Love. He'd had to come across one-hundred years to realize he'd found its meaning. To realize he'd known its meaning a long time. To realize that love is whatever you make it, what you, yourself, call it. You define it yourself. Then you apply it.
It had been there all the time. You don't include someone in everything you do and everything you think without it. You don't try to change her and yourself. To make her perfect. To make yourself perfect with—and for—her without it. This business about "accepting" little faults—as well as big ones—, he decided1, is for the birds. It's human nature to translate other people in terms of yourself and try to change them in terms of yourself. To argue and be proud and hate like hell to have to make up. But you don't make a project of it with everyone. Not unless....
He and Julie had a lot to talk about.
Then he remembered where he was and when he was. He thought of Doctor Schink. And suddenly he was scared. He remembered what Ilaria had said about Schink. 'He's there for good....'
"He's never said a word about my going back!"
"Neither have you," came Ilaria's voice, and Jay whirled around to see the big psychologist coming through the door.
"We'd like to keep you here as long as possible. But not against your wishes, of course. You were shanghaied, not kidnaped." The left corner of his wide mouth pulled back in that slow, reassuring2 smile.
"The day after tomorrow? I want you to hear Caesar speak. Then I want to talk a good deal more."
"Early, the day after tomorrow." Then, little-boyishly, Jay hurriedly added a couple of reasons. "I'm getting tired of talking and being questioned. I feel like a talking animal in the zoo."
Ilaria nodded, smiling. "Julie?
"I figured it would occur to you sooner or later. Just because you think a little more deeply and carefully than most men of your time doesn't make you immune to love. That belongs to all times. Good luck and a lot of children."
Jay grinned. He'd met Ilaria's wife and five of his six children the night before. He turned to look out the window once more.
Beautiful. The elevated streets, with gyro-cars hurtling along ... the sky full of more winged gyros and planes ... the streets below full of happy, white-faced, white-clad people....
White-faced!
"Kevin, you avoided my question the day before yesterday. I've been almost afraid to ask you again. Why no Negroes?"
"It will be hard for you to accept, with your antiquated4 democratic ideas." Ilaria breathed a deep sigh. "Certain elements of dissension and unrest, Jay, are better eliminated. Coloreds have always bred both. People are just like that. Whites and yellows and tans and reds can get along, but not blacks."
Jay had gotten along with them all his life. "In ancient Rome there were slaves ..." he said, trying to understand.
"Not in this Rome. I said, better eliminated, Jay." Ilaria went to the window and looked down at the scene below. He explained:
"We exterminated5 them."
A hammer crashed down. A door slammed. A glass shattered. A siren screeched6. A punch caught Jay in the solar plexus. Jay had experienced all these. Ilaria's flat statement was worse.
"Exter—No! Oh, No!" He swung around to face the big psychologist. Ilaria's usual smile was gone. He looked solemn and very grim.
"You weren't ready for it. I don't think we can discuss it. Just remember this: When you've a bunch of dogs and they all get along with one another except one, you don't leave them together and you don't try to keep them separated by a chicken-wire fence. It's too unpleasant. You get rid of the troublemaker7."
During the night the rebel forces moved out of Tel Aviv and took over Israel. They captured the entire devastated8 Washington area, a series of ten cities ringing Rome, and hundreds of other key spots. The world's largest airbase at Madrid, Spain, was taken. Forces sent to the aid of the base defenders9 were met by an onslaught of their own planes. The troops didn't have a chance.
Dr. Montmorency Trumperi's Wave Disturber had been outlawed11 in 2001. The plans were carefully filed away and the machine's component12 parts junked. But the Disturber suddenly reappeared on the night of June 9, 2054, and world communications were stopped. Lamberti's scientists had come up with a counter-radio mechanism13, of course, so that the Rebels were able to maintain contacts.
Louisville was not attacked. Lamberti and his men knew about the emissary from the past sheltered there, and informed their fifth columnists14 at Standiford they wanted both the Man From 1954 and Tribune Kevin Ilaria alive.
New York was attacked by land and air. Tokyo fell. Everywhere white flags with the blue Liberacione and the picture of a dove fluttered above smoking battlegrounds. Everywhere men were on the march.
When Tribune Kevin Ilaria stormed in twelve hours later, Jay noticed his friend was wearing his gun again. The cyanide pistol had not swung at his hip15 since the day of Jay's arrival. He was also surprised to note that Ilaria wore boots and carried a steel helmet under his arm.
There was a new quality in his voice. Brittle16, static. The soft tones of the psychologist were gone.
Jay realized that this was Tribune Ilaria of the Forces, not Dr. Ilaria the psychologist.
Instantly Jay was on the defence. "I am," he said coldly.
Ilaria's smile looked forced. "I've been authorized18 to offer you a Sub-Tribunate in the Forces."
"What?"
"You've had experience. None of us have. You've been in actual combat, in the Air Force."
"Why? I don't—"
"War," Ilaria said simply. "Rebellion."
Jay stared at him. He couldn't think of anything to say.
Ilaria turned away. "Paradise. The Iron Hand. One religion and one language and all that. Utterly19 cock-sure. But ... we were wrong. They've been getting ready. Training and planning. Collecting men and arms. They began even before the empire was established."—Jay noticed he said empire rather than republic—"All this time they've been preparing and planning and ... waiting."
Jay was dumbfounded. "How big is it?"
Kevin Ilaria spread his hands. "Big enough. Their attack seems to have been simultaneous all over the world. Something like commando or guerrilla tactics. Quick, quiet attacks on a small scale."
He told Jay about the Tel Aviv incident and about Captain Spagnoletti and a half-track disappearing in the rubble20 in the Washington area and about intercontinental communication being shut off.
"Bomb 'em out," Jay said, without thinking.
"You don't bomb out fifth columnists, Jay.
"Last night they captured London and Tokyo and two-thirds of New York and they captured Lollabrigida airbase in Madrid. They're wearing PR uniforms and some kind of new uniform they've dreamed up. Most of them aren't even uniformed. It's a hell of a mess."
"I have no idea. I'm to take command at Standiford Field. Rinaldi solved the saboteur problem ... it was Colonel Di Orio. Rinaldi and some of his boys caught the Colonel and a few of his men in the Radio Room on the special 'Liberacione' wave length."
"In irons?" Jay wanted to know.
"No. They put up a fight. They were killed."
"You're flying?"
"Doubt it. I'll be one of those behind-the-scenes men. Supposed to be valuable. Only in a mess like this you can't tell what's behind the scenes and what's front line. They're liable to start on Louisville next."
Ilaria hitched22 self-consciously at his gun-belt. He twisted his helmet around a couple of times before he set it gingerly on his head. He turned and opened the door and went out. His head came back in and said:
"I'm not sure it's the sort of thing you quell, Jay."
"Kevin! Wait! What'm I supposed to—"
He was gone.
Jay thought only a moment. Then he switched on the phone. At least intercom systems were still in operation. The clerk at the desk upstairs looked at him from the screen.
"This is the Man From 1954," Jay said, using the name by which everyone called him. "Stop Tribune Ilaria as he goes out."
In an instant Kevin's head appeared.
"I'll go with you. Shall I get my uniform before we go to Standiford or after?"
Ilaria grinned. "After," he said. "Grab the elevator and come on up."
This isn't your fight, Jay Welch, a voice told him as he opened the door. You don't even belong here, Jay Welch, the voice told him as he ran out into the hall. You're crazy to go to bat for these monsters, Jay Welch, the voice told him as he pushed the elevator button. You fought before for a bunch of people who didn't appreciate it one damned bit, Jay Welch. Remember about the Iron Hand and the Negroes, the voice told him as the doors opened and he stepped in. Remember you were shanghaied, it said, as the car shot upward and the bottom of his stomach felt as if it had been left behind. Remember you were going back to Duo Point and Herman's and Joe Scaccia's restaurant and Julie and tie and suit and Julie and the tight shoes and Julie and personal freedom and Julie and Jerry, the black guy you worked with and liked so well and Julie and the new Olds and Julie. Tomorrow you were going back.
The doors shot back. He stepped out on the roof.
"Mister Welcci?" said the clerk. "That's Tribune Ilaria's plane over there."
He pointed23 to the little PR ship marked with the three silver diamonds of a Tribune and the staff of psychology24. Jay ran. Wind was whipping across the roof and their cloaks streamed out and fluttered. The three men came together.
"This is Commander DeVito, Jay. Commander, Jay Welch, The Man From 1954." The way Ilaria said it always made it sound capitalized.
They shook hands. They got into the plane and shot straight up and the city was a blur25 beneath them. In less than a minute the little flier dropped down faster than any elevator and landed at Standiford.
"Forty long," Jay suggested, then colored. Tunic27 and a hundred years made a difference in his size. He went with the supply-sergeant, who gave him a correct fit the first time—times have changed, Jay grunted—and fitted him with a helmet on the second try. He felt a tremor28 as he buckled29 on the pellet gun. With the cloak flapping about his heels and the gun banging his leg and the helmet biting his ear he ran to the elevator and down to the room Kevin had designated. The Tribune and Commander DeVito and five or six other officers were standing30 around a table in the steel-walled underground room.
Before them was a gigantic map. They looked up as Jay burst in.
"This is The Man From 1954," Ilaria said. There were hand-shakes all around that reminded Jay of fraternity rush. DeVito and one of the others wore wings. Jay wondered if that were still a pilot's insignia.
The red X's on the map, they told him, were places under attack. The blue ones were areas taken by the fast-moving rebels. He learned that the messenger-jet they'd sent to Rome—they were lost without their instantaneous push-button communications system—hadn't made it. More had been sent. Meanwhile they were on their own.
The nearest major battle was at Chicago, where Cocuzzi Flight Base was located. Ilaria despatched Commander DeVito and something like fifty jet fighters to Chicago. The other man was in charge of a group of B-90 Stratosonic bombers31. They lifted their fists in stiff-armed salute33 and left.
"The rest of the ships will remain here, ready for instant take-off. I'll command interception34. Sub-Tribune Rinaldi will command the base in case I have to go up.
"I can't understand why we haven't been jumped yet. We must assume they'll attack Louisville because of Standiford and the Time Building. They'll also be interested in you, Jay."
By 2:00 that afternoon Louisville had not yet been attacked. Abruptly35 at 1:59 world communications went into operation. Everyone turned on his television set, wondering if Caesar's talk would go on as scheduled.
It did. There was a screaming crowd before the Capitol. On the high balcony stood the Dictator. At his side stood Senator Chianti and around them were ringed Caesar's Pretorian Guards. The city was nearly empty of field soldiers. They had gone out to meet the insurgents36.
"You have all heard of the revolt now in progress against us throughout the Empire."
Ilaria nodded at the Caesar's psychologically clever use of the word us.
"With your aid, my people, we can put a quick end to this treason. You have seen better than half a century of peaceful, successful government. These traitors40 and conspirators41 would attempt to overthrow42 our government and put an end to this peace ... this Peace of Rome.
"The world is now in a state of emergency. If you, my people, will bear with me through this period of crisis we will return to our world of peace and serenity43 once more."
Cheers. Wild applause.
"They believe him," Jay murmured.
Ilaria looked at him. "Of course," he said.
"For a long time our Empire has remained ..."
Caesar's face stiffened44. The deep-set, weary eyes blazed and widened. His hand reached out for the railing. Then he stiffened again and was limp as the bursting pellet of sulphuric acid and potassium cyanide took effect.
Gaius Julius Caesar Imperator V fell.
Jay and Ilaria stood, staring, as the Pretorian Guards levelled their guns and became a solid, surrounding wall. The T-V cameramen were getting the scene of the century.
"Lamberti!" Ilaria bit out.
The Pretorian Prefect, his hands outspread, stood on the balcony over Caesar's body. The white cloak with Liberacione on it fluttered about him. A couple of Pretorians came out with an amplifier.
"Friends, Romans, Countrymen," said Farouk Lamberti.
"—every available long-range ship to Rome," Ilaria's brittle voice was hacking47 out orders. "Every one. Contact every other base while communications are still working!"
"... a noble man. But not the man to govern Earth. No, not he nor his government. I bring you a new government. I, Farouk Lamberti, long his best friend, have done this not to him, but for him. For you. The Earth was not meant to be governed by a system of—"
"Yes, I said bomb Rome."
Sub-Tribune Rinaldi smiled. "But Kevin, my friend, we can't bomb Lamberti just when he's getting a good start."
"Never trust old friends, Kevin. Colonel Di Orio didn't. He surprised us in the Radio Room and we were forced to put him out of the way. Also remember this: all members of the Liberacione carry gamma pistols."
Rinaldi pulled out his gamma gun and shot Ilaria through the middle.
Jay was horrified49. He forgot where he was and when he was and what he was doing. All he knew was that there was a cyanide gun at his hip and that this man had shot Ilaria. His gun came up and sputtered50.
"Had a—gamma gun—not ... deadly. Slow-acting ... radio-activity. Hardly ... burned me. Come on—we've got to ... get back to the—Time building."
"Oh, no we won't. You're hurt. We—"
"Don't argue. Sergeant! Saaarguunt!" Ilaria gasped52 at the exertion53 of shouting. The Centurion54 ran in.
"We've got to—get to the—Time building."
Ilaria's gun clicked and the Centurion shuddered55 back and fell through the door. The gamma burst from his pistol hit the wall.
"God! Is everyone a traitor?" Jay demanded of the Universe.
People are easily swayed. It didn't take them long to espouse56 the new cause. They were helped along in their decision by the Liberacione planes hovering57 overhead with loads of KCN-H2SO4 bombs. The whispering campaign Lamberti had carefully started about germ warfare58 helped, too. Those who didn't switch over rapidly were jumped by the new forces. Tribune Ilaria in Louisville, Kentucky, in America held out as long as he could. Then the bombers came. And the Tribune fled to the Time building.
The building shook. A table shivered and a lamp shattered. A jet fighter flew close by the window and the Centurion watched fearfully as it flipped59 on one delta60 wing and fired a tracer burst into a PR ship. The defender10 exploded in mid-air.
Ilaria looked twenty years older than the man who had smiled and welcomed Jay Welch to 2054. He and a young scientist were preparing the machine to send the man from 1954 back to his own time.
"I'd like to keep the uniform."
"All right. Does that do it, Doctor?"
The scientist nodded. He looked at Jay. "It's ready," he said.
"This switch sets everything in motion, doesn't it?" Ilaria asked.
"Yes. That's the final control."
"Then ... I'll do it. I'd like ... to say something to Jay before he leaves."
The scientist hesitated a moment, then shrugged63 and left. The Centurion went to the door. He was a young man and fanatically loyal.
"You all right, Tribune?"
Ilaria smiled. "I'm ... all right, Sergeant."
The Centurion nodded and left.
"Sit ... sit down in that chair, Jay, and do your best to relax."
"What will you do now, Kevin?"
Ilaria shrugged. "Fight 'em 'til they come in and we're sunk. Then I'll join 'em. Why—why die a martyr's death?"
Of course, Jay told himself. Logical. But Kevin had been so convinced. So utterly sure. Now he looked and sounded like a disillusioned64 old man.
"Kevin, I'm not trying to rub it in. But—"
"I know what you're going to say. I was so sure. Paradise. I was a firm disciple65. Convinced. I believed in all of it. I—thought it would last forever. The perfect government. A permanently66 workable government."
Jay sat quietly. Ilaria reached for the switch.
"For God's sake," came the voice of 1954, "what is the perfect workable government?"
Ilaria closed the switch and the light blinded Jay. He felt as if someone had slugged him in the stomach. Slowly the machine prepared to send him back one-hundred years. It warmed up like a jet on a runway.
The light faded and Jay opened his eyes. The building rocked. There was a terrific explosion and part of the steel wall buckled. Somewhere a woman screamed. A squadron of fighters hurtled past, spitting fire and death. A bomber fell, exploding as it crashed into a tall apartment building. Jay's stomach twisted and he knew he was on his way. Ilaria took his gun from his holster and calmly placed its ugly snout against his own face.
"... the perfect workable government?" Jay's question of a moment ago reached his ears as he began to slip back, minute by minute, picking up momentum67. Ilaria's reply came dimly.
"There is none."
The End
The End
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1
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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chastised
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| v.严惩（某人）（尤指责打）( chastise的过去式 ) | |
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antiquated
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| adj.陈旧的，过时的 | |
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exterminated
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| v.消灭，根绝( exterminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6
screeched
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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troublemaker
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| n.惹是生非者，闹事者，捣乱者 | |
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8
devastated
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| v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的 | |
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defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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defender
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| n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人 | |
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outlawed
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| 宣布…为不合法（outlaw的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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component
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| n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的 | |
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mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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columnists
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| n.专栏作家( columnist的名词复数 ) | |
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15
hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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brittle
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| adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的 | |
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curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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authorized
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| a.委任的，许可的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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rubble
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| n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾 | |
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quell
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| v.压制，平息，减轻 | |
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hitched
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| （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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psychology
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| n.心理，心理学，心理状态 | |
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blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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buckled
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| a. 有带扣的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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bombers
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| n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟 | |
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bomber
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| n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者 | |
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salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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interception
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| n.拦截；截击；截取；截住，截断；窃听 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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insurgents
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| n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 ) | |
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subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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hacking
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| n.非法访问计算机系统和数据库的活动 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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sputtered
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| v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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51
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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52
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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53
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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centurion
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| n.古罗马的百人队长 | |
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55
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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espouse
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| v.支持，赞成，嫁娶 | |
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57
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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59
flipped
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| 轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥 | |
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delta
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| n.（流的）角洲 | |
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winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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63
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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disillusioned
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| a.不再抱幻想的，大失所望的，幻想破灭的 | |
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disciple
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| n.信徒，门徒，追随者 | |
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permanently
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| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
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momentum
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| n.动力，冲力，势头；动量 | |
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