardeen's alliance with the Verdam People's Worlds would mean thequick end for the Terran Republic. But, if Jardeen could be persuaded toally with the Terran Republic, the spreading, grasping arms of theVerdam octopus would begin to wither away--

Rockford spoke again:

"Val Boran, Jardeen's Secretary of Foreign Relations, is the man whowill really make Jardeen's decision. I know him slightly. Since mypublic role is that of Acting Ambassador, he agreed--reluctantly--tocome to Vesta so that the talks could be on a neutral world. With himwill be Verdam's Special Envoy Sonig; a wily little man who has beenworking on Boran for several weeks. He seems to be succeeding quitewell--here's a message I received from Earth early this morning. "

Rockford handed him a sheet of the green Hyperspace Communicationspaper. The message was in code, with Rockford's scribbled translationbeneath:

_Intelligence reports Verdam forces already massed for attack in SectorA-13, in full expectation of Jardeen's alliance. Anti-Terran propaganda, stressing the New Jardeen Incident, being used in preparation for whatwill be their claim of "defensive action to protect innocent worlds fromTerran aggression. " Terran forces will be outnumbered five to one. Theurgent necessity of immediate and conclusive counter measures by you onVesta is obvious. _

Hunter handed the paper back, thinking, _It's worse than any of usthought_, and wondering how Supreme Command could ever have entrustedsuch an important task to a beer-guzzling old man from StrategicService--a branch so unknown that he had never even heard of it untilhis briefing the day before he left Earth. 

He saw that they had left the desert behind and were going up the longslope of a mountain. "The meeting will be on this mountain?" he asked. 

Rockford nodded. "The rustic Royal Retreat. Princess Lyla will be ourhostess. Her mother and father were killed in an airplane accident ayear ago and she was the only child. You will also get to meet Lord Narfof the Sea Islands, her husband-by-proxy, who regards himself as a rarecombination of irresistible woman-killer and rugged man-among-men. "

"Husband-by-proxy?" Hunter asked. 

"The king worshiped his daughter and his dying request to her was thatshe promise to marry Lord Narf. Narf's father had been the king'sclosest friend and the king was sure that his old friend's son wouldalways love and care for Lyla. Lyla dutifully, at once, married Narf byproxy, which is like a legally binding formal engagement under Vestanlaw. Four days from now the time limit is up and they'll be formallymarried. Unless she should do the unprecedented thing of renouncing theproxy marriage. "

Rockford drained the last of the beer from the can. "Those are thecharacters involved in our play. I have a plan. That's why I told SpacePatrol to send me a brand-new second lieutenant--young, strong, fairlyhandsome--and expendable. I hope you can be philosophical about thelatter. "

"Sir, " Hunter said, unable to keep a touch of stiffness out of his tone, "it is not exactly unknown in the Space Patrol for a man to die in theline of duty. "

"Ah . .. Yes. " Rockford was regarding him with disturbing amusement. "Youare thinking, of course, of dying dramatically behind a pair of blazingblasters. But you will soon learn, my boy, that a soldier's duty is toprotect the worlds he represents by whatever actions will produce thebest results, no matter how unheroic those actions may be. "

 * * * * *

"Attention, please. " It was the voice of the pilot. "We are now going toland. "

Hunter preceded Rockford out of the helicopter and onto the green grassof a small valley, across which tall, red-trunked cloud trees werescattered. Pale gray ghost trees, with knobby, twisted limbs, grewthickly among the cloud trees. There was a group of rustic cabins, connected by gravel paths, and a much larger building which he assumedwould be a meeting hall. 

"Hello. "

He turned, and looked into the brown eyes of a girl. Her green skirt andorange blouse made a gay splash of color, her red-brown hair waswind-tumbled and carefree about her shoulders, in her hand was a bouquetof bright spring flowers. 

But there was no smile of spring in the dark eyes and the snub-nosedlittle face was solemn and old beyond its years. 

"You're Lieutenant Hunter, aren't you?" she asked in the same low, quietvoice. 

"Princess Lyla!" There seemed to be genuine delight in Rockford'sgreeting as he hurried over. "You're looking more like a queen everyday!"

Her face lighted with a smile, making it suddenly young and beautiful. "I'm so glad to see you again, George--"

"Ah . .. Good afternoon. "

The voice was loud, unpleasantly gravelly. They turned, and Hunter saw atall, angular man of perhaps forty whose pseudogenial smile was notcompatible with his sour, square-jawed face and calculating little eyes. 

He spoke to Rockford. "You're Ambassador Rockford, here to represent theTerran Republic, I believe. " He jerked his head toward Princess Lyla, who was no longer smiling. "My wife, Princess Lyla. "

"Oh, she and I have been friends since she was ten, Lord Narf. "

"And this young man"--Narf glanced at Hunter--"is your aide, I presume. Lyla, did you think to send anyone after their luggage?"

A servant was already carrying their luggage--and cases of Rockford'sbeer--out of the helicopter. Hunter followed the other toward thecabins. Narf, in the lead, was saying:

". .. Ridiculously primitive here, now, but I'm having some decentfurniture and well-trained servants sent up from my Sea Islandestates. .. . "

 * * * * *

The cabin was large and very comfortable, as Rockford mentioned toPrincess Lyla. 

"I'm glad you like it, " she said. "Val Boran and Envoy Sonig are alreadyhere and we'll meet for dinner in the central hall. I thought that if weall got acquainted in a friendly atmosphere like that, it might help alot to. .. . "

"That reminds me"--Narf glanced at his watch--"I promised this Boran hecould have a discussion with me--Vesta-Jardeen tariff policies. Isuppose he's already waiting. Come on, Lyla--it will do you no harm tolisten and learn a bit about interplanetary business. "

For a long moment she looked at Narf silently, her eyes thoughtful, thenshe said to Rockford, "If you will excuse us, please. And be preparedfor Alonzo to come bounding in the minute he learns you're here. "

She walked beside Narf to the door and out it, the top of her dark haircoming just even with his shoulder. 

"And that, " Rockford said as he settled down in the largest, softestchair, "was king-to-be Narf, whose business ability is such that all hisinherited Sea Island estates are gone but the one Lyla saved for him andwho owes a total of ten million monetary units, to everyone from callgirls to yacht builders. "

"And she is going to marry him?" Hunter asked. "Marry that jackass andlet him bankrupt her kingdom?"

Rockford shrugged. "You may have noticed that she doesn't look the leastbit happy about it--but she is a very conscientious young lady whoregards it as her most solemn duty to keep the promise she made to herfather. For her, there is no escape. "

"But--"

"Your first duty will be to cultivate a friendship with her. I'm goingto use her, and you, to get what I want. "

"_Use_ us?"

"Yes. One of the most rigid requirements of a Strategic Service man'scharacter is that he be completely without one. "

 * * * * * * * * *

Rockford was asleep in his chair an hour later, three empty beer cansbeside him. Hunter watched him, his doubt of Rockford's competencegrowing into a conviction. Rockford had spoken knowingly of hisplan--and had done nothing but drink more beer. Now he was asleep whiletime--so limited and precious--went by. He hadn't even bothered to replyto Hunter's suggestion that perhaps he should call on Val Boran andcounteract some of Envoy Sonig's anti-Terran propaganda. 

Hunter came to a decision. If Rockford was still doing nothing whenmorning came, he would send an urgent message to Supreme Command. 

He went outside, to find a servant and learn how mail was handled. 

 * * * * *

"_Rook out!_"

Gravel flew as overgrown feet tried to stop, and something like a hugeblack dog lunged headlong around the corner and into his legs. He wentto the ground head first over the animal, acutely aware as he went downof the fascinated interest on the face of a not-so-distant servant. 

"I sorry, Rootenant. "

He got up, to look down at the doglike animal. There was a concernedexpression in its brown eyes and an apologetic grin on its face. Herecognized it as one of the natives of the grim starvation world ofAltair Four. The Altairians had emigrated to all sections of the galaxy, to earn a living in whatever humble capacity they could fill. Many wereempathic. 

"I run too fast to meet, Mr. Rockford, I guess. Are you hurt, Rootenant?"

He pulled a cloud tree needle out of his hand and looked grimly downinto the furry face. "In the future, try to look where you're going. "

"Oh, I rook, awr right. I just not see. My name is Aronzo, Rootenant, and I stay here awr the time and guard everything for Princess Ryra. Iprease to meet you and I wirr run errands for you, and do things rikemair your retters, for candy or cookies, which I are not supposed to eatmuch of, but Princess Ryra say not too many wirr hurt me--"

"Mail letters?" Hunter's animosity vanished. "I'm sorry I was rude, Alonzo--all my fault. I may write a letter to my dear old mothertonight, and if you would mail it for me in the morning--"

 * * * * *

Rockford left ahead of Hunter and it was a minute past the appointedtime when Hunter reached the meeting hall. He heard Narf's loud voiceinside:

". .. Boran must have stopped to watch the sunset. Told him I wantedeveryone here on time--"

The low voice of Lyla said something and Narf said, "Not necessary foryou to defend him, my dear. I made it plain to him. "

A new voice spoke from behind Hunter:

"It seems I have annoyed Lord Narf. "

He was a tall, black-eyed man, with the dark, saturnine face of anIndian. There was a strange, indefinable air of sadness about him whichreminded Hunter of the sombre little Princess Lyla. 

"You're Val Boran, sir?" he said. "I'm Lieutenant Hunter--"

Inside, Narf sat at the head of the table. On his left was Lyla, thenRockford. On his right was a spidery little man of about fifty, hisslick-back hair so tight against his skull that it gave his head theappearance of a weasel's. His lips were paper-thin under a long nose, like those of a dry and selfish old maid, but the round little eyesdarting behind thick glasses were cold and shrewd and missed nothing. Hewould be Verdam's Special Envoy Sonig. Hunter appraised him as a manvery dangerous in his own deceptive way. 

A servant showed them to their places at the table. Rockford and ValBoran exchanged greetings. The moment everyone was seated, Narf said, "Dinner tonight will--"

"Excuse me, " Lyla said, "but Mr. Sonig hasn't yet met--"

"Oh . .. The young fellow there--" Narf gestured with his hand. "Rockford's aide. Now, ring the chime, Lyla. Those forest stag steaksare already getting cold. I killed the beast myself, gentlemen, justthis morning; a long-range running shot that required a bit more thanluck. .. . "

The dinner was excellent, but no one seemed to notice. Narf was absorbedin the story of his swift rise to eminence in the Vestan Space Guard. There were humorous incidents:

". .. Can't understand why, but I seem to attract women like a magnet. I'm strictly the masculine type of male and I approve of this but it canbe a blasted nuisance when you're an ensign going up fast and yourcommander finds one of your blondes stowed away in your compartment. .. . "

And there were scenes of tense drama:

". .. Made a boyhood vow that I'd never settle for anything less than toalways be a man among men. Seem to have succeeded rather well. When Isaw the crew was almost to the snapping point from battle tension I knewthat as commander I'd have to set the example that would inspire. "

Hunter recalled Rockford's words of a few hours before: "_Narf got to becommander, finally, but only because he was the son of the king's bestfriend. His record is very mediocre. _"

Princess Lyla tried three times to start a conversation of generalinterest and was drowned out by Narf each time. Sonig's pretense ofbeing spellbound by Narf's stories was belied by the way his eyes keptdarting from Rockford to Val Boran. Val's own attention kept shiftingfrom Narf to the silent Lyla, whose downcast eyes betrayed herdiscouragement. She watched Val from under her eyelashes, to look awaywhenever their eyes met, and Hunter wondered if she was ashamed becauseNarf had given Sonig the seat of honor that should have belonged to Val. 

Of course, Narf's own position at the head of the table was actuallyLyla's. 

[Illustration]

". .. So there's no substitute for competent, unwavering leadership, "Narf was saying. "Received a citation for that one. "

Sonig nodded appreciatively. "Your military record well illustrates thefact that the tensions of danger and battle can bring forth in acompetent leader the highest kind of courage. But it seems to me thatthese same circumstances, if the leader is frightened or incompetent, can easily produce hysterical actions with disastrous consequences. Isthis true, your lordship?"

Rockford was watching Sonig intently and Hunter saw that there was aneager anticipation in Sonig's manner. 

"You are quite right, " Narf answered. "I've always had the ability toremain cool in any crisis. Very important. Let a commander get rattledand he may give any kind of an order. Like the New Jardeen Incident. "

A frozen silence followed the last five words. Hunter thought, _Sothat's what the little weasel was fishing for. .. . _

Rockford quietly laid down his fork. Val's face turned grim. Lyla lookedup in quick alarm and said to Narf:

"Let's not--"

"Don't misunderstand me, gentlemen, " Narf's loud voice went on. "_I_believe the commander of the Terran cruiser wouldn't have ordered it tofire upon the Verdam cruiser over a neutral world such as New Jardeenif he had been his rational self. Cold-war battle nerves. So he shotdown the Verdam cruiser and its nuclear converters exploded when it fellin the center of Colony City. Force of a hydrogen bomb--forty thousandinnocent people gone in a microsecond. Not the commander's fault, really--fault of the military system that failed to screen out itsunstable officers. "

"Yes, your lordship. But is it possible"--Sonig spoke verythoughtfully--"for a political power, which is of such a nature that itmust have a huge military force to maintain its existence, to thoroughlyscreen all its officers? So many officers are required--Can there everbe any assurance that such tragedies won't occur again and again, untila majority of worlds combine in demanding an end to aggression and war?"

Rockford spoke to the grim Val:

"I know, sir, that your sister was among the lost in Colony City. I amsorry. For the benefit of Mr. Sonig and Lord Narf, I would like tomention that the Verdam cruiser fired upon the Terran cruiser overneutral New Jardeen in open violation of Galactic Rule. An atmosphericfeedback of the Verdam cruiser's own space blasters tore out its sideand caused it to fall. The Terran cruiser never fired. "

"But Mr. Rockford--" Sonig spoke very courteously. "Isn't it true thatcertain safety devices prevent atmospheric feedback?"

"They do--unless accidentally or purposely disconnected. "

Sonig raised his eyebrows. "You imply a created incident, sir?"

"It doesn't matter, " Val Boran said. His tone was as grim as his faceand it was obvious he did not believe Rockford's explanation. "ColonyCity is a field of fused glass, now, its people are gone, and no amountof debating can ever bring them back. "

 * * * * * * * * *

The dismal dinner was finally over. Rockford stopped outside the door oftheir cabin to fill and light his pipe. 

"It was a profitable evening, " he said to Hunter. "I can start planningin detail now--after a little beer, that is. "

_He'll go to sleep after he drinks his beer_, Hunter thought, _and therewill never be any plan unless I--_

Soft footsteps came up the path behind them. It was Princess Lyla. 

"I want to apologize, " she said, "I just told Val . .. Mr. Boran the samething. "

Her face was a pale oval in the starlight, her eyes dark shadows. "I'msorry my husband mentioned the New Jardeen incident. "

"That's all right, Lyla, " Rockford said. "No harm was done. "

"He's an ex-military man, and I guess it's his nature to be moreforthright than tactful. "

"You certainly can't condemn him for that, " Rockford said. "In fact, he's an extraordinary teller of entertaining stories. It was a mostenjoyable evening. "

 * * * * *

"And, in a way, it was, " Rockford said when she was gone and they werein the cabin. He was seated in the softest chair, a can of beer in hishand, as usual. 

Hunter thought of the way she had looked in the starlight and said, "Whydid she let that windbag sit at the head of the table and ruin themeeting that she had arranged?"

"He'll soon be her husband--I suppose she feels she should be loyal tohim. "

"But--"

"But what?"

"Nothing. It's none of my business. "

"Oh?" Rockford smiled in a way Hunter did not like. "You think so, eh?"

Hunter changed the subject. "Are you going to start talking to Boran toundo the damage Narf and Sonig have done?"

"It would be a waste of time, my boy. Val Boran's mind is already madeup. "

"Then what are you going to do?"

"Drink six cans of beer and go to sleep. "

"I thought you had a plan. "

"I have, a most excellent plan. "

"What is it?"

"You'd scream like a banshee if you knew. You'll learn--if you manage tolive that long. "

Rockford was sound asleep an hour later, snoring gently. Hunter satthinking, hearing the steady murmur of a voice coming from Val Boran'scabin. Sonig's voice--using every means of persuasion he could think of, at the moment capitalizing on the New Jardeen incident and Boran'swithheld grief over the sister he had lost. 

And the Terran Republic's representative was sprawled fat and mindlessin a fog of beer fumes. 

Hunter hesitated no longer. The fate of Earth and the Terran Republichung in the balance and time was desperately limited--if there was nowany time at all. 

He took paper and pen and began the urgent message to Supreme Command, headed, TOP EMERGENCY. It would be sent via Hyperspace Communicationsfrom the city and would span the hundred light-years within seconds. 

 * * * * *

He was up before Rockford the next morning, and went out into the brightsunlight. He looked hopefully for Alonzo, not wanting to be seen mailingthe letter in person. Rockford, despite his drunken stupors, could beshrewdly observant and he might deduce the contents of the letter beforeSupreme Command ever received it. 

He was some distance from the cabin when he heard the pound of paddedfeet behind him. 

"Rootenant, " Alonzo had the grin of a genial canine idiot. "Do you wantme to mair your retter to your dear ore mother?"

"Yes, I have the letter right here. "

"O. K. I got to hurry, because the mair hericopter reaves right away. Icharge six fig cookies or three candy bars or--"

"Here--take it and run--and try not to slobber all over it. "

 * * * * *

They were served breakfast in the cabin. Afterward, Rockford went for abrief talk with Princess Lyla. He came back and settled down in theeasy-chair, his pipe in his hand. 

"Your morning's duty won't be at all unpleasant, " he said. "Theobnoxious and repulsive things will begin to happen to you later. Maybethis afternoon. "

"What do you mean?"

"This morning you will go for a walk with Princess Lyla and discusschanging the Vestan Space Guard into a force along Terran Space Patrollines. Narf is still in bed, by the way. "

Rockford added, "I'll give you a bit of sage advice, for your owngood--try not to fall in love with her. "

 * * * * * * * * *

Hunter and Princess Lyla sat together on the high hill, their backsagainst the red trunk of a cloud tree. On the mountain's slope to theirright lay the dark and junglelike Tiger Forest--he wondered if it wastrue that the savage tree tigers never left its borders--while thetoylike cabins of the camp were below them. The mountain's slope droppedon down to the deserts, beyond which were other mountains, far away andtranslucent azure. 

"It was George who suggested we come up here, " she said. "He knows I dothat often when the responsibilities of being queen of a world--I'm suchan ordinary and untalented person--become too much for me. I always feelbetter when I sit up here and look down on the mountains and deserts. "

"Yes, " he said politely. 

"A ruling princess can be so alone, " she said. "That's why I appreciateGeorge's friendship so much--it's never because of any ulterior motivebut because he likes me. "

_I'm going to use her, and you, to get what I want. _

He looked at her, at the lines of sadness on the face that was too oldfor its years, felt the way she was so grateful to Rockford for what wasonly a cold-blooded pretense of friendship, and the dislike for Rockfordincreased. He could not force himself to speak civilly of Rockford so hechanged the subject:

"I understand you wanted to talk to me about the Space Guard?"

"Yes. Even a neutral world can't feel safe these days and Georgesuggested that. "

"I'll be glad to help all I can. Of course, the change will requiretime. "

"I can understand that. They say you Space Patrol officers begintraining at sixteen, after passing almost impossible qualificationtests. "

"The tests can seem extremely difficult to a farm boy from Kansas. I--"

"Kansas?" Her eyes lighted with interest. "My grandmother was fromKansas! She used to tell me about the green plains of grain in thespring, and how different they were from the deserts of Vesta. .. . "

It was almost noon when he took her hand and helped her to her feet, realizing guiltily that they had talked all morning without ever gettingback to the cold, dry facts of military efficiency. 

"It was nice to talk up here this morning, " she said. She looked down atthe cabins and the shadow fell again across her face. "But nothing downthere has been changed by it, has it?"

He held to her hand longer than was necessary as they went down thesteep part of the hill. She did not seem to mind. 

When they reached her cabin she said, "It's still a little while untillunch--time enough for you to give me a rough outline of the Space Guardchange. "

Everything inside the cabin was feminine. None of Narf's possessionswere visible. There was a heavy door leading into Narf's half of thecabin, with a massive lock. Hunter wondered if it was left unlocked atnight, thought of Narf's sour face and leering little eyes, and foundthe thought repulsive. 

The answer to his conjecture came with the entrance of a servant as theyseated themselves. 

"By your leave, your highness, " the servant said, bowing, "I came tomake Lord Narf a key for that inner door. "

"A key?" There was alarm in her tone. "But we're not married--not yet!"

A puzzled expression came to the man's face. "Lord Narf told me, yourhighness, that you had ordered the duplicate key made and given to himbefore evening. I found I could not do this without first borrowing yourkey for a pattern. "

There was a frightened look in her eyes as they went to the door andback to the servant. "_No_ . .. Don't try to make a key!"

"Yes, your highness. " The servant bowed and turned away. 

A familiar gravelly voice spoke from behind them:

"Ah . .. An unscheduled little meeting, I see!"

It was Narf, anger on his face, already within the doorway as theservant went out it. 

"We were going to talk about the Space Guard, " Lyla said in anemotionless tone. "Lieutenant Hunter has promised to show how SpacePatrol methods will improve it and--"

"By a coincidence, Sonig and I were discussing military matters only afew minutes ago, " Narf said. He looked at Hunter. "I'm afraid that Sonigand I agree that the Terran Space Guard is quite out of date, now. _The_ fighting force of the galaxy is the Verdam's Peoples Guards. "

Narf spoke to Lyla, "You may go ahead and talk with this lieutenant ifyou wish to, but it's a waste of time. I'm arranging to have Sonig sendPeoples Guards officers here to supervise the rebuilding of the SpaceGuard. 

"And now"--there was insinuation in Narf's tone as he spoke toHunter--"I have to give Sonig a demonstration of my skill with weapons. He insists on it--he has heard of several of my modest feats. "

Narf left the door open behind him so that by turning his head as hewalked, he could see the two inside. 

"I suppose I might as well go, " Hunter said. 

Lyla did not answer. She sat motionless, staring unseeingly before her, and he wondered if she was thinking of how very soon Narf would be kingand his authority as great as hers. 

She did not notice when he quietly left the room. 

 * * * * * * * * *

Rockford was waiting in the cabin, still in the easy-chair. 

"Well, " Rockford said, "what do you think of her?"

Hunter tried to keep the personal dislike out of his coldly formalreply:

"If you refer to your suggestion that I not make love to her, sir, I canassure you that such a suggestion was never necessary. I happen to havea code of ethics. "

"I didn't say 'make love'. I said, 'fall in love'. That's quite ethical. Did you complete your discussion with her?"

"Well . .. No. "

"You must do that this afternoon, then. Can't let anything as importantas that be delayed. "

Hunter stared at him, trying to find one small grain of sanity inRockford's actions. The Verdam empire already had Jardeen within itsgrasp, and Vesta, and the end for Earth was inevitable. And Rockfordslept, and drank beer, and regarded it as very important that the VestanSpace Guard discussions--of a change that Narf would never permit--becontinued without delay. 

He walked slowly into his own room. In the nightmare situation offrustration there was one single sane and stable conviction for his mindto cling to: Supreme Command would by now have received his message andshot back the reply that would relieve Rockford of his command. Perhapsit wasn't yet too late--

Then his mind reeled as a new conviction struck it. 

There was a sheet of paper on his bed--a message. 

_His_ message!

. .. SITUATION EXTREMELY CRITICAL . .. VAL BORAN ALREADY CONVINCED BYSONIG'S PROPAGANDA . .. MUST REPORT ROCKFORD IS UTTERLY INCOMPETENT, HISMIND AND WILL DESTROYED BY ALCOHOL . .. REPEAT: ROCKFORD IS DOINGNOTHING, HIS MIND DESTROYED BY ALCOHOL. .. . 

The words screamed up at him and he felt the sickness of one who seesthe last faint hope shattered and gone. All was lost, now. .. . 

He went outside, feeling a savage desire for violence rising above thesickness. 

"Rootenant!" Alonzo came bounding to meet him and slid to a halt withhis saucer feet scattering gravel and the idiotic grin on his face. "Imair your retter and you owe me six fig cook--"

It occurred to Hunter that it was not Alonzo that should be punished. He, Hunter, was the one who deserved execution for ever entrustinganything so important as the message to an imbecilic animal. 

He said with cold distinctness:

"The . .. Letter . .. Is . .. Inside. "

"Oh?" Alonzo blinked. "I sure mair something, awr right. After Mr. Rockford correct it. "

"_Correct it?_"

"Oh, sure. Mr. Rockford, he up rong before you this morning to find meand say you are writing a retter rast night and I must bring it by forhim to make awr your mistakes over again. "

_So Rockford was watching all the time, pretending to be in a drunkensleep. .. . _

"Rootenant--" Alonzo shifted his big feet impatiently. "You stirr owe mesix fig--"

Hunter swung around and strode away, afraid he might decide to choke theanimal after all. A culture of twenty worlds was the same as alreadydestroyed, and he was held in a maddening quagmire of helplessness by acrafty alcoholic and a dog with the mind of a small child. 

"Ah . .. My boy!" Rockford came out of the cabin, beaming as thoughnothing had ever happened. "Look to your left, among those ghosttrees--Narf is demonstrating his quick-draw skill to Sonig. Narf issupposed to be a very dangerous man, you know. "

Hunter looked, and saw Narf whipping up the blunt, ugly spread-beamblaster--known to soldiers as the Coward's Special, because at shortrange it could not miss and would always cripple and blind a man forlife even though it would not always kill him. Sonig was standing by, nodding his weasel head and smiling in open admiration. 

"Of course, " Rockford said, "Sonig isn't mentioning the needle gun allVerdam envoys carry up their sleeve. He's flattering Narf's ego for areason--he intends to have Vesta, as well as Jardeen, sewed up for theVerdam empire when he leaves here. "

"And so far as I can see, " Hunter said coldly, "Sonig never is goingto have anything vaguely resembling intelligent resistance to hisplans. "

[Illustration]

"Ah, yes . .. So far as you can see, " Rockford agreed amiably. "But youobey my order to take Lyla for another walk and everything will turn outall right. In fact, I'll speak to her about that right now. "

Hunter stared after Rockford as he walked away. There could be nopossible shred of doubt--Rockford was insane!

The breeze shifted and the voice of Narf came:

". .. Certainly no weapon for a timid man, this spread-beam blaster. Haveto meet the enemy man-to-man at close range. "

"In that respect, too, " Sonig said, "you remind me of our great GeneralPaluk. His skill in hand-to-hand combat was something that--"

"Rootenant--"

Hunter quivered and steeled himself. 

"Rootenant--" Alonzo came to a flopping halt beside him. "I terrPrincess Ryra and she say I are bad to be mad at you. So I not mad, evenif you didn't give me my pay. "

"Thank you, " Hunter said acidly. "I was deeply disturbed by yourresentment. "

"Oh, I know, you don't rike me. But I think you not as mean as you act. But Rord Narf--he is. I terr you, he awready mad enough to kirr you. "

"What? Lord Narf wants to kill me?"

"Oh, he know you hord Princess Ryra's hand awrmost awr the way down thehirr this morning. Mr. Sonig, he see you, and he run and terr Rord Narfand Mr. Boran, too. "

"But I was only helping her down the hill. "

"Rord Narf, he are going to say mean things about it to Princess Ryra, too. I know. He are awrways saying mean things to my Princess Ryra. "

Alonzo sighed, a sound strangely humanlike in its sadness. 

"Who wirr watch over my Princess Ryra after she marry Rord Narf? Hesaid, 'The first thing to go around here wirr be that stupidbrabber-mouth animar that are not worth what it costs to feed it. ' Ithink maybe he are afraid that if he ever hit my Princess Ryra, I wirrkirr him. " The brown eyes looked up at Hunter, and suddenly they wereunlike he had ever seen them; cold with deliberate decision. "I wirr, too. "

 * * * * * * * * *

Hunter was still standing by the cabin, thinking of what Alonzo hadsaid, when Rockford returned. 

"I also stopped by to see Val Boran, " Rockford said. "While you're offwith Lyla, we'll go to the city. Lyla is giving us free access to theRoyal Library and the records of a neutral world carry more weight thananything I could say. Not that it's going to change his mind any--butit will give me a chance to work on him in another way. "

Rockford went into the cabin as Val Boran came up the path, PrincessLyla walking beside him. She was saying, ". .. And anything we have inthe library is yours for the asking. "

They were close enough for Hunter to see her expression as she looked upat Val and added with what seemed a touch of wistfulness, "I'll be gladto go in with you and Mr. Rockford and do what I can to help if you wantme to. "

"Lyla"--it was the grating voice of Narf who seemed to have the abilityto materialize anywhere--"I'm sure the man knows his business. Besides, I want to talk to you about something as soon as I have finished mydiscussion with Mr. Sonig. "

With that, Narf started on toward his cabin. Sonig, close behind him, paused long enough to bow to Lyla and say with the meaningless smile, "Good afternoon, Princess Lyla. Your husband was just demonstrating hismarvelous skill with weapons. I would very much dislike"--the littleeyes darted to Hunter and back again--"being the man who aroused hislordship's wrath. "

Then Sonig followed Narf, with one last flickering glance at Hunter tosee how the remark had fallen. 

Rockford came out of the cabin with his brief case and said to Val, "Arewe ready to go?"

"I just told Val"--Lyla spoke quickly--"that I would be glad to go alongand help any way I can. " The words were addressed to Rockford but hereyes were on Val, with the same wistful expression. "Do you want me to?"

Val answered her with cool, formal courtesy: "The librarian can find allthe records we will need, Princess Lyla, without our interrupting yourschedule for the day or your discussion with your husband. Thank youvery much. "

For an instant Lyla's face had the hurt expression of a child rebuffedwithout reason. Then she looked away and Val turned to Rockford andsaid, "I'm ready when you are, sir. "

Lyla watched them walk away and she was still watching when thehelicopter had lifted into the air and faded from sight. 

Hunter hesitated, then spoke to her:

"I understand you want to talk more about the Space Guard, PrincessLyla?"

"_Princess_ Lyla!" Her lips curled as she turned to face him and sheseemed to spit the words at him in sudden, unexpected resentment. "Ilove the meaningless sound of my official figurehead title! It's so muchbetter than being regarded as a living person with feelings that can behurt!"

"But Princ . .. I mean--" He floundered, not quite sure what had causedher reaction. 

She made a visible effort to compose herself. "I'm sorry, " she said. "Isuppose my . .. Husband . .. Is quite right; an immature female has nobusiness trying to rule a world and the sooner the marriage isconfirmed, the sooner a competent man can take over the job. "

"No, " he said. "I think--"

He decided that what he thought had better be left unsaid. 

"I'll"--she looked toward the cabin she shared with Narf--"let you knowwhen we can talk. "

She went back toward the cabin, walking slowly. From inside Narf's halfof it came the sound of Narf's voice as he spoke to Sonig:

". .. Of course, this collection of heads is nothing compared with what Ihave in the Sea Islands . .. But some interesting stories here . .. Takethat snow fox there. .. . "

Hunter sighed, and saw that Lyla had stopped before her door, as thoughdreading to enter. Narf's voice droned on:

". .. Only wounded, so I finished it with a knife. Even with its hearthalf cut out, it still wanted to live . .. Beautiful pelt . .. Coat forJanalee, the strip-tease queen . .. Always had a way with women--Lylacould tell you that . .. Had my pick of hundreds but I'm letting her bemy choice. .. . "

He saw Lyla half lift her hand, as in some mute gesture of protest, thenshe turned and walked swiftly away; up the path that led into the ghosttrees, and out of sight. 

He waited, but she did not come back. He went into his cabin and movedabout restlessly, hearing again Narf's sadism-and-sex boasting andseeing again how she turned and almost ran from it--

 * * * * *

"_Rootenant!_"

Alonzo was panting, a look of frantic appeal in his eyes. 

"Prease herp me . .. Princess Ryra . .. She wirr die!"

He felt his heart lurch. "She's hurt?" he demanded, and was already onhis way to the door. 

"She are about to cry and she are going to where the tree tigers riv. They wirr kirr her--prease come with me!"

He asked no more questions but went out the door and up the path, Alonzorunning ahead of him. 

The ghost trees grew thinner as they went up the mountain's slope, andthe blue-green fernlike trees of the tiger forest began to appear. Theygrew thicker and thicker, until the ground was black with their shadowsand the midday sunlight was filtered out by the foliage overhead. Alonzowas trailing her, his nose to the ground, and Hunter hurried closebehind him, watching for the red-and-white of the clothes she waswearing and hoping they would not find her too late. 

They were deep in the forest when they found her. 

She was standing motionless in the center of a clearing, facing awayfrom him and looking as small and alone as a lost child. She seemed tobe waiting. .. . 

He realized for the first time how alone she really was, with only adoglike alien, Alonzo, to love her or care what might happen to her, andwith a future she could not bear to face. But Rockford had been wrongwhen he had said, _For her, there is no escape_. 

There was escape for her. She had only to wait, as she was waiting now, and it would come in the windlike whisper of a tiger's rush through thegrass behind her. .. . 

He hurried to her. She turned, and he saw the stains of tears now dry onher face and in her eyes the darkness of utter defeat. 

"I was afraid you might get hurt, Lyla--"

Then, seemingly without volition on his part, he put his arms around herand she was clinging to him and crying in muffled sobs and trying to saysomething about, "_I didn't think anybody cared. .. . _"

It was some time later, when her crying was finished, that he wasreminded of the tigers by Alonzo:

"Rootenant . .. Awr the time, some tigers are coming croser and croser. We better get her out of here, Rootenant, before they find us. "

Lyla looked down at Alonzo. "Thank you, Alonzo, for watching over me and. .. And--" Her voice caught and she dropped to her knees and hugged theshaggy head tight against her. 

Hunter watched ahead, Lyla beside him as they went through the densetrees. Alonzo walked soft-footed behind them, watching the rear. Whenthey came to the first ghost trees and the dwindling of the tiger trees, Hunter thought it safe to walk slower and talk to her. 

"I saw you go, " he said. "I didn't know where until Alonzo came runningto tell me. "

"I heard him bragging about killing, and about his women--I was weak, wasn't I?"

"Weak?"

"I was afraid to face the future, just because it isn't to be exactlylike I thought I wanted. "

"What was the kind you wanted, Lyla?"

"Oh . .. I guess I wanted a husband who could see me only, and children, and evenings together in the flower garden, and . .. Well, all the silly, sentimental little things that mean so much to a woman. "

He thought, _Even with its heart half cut out, it still wanted to live. .. Coat for Janalee . .. The strip-tease queen. .. . _

They passed through the last of the tiger trees and she said, "We'resafe, now. The tigers never attack anyone outside their forest. "

She was walking slowly and he said, "We should get on back before you'remissed, shouldn't we?"

"Who would miss me?" she asked. "So long as I remain physically intactfor the marriage night, who cares where or why I went away?"

There was the cold bleakness of winter in her eyes as she spoke, and inher voice the first undertone of brass. He saw that this was already thebeginning of the change that Narf would make in her; the transformationof a girl young and wanting to love and be loved into a hard and cynicalwoman. 

He put his arm around her shoulder, thinking that he should tell herthat _he_ cared and that she must never let Narf change her. 

"Lyla, I--"

He realized how futile and foolish the words would sound. She wouldmarry Narf, he would return to Earth, and they would never meet again. There were no words for him to speak on this last walk together, no wayto tell her that he wanted to help her, to protect and care for her. Noway to express the feeling inside him. .. . 

He did what seemed as natural under the circumstances as it had been forhim to put his arm around her in the clearing. He tilted up her face andbent his head to kiss her. 

And walked with jarring impact into the knobby elbow of a ghost treelimb. 

 * * * * * * * * *

The sun was down and dusk was darkening the camp when they arrived backat her cabin. 

"Thank you, Dale, " she said. Her hand squeezed his arm. "I didn't know Ihad a friend . .. But now we'll have to be strangers because--"

[Illustration]

Gravel crunched loudly on one of the paths in the ghost trees and theylooked back, to see Narf and Sonig coming, walking swiftly. Even at thedistance, there was anger like a red aura about Narf. 

"Well, " Lyla said softly, "here comes my medicine. "

Sonig stopped at his own cabin, to stand just within the doorway, watching. Narf strode on and stopped before Hunter and Lyla, his facetwisted with savage hatred as he looked at Hunter. He spoke to Lyla withgrating vehemence:

"You've done an excellent job of making an ass of yourself--and ofme--haven't you? Come on in the cabin!"

Narf seized her by the arm, towering over her as he jerked her aroundtoward the door. Hunter stepped quickly forward, feeling the hot flashof his own anger, but there was the paleness of Lyla's face as shelooked back, an appeal on it that said, _No!_ He stopped, realizing thatNarf would not physically harm the woman who would make him king ofVesta, and that any interference on his part would only make everythingthe harder for her. 

He watched the two go into the cabin--into Lyla's half--and Narf slammedthe door shut behind them. There followed the quick bang of windowsbeing closed, and then Narf's muffled tirade began: "_. .. May think I'ma fool . .. I'm going to tell you a few things. .. . _"

Sonig was still standing within his doorway. Hunter knew, without seeingit, that the thin-lipped smile would be on Sonig's face. 

He turned and walked back to his own cabin. There was nothing he coulddo but withdraw--and listen from a distance and be ready to act if itseemed she was in danger. 

He sat on his doorstep in the darkness, hearing occasional phrases inNarf's unrelenting abuse. One was: "_So prim you had to countermand myorder for a key to that lock--then you went out to play with that secondlieutenant. .. . _"

Alonzo materialized out of the darkness, coming as silently as a shadow. He was no longer the bumbling clown. The idiotic grin was gone and hiseyes were green fire, slanted and catlike, his teeth flashing white in asnarl as he looked back toward the sound of Narf's voice. 

"She are _my_ Princess Ryra, " Alonzo said. "He are cursing her. If heever hurt her, I wirr tear out his throat and his river. "

"He won't hurt her, Alonzo, " Hunter said, wishing he could be sure. "He'll only use words on her. "

"He never ask her _why_ she run away--he onry curse her and threaten herbecause she embarrass him. "

"Embarrass him?"

"He and Sonig, they see you coming out of the forest with your armaround her. They watch with high-power grasses. "

"But there was nothing wrong in that--"

"That are what Princess Ryra say. She say you onry put your arm aroundher because she are stirr scared of the tigers. And then he say, whatabout the other? And he cawr her awrful bad names. "

"What other?"

"Oh, when you are bending down to kiss Princess Ryra and are wawrkinginto tree. "

He gulped. "_They saw that?_"

"Oh, sure. Rord Narf are so mad he want to kirr you right then but Sonigsay, 'Wait, I have a pran. ' Then Sonig say, 'It are too bad we don'thave a camera--we could have made that rootenant the raffing stock offorty worlds. '"

The thought made Hunter gulp again. 

"What was Sonig's plan that Narf told Lyla about?" He asked. 

"Oh, he not terr _her_. I hear Sonig terr Rord Narf when I spy. Sonigsay, 'Tomorrow we be friendry and we ret those two go for another wawrkin the woods. And we have cameras with terescope rens and when they kissand hug we take moving pictures. '"

"Why, the gutter-bred rat--"

"And Rord Narf say, 'That is what we wirr do. And then I wirr kirr himas soon as we have the pictures and she wirr have to toe the mark fromthen on because if I pubricry show the pictures of what she did, shewirr be ashamed to show her face anywhere on Vesta. '"

"Why, the--" He could not think of a suitable expression. 

"And then Sonig say, 'To make sure she go out tomorrow, you bawr her outgood so she wirr want to cry on the rootenant's shourder again. ' AndRord Narf say, 'I wirr be very grad to terr the two-timing hussy what Ithink of her, don't worry. '"

"Why, she was only a scared girl and that rat thinks she--"

 * * * * *

"_. .. Your promise to your dying father_, " Narf's voice came inaccusation. "_He's gone, now, and you can betray him, too! Why don't yougo all the way in your deceptions . .. Your father will never know. .. . _"

Alonzo said, "I think I go back and stay croser to her cabin, Rootenant. "

It was an hour later, and Narf's voice had settled to a low, steadygrowling, when Hunter heard a helicopter settle down near the camp. Aminute later, Val Boran was outlined momentarily in the doorway of thecabin he shared with Sonig. There followed the exchange of a fewwords--interrogation in Val's tone--and then the sound of Sonig's voicealone, which continued for minute after minute. 

_Sonig is telling him all about it_, Hunter thought, _including mywalking into that tree. But there won't be one word in sympathy withLyla. _

Sonig's story ended and Hunter saw Val leave the cabin. He came straightup the path toward Hunter, looming tall in the darkness as he stoppedbefore him. There was the pale gleam of metal in Val's belt--a blaster. His voice came cold and flat:

"I want to talk to you, Lieutenant. "

Hunter sighed, thinking, _I suppose he wants to kill me, too_. 

He got up and said, "We'll go inside. Shut the door behind you--I don'twant your friend straining his ears to hear us. "

Val sat tall even in the chair, his face like a carving in a darkgranite and his eyes as bright and hard. 

"I understand that you took Princess Lyla into the tiger forest today. "Val's hand was very near the blaster. "I understand you then played therole of affectionate rescuer. "

"Do you believe that story?" Hunter asked. 

"Do you have a different one?"

"You might ask Lyla. Or Alonzo. Alonzo is the one who came to me forhelp when he saw she was going out to die. "

"To die?" A startled expression came into the black eyes. "She _wanted_to die?"

"I'll tell you what happened, " Hunter said, and told him the story, omitting only the embarrassing kissing incident and knowing that Sonighad not. 

Val was silent for a while after Hunter finished speaking, then he said, "It isn't for me to comment upon Lord Narf's character or actions. Sheis his wife by her own choice. But the thought of someone else takingher out and--"

"I know. It wasn't so. " Then Hunter added, "You think a great deal ofher, don't you?"

Val's face hardened and Hunter thought he would not answer. Then hesmiled a little, even though without humor, and said:

"Since I came here to kill you if I thought you deserved it, I suppose Iam obligated to answer your question. My regard for Princess Lyla is therespectful one that any civilized man would have for another man'swife. "

There was an unintended implication in the statement and Hunter made aconjecture:

"You and Princess Lyla were engaged--how long ago?"

There was surprise on Val's face, and something like pain quicklymasked. "So she's already making it public information?"

"No. I learned of it from . .. Other sources. I don't know, of course, why you persuaded her to break the engagement--that's none of mybusiness, anyway. "

"No, " Val said. "It's none of your business. I'll tell you this: _I_didn't ask her to break the engagement. But so long as that was what shewanted, I certainly wasn't going to beg her to change her mind. "

Val stood up to go. "If you don't mind, I would rather you said nothingto Princess Lyla about this visit tonight. I'm afraid my misplaced surgeof chivalry would make me look like a fool to her. "

Then, as an afterthought, Val added, "Mr. Rockford had further businessin the city. "

 * * * * * * * * *

It was late when Narf finally left Lyla's part of the cabin. He went tothe cabin occupied by Val and Sonig, aroused Sonig, and the two of themwent to the helicopter field. Hunter heard the helicopter leaving forthe city a few minutes later. Val's cabin remained dark and after awhile, the light in Lyla's cabin went out. 

He went to bed, but not to sleep. Over and over, a lonely littlePrincess Lyla clung to him for comfort, crying, while he held her close. He twisted and turned restlessly as he thought of the hours she had satalone and unloved while Narf poured out his hatred and fury on her. 

There was a yearning for her, a desire to hold her and always protecther, that would not let him sleep. And he realized the reason why. 

He thought miserably, _I'm in love with her_!

 * * * * *

Rockford was in bed, snoring loudly, with six empty beer cans on thefloor beside him, when Hunter got up. He went outside and found Alonzowaiting for him. 

"They got it awr pranned to kirr you for sure today, Rootenant. "

"How?" he asked. 

"Rast night, Rord Narf and Sonig go to the city and Rord Narf, he hirefour bad-rooking men with brasters, and Sonig hire four more that arehis countrymen, and they bring these men back and now they are hiding inthe woods. And they awrso bring back movie cameras with terescoperenses. And Rord Narf raff and say he wirr marry Princess Ryra todaybefore your dead body is even coor. "

"Oh?" Hunter said. He thought of the snoring Rockford and his words oftwo days before: _If you manage to live that long. _ How, he wondered, could the lazy old drunkard have made such an accurate guess?

"And then, " Alonzo said, "Rord Narf wake up Princess Ryra--onry I knowshe wasn't asreep--and he terr her he ruv her and have awready made awrthe arrangement for them to get married today, right after runch. And heterr her she is right about the Space Guard and she wirr have untilrunch to tawrk to you about it. "

There was the sound of Narf's door opening and closing and Alonzo said, "I go now--Rord Narf might guess that I are terring you things. "

A few minutes later Narf and Sonig came down the path toward Hunter. Both carried packsacks--the cameras, of course--and both carriedlong-range rifle blasters. 

"Good morning, lieutenant!" Narf was smiling and pseudogenial again. "About last night--sometimes a man has to be stern with his wife toimpress her. Very foolish thing she did--might have been killed. I'mafraid I was so badly shaken with worry over her that I didn't eventhank you for bringing her back. "

"A beautiful morning, lieutenant!" Sonig was smiling, coming as close tobeaming as the nature of his face would permit. "Lord Narf is going totake me stag hunting this morning--I'll get some lessons from a master. Did you ever see his lordship's collection of heads? Amazing!"

"But it seems a sportsman's collection is never quite complete, " Narfsaid. He was still smiling but the hatred was burning like a fire in hiseyes as he looked at Hunter. "There's one more head I must have--Iintend to get it this morning. "

Narf and Sonig were gone when Lyla came out of her cabin, her face paleand drawn. Val came out of his cabin and the two spoke to each other ingreeting. There was a silence, in which neither seemed to know what tosay. 

Finally, awkwardly, Val said, "I heard about yesterday, Lyla. Why didyou go into the tiger forest?"

"Oh . .. I was just walking, I guess, and didn't notice where. "

"You went there to die, didn't you?"

"I . .. When you have nothing left--" Then she lifted her head in a proudgesture and said, "Should it matter to you?"

For a moment Val had the look of a man struck. Then it was gone and hesaid in an emotionless voice:

"No. I was asking about something that is only your husband's business. I won't do it again. "

He turned away, back to his cabin. 

"Val--" She took a quick step after him, the proud air gone and her armsoutstretched. "I didn't mean--"

He turned back, his tone politely questioning. 

"Yes?"

"I only wanted--" Then her arms dropped and the life went out of hervoice. "What does it matter . .. What does anything matter?"

She hurried into her cabin and the door closed behind her. 

 * * * * *

Rockford spoke from the doorway behind Hunter:

"Well, my boy, are you ready for your day's duties?"

He followed Rockford inside, where Rockford settled down in theeasy-chair and yawned. 

"I had a rather busy night, " he said. "Certain events occurred yesterdayafternoon which forced me to change my own plans to some extent. Or toset them ahead a day, I should say. "

He made an effort to put the vision of Lyla from his mind and asked, "Did you make any progress with Val Boran?"

"No, I'm afraid not. Of course, I didn't expect to. " Rockford yawnedagain. "There was another message from Supreme Command. The situationis getting worse. Which reminds me of your Duty For The Day and the factthat if you can live through it, you will have it made. "

_He's my superior_, Hunter thought. _He's supposed to outrank a SpacePatrol General--and he's amused by the situation he's here to remedy. _

"Right now, " Rockford said, "Lyla faces a grim future and feels like shedoesn't have a friend in the world. She needs a shoulder to cry on. Youwill take her for a walk and supply that shoulder. "

Somehow, even though the order had nothing to do with the Terran-Verdamcrisis, he did not have the heart to object. She had been crying beforeshe even reached her door. Later, after he had comforted her, he woulddemand that Rockford get down to determined effort on the Verdamproblem. No more than an hour would be lost by that. .. . 

"Yes, sir, " he said. "But in the interests of Princess Lyla's safety, Ihad better talk to her in her cabin. Alonzo saw Narf and Sonig bringback eight--"

"Professional killers, to dispose of you, " Rockford finished. "I knowall about it, and I know that Narf took time last night to spend an hourwith his favorite girl friend and brag even to her that he was going tomarry Lyla today before your dead body had time to get cool. 

"But you just take Lyla for another walk and you will cause thebeginning of the end for the Verdam Peoples Worlds. You will go down inhistory, my boy, as the man who saved the Terran Republic. "

Hunter went out the door, again feeling a feverish sense of unreality. He was to go forth and get blasted into hamburger and by some mysteriousprocess known only to Rockford, the Verdam empire would contritely startcollapsing. .. . 

He did not knock on her door. He did not think of it as a violation ofher privacy. She would be feeling too alone and unwanted to care. 

She was not crying as he had thought she would be. She was standing bythe window, staring down at the gray, distant desert, her eyes asbleakly empty as it. 

"Hello, Lyla, " he said. 

"Hello, Dale. I was just thinking; this is the day that I, as a woman, should always have dreamed about"--she tried to smile, and failed, andthe brass came into her voice--"my wedding day!"

"Alonzo told me about it. "

It seemed to him he should add something, such as to wish herhappiness--but such words would be meaningless and farcical and theywould both know it. 

But there was no reason why he should endanger her by obeying Rockford'sinsane order. He would not do it--

"Ah . .. Good morning, Lyla!" Rockford loomed in the doorway, jovial as aSanta Claus. "Did you know Dale wants to go for a walk in the woodswith you this bright spring morning--and he's no doubt too bashful totell you so? Do you good to get away from camp"--there was thesuggestion of a pause--"while you're still free. "

He turned a beaming smile on Hunter. "Don't stand there like a dummy, boy--take her by the arm and let her have a last walk with someone whocares what happens to her. "

There was one thing about Rockford not compatible with his air of fondfatherliness: his eyes were hard, gray slate as they looked intoHunter's and there was no mistaking their expression. Rockford had notmade a fatherly suggestion for his own amusement. He had given an orderthat he intended to be obeyed. 

 * * * * * * * * *

Hunter and Lyla walked on through the thickets of ghost trees and arrowbrush, each with little to say, Hunter feeling more and more like aridiculous fool. They had no destination, no purpose in their walk, other than to abide by Rockford's desire that a total of ten assassinsget a chance to slaughter a certain expendable second lieutenant. 

He did not put his arm around Lyla as they walked. If they killed him, it would have to be without their having the satisfaction of thepictures they wanted with which to blackmail her. 

They came to a tiny clearing, where a cloud tree log made an invitingseat in the shade, and Lyla said:

"No matter how far we walk, I'll have to go back to face it. Let's stophere, and rest a while. "

He saw that the clearing was fairly well screened, but certainly notcompletely so. It would have to do. 

[Illustration]

He sat down on the log several feet away from her, not wanting to takethe chance of her getting hit by accident. 

_Not that I'm enthusiastic about getting hit by intent, myself_, hethought. _What a way for a Space Guard officer to die. _

He wondered if Rockford would ever inform Headquarters that LieutenantDale Hunter had died in the line of duty--by whatever twisted logic thisinsane episode could be called duty--and he wondered how theCommemoration Roll would read for him. .. . _Displaying courage above andbeyond the call of duty, Lieutenant Hunter sat conspicuously on top of ahill and calmly waited for ten assassins to slaughter him. .. . _

"It's peaceful and quiet here, isn't it?" Lyla said. 

He had been trying to watch four different directions at once and herealized that the constant swiveling of his neck was causing his stiffblouse collar to slowly cut his throat. And he saw that it was--for themoment, anyway--peaceful and quiet where they sat. The sun was warm andgolden before them, bright flowers sweetly scented the air, and giantrainbow moths were fluttering over them, their tiny voices like thepiping of a thousand fairy flutes. 

"I wish I had been born a country girl, " Lyla said. "I'd like to have alife like this, and not--what mine will be. "

He asked the question to which he had to have the answer:

"Once you were going to marry Val and live on Jardeen, weren't you?"

"I . .. So my foolishness is no longer a secret?"

"Foolishness?" he asked. 

"We met two years ago when I was attending the Fine Arts university onJardeen. I was younger and a lot more naïve then than I am now. Ithought we were desperately in love and would get married as soon as Ifinished school and would live happily ever after, and all that. "

"And it didn't turn out that way?"

"I had to make that promise to Daddy and when I wrote to Val about it, he seemed to approve. He didn't suggest I renounce the proxy marriagewhen the time was up, or anything. He just wrote that I knew what Iwanted to do. He seemed relieved to be free to go ahead with hispolitical career. "

"I see, " he said, and then, "you don't feel bad about it, do you, Lyla?"

"Feel bad? I wouldn't marry Val Boran if he was the last man on Vesta!Even Lord Narf isn't as self-centered as _he_ is!"

"You don't have to marry Narf either, " he said. "You know that. "

She looked down at the ground and said in a dead voice, "I made apromise. "

"Rockford told me that your father never really knew Narf--that on thefew times they met, Narf put on the act of being a refined gentleman, very respectful toward the king's daughter. "

She did not answer and he said, "Is that the way it was?"

"Yes. That's the way it was. But how could I tell Daddy, as he laydying?"

"You couldn't, Lyla. But if your father could be here today and knowwhat you know about Narf, do you think he would want you to marry him?"

"No . .. I guess not. But Lord Narf loves me in his own way, I think--andthat's more than anyone else does. "

Then her tone changed and she said, "I'm so glad that you're here today, Dale--I'm glad that there is someone who cares at least a little aboutwhat happens to me. "

On her face was a poignant longing for someone to love and comfort her. It seemed to him, now beyond any doubt, that there could never beanything for him in his career but loneliness. How different the warmlove of Lyla would be from the cold austerity of the military and itsendless succession of weapons and killing--

 * * * * *

He moved, to sit beside her and put his arm around her shoulders. "Lyla, " he said, "I want to tell you--"

"_Dale. .. . _" The word was a despairing sob as her composure broke andshe held tightly to him, crying, her voice coming muffled as she pressedher face against his chest. "Help me, Dale! How can I marry thatsadistic beast when it's someone else I can't live without--and hedoesn't even know I love him!"

"But he does!" He hugged her closer, "He does know, and he loves youeven more than you love him. "

"Are you sure?" She raised a tear-stained face, hope like sunshinethrough clouds on it. "Are you really sure Val loves me, after all?"

"_Val?_"

The revelation was like the stunning concussion shock of a blaster beampassing two inches overhead. His vision blurred and there was a hideousroaring in his ears. She was still holding to him for comfort and itseemed to him that was wrong--he should be clinging to her forsupport. .. . 

"_Dale_ . .. What's the matter?"

"But I thought--" He swallowed with difficulty. "I thought you meantthat I was the--"

Something struck the top of his head; this time, for certain, theconcussion shock of a blaster beam passing close above it. There was avicious crack as the beam split the tree beyond, then a crash andexplosion of wood fragments as a second beam followed the first. 

He rolled from the log; taking Lyla with him. The arrow bushes shieldedthem briefly, long enough for them to reach the temporary safety of asmall swale. 

"Dale!" Her dark eyes were wide with puzzled surprise and one small footwas bare from the loss of a sandal. "Someone shot at us!"

He thought, _So Narf got his pictures, after all_. 

"Rootenant!" Alonzo came running. "They are _that_ way--awr spread outto be sure to kirr you. "

Alonzo motioned with his nose, a movement that seemed to cover all thehigh ground beyond them. At least, the enemy was not between them andcamp. Not yet. 

A distant shout came, an order from Narf to his men:

"_All of you--down that ridge! Get between Hunter and camp!_"

"_It's him!_" Her fingers gripped his arm. "He wants them to kill you!"

They had fired from a distance too great for his own blaster. He couldnot defy them from where he now stood. 

"I'll have to try to get within range of them, " he said. "I'll goback--"

"_No!_" Her grip on his arm tightened. "Don't leave me, Dale--don't lethim find me here. "

He looked down the length of the swale. At its lower end the ghost treeforest began, dense and concealing--but all down the length of the swalethe snarevines lay in thick, viciously barbed entanglements, overlying abed of sharp rocks and boulders. She could never get to the safety ofthe ghost trees in time. 

Narf had his pictures, now. What would he do to her in the insanity ofhis hatred and triumph when he reached her?

"All right, Lyla, " he said. "I'll see that you get to the trees--"

 * * * * * * * * *

There was a crashing of explosions and debris leaped skyward behind themand along both sides of the swale. The firing continued, scattered butvery effectively consistent, and he said as he drew his blaster, "Iguess they don't want us to go away. "

He set the regulator of the blaster at lowest intensity so that the beamwould not clip dangerous flying fragments from the boulders. The green, tough vines disintegrated reluctantly while the precious minutes spedby; while the unhindered assassins would be hurrying to the point wherethe entire swale would be visible to them and under their fire. 

Alonzo was following along near the top of the swale's side, ignoringthe danger as he watched the progress of the enemy and reported it toHunter: "Now they are halfway, Rootenant, hurrying faster--"

They reached the lower end of the swale. The last of the vinesdisintegrated and the ghost tree forest lay before them. 

He touched her cheek in farewell. "Get on to camp, as fast as you canrun. "

The firing abruptly ceased as he spoke. There was an ominous silence. Alonzo came running, his tone almost a yelp in its urgency:

"They are awrmost where they can see us! We got to get her out of here, Rootenant--awrfur quick!"

 * * * * *

"_Lyla!_"

It was the voice of Val, sharp with concern for her. He came running outof the ghost trees, all his cold impassiveness gone. "Are you hurt, Honey--are you hurt?"

"_You came for me!_" She whispered the words, her face radiant. Then sheran to meet him, her arms outstretched, crying, "_Val . .. Oh, Val. .. . _"

Their arms went around each other. 

Then the woods erupted as ten blasters laid down a barrage to block anyescape to camp. 

"I'll try to give you a chance to get through, " Hunter said quickly. "Be ready for it when it comes. "

He ran toward the firing line, taking advantage of the concealmentafforded by the first fringe of ghost trees. They should be almostwithin range of his own weapon, now--

Again, the firing abruptly ceased, as though by some signal. There camethe furious raving of Narf:

"_It's that Boran she wants! Kill him, too!_"

Sonig cursed with bitter rage. "_Jardeen is lost to Verdam if anywitness escapes--and we'll all hang, besides. _"

There was a second of silence, and then Narf's command:

"_Kill the woman, too!_"

There was a roar like thunder as the firing began. The ground trembledand debris filled the air with flying fragments. Hunter, still runningtoward the enemy under cover of the trees, saw Val trying to get Lyla tosafety and saw them both hurled to the ground as a tree exploded infront of them. They would never live to rise and run again--

 * * * * *

He saw Rockford's plan, at last, and what his own duty would now have tobe. He knew why Rockford had said of this day, "_If you can live throughit, you will have it made. _"

And he had a cold feeling inside him that he was not going to have itmade. 

He took a deep breath and ran toward the enemy, out of the concealmentof the ghost trees and in the open where they could not fail to see him, his blaster firing a continuous beam that fell only a little short ofthe enemy, that showed them he would be close enough to kill them withinseconds if he was not stopped. 

The fire concentrated upon him, giving Lyla and Val their chance forescape. He ran through an inferno of crashing explosions, twisting anddodging on ground that trembled and heaved under his feet, whilerazor-sharp rock shrapnel filled the air with shrill, deadly screamingsounds. 

Something ripped through his shoulder, to spin him around and send himrolling. He scrambled up, firing as he did so, and ran drunkenly on. 

Something struck the side of his head and he went down again. He triedto rise and fell back, a blackness sweeping over him that he could nothold away despite his efforts to do so. 

It seemed to him that the firing had suddenly stopped, that in its placewas the hoarse buzz of a police stun-beam. It seemed he saw helicoptersoverhead, bearing the bright blue insignia of the Royal Guard and thenthere was nothing but the blackness. 

 * * * * *

There was a brief, dreamlike return to consciousness. He was in a RoyalGuard helicopter and Alonzo was beside him, grinning, and saying, "Yoube O. K. --I grad! And my Princess Ryra--rook at her now, Rootenant!"

He saw Lyla, her hand in Val's, and her face was glowing and beautifulin its new-found happiness. Then she was bending down, kissing him, andsaying, "Dale . .. Dale . .. How can we ever thank you for what you did?"

 * * * * *

When the blackness lifted the second time he was lying, bandaged, on acot in the meeting hall and the voice of Rockford was saying, ". .. Readyto go in just a minute. "

The hall was filled with members of the royal court who had come for thewedding. He saw the white robes of Church of Vesta dignitaries who hadcome to officiate at the wedding. Then he saw the seven grim old menseated at the far end of the table. 

The Royal Council--with the judicial power to give even death sentencesin crimes committed against royalty. 

Sonig, his face white and staring, was being half led, half carried, away from them. 

Narf, in the grip of another Guardsman, was standing before the Counciland saying in a tone both incredulous and sneering:

"Is that my sentence?"

"There is a qualification to it, " one of the Council said. "It seemsonly just, in view of your crime, that you be tortured until death--"

The rest of the words were lost as the blackness swept back. But beforeunconsciousness was complete, when all else in the hall was gone fromhim, he heard Narf's cry; an animal-like bawl of protest, raw and hoarsewith anguish. .. . 

 * * * * *

"Ah . .. You're coming out of it, my boy. "

Rockford was standing over him. "They gave you a Restoration shot onVesta forty-eight hours ago. It will be wearing off in a minute and yourhead will clear. "

He sat up, and the dizziness faded swiftly away. He saw that he was inthe compartment of an interstellar ship and he knew that it wasEarthbound. 

And that Vesta, and brown-eyed Lyla, were now part of the past. .. . 

"Don't look so sad, my boy, " Rockford said. "You'll get due credit andpromotion for the invaluable part you played in my plan. "

"But--"

"I know. But she was never yours. You'll find life is full ofheartbreaks like that, son. 

"And we accomplished our mission. Narf's crime neatly invalidated theproxy marriage. Then Lyla set a new precedent by marrying Val that veryday. Earth has never had two such loyal and grateful friends as Val andLyla. "

"You knew all about them, didn't you?" he asked. 

"Strategic Service has to know everything. And I knew they were stillin love even though each was too proud to admit it. That's why I had toinsist on Val coming to Vesta. After that, it was only a matter of usingyou to awaken Val to the fact that she did _not_ love Narf. And oftaking care of various little details, such as faking an officialrequest for the helicopters to come out two hours ahead of time, gettingVal off to find her at the proper time, and so on. "

Rockford smiled at him, "And you learned that an old man's mind can bemightier than the space fleets of the Verdam empire--and that the lineof duty that produces the best results can sometimes be very devious. "

He thought of the white-faced Sonig, and the anguished bawl he had heardfrom Narf. 

"I suppose they were going to hang Narf and Sonig at once. "

"The Council would have, no doubt. But Lyla was so happy that she beggedthe Council to give them very light sentences--or just let them go free. So I suggested a compromise. The Royal Council regarded it as veryfitting. "

"What was it?"

"For Sonig, no punishment. The murder attempt, being news of publicinterest, will be broadcast upon Vesta and other worlds, including afactual, unbiased account of Sonig's participation in it. Shortlyafterward, Sonig will be taken to Verdam and turned over to his ownbenevolent government. Vesta will file no charges. "

"But Sonig lost Jardeen for his government. They'll execute him forthat!"

"Yes. I'm afraid so. Shall we call it poetic justice?"

"What about Narf?"

"His sentence was life-long exile on his Sea Island estate. He will beprovided with all the luxuries to which he has been accustomed, including a full staff of servants. He will continue to enjoy all hispossessions there, including his gallery of nude paintings, his risquéfilms, his pornographic library, and so on. In fact, since he is sofascinated by pornography and such a collector thereof, any pornographicmaterial which might become available on Vesta in the future will besent to him. "

"That's not right . .. I mean, they were going to torture him to death. "

"Not 'to death'. It was 'until death'. There's a difference. "

"But that bawling noise he made--"

"Ah . .. That was due to the one restrictive qualification to the benignterms of his exile. Every woman on his estate was to be removed beforehe reached there, leaving men servants only. Patrol boats will see to itthat for so long as he lives no woman shall ever set foot on the SeaIslands. "

Rockford smiled again. "Lord Narf succeeded beyond his wildest dreams inkeeping his boyhood vow of being always a man among men. "

Transcriber's Note

This etext was produced from _Analog Science Fact and Fiction_ December1962. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U. S. Copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling andtypographical errors have been corrected without note.