energy field in space-time, but that doesn't quite take into account the vast age of the material universe. The way I've been moved around makes time curiously unimportant as a factor. It would be easy, on the basis of the-estimated age of the universe, to make all religions look ridiculous, but that isn't what I want to do. I'm guessing that all this smoke has a hot fire under it somewhere, but the understanding we've had so far is just a superficial glimpse at the underlying reality. What do you think of that?"
"I really don't care to discuss the matter, Mr. Cargill." She was cold. "Your childish speculations are not exactly an insult, since you do seem sincere; but they ignore a thousand years of religious thought."
"You mean," said Cargill, "ten thousand years of making the effort not to know, of belief enforced by just such an attitude—and never a good look at what might actually be there. Well, I'll take the look myself and I'll keep you in touch."
Ann Reece smiled grimly. "You won't have much time for private speculations. You'll be too busy helping us change our world."
Cargill studied her from under narrowed eyelids. The reminder that he was to be used in their plans abruptly enraged him. "This world of yours," he said, "does it include justice for individuals?"
Her lips were clenched into a thin line. "There's only one way to change the world," she said slowly. "We've got to get rid of the Shadows, and force the Planiacs out of the sky to a life of usefulness. Once that happens, it won't be long before this planet is humming again with industry and all that makes life worth living. Henceforth, justice will always include hard work."
Cargill glanced deliberately around the luxuriously furnished room. "For you, also?" he asked, softly.
She must have caught the implication, for she flushed.
She said, "Your idea that people who manage estates don't work at it is just not so."
It was true, of course, in an important sense. But he felt too basically hostile to her to be impressed by her vision. He said, "But where do I fit into this? What is the training that I'm to be given?"
12
Ann Reece relaxed. The amused look came back to her face. She said with heavy irony, "One times one times one times one times zero equals a million. That's the mathematics involved in your training. Anything else you want to know?"
"Damn you!" said Cargill. He was on his feet, leaning over the table toward her. "If you people expect any cooperation from me you'd better start telling me the facts. Whose idea was it to use me in whatever you plan to use me for in this Shadow City attack?"
"Grannis'."
That held him briefly. "How come," said Cargill finally, "that you're all playing the game of a Shadow traitor?"
Ann Reece was cool. "We're not playing his game. He's playing ours. He agrees with us. He thinks we have the answer to the problems of this age."
"You fools !" Cargill was scathing. "Why, you're just a bunch of babes in the wood—"
He stopped himself in alarm. Careful, he thought. This was no time to reveal his knowledge that Grannis was playing on several sides. Slowly he settled back into his chair. He stared at her unsmilingly. She said, "As soon as you've finished eating I'll show you to your bedroom. You sound tired." There was no doubt of the sarcasm in her voice.
After she had left him Cargill explored his bedroom. The walls were done in shades of green, contrasting very effectively with a vividly white bed and white furniture.
He was surprised when he looked out of the window, to see that the room was on the second floor. Since he had climbed no stairs he guessed that the house was built on the side of a hill. He mentally measured the distance to the ground below, then frowned with irritation. Twenty feet was a considerable drop even for a strong active man. Not that it mattered. He doubted that he'd get far if he tried to escape through the window. He realized his method of handling this situation must be on a
"I really don't care to discuss the matter, Mr. Cargill." She was cold. "Your childish speculations are not exactly an insult, since you do seem sincere; but they ignore a thousand years of religious thought."
"You mean," said Cargill, "ten thousand years of making the effort not to know, of belief enforced by just such an attitude—and never a good look at what might actually be there. Well, I'll take the look myself and I'll keep you in touch."
Ann Reece smiled grimly. "You won't have much time for private speculations. You'll be too busy helping us change our world."
Cargill studied her from under narrowed eyelids. The reminder that he was to be used in their plans abruptly enraged him. "This world of yours," he said, "does it include justice for individuals?"
Her lips were clenched into a thin line. "There's only one way to change the world," she said slowly. "We've got to get rid of the Shadows, and force the Planiacs out of the sky to a life of usefulness. Once that happens, it won't be long before this planet is humming again with industry and all that makes life worth living. Henceforth, justice will always include hard work."
Cargill glanced deliberately around the luxuriously furnished room. "For you, also?" he asked, softly.
She must have caught the implication, for she flushed.
She said, "Your idea that people who manage estates don't work at it is just not so."
It was true, of course, in an important sense. But he felt too basically hostile to her to be impressed by her vision. He said, "But where do I fit into this? What is the training that I'm to be given?"
12
Ann Reece relaxed. The amused look came back to her face. She said with heavy irony, "One times one times one times one times zero equals a million. That's the mathematics involved in your training. Anything else you want to know?"
"Damn you!" said Cargill. He was on his feet, leaning over the table toward her. "If you people expect any cooperation from me you'd better start telling me the facts. Whose idea was it to use me in whatever you plan to use me for in this Shadow City attack?"
"Grannis'."
That held him briefly. "How come," said Cargill finally, "that you're all playing the game of a Shadow traitor?"
Ann Reece was cool. "We're not playing his game. He's playing ours. He agrees with us. He thinks we have the answer to the problems of this age."
"You fools !" Cargill was scathing. "Why, you're just a bunch of babes in the wood—"
He stopped himself in alarm. Careful, he thought. This was no time to reveal his knowledge that Grannis was playing on several sides. Slowly he settled back into his chair. He stared at her unsmilingly. She said, "As soon as you've finished eating I'll show you to your bedroom. You sound tired." There was no doubt of the sarcasm in her voice.
After she had left him Cargill explored his bedroom. The walls were done in shades of green, contrasting very effectively with a vividly white bed and white furniture.
He was surprised when he looked out of the window, to see that the room was on the second floor. Since he had climbed no stairs he guessed that the house was built on the side of a hill. He mentally measured the distance to the ground below, then frowned with irritation. Twenty feet was a considerable drop even for a strong active man. Not that it mattered. He doubted that he'd get far if he tried to escape through the window. He realized his method of handling this situation must be on a
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