1,000-Year Voyage by John Russell Fearn Page A

her elfin face white and pinched as though she had gazed upon some kind of phantom. Exodus recognised the signs and gave a rather taut smile as he rose to his feet.
    â€œI gather,” he said, quietly, “that you have seen my mother?”
    â€œYes.” Vilnia’s voice was low. “She told me that if I do not agree to your proposal I shall be compelled to marry Hazalet. That I will not do under any circumstances. He is unintelligent, boorish and hasn’t the least idea how to treat a woman. You, Exodus, at least have intelligence....”
    â€œThank you,” Exodus responded gravely. “I hope also that I know how to treat a woman. Do not imagine that because I have been so matter-of-fact about this proposal I shall treat you as though you are less than the dust, Vilnia—but on the other hand, you can’t expect me to be romantic because I am simply not made that way.”
    Exodus could not be expected to know that his father had used almost those self same words so long before when he had fallen under the spell of Merva. In this case the situation was reversed and Vilnia inclined her fair head as Exodus laid a large and possessive hand up her shoulder….
    And the ship sped on.
    A week later, not only the marriage of Vilnia and Exodus took place but also the marriages of all the young men and women aboard the vessel. Merva was insistent upon it and herself as commander of the vessel performed the necessary ceremony. She wondered even as she performed it why such a technicality was necessary since all normal conventions and regulations had long since gone by the board. She could only assume that she did it because ingrained deep within her and indeed in the participants of the marriages were the instincts that demanded the observance of age-old customs.
    Surveying the young couples, the great windows behind them carrying their eternal picture of the stars, Merva gave her slow, cynical smile.
    â€œIt is not my place to tell you what you shall do or what you shall not do,” she said, deliberately, “but this much I feel you should know. All of us here are dedicated to the cause of ultimate vengeance and it is essential to the perfection of that plan that I as your leader should survive the thousand years necessary to bring that plan to fruition. That can only be accomplished through the presence of children and that obviously is where you come in.
    â€œIt is now no longer a secret from you that your children are used for life energy even as you were when children and by that means I am permitted to continue living through the endless years, never growing older and able to be your guide, mentor and friend.”
    Nobody said anything but Exodus gave a faintly cynical smile that his mother immediately noted. She glanced in his direction.
    â€œDid I say something particularly amusing, Exodus?” she questioned, coldly.
    â€œNot that I am aware of,” he answered with complete calm. “One can surely be permitted a passing thought which brings a smile to the face? I feel, mother, that it is that particular virtue in which you have failed. You see no humour in any situation, but I fortunately do. Without it I should consider our existence a very grave business indeed.”
    â€œYour father often smiled,” Merva snapped, “and always in the wrong places. However, to resume my observations—the continuity of the little society that we have built up here in space depends entirely upon me and ultimately upon you. I shall expect you to do your duty as husbands and wives….”
    With that she turned away and walked majestically from the lounge where the ceremony had been conducted. The various couples broke up and Exodus finally found himself looking at Vilnia steadily. Her eyes dropped under the intensity of his gaze.
    â€œWhich of us is it that you fear most, Vilnia, my mother or me?”
    â€œYour mother, naturally,” Vilnia responded,