Revolt on Alpha C Read online

  “That’s your Martian thing, isn’t it?” Larry asked. “Yes,” Harl said. “You don’t mind my playing it?”

  “Go right ahead. I was getting sick of studying anyway.” He closed the book and dropped it.

  “You don’t like this piece much, eh, Larry?”

  “I’m getting to. It’s awfully old-fashioned, really, but I’m starting to like it.”

  “I’m glad. Martian music is a lot like Mars itself. No one likes it at first, but it grows on you till you can’t help feeling it in every fiber of your body. That’s why this piece means so much to me.”

  Check,” Larry said. “But maybe the music doesn’t mean so much to people who aren’t native Martians. Maybe—”

  “Who said I’m a native Martian?” Harl interrupted.

  “I was born on Jupiter.”

  “Oh,” Larry said. “That explains it.” Larry had wondered why Harl was short and burly, while all the other Martians he had seen were tall and attenuated. Apparently he was part of the ill-fated colony which had struggled against the overpowering gravity of Jupiter for twenty-five years before admitting defeat.

  “I was part of the Jupiter colony,” Harl said. “I was born there and lived there for three or four years, enough time to develop these muscles. You mature early when you have to fight gravity nearly three times that of Earth.”

  “And you went to Mars when the colony broke up?”

  “Right. My parents were killed in the Revolution. I lived with an older cousin who was a Martian colonist.”

  Larry was silent, fitting this new information into the pattern of what he already knew. He wondered what Jupiter-born Harl Ellison was doing in the Patrol Academy. An Earth boy chosen for the Academy could not refuse the honor—who ever did?—but non-Terrans had the option of turning down the bid.

  And Jupiter-born Harl Ellison, with his background, should have every reason to hate Earth and its colonial policies. The Jovians, Larry knew, had never understood why it had been necessary to evacuate the struggling colony on the huge planet. A Jovian would tell you that Earth had ruthlessly exploited the rich mineral mines on Jupiter, without offering any aid to the struggling colonists in return. Actually, Larry thought, we know that Earth poured so much money into Jupiter that it nearly wrecked its own economy and had to end the colonization. If the colonists had only understood this, it might have been possible to avoid the war in which the outraged colony finally revolted, refused to turn any minerals over to the Earth commissioner, and declared itself independent. They had been forcibly evacuated by a large Earth force, with many casualties as a result, and the Jupiter mines were now operated by convict labor.

  “We’ve been away from home nearly a month,” Harl said. “Another month or so more and we’ll be officers in the Patrol at last.”

  “At last,” Larry repeated. He thought of his father, stem and resplendent in his uniform, and of his old grandfather, still an upright and powerful man, and of the long line of Starks who had served Earth in the Space Patrol.

  “I’ve waited a long time for this,” Harl said. “I’ve always wanted to be a spaceman, and the Patrol is the ideal, for me. That and visiting Earth—I’ve never been there. But we’ll have to go there to get our commissions, won’t we?”

  “That’s right,” Larry said. “As soon as we get back from Alpha G.”

  Harl nodded. “Alpha C. That’s another of my ambitions coming true. You didn’t think I was so ambitious, did you? I want to see the dinosaurs, and see the colony. I don’t have to tell you how I feel about space colonies—I’ve been a colonist all my life.”

  “I heard some strange things about the Alpha C colony, though,” Larry said. “Before I left some fellow was telling me about a book he’d read that said Alpha C ought to have its independence after all this time.”

  “You don’t mean No More Slavery, do you?” Harl reached into his bag and hauled forth a blue paper-covered booklet. “This? Very fine book.

  Larry looked at his bunkmate coldly. “Yes, that’s the book. But I didn’t expect to find a cadet reading it. You may come from a colony of rebels, but you knew what you were asking for when you joined the Patrol. Your loyalty belongs to Earth.”

  Harl put his finger across his lips and Larry realized he had been talking too loud. “Quiet. The neighbors’ll think we’re fighting. Hold on a minute, Larry. I’m as loyal to Earth as the next fellow. But I happen to think these fellows on Alpha C may be right when they say they ought to have their independence.”

  “If you think that you can’t be loyal to Earth,” Larry said. Inwardly he felt vaguely disturbed. In the month he had lived with Harl he had come to respect his judgment in many matters, to see that the powerful young Martian had a wide and intelligent view of things. And now here was Harl practically attacking Earth, which Larry had been taught to hold virtually sacred. Larry decided to cling to his loyalty; he had often bowed to Harl’s keener judgment, but he would not now.

  “If you’d only read the book, maybe you wouldn’t think so. Earth can’t always be right, Larry. Be objective about it. Here. Read the book and then we’ll discuss the thing.” He held out the book. Larry looked at it, almost reached for it.

  “No. I don’t want to read it. Earth’s doing the right thing—the only thing—with Alpha C, and I don’t want to bother reading something like this. Look, Harl. I understand how it is. Your parents had some friction with Earth when you were a baby, and you’ve always resented the Jupiter affair. But I’m sure it’s you who’s not being objective. Earth knows what it’s doing on Alpha C, and I think it’s right.”

  Hail was smiling oddly. Larry looked at his wristchron. “Hey! I’m due at the radio set in one minute.” He snapped his shoesnaps and tidied his uniform. “Let’s forget the whole thing, shall we, Harl? The whole argument never took place.

  Harl nodded. “All right, Larry. If you want to. I’ll put the book away. But if you ever want to read it, go right ahead. Maybe it’ll open your eyes a little.”

  “Don’t talk about opening my eyes. You’re the one who’s not seeing clearly.” Larry left, but as he sped down the corridor toward the radio room strange doubts twisted in his mind. He wondered whether or not he ought to take a look at Harl’s book after all. It couldn’t do any harm, and his father wouldn’t ever have to know. He turned off and headed for the radio set. Captain Reinhardt was waiting next to it as he entered.

  CHAPTER 5

  JUST ON TIME, Cadet Stark,” Reinhardt said in his staccato voice. I’ve turned the machine on for you. We’re within radio range of Alpha C now.” Larry sat down at the huge and complex machine which served for interplanetary communications. Ignoring the captain, who peered over his shoulder to make sure nothing went wrong, Larry turned dials, checked figures, and made hurried computations. Then, in the background, a soft but piercing noise started up from somewhere.

  It swelled and swelled until it seemed to fill the room. Larry thought his brain would burst, but he gave no sign and sat at the machine making adjustments. Intercom was a science requiring great skill; Larry’s aptitude test, taken when he was a recruit at the Academy, showed that he promised to be a more than outstanding radio operator, and he had gone on to prove the test right.

  Suddenly the noise ceased and was replaced by a dry, impersonal, metallic voice.

  “Alpha Centauri Monitor Station X03216. Who is approaching, please?”

  Larry gave the answering formula. “Spaceship Carden, out of Earth 15 June Earthtime, seeking entrance to London Colony on Alpha Centauri IV. Do we have clearance?”

  The metallic voice was replaced by a more human one as the robot which had made the initial question gave way to the human operator who handled the station.

  “Who’s this? Mellillo?”

  “No,” Larry said. “Stark. New man.”

  “First trip, Stark? Name’s Henry. Can’t give you clearance, Stark. You’ll have to get it from the local authorities on IV. I hear the London Colony spaceport is
semi-closed.”

  Larry looked at Captain Reinhardt. “On whose authority?” the captain asked.

  Larry said, “Captain Reinhardt of the Carden wants to know on whose authority they’re closing up.” The Alpha Centauri operator replied, “On their own, it seems. They’ve applied to the Interstellar Council for permission to close up, and in the meantime they’ve gone ahead and done it themselves. I think they’re up to something down there.”

  “Can we get clearance from them?”

  “I suppose so, unless they just don’t want company. I don’t see how they can refuse a Patrol ship. Hold on while I try to make contact with the local operator.”

  A few minutes passed, and then a new voice came over the radio.

  “Operator Miller speaking from the Free World of Alpha Centauri IV. What is your request, please?

  Larry turned in amazement and stared at the captain. “Free World of Alpha Centauri IV!”

  “What is your request, please?” the operator repeated.

  The captain signaled for Larry to get up. He did, and Captain Reinhardt slid smoothly into the seat.

  “Captain Reinhardt of Earth ship Carden speaking. Request landing privileges at London Colony.”

  “This is a semiclosed planet, Captain Reinhardt. Present regulations prohibit landing at London Colony.”

  Larry saw the captain begin to grow angry. “Semiclosed? Under whose authority?”

  The reply was swift and even. “Under the authority of the Council of the Free World of Alpha Centauri IV. Are you in need of repairs?”

  “No. This is a Space Patrol Training Cruise. May I be connected with the office of President Harrison, please?”

  The President and his council are no longer located at London Colony.”

  Captain Reinhardt stared at the machine as if it were some live beast. He said nothing, only stared.

  “Are you in revolt?” he snapped.

  “Landing on the Free World of Alpha C IV is prohibited temporarily,” the operator repeated, ignoring the captain’s question.

  Suddenly a new voice cut in. “You may land at Chicago Colony, Captain Reinhardt.”

  The London Colony operator made an attempt to scramble reception, but Larry quickly reached in front of the captain and touched the dial that would prevent this.

  Who is speaking now?” asked Captain Reinhardt.

  “Office of President Harrison, in Chicago Colony. You may land here, if you wish.”

  Captain Reinhardt frowned. Larry thought of Harl, of the little book Harl had, of the Jupiter colony.

  “Yes. We’ll land immediately.”

  “Very good, sir. President Harrison will be there to greet you when you land.” He signed off.

  Captain Reinhardt got up from the machine, signed to Larry to shut it off, and strode off to his cabin, his face creased with frowns, without saying a word.

  Larry returned to his cabin. Harl was reading a book very intently, and listening to some early Earth music. He turned off the recorder as Larry entered.

  “Well?”

  “Were landing at Chicago Colony instead of London.” Larry decided not to say any more. What he transmitted was supposed to be forgotten immediately by the operator, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to repeat it to Harl anyway.

  “I’ve computed an orbit while you were gone,” Harl said. “We ought to hit Alpha C IV sometime tomorrow. We’ve already passed Alpha C I. And II and III are coming up.”

  “Certainly are a peculiar bunch of planets in this system. Alpha C I is normal enough—it’s almost identical to Mercury. But II and III are funny ones.”

  “Are they the double ones? I’m pretty hazy about the planets in this system.”

  “Yes. The second and third planets revolve around each other. They’re both about the size of Mars, and completely unsuitable for human life.”

  “How come?”

  The two planets are so close to each other that the tides are completely mad, and there are regular floods that cover the whole planet in sections. If there ever is a colony there they’d have to be nomads, wandering around just ahead of the floods.”

  “And it could never be self-sufficient,” Harl said. “They wouldn’t be able to raise any crops.”

  That part always interested Harl, Larry thought. He wanted every colony to be self-sufficient. Larry was becoming more and more perplexed by his friend; he wanted to believe that Harl was loyal to Earth and the Patrol, but he was beginning to feel he was not. “What’s the rest of the system like, Larry?”

  “Well, IV is the planet most suited for human life, because of the atmosphere. It’s almost like Earth’s.” Larry reached for one of their textbooks and flipped through it. “Let’s see. Then there’s V, which is the same size as Earth but which has an atmosphere of poisonous gases, and VI, which is pretty cold but which has a tiny colony planted there.”

  “Colony?” Harl looked extremely interested. “I didn’t know about that. What does the book say about them?”

  “Hmm. It’s pretty tiny. At last report it’s about twelve people living in a pressure dome.

  “It’s a start,” Harl said, laughingly.

  “Alpha C VII and VIII are giant planets,” Larry continued. “Too heavy to support human life or even to allow any humans to land there. Sort of a super-Jupiter, you might say.”

  “I remember reading about those two,” Harl said. “Two exploratory ships landed on VII about twenty years ago, but the pull of gravity was so strong they couldn’t lift the ship up once it landed. In fact they couldn’t do anything at all—the gravity plastered them to the ground, and they just stuck there till they starved to death. Typical Patrol foul-up.”

  “You’d almost think you didn’t want to be in the Patrol,” Larry said, looking down at Harl. “The way you keep talking as if—”

  “Never mind,” Harl said. “I thought you had a sense of humor, but you’re awfully touchy when it comes to the Patrol.”

  Larry flushed. He saw that once again Harl was right. He was acting pretty stuffy about the Patrol. “Sorry, Harl. I don’t mean to keep harping like that.”

  “Forget it. What does your book say about native life on these planets?”

  “Nothing much. We can’t tell if there’s any life on VII and VIII, of course, but the gravity is so strong that probably nothing can stand up to it but some sort of jellyfish. And planets IX, X, and XI are too cold to support any form of life at all. There’s aquatic life on I and III, and primitive snow animals on VI. It’s too hot on I, and we haven’t found anything on V so far. You know about IV.”

  “I sure do,” Harl said. “Who doesn’t?”

  Larry closed the book and tried to picture Alpha C III in his mind. They would land tomorrow; tonight he could see it in imagination only. Alpha C IV was a lush, young, tropical world. Here and there the jungles were dotted with Earth colonies. But the planet was green and primitive, and its natives were giant dinosaurs. Larry wondered if you could hear the ground shake when they came near.

  CHAPTER 6

  MIDDAY ON JULY 16 the Carden hung just outside the atmospheric blanket of the fourth planet of the sun Alpha Centauri. Guided by a base on the planet, the ship entered a landing orbit and spiraled down.

  Twenty miles from planetfall, a small ship from Chicago Colony came out to meet them and guide them down through the atmosphere. The two ships landed on a field just outside Chicago Colony. A small group of colonists was waiting for them as they came out of the ship.

  The first thing that struck Larry was the strong pull of gravity. Alpha C IV was a big world, he recalled; its diameter was nearly ten thousand miles, as compared with Earth’s own seven thousand miles. Thus, Larry reasoned, the natives—no, he corrected himself, not the natives but the colonists—would all be heavy and muscular, their muscles developed from fighting the strong gravity. A look at the Centaurans confirmed this.

  The next thing that struck him was the atmosphere. He sucked in a chestful of air and reluctantly
exhaled it; Harl, he saw, was doing the same thing, as were all the spacemen. Not since leaving Earth had they breathed real air. On Mars he and his shipmates had breathed the artificial air of the dome, not the thin, sharp, low-oxygen Martian air outside. On Pluto there was no air outside the dome; it all lay frozen on the rocks, And the Carden, like the Mars and Pluto domes, used artificially restored air. Larry had almost forgotten what real air tasted like.

  Alpha C IV had no domes. Everything was out under the sky, in the real air. Larry pulled in a sharp breath.

  After a month, breathing natural air was luxury. The air on Alpha C IV was sweet, almost dizzying—it’s the oxygen, Larry thought. Slightly greater oxygen content than Earth air—but above all else, it was fresh. Stepping from the ship into this air was almost a physical shock, as the clean new air poured into his lungs.

  They walked quickly from the ship to where an immense wall loomed up before them—at least a hundred feet it rose into the air, perhaps more. All around he saw lush vegetation, strange green plants that towered high overhead.

  “Those walls keep out the native animals.” explained a muscular-looking colonist who was leading them. “Each of the four settlements is surrounded by a similar wall, and so far none of the big beasts has gotten through.”

  Larry looked around. He knew he was on a young world, still in the stage known as Mesozoic on Earth. The dominant form of life was the giant reptile, just as it had been on Earth hundreds of millions of years before.

  Down at the bottom of the huge wall was a tiny gate, a bare six feet high, through which none of the great beasts could possibly enter. The little party of Earthmen followed through the gate and into the Chicago Colony.

  It was a busy place. Larry saw stores, markets, homes. It looked as any other frontier town might look. There was none of the gleaming chrome which decorated Earth’s cities, none of the sharp functional lines. Chicago Colony seemed a simple, almost primitive place.