Authentic Science Fiction, No. 23 — page 47: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

90 THE SINGING SPHERES myself heard over the appalling noise. “Is this not truly an infant prince of Kardoon?” Great cries of acclamation and homage ripped through the vast cavern, mingled with the shouts of those who still sided with Makkub—mostly, I supposed, those who had been lucky in escaping nomination as sacrifices and didn’t want to tempt fortune prematurely until they saw which way the wind blew. The cluster of spheres which at first blocked the entrance proved to be adherents of Fuzzy-bubble. and they had actu- ally flung themselves there as a protective escort on seeing Fandat’s surprising arrival. “Behold” cried Fuzzy-bubble, admirably taking his cue. “The prince approaches. The counsel should receive him with fitting dignity.” | There wasn’t much that Makkub could do about it, save sit there grinding his teeth. Being unfamiliar with cere- monial procedure on Kardoon, I wondered whether he was supposed to make a speech of welcome. Anyway, the clamour decreased, the counsellors sat more steadily on their thrones and various officials began to move with hauteur in preparation for solemn ritual. The effect was spoiled, however, by little Pinky, who bounced from his four- sphere carriage, alarming the bearers and causing scandalised whispers among the counsellors. “Uncle Hartnell!” he cried, delightedly. His bright, rosy bubble danced round Hartnell’s helmet for a few ecstatic moments, then came to rest, quivering with excitement near the control belt. J think he was fascinated by all the switch levers there, and I hoped he wouldn't try _ prodding them with any force-beams. Fuzzy-bubble shepherded him back to the quartet of at- tendants, then turned to me. He had to approach the sub- ject rather delicately, but it boiled down to a wish that after we had witnessed the ceremonies installing Pinky as a Prince of Kardoon, the three of us would remove ourselves to more secluded quarters. “Because,” he said, “Makkub retains support among certain sections of the people. Much grief and slaughter may ensue before he is deposed—” “Could we help in any way?” The “no-politics” rule THE SINGING SPHERES 91 caused a twinge of conscience, but I ignored it. We had travelled so far along this forbidden path that we might just as well continue to the end. | The answer proved rather humiliating. Fuzzy-bubble smiled pityingly, as it were, and said “Many force-beams may of used in battle. We might not be able to protect you all the time—” The truth of this remark made me writhe. Admittedly. Hartnell’s ruse had succeeded in eliminating the line of guards who tried to keep us cooped up the Place of Execu- tion, but we would be helpless before direct, offensive action. I didn’t like the situation before; these dark hints about open. violent conflict made it even less attractive. "What you mean,” I said, bluntly, “is that you’d rather not have the responsibility of looking after us. You’d prefer us to return to our ship and leave Kardoon. Is that it?” “If such things could be,” answered Fuzzy-bubble, in a rather peculiar way, “my friends and I would rejoice, for you would return to us in happier times. Yet you forget that the Machine of Revelation has foretold how you will never see your own world again. The exact manner in which the prophecy will be fulfilled is not known—but be certain the Wise Ones are never wrong. How else would anyone know the strange marks we saw on the graves, which you say iden- tify the person lying beneath the ground?” Yes, how could they? That picture certainly wasn’t faked. We had seen not only names, but our official Inter-X num- bers on the markers. I felt that icy shiver begin again in the nape of my neck and travel slowly along my spine. Meantime, official initiation proceedings continued. The general effect was meaningless but exceedingly pretty. Faintly luminous spheres of many colours gyrated in stately proces: sion around the three rod-like thrones still occupied by Mak- kub, Pakkan and Zakkar, shining with their red, green and orange tadiance within a circle of purple and yellow globe: that moved in single file, in pairs, in clusters and then back again until I felt my eyes watering with the strain. Little Pinky was raised high by his escort. Over the Mattus I could hear him chuckling with delight at the entertainment, to the GEomichbooks com