Part -2
IV
After duties, Joe Mauser returned to his and Max Mainz by not only into himself but having Max do the same.
In fact, the new faintly. He hadn't nearly, as yet, got over the of his and was looking to around town in them. He had a point, of course. The time for the was closer and were to into town to in the of death. Everybody what a center, on the of a such as the Catskills, was like a corporations. The high-strung gaiety, the drinking, the overtranking, the of mores. Even a Rank Private had it made. Admiring to drinks and on your every word, and more still, sensuous-eyed women, their in passion. It was a phenomenon, Max Mainz knew—this on the part of Telly fans to date a man, and then watch him later, killing or being killed.
"Time to wear your uniform," Joe Mauser at him. "In fact, tomorrow's a local election day. Parlay that up on top of all the fans into town and you'll have a the of nothing you've before."
"Well yessir," Max begrudged. "Where're we going now, captain?"
"To the airport. Come along."
Joe Mauser the way to his and as soon as the two were settled into the seats, the with the of his left hand. Aircushion-borne, he on the accelerator.
Max Mainz was impressed. "You know," he said. "I been in one of these jobs before. The car you can on the of a Mid-Lower's stock aren't—"
"Knock it off," Joe said wearily. "Carping we'll always have with us evidently, but in of all the in every from Low-Lower to Upper-Middle, I've yet to see any of against our present politico-economic system."
"Hey," Max said. "Don't me wrong. What was good for Dad is good for me. You won't catch me talking against the government."
"Hm-m-m," Joe murmured. "And all the other to us to the quo, our People's Capitalism." They were the of town, the Esopus. The only a mile or so beyond.
It was too for Max, and since he didn't understand, he his didn't know what he was talking about. He said, tolerantly, "Well, what's with People's Capitalism? Everybody the corporations. Damnsight than the Sovs have."
Joe said sourly. "We've got one illusion, they've got another, Max. Over there they the the means of production. Great. But the Party members are the ones who it, and, as a result they manage to do all right for themselves. The Party over there are like our Uppers over here."
"Yeah." Max was being particularly dense. "I've a about it on Telly. You know, when there isn't a good on, you to one of them shows, like—"
Joe at the term educational, but his peace.
"It's over there. But in the West-world, the people own a corporation's stock and they it and the benefit."
"At least it makes a story," Joe said dryly. "Look, Max. Suppose you have a that has two hundred thousand out and they're among one hundred thousand and one persons. One hundred thousand of these own one apiece, but the the other hundred thousand."
"I don't know what you're at," Max said.
Joe Mauser was of the discussion. "Briefly," he said, "we have the that this is a People's Capitalism, with all stock in the hands of the People. Actually, as before, the stock is in the hands of the Uppers, all a dribble. They own the country and they it for their own benefit."
Max a less than at him. "Hey, you're not one of these Sovs yourself, are you?"
They were into the area near the Administration Building of the airport. "No," Joe said so that Max his words. "Only a Mid-Middle on the make."
Followed by Max, he to the Administration Building, presented his at the and a light for a period of three hours. The clerk, looking up, going through motions, speaking into telescreens.
The said finally, "You might have a small wait, sir. Quite a of the officers in this have been out taxi-planes almost as fast as they're available."
That didn't Joe Mauser. Any officer a point of an survey of the going into a fracas. Aircraft, of course, couldn't be used the fray, since they the turn of the century, and hence were to the of along with such as weapons, tanks, and gasoline-propelled vehicles of size to be useful.
Use an in a fracas, or an for and you'd have a go up from the from the Sov-world that would be all the way to Budapest. Not a by but there were scores, if not hundreds, of observers, keen-eyed to check or not any modern of were being utilized. Joe Mauser sometimes if the West-world observers, over in the Sov-world, were as in their up to the of the Universal Disarmament Pact. Probably. But, for that matter, they didn't have the same of over there, as in the West.
Joe took a chair while he waited and through a magazine. From time to time he his own in such publications. He was a third-rate celebrity, really. Luck hadn't been with him so as the were concerned. They wanted victories, in which they themselves in thrills. Joe had most of his while in retreat, or a action. His officers him and so did the ultra-knowledgeable buffs—but he was all but an unknown to the who most of his life to the Telly set, men each other.
On the occasions when had and Joe had to his way out against difficult odds, using in desperation, he was almost always off camera. Purely luck. On top of skill, determination, and courage, you had to have luck in the Military Category to anywhere.
This time Joe was going to his own.
A voice said, "Ah, Captain Mauser."
Joe looked up, then came to his quickly. In reflex, he to come to the but then himself. He said stiffly, "My compliments, Marshal Cogswell."
The other was a man, but of and built. His voice was clipped, clear and had the air of as though with it. He, like Joe, and now his hand to be shaken.
"I you've up with Baron Haer, captain. I was you to come in with me. Had a place for a good de camp. Liked your work in that last we through together."
"Thank you, sir," Joe said. Stonewall Cogswell was as good a as and he was more than that. He was a judge of men and a for detail. And right now, if Joe Mauser Marshal Stonewall Cogswell as well as he thought, Cogswell was a rat. There was no why old pro Joe Mauser should up with a sure like Vacuum Tube when he have more taking a with Hovercraft.
He was looking at Joe brightly, the question in his eyes. Three or four of his staff were a paces, looking polite, but Cogswell didn't them into the conversation. Joe most by sight. Good men all. Old pros all. He another of doubt.
Joe had to cover. He said, "I was offered a particularly good contract, sir. Too good to resist."
The other nodded, as though to a satisfactory conclusion. "Baron Haer's connections, eh? He's offered to you for a in caste. Is that it, Joe?"
Joe Mauser flushed. Stonewall Cogswell what he was talking about. He'd been into Middle himself and had an Upper the hard way. His path wasn't as long as Joe's was going to be, but long and he how the climb was. How very rocky.
Joe said, stiffly, "I'm I'm in no position to discuss my commander's contracts, marshal. We're in mufti, but after all—"
Cogswell's registered one of his of humor. "I understand, Joe. Well, good luck and I don't for you in the fracas. Possibly we'll ourselves together again at some time."
"Thank you, sir," Joe said, once more having to catch himself to prevent an salute.
Cogswell and his staff off, Joe looking after them. Even the marshal's staff members were top men, any of have a fracas. Joe the in his again. Although it must have looked like a cinch, the enemy wasn't taking any whatsoever. Cogswell and his officers were here at the for the same as Joe. They wanted a of the battlefield-to-be, the issue was joined.
Max was at his elbow. "Who was that, sir? Looks like a one."
"He is a one," Joe said sourly. "That's Stonewall Cogswell, the best in North America."
Max his lips. "I him out of before. Lots of times on Telly, but out of uniform. I he was than that."
"He with his brains," Joe said, still looking after the marshal. "He doesn't have to be any taller."
Max scowled. "Where'd he that nickname, sir?"
"Stonewall?" Joe was to his chair and magazine. "He's to be a student of a top in the American Civil War. Uses some of the original Stonewall's tactics."
Max was out of his depth. "American Civil War? Was that much of a fracas, captain? It been my time."
"It was a fracas," Joe said dryly. "Lot of good died. A hundred years after it was fought, the it was about as as those we for today. Personally I—"
He had to cut it short. They were calling him on the address system. His was ready. Joe his way to the hangars, by Max Mainz. He was going to pilot the himself and old Stonewall Cogswell would have been at what Joe Mauser was looking for.
V
By the time they had returned to quarters, there was a message waiting for Captain Mauser. He was to report to the officer reconnaissance.
Joe in the Haer and to headquarters.
The officer out to be none other than Balt Haer, as ever, and, as ever, his against his leg.
"Zen! Captain," he complained. "Where have you been? Off on a kick? We've got to organized."
Joe Mauser him a salute. "No, sir. I rented an to out the over which we'll be fighting."
"Indeed. And what were your impressions, captain?" There was an which that it little what a captain of might have gained.
Joe shrugged. "Largely mountains, hills, woods. Good is going to make the in this one. And in the itself is going to be more than either or infantry. A Nathan Forrest fracas, sir. A of there with the mostest."
Balt Haer said amusedly. "Thanks for your opinion, captain. Fortunately, our staff has already come to the same conclusions. Undoubtedly, they'll be to your wide them out."
Joe said evenly, "It's a conclusion, of course." He took this as it came, having been through it before. The amateur's of the old pro. The in who full well he was less than many of those him in rank.
"Of course, captain," Balt Haer his against his leg. "But to the point. Your is to be as under my command. You've had experience, I assume."
"Yes, sir. In over the past fifteen years."
"Very well. Now then, to to the I have you. Yesterday in my father's office you that you had some which would victory to the Haer colors. But then, on some thin excuse, to just what the might be."
Joe Mauser looked at him unblinkingly.
Balt Haer said: "Now I'd like to have your opinion on just how Vacuum Tube Transport can itself from what would a position at best."
In all there were four others in the office, two away at typers, and two of Balt Haer's junior officers. They only in the Balt and Joe.
Joe wet his carefully. The Haer was his officer. He said, "Sir, what I had in mind is a new gimmick. At this stage, if I told and it leaked, it'd be effective, not this time."
Haer him coldly. "And you think me of your secret, ah, gimmick, I is the term you used."
Joe Mauser's around the room, taking in the other four, who were now looking at him.
Bait Haer rapped, "These members of my staff are all Haer employees, Captain Mauser. They are not fly-by-night for a week or two."
Joe said, "Yes, sir. But it's been my that one person can a secret. It's twice as hard for two, and from there on it's a in a ratio."
The Haer's the of his leg, impatiently. "Suppose I you that this is a command, captain? I have little in a that will our from and I the idea of a captain of one of my about with such a in his when he should be my commands."
Joe his voice respectful. "Then, sir, I'd that we take the to the Commander in Chief, your father."
"Indeed!"
Joe said, "Sir, I've been on this a long time. I can't to the idea away."
Bait Haer at him. "Very well, captain. I'll call your bluff, come along." He on his and from the room.
Joe Mauser in and him.
The old Baron wasn't much about Joe Mauser's than was his son. It had only been the day that he had taken Joe on, but already he had to have in appearance. Evidently, each hour that by it clear just how a position he had assumed. Vacuum Tube Transport had elbowed, buffaloed, and itself up to the of the big time. The Baron's ability, his aggressiveness, his flair, his political pull, had all helped, but now the were down. He was up against one of the biggies, and this particular was of little Vacuum Tube Transport.
He to his son's words, to Joe's defense.
He said, looking at Joe, "If I this, you have some which you think will victory in of what a situation."
"Yes, sir."
The two Haers looked at him, one impatiently, the other in weariness.
Joe said, "I'm on this, sir. I'm no Rank Private in his fracas. I to be some leeway."
Balt Haer snorted. "Gambling everything! What in Zen would you have to gamble, captain? The whole Haer family are up. Hovercraft is out for blood. They won't be satisfied with a victory and a compromise. They'll us. Thousands of killed, with all that means in indemnities; millions upon in equipment, most of which we've had to and will have to for. Can you the value of our stock after Stonewall Cogswell has with us? Why, every two by four in North America will be us, and we won't have the to meet a minor skirmish."
Joe into an pocket and a of documents on the of Baron Malcolm Haer. The Baron at them.
Joe said simply, "I've been stock since I was eighteen and I've taken good of my portfolio in of taxes and the other which make the of impossible. Yesterday, I all of my portfolio I was legally allowed to sell and to Vacuum Tube Transport." He added, dryly, "Getting it at an excellent rate, by the way."
Balt Haer through the papers, unbelievingly. "Zen!" he ejaculated. "The did it. He's a small into our stock."
Baron Haer at his son, "You more of our than the captain, here. Perhaps I should your positions of command."
His son grunted, but said nothing.
Old Malcolm Haer's came to Joe. "Admittedly, I you on the yesterday, with your of some which would lead us out of the wilderness, so to speak. Now I wonder if you might not have something. Very well, I respect your need for secrecy. Espionage is not an field."
"Thank you, sir."
But the Baron was still at him. "However, there's more to it than that. Why not take this great to Marshal Cogswell? And yesterday you mentioned that the Telly sets of the nation would be in on this fracas, and you are correct. The question becomes, what of it?"
The was in the fire now. Joe Mauser the of Balt Haer and himself to the older man. "You have political pull, sir. Oh, I know you don't make and presidents. You couldn't to keep Hovercraft from making this a fracas—but you have for my needs."
Baron Haer in his chair, his barrel-like that article of to creak. He his hands over his stomach. "And what are your needs, Captain Mauser?"
Joe said evenly, "If I can this off, I'll be a celebrity. I don't have any about the of the Telly fans, but for a day or two I'll be on top. If at the same time I had your all out support, what you reach—"
"Why then, you'd be promoted to Upper, wouldn't you, captain?" Balt Haer for him, in his voice.
"That's what I'm on," Joe said evenly.
The Haer at his father superciliously. "So our captain says he will Stonewall Cogswell in return for you his a of the nation's elite."
"Good Heavens, is the of the nation now on no higher a level than this?" There was in the words.
The three men turned. It was the girl Joe had into the day before. The Haers didn't at her entrance.
"Nadine," the older man growled. "Captain Joseph Mauser who has been a in our forces."
Joe through the of a Middle of officer's rank being to a lady of Upper caste. She at him, mockingly, and failed to make response.
Nadine Haer said, "I repeat, what is this service the captain can the house of Haer so that pressure should be to him to Upper caste? It would that he is a noted scientist, an artist, a great teacher—"
Joe said, uncomfortably, "They say the is a science, too."
Her was almost as as that of her brother. "Do they? I have so."
"Really, Nadine," her father grumbled. "This is your affair."
"No? In a days I shall be repairing the you have allowed, sponsored, to be upon the of possibly thousands of now healthy beings."
Balt said nastily, "Nobody asked you to join the medical staff, Nadine. You have in your laboratory, out new methods of the from itself."
The girl was not the type to redden, but her anger was manifest. She on her brother. "If the its present course, possibly more methods of birth are the most we make. Even to the of all conception."
Joe himself in mid-chuckle.
But not in time. She on him in his turn. "Look at in that skirt. A professional soldier! A killer! In my opinion the most by man. Parasite on the best and useful members of society. Destroyer by trade!"
Joe to open his mouth, but she him. "Yes, yes. I know. I've read all the nonsense that has through the about the need for, the of, the of the professional soldier. How they their country. How they give all for the common good. Zen! What nonsense."
Balt Haer was at her. "The today is, Nadine, old thing, that such as the captain are in case a with the Sovs develops. Meanwhile his is at a in our inter-corporation, inter-union, or union-corporation that in our private enterprise society."
She laughed her scorn. "And what a theory! Limited to the which 1900. If there was the Sov-world and our own, anyone either would to such arms? Why, aircraft, vehicles, yes, and and rockets, would be in use."
Joe was by her attack. He said, "Then, what would you say was the purpose of the fracases, Miss—"
"Circuses," she snorted. "The old Roman games, all over again, and a hundred times worse. Blood and sadism. The of a person for in another's pain. Our Lowers of today are as and as the Roman and they're just as as the that once Rome. Automation, the second revolution, has for all practical purposes the need for their labor. So we give them and circuses. And every year that goes by the must be sadistic, death on an scale, or they aren't satisfied. Once it was to have mayhem, and Indians, gangsters, or G.I.s the Nazis, Japs or Commies, but that's passed. Now we need blood and guts."
Baron Haer finally, "All right, Nadine. We've this lecture before. I if the captain is interested, particularly since you don't to be able to the stage and have yet to come up with an answer."
"I have an answer!"
"Ah?" Balt Haer his eyebrows, mockingly.
"Yes! Overthrow this society. Resume the road to progress. Put our people to useful endeavor, of in of their Telly sets, taking pills to put them in a happy and to keep them in thrills, and their minds from their condition."
Joe had on out of the with this firebrand, but now, interested, he said, "Progress to where?"
She must have in his that he wasn't needling. She at him. "I don't know man's goal, if there is one. I'm not sure it's important. It's the road that counts. The endeavor. The dream. The to make a world a place than it was at the time of your birth."
Balt Haer said mockingly, "That's the trouble with you, Sis. Here we've Utopia and you don't admit it."
"Utopia!"
"Certainly. Take a poll. You'll people out of twenty happy with just the way they are. They have full and security, of and pills to make than they are—and they're already."
"Then what's the of this of fracases, to the most minute detail on the Telly?"
Baron Haer cut short. "We've and this before, Nadine and now we're too to further." He to Joe Mauser. "Very well, captain, you have my pledge. I wish I as as you to be about your prospects. That will be all for now, captain."
Joe and an about face.
In the offices, when he had closed the door him, he rolled his in mute thanks to powers might be. He had somehow the of Balt, his superior, but he'd also the support of Baron Haer himself, which more.
He for a moment, Nadine Haer's words. She was a malcontent, but, on the other hand, her opinions of his weren't too different than his own. However, this victory, this in caste, and Joe Mauser would be in a position to retire.
The door opened and him and he turned.
Nadine Haer, still up in the herself and her relatives, at him. All of which the he had noticed the day before. She was an almost girl, particularly when with anger.
It to him with a that, if his was to Upper, he would be in a position to such as Nadine Haer.
He looked into her and said, "I was intrigued, Miss Haer, with what you had to say, and I'd like to discuss some of your points. I wonder if I have the of your company at some refreshment—"
"My, how an invitation, captain. I you had in mind and a pills."
Joe looked at her. "I don't I've had a in the past twenty years, Miss Haer. Even as a boy, I didn't particularly take to having my with drug-induced pleasure."
Some of her was abating, but she was still of the professional mercenary. Her up and his in scorn. "You to make of being cultivated, captain. Then why your profession?"
He'd had the answer to that for long years. He said now, simply, "I told you I was a Lower. Given that, little until I my way out of it. Had I been in a society, I would have to myself into the nobility. Under capitalism, I would have done my to a fortune, to an position in society. Now, under People's Capitalism ..."
She snorted, "Industrial Feudalism would be the term."
"... I I can't start to myself until I am a of the Upper caste."
Her had narrowed, and the anger was gone. "But you the in which to yourself?"
"Government to the contrary, it is to in other fields. I didn't this world, possibly I don't approve of it, but since I'm in it I have no but to its rules."
Her arched. "Why not try to the rules?"
Joe at her.
Nadine Haer said, "Let's look up that you were talking about. In fact, there's a small coffee around the where it'd be possible for one of Baron Haer's to have a cup with one of her father's officers of Middle caste."
VI
The morning, hands on the pillow his head, Joe Mauser up at the of his room and his session with Nadine Haer. It hadn't taken him five minutes to come to the that he was in love with the girl, but it had taken him the of the to keep himself under and not let the through to her.
He wanted to talk about the way her mouth in at the corners, but she was on the of society. He would have liked to have that perfectly ear of hers, but she was all for the why man had his present impasse. Joe was for hands, and into each other's eyes, she was for into the the West-world and the Sov-world and the possibility of them.
Of course, to keep her company at all it had been necessary to his own and to go along. It had to her that a Middle might have ideas Nadine Haer. It had not to her, no the she advocated.
Most of their world was from what had gone before. In of popular to the contrary, the had clear. Among other things, tax were such that it all but for a citizen to a fortune. Through ability he might to the point of earning sums—and wind up in to the tax collector. A great inventor, a great artist, had little of into the of what the small of the population now as Uppers. Then, too, the cost of a good education such that other than those into the Middle or Upper the best of schools. Castes to themselves.
Politically, the nation had into the two-party system, parties of which were by the same group of Uppers. Elections had a farce, a great national in which speeches, of all castes, picnics, and for one day.
Economically, too, the had been there. Production of the had so that in the old of the word had nonsensical. There was an of the of life for all. Social security, medicine, insurance, old age pensions, pensions for veterans, for and children, for the unfit, pensions and for this, that and the other, had doubled, and again, until had security for life. The Uppers, true enough, had that by the Middles and like Gods to the Lowers. But all had security. They had agreed, thus far, Joe and Nadine. But then had come debate.
"Then why," Joe had asked her, "haven't we what your called it? Why isn't this Utopia? Isn't it what man has been for, through the ages? Where did the wheel come off? What to the dream?"
Nadine had at him—beautifully, he thought. "It's not the time man has in a society, though to this degree. The Incas had it, for instance."
"I don't know much about them," Joe admitted. "An early of with a of military-priesthood at the top."
She had nodded, her serious, as always. "And for themselves, the Romans more or less had it—at the of the nations they conquered, of course."
"And—" Joe prodded.
"And in these examples the same thing developed. Society ossified. Joe," she said, using his name for the time, and in a manner that set off a new count in his blood, "a and a socio-economic itself, just so long as it can. No what it may do to as a whole, it itself to the point of complete of everything.
"Remember Hitler? Adolf the Aryan and his Thousand Year Reich? When it he had failed, and the only thing that result from would be of Germany's and millions of her people, did he and his or surrender? Certainly not. They to the whole German in a Götterdammerung."
Nadine Haer was into her theme, her her conviction. "A socio-economic like a organism. It to live on, indefinitely, agonizingly, no how it might have become. The Roman politico-economic for centuries after it should have been replaced. Such as the Gracchus were or so that the themselves, and when Rome fell, for a thousand years on Western progress."
Joe had gone this in his thoughts. He said now, uncomfortably, "Well, what would replace what we have now? If you took power from you Uppers, who direct the country? The Lowers? That's not funny. Take away their and their pills and they'd go berserk. They don't want anything else."
Her mouth worked. "Admittedly, we've already allowed to much too far. We should have done something long ago. I'm not sure I know the answer. All I know is that in order to maintain the quo, we're not the of more than a of our people. Nine out of ten of us our the Telly, tranks. Meanwhile, the for progress to have away. Our Upper political circles are some minor might avalanche, so more and more we upon the old way of doing things."
Joe had put up mild argument. "I've the case that the Lowers are and the our present socio-economic makes it so difficult to from Lower to Upper is that you cannot make a he is one. You can only make him angry. If some, who are not fools, are allowed to from Lower to Upper, the who are will be angry they are not allowed to. That's why the Military Category is a of advance. To take that road, a man up his security and he'll die if he's a fool."
Nadine had been scornful. "That me of the old by that the Negroes bad. First they put them in a position where they had facilities, their diet inadequate, and their teeth for, and then that they couldn't be with of their odor. Today, we are our castes. If an Upper is inadequate, he an Upper. An accident of birth makes him an aristocrat; environment, family, training, education, friends, and laws maintain him in that position. But a Lower who has the of value to society, is and he's hard put not to wind up a Telly, in a from trank. Sure he's a fool, he's been allowed to himself."
Yes, Joe now, it had been an evening. In a life of more than thirty years to rebellion, he had met anyone so as Nadine Haer, one who had it through as as she had.
He grunted. His own was against the level at which he had himself in society, not the of itself. His whole d'être was to himself to Upper status. It came as a to him to a person he who had been into Upper caste, of the whole down.
His were by the door opening and the of Max Mainz in at him. Joe was at his not opening the door. Max had a to learn.
The little man blurted, "Come on, Joe. Let's go out on the town!"
"Joe?" Joe Mauser himself to one and at the other. "Leaving the of your for the moment, do you think you should address an officer by his name?"
Max Mainz came into the bedroom, his still wider. "You forgot! It's election day!"
"Oh." Joe Mauser into his pillow. "So it is. No for today, eh?"
"No for anybody," Max crowed. "What'd you say we go into town and have a drinks in one of the Upper bars?"
Joe grunted, but to arise. "What'll that accomplish? On election day, most of the Uppers done up in their and go in the Lower quarters."
Max wasn't to be put off so easily. "Well, we go, let's going. Zen! I'll this town is full of from as as Philly. And on election day, to boot. Wouldn't it be something if I me a fan, some Upper-Upper dame?"
Joe laughed at him, as he for the bathroom. As a of fact, he liked the idea of going into town for the show. "Max," he said over his shoulder, "you're in for a big disappointment. They're all the same. Upper, Lower, or Middle."
"Yeah?" Max at him. "Well, I'd like the of out if that's true by personal experience."
