s [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

arbitrarily reckoned at 3000 years, and the phyle ratio
worked out roughly as 1:40:200:600:1200.
The accession of seventeen hundred and sixty-two
new Amaranth destroyed the established balance, sub-
tracting life expectancy from the Brood by something
over four months, and the other phyle accordingly.
The first effect was a spate of instructions to the
assassins, ordering visits to a large number of persons
whose lifelines had edged to within four months of the
terminator.
In some cases the lifelines were on the point of
breaking up into a new phyle but bringing the termin-
ator four months closer to the source negated the possib-
ility.
These particular cases made the first protest. There was
violence; assassins were flung into the streets. Excitement
in many neighborhoods was already at a high pitch when
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TO LIVE FOREVER
news-organs described the full implications of the new
adjustment.
Reaction was instantaneous. The population of Clarges
boiled into the streets. Strivings were deserted; if a man s
most concentrated effort availed only a subtraction of
four months from his life, then why strive? Why not give
up?
Many failed to join the surge because they lay supine
in their apartments staring at the ceiling. Thousands of
others discarded all inhibition and sense of responsibility.
They shouted and cried as the crowd swirled toward
Esterhazy Square.
The plaza before the Actuarian was packed dense with
bodies. Faces shone from drab clothing like confetti on
dark water. From time to time one of the number raised
himself upon a parapet, and his voice bawled thinly over
the mass. The faces turned; there would be restless
motion, a throaty rumble.
An air car hovered over the Actuarian; it dropped to
the roof. A man alighted and came gingerly to the edge.
It was The Roland Zygmont, Chairman of the Amaranth
Society. He began to speak, using an amplifier, and his
voice boomed over the plaza and Esterhazy Square.
The crowd paid small heed to his words; they reacted
only to the feeling in his voice, and became ever more
tense.
A whisper arose and swept across the square, backward
and forward in a natural resonance:  The Roland Zyg-
mont! It s The Roland Zygmont of the Society!
The whisper grew in magnitude, became a mutter, a
roar. The Roland had made an unfortunate choice of
podium; the Chairman of the Amaranth Society standing
four-square on top of the Actuarian carried too much
symbolical sting.
From one side of the plaza came a bellowed insult.
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JACK VANCE
The crowd gave a curious deep sigh. Another voice took
up the scream, then another and another, in different
quarters of the plaza. The sound rang through Esterhazy
Square. In nearby streets people froze in their tracks,
quivered, opened their mouths.
The scream rose from the city; all Clarges screamed a
sound never heard before on the face of the Earth. On
the roof of the Actuarian stood The Roland, limp and
stunned, arms hanging at his sides.
He made an attempt to speak; his voice was over-
whelmed. Fascinated he watched, and the crowd raised
arms toward him, fingers grasping and groping.
The crowd gave a lurch forward, pushed toward the
Actuarian.
They pressed back the doors with the weight of their
flesh; metal bent, glass shattered.
A group of custodians held up their hands imploringly;
from the Public Relations Office came Basil Thinkoup,
calling out for order and calm. The crowd moved over
them. Basil Thinkoup s life ended.
Into sacrosanct areas pushed the crowd. Bars struck
control panels, refuse was flung into the delicate
microwebs. Power crackled, smoke rose, components
exploded. The great mechanism died as a man dies when
his brain is wounded.
Outside in the square the crowd struggled, desperate
in their urge to attack the Actuarian. Those who fell
disappeared without a sound; their expressions were
calm, as if they had been relieved of a terrible duty: the
ordeal of the future. Over them marched a thousand
others, intent to enter the Actuarian.
Through the portals they pushed, shoulder to shoulder,
eyes looking right and left, earnestly seeking something
to destroy.
A group came out on the landing where the Cage of
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TO LIVE FOREVER
Shame hung. They swung it out and cut it loose; it fell
into the crowd and was torn to bits.
The crowd s passion showed no abatement. Looking
down from the roof The Roland thought that never in
all human history had there been such passion.
The Olaf seized his arm.  Quick, we must escape! They
are out on the roof!
The two men hurried for the hovering air car; they
were too late, and were seized from behind. Kicking,
struggling, yelling, they were carried to the edge of the
roof and flung out into the air.
Something within the Actuarian exploded; up came a
burst of flame, spouting high. The men on the roof
danced and ran crazily, like beetles in a bottle, and at
last were singed and overcome. Within the Actuarian a
thousand more perished.
The crowd heeded nothing; they were listening to the
wild voice of a man who had mounted a parapet. It was
Vincent Rodenave, beside himself with emotion. His face
burnt with fanatic fire, his voice was a thrilling sound.
 Gavin Waylock! he called.  This is the man who
wrought so great a wrong! Gavin Waylock!
Without complete awareness the crowd took up the
cry.  Gavin Waylock! Kill! Kill! Kill!
3
The Prytanean met in emergency session, but only half
the assembly appeared, and these were tired and
disheveled. They spoke in gloomy voices, and performed
what legislative duties they thought necessary without
zest or spirit.
Bertrand Helm, First Marshal of the Militia, was
instructed to restore order through the city. Caspar Jarvis
261
JACK VANCE
was ordered to cooperate along with the entire force of
the assassins.
 What of Gavin Waylock? came a voice from the
floor.
 Gavin Waylock? The chairman shrugged.  There is
nothing we can do to him. And he added,  Or for him.
4
Gavin Waylock was sought throughout Clarges. His
apartment was ransacked, a dozen men of his appearance
were given rough treatment before they could talk
themselves free.
From somewhere came rumor: Waylock had been seen
in Elgenburg. The avenues leading south streamed with
chanting columns.
House by house Elgenburg was searched, every cranny
and nook investigated.
Nearby was the spaceport, where the Star Enterprise
stood waiting for departure. Tall and clean over the tur-
moil rose the beautiful metallic mass.
From every quarter of Elgenburg men and women
converged on the spaceport. Outwardly they seemed more
quiet, less frantic than those who had destroyed the
Actuarian but, halted by the barriers, they showed their [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]