"And a most vital one." The adviser blew on his spectacles and burnished2 the lenses against his sleeve. "A place called McWorther. Our intelligence got its coordinates3 from their consignment4 documents."
"Never heard of it."
"And why is it so vital?"
The adviser directed the Emperor's attention to a space globe suspended from the ceiling. He pressed two buttons on the wall and twin beams of light intersected within the sphere. "That's McWorther's location."
"What concerns me is how many other undisclosed but settled worlds lie in that same general area."
"A whole raft of them, no doubt," the Emperor said pessimistically.
"What are we going to do?"
"In this critical sector7 we've got to make friends—and fast! We'll begin with the McWorther place."
"How far do you want to go?"
"All the way. Empty the surplus bins8. Clear out the warehouses9. Let McWorther have every available pound of material and equipment."
"Terms?"
"Terms be damned! We let the Western Cluster steal a march on us. We've got to recoup. Everything goes as an outright10 gift—with all the cultural trimmings thrown in."
Titus splashed into the cellar and struck out for the hypertransmitter.
It was a peculiar11 flood. Suffusing12 the water was a thick scum that flashed iridescently13 as it caught the glint of light from the ceiling. He stuck his finger into the dross14 and applied15 it to the tip of his tongue.
He thought of the thousands of barrels that had been dumped into the lake and surmised17 that the contaminated water was backing up through the drainage system.
He altered course for the pumps.
The soprano's piercing voice assailed20 his ears. "In all my theatrical21 experience, I have never been subjected to such indignity22! I insist—"
But a violinist pushed forward, wielding23 his bow like a stiff finger. "You, sir, are holding back on us. No doubt you know what our future instructions are."
"I've never seen such fascist24 highhandedness," complained a diminutive25 choreographer26 in the uniform of a Palosov Rocket Dancer. "In the name of the ministry27 of culture of the Eastern Federation28, I demand to see a representative of His Imperial Highness!"
The Simalean ballerina did a series of rapid turns and watched the spray and the pattern of ripples30 that issued from her darting31 feet.
"Exquisite32!" she exuberated. "I shall have to speak with the ma?tre de ballet about a nymphal sequence!"
"Come on, Pop." One of the tumblers confronted Titus. "What's the gimmick33? Why are they keeping us loafing around here?"
"Why?" roared a dramatist, allowing his voice full rein34 in the acoustic35 inadequacy36 of the cellar. "I'll tell you: It's a capitalist scheme to abduct37 the top talent of the glorious workers' federation!"
Hands clamped over his ears, Titus finally made it to the hypertransmitter. He jiggled its dials, beat on the cabinet, lifted a foot from the water and gave it a couple of kicks broadside.
No results. It was obviously shorted out from the flood. And none of the Pullman crafts was equipped with long-range communications gear.
Titus waded38 from the cellar, plodded39 through the house, leaving pools of syrupy water in his wake, and stalked onto the veranda40.
The scene was no less hectic41 than it had been. There were two orchestras now. And they were waging a war of decibels42 to determine whether the "East Cluster Blastoff March" or the "West Cluster Anthem43" should prevail over McWorther's World.
Two debating teams were holding forth44 on the comparative benefits of proletarian solidarity45 and the free enterprise system. Beyond the caladium bed, Edna, who seemed to have finally succumbed46 to frustrated47 abandon, had struck a face-to-the-sun and wind-in-her-hair posture48 for a portraitist who was drowning futility49 in artistic50 endeavor.
But there was neither wind nor sun to accommodate the pose, Titus lamented51. For, after yesterday's deliveries by the bright red cargo52 ships, which had obviously been from the Eastern Cluster, there was little left of McWorther's World that could be recognized.
The immediate53 area around the house had been spared in the deluge54 of material. But, beyond, great sloping expanses of grain and crates55, barrels, boxes, machinery56, bulging57 sacks and drums stretched up and away like the inner walls of a crater58.
Fortunately, disposal onto the surface of McWorther's World had stopped. But not delivery to the system. Coruscating59 pinpoints60 of flame, far out in space, signified the presence of thousands upon thousands of cargo carriers that were dropping off their freight in solar orbit. The items of merchandise themselves were indistinguishable. But their composite existence was beginning to take on the appearance of a great ring of fragmented particles stretching around the sun.
And Titus supposed that it was only the reliability61 of the mass-fending generators62 attached to each article that tentatively kept them all separate and prevented them from plunging63 like a devastating64 hailstorm onto the surface of his world.
He slumped65 to the ground and bracketed his cheeks between his palms. For some unaccountable reason, it seemed that the productivity of the entire universe was being showered down on his private planetoid in one vast gravy66-train effect.
Only he was drowning in the gravy.
"And that's my story." Undersecretary of Cosmic Aid Hoverly laid his hands on the conference table. "And we now have McWorther's World on a total aid schedule."
President Roswell, an angular man with a troubled face, drummed his fingertips together. "Gentlemen, this is most serious."
On his right, Ambassador Summerson's head bobbed in accord. The gesture spread next to the chief of intelligence, then to Hoyerly, thus making the circuit back to Roswell.
"To sum up, then," said the President, "you, Hoverly, authorized67 aid for a McWorther's World in the 47-126 area."
The undersecretary glanced away uneasily.
"But you, Summerson," Roswell continued, "have no record of having signed aid agreements with such a place."
"That's right," the ambassador verified. "But deciding to accommodate McWorther's World was the most fantastic stroke of good luck imaginable."
"When you sent aid to the Potentate69, not only did you pick what will undoubtedly70 develop into the most critical political area of the millennium71, but you also beat the Easties to the draw in a sector that they had staked out all for themselves."
The roving ambassador leaned back smiling. "The chance timing73 was perfect too. We beat them by less than two weeks."
But the intelligence chief's face was rigid74 with dejection. "We got there 'firstest,' to use an ancient expression, but not with the 'mostest.' Our agents in Imperial City report that the amount of aid authorized for McWorther's World is unbelievable. The entire Eastern Cluster is going on a full austerity basis to support the program."
"That shows what value they place on McWorther's World and the sector it opens up," Roswell offered. "When they found out we'd moved in ahead of them, their reaction was frantic75."
Summerson rose. "This, then, gentlemen, is it."
"It certainly is." Roswell's voice was heavy with despondency. "The most God-awful aid war the cluster has ever seen."
"We can't back out," the ambassador warned. "We've got to get busy and face up to the task."
"With every resource at our disposal. To ignore the challenge would be to surrender this entire section of the galaxy76 to the Easties."
The President was silent a moment. "Gentlemen, I am herewith sounding a call to economic arms. Cancel all other aid commitments and activity. Throw everything we have got, everything we can ever hope to produce, at McWorther's World."
"I think you'd better call on the Potentate personally," Summerson proposed.
"That," said Roswell, "is exactly what I intend to do."
Adjusting the drape of his robe, the Emperor sent his eyes flicking77 over the report. Finally he lurched from his chair with a resounding78 "Eureka!"
"So you see how it is, Your Imperial Highness," his chief adviser offered. "By cutting in on their McWorther World operation, we have indeed touched a sensitive Western spot."
"There's no question about that," the Emperor said lustily. He was a portly man whose sartorial79 excesses made him seem even more imposing80. His eyes, recessed81 under thickset brows, flared82 with triumph as he said, "McWorther's World must figure prominently in their planning. From the way they cut loose with everything they had when they found out we were stepping in too, damned if I'm not convinced this new system will be the pivotal point of their entire future strategy."
"Triple quotas. And have my space yacht refitted by tomorrow."
"You're going somewhere, Highness?" asked the adviser.
"This Potentate McWorther is likely to be the third most important political figure in the galaxy. I'm not going to lose any time getting over there and pumping his hand."
His face flushed with rage, Ogarm Netath tossed the space-o-gram at his foreign minister, then snatched it back out of Bataul's hands before he had a chance to read it.
"It's a bill!" Netath's voice quivered. "They sent us a bill for that damned bather monstrosity!"
Bataul's brow, to all appearances, was ready for spring planting. "Let me have another look at it."
Netath stood there trembling while the foreign minister sent his eyes darting over the paper.
"It's from Rear-Sobucks!" Bataul exclaimed. "A retail84 concern that obviously handles automatic bathers!"
"But it was our aid shipment, wasn't it?"
"Apparently85 not. It says here, '... for merchandise previously86 extended in behalf of the Western Cluster....'"
"I don't understand."
Bataul's features struggled through a gamut87 of expressions. "I think I'm just beginning to. Do you remember last year when we had that communications survey made? Between here and the nearest Western relay station, there was that single system. I think some crackpot had laid claim—of course. McWorther's his name. Calls himself a potentate."
"I think both we and McWorther are victims of message interfusion," Bataul said flatly.
"And our aid shipments—?"
Netath started punching buttons on his desk. "We've got work to do."
"What kind?"
"First you're going to get off a message to this Rear-Sobucks bunch and tell them what they can do with their bill and their automatic bather—if it'll fit. You can also explain what's happened."
"This time we'll send the message around the right leg of the cluster," Bataul assured.
"Then we're hopping90 over to this McWorther system and laying down the law to that character. That I want to do personally."
"This," said Twenty-Seventh Vice-President Wheeler of Rear-Sobucks, "explains it all."
"Communications interfusion?" the twenty-sixth vice-president asked.
"Then there's a Rear-Sobucks customer who has been unnecessarily inconvenienced and still hasn't been satisfied?"
V.R. rose from his desk and wagged a finger at the other. "I still don't understand it all, Wheeler. But I can't avoid the impression that you're somehow responsible for the mess."
"You're going to take a trip—now!" V.R. went on, gathering94 steam. "You're going to deliver a bather personally to this Potentate McWorther. You're going to extend the apologies of the entire Rear-Sobucks organization!"
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1
adviser
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| n.劝告者，顾问 | |
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burnished
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| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
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coordinates
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| n.相配之衣物；坐标( coordinate的名词复数 )；（颜色协调的）配套服装；[复数]女套服；同等重要的人（或物）v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的第三人称单数 )；协调；协同；成为同等 | |
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consignment
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| n.寄售；发货；委托；交运货物 | |
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insidious
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| adj.阴险的，隐匿的，暗中为害的，（疾病）不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sector
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| n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形 | |
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bins
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| n.大储藏箱( bin的名词复数 )；宽口箱（如面包箱，垃圾箱等）v.扔掉，丢弃( bin的第三人称单数 ) | |
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warehouses
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| 仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 ) | |
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10
outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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11
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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12
suffusing
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| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的现在分词 ) | |
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13
iridescently
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| adv.iridescent（彩虹色的）的变形 | |
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dross
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| n.渣滓；无用之物 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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syrup
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| n.糖浆，糖水 | |
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surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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convoy
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| vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队 | |
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virtuosos
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| n.艺术大师( virtuoso的名词复数 )；名家；艺术爱好者；古董收藏家 | |
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assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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21
theatrical
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| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
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indignity
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| n.侮辱，伤害尊严，轻蔑 | |
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23
wielding
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的现在分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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24
fascist
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| adj.法西斯主义的；法西斯党的；n.法西斯主义者，法西斯分子 | |
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25
diminutive
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| adj.小巧可爱的，小的 | |
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choreographer
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| n.编舞者 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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federation
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| n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会 | |
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trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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30
ripples
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| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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32
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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gimmick
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| n.(为引人注意而搞的)小革新，小发明 | |
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rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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acoustic
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| adj.听觉的，声音的；(乐器)原声的 | |
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inadequacy
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| n.无法胜任，信心不足 | |
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abduct
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| vt.诱拐，拐带，绑架 | |
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38
waded
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
plodded
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| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
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40
veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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41
hectic
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| adj.肺病的；消耗热的；发热的；闹哄哄的 | |
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42
decibels
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| n.分贝( decibel的名词复数 ) | |
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43
anthem
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| n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌 | |
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44
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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45
solidarity
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| n.团结；休戚相关 | |
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46
succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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47
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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48
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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49
futility
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| n.无用 | |
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50
artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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51
lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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53
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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54
deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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55
crates
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| n. 板条箱, 篓子, 旧汽车 vt. 装进纸条箱 | |
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56
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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57
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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crater
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| n.火山口，弹坑 | |
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59
coruscating
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| v.闪光，闪烁( coruscate的现在分词 ) | |
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60
pinpoints
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| 准确地找出或描述( pinpoint的第三人称单数 )； 为…准确定位 | |
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61
reliability
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| n.可靠性，确实性 | |
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62
generators
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| n.发电机，发生器( generator的名词复数 )；电力公司 | |
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63
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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64
devastating
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| adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的 | |
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slumped
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| 大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下] | |
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gravy
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| n.肉汁；轻易得来的钱，外快 | |
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authorized
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| a.委任的，许可的 | |
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68
squinted
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| 斜视( squint的过去式和过去分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
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potentate
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| n.统治者；君主 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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71
millennium
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| n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世 | |
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72
concurred
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| 同意（concur的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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73
timing
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| n.时间安排，时间选择 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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76
galaxy
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| n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物) | |
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77
flicking
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的现在分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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78
resounding
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| adj. 响亮的 | |
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sartorial
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| adj.裁缝的 | |
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80
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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81
recessed
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| v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的过去式和过去分词 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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82
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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83
quotas
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| （正式限定的）定量( quota的名词复数 )； 定额； 指标； 摊派 | |
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84
retail
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| v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格 | |
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85
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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86
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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87
gamut
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| n.全音阶，(一领域的)全部知识 | |
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88
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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89
wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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90
hopping
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| n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式 | |
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91
premier
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| adj.首要的；n.总理，首相 | |
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92
curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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93
cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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94
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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