The Brave Free Men Page 19

  “But why the Roguskhoi in the first place? Why should they attack the folk of Shant? Is it not extraordinary?”

  “By no means. Durdane is an isolated world of men, where experiments with human populations can be discreetly performed. The asutra appear to be anticipating an eventual contact between their realm and the Earth-worlds; perhaps they have had unhappy experiences in the past.

  “Remember, they are parasites; they will try to effect their aims through proxies. First then, they attempt an antihuman simulacrum which impregnates human females and in the process renders them sterile: a biological weapon in fact, which man has often used against insect pests.

  “Their remarkable creation is the Roguskhoi. Certainly hundreds, perhaps thousands, of men and women have known the asutra laboratories: a thought to haunt your dark nights. The asutra must consider their creatures acceptable human replicas, which of course they are not; the more subtle human gaze recognizes them for monsters at once; still, biologically, they fulfill their function.

  “To ensure a meaningful experiment, the Roguskhoi must be accorded a period of non-interference; hence the Anome has a monitor implanted in his body, and his Benevolences fare no better. By a system not at all clear the asutra control the activities of their hosts. Sajarano complained of his ‘secret soul’, ‘the voice of his soul’; I recall Finnerack mentioning his conscience. No doubt the asutra learned to admonish men in their laboratories.

  “The Roguskhoi, as weapons, were faulty; the essential concept was a fallacy. Once the artificial passivity of the Anome had ended, the men of Shant reacted with ordinary human energy. No doubt the asutra could have supplied weapons and subjugated Shant, but this was not their purpose; they wished to test and perfect indirect techniques.

  “Suppose the men could be induced to destroy each other? This concept, or so I suspect — here I am on uncertain ground — led to the planting of a control in Finnerack. His pugnacity was reinforced; he was compelled to challenge the Palasedrans — an act not at all contrary to his own instincts.

  “This second experiment likewise led to failure, although in principle it seems a more reasonable tactic. There was insufficient preparation; I suspect the scheme to be a hasty improvisation.”

  “All very well,” said Mialambre with a scowl, “but why should Finnerack be used rather than, say, Gastel Etzwane, who has always wielded more real influence?”

  “At one time Finnerack looked to be a man of irresistible power,” said Ifness. “He controlled the Intelligence Agency and also commanded the Brave Free Men. His star was on the rise, and so he certified his doom.”

  “This is the case,” admitted Mialambre. “In fact I can fix upon the precise time of his alteration. He disappeared three days …” His voice dwindled; his eyes shifted toward Etzwane.

  A heavy silence came over the chamber.

  Etzwane brought his clenched fists slowly down on the table. “So it must be. The asutra have altered me as well.”

  “Interesting!” remarked Ifness. “You are conscious of strange voices, agonizing pangs, a constant sense of discontent and unease? These were the symptoms which eventually drove Sajarano to suicide.”

  “I know none of these. Nevertheless I was drugged precisely as was Finnerack. The same Parthans were on hand. I am doomed, but I die with my goals achieved. Let us go to the laboratory and have an end to the business.”

  Ifness made a reassuring sign. “Conditions are not so bad as you fear. I suspected that such an effort might be made upon you, and was on hand to thwart the attempt. In fact, I occupied a suite in the Hrindiana precisely beside your own. The attempt failed; the Parthans died; the asutra went to Earth in a jar, and you awoke three days later tired and bewildered, but none the worse for all that.”

  Etzwane sank back into his seat.

  Ifness continued. “In Shant the asutra have suffered a small but significant defeat. Their experiments have gained them precisely that attention they sought to avoid, thanks to the alertness of the Historical Institute. What have we learned? That the asutra either expect or prepare for antagonistic relations with the human race. Perhaps a collision between a pair of expanding world-systems is at last imminent … Here comes the Chancellor, no doubt to announce that your glider is ready. As for me, I have eaten salt fish once too often and if you permit, I will accompany you to Shant …”