Ed's score at two points gained—Loman out of the way and the of the revealed. But these were small victories with what must be if there was to be any hope. Masses of beings and each other, their to the point of final folly. And the end of one and the of his were small all that.
Ed got out of Loman's the way he had entered. Les Payten, a Atlas, was around. Ed cut off from his old friend by a strange, great distance. But he talk to him at least.
Ed to the radio in a of the workshop, his way through a in its back, and touched a wire with the minute points of a as large as his hand. The electric it were and into sound. Ed's voice came loud and clear: "Les! It's me—Ed Dukas. I'm here, just as Prell came to me once. I'm an just a of an tall. I'm the radio, Les. First, I want to know how you about all this. Yes, I killed Loman."
There were world of with slow caution. A of the set was opened. The inside. Ed was now to the of speech to the mood them.
There was a brief, hard chuckle, and and unfriendly.
"Yes, Dukas, I'm sure it's as you say. It's odd, maybe, but I'm not at all. In our time, you have to accept too much. Thanks for Loman—not my father. Dad died on the blowup, as you know, a of technology or history, as we all will soon be. I've told you how I about everything. And what has to me tonight can have my view of the any kinder. Once upon a time, in my youth, I I to this period. How can you get? You take your and durability. I wonder what of life you've lost. So there's my standard, and I'll live and die by it, Dukas. It's sad to a pal, but as you are, I you'll have to be an enemy. It's like an instinct, Dukas."
Les had spoken and firmly. But Ed the and that the words.
"I won't argue, Les," he answered. "But when I'm straight, the truth to me is still as it was. In man above android, or versa, you can only come to zero. Only in play them is there a chance. So, if the comes over you, you might still do me a favor. Across this room is a and that are to me and to Barbara, who is like me, somewhere. Guard it, Les. No place that you is safe for it. But I was that if you again—as we all must—you might take it to Abel Freeman. I know that you were almost killed in his camp, Les. But I that the old is and not as against such a device as some beings might be. Thanks if you it, Les."
Still by his one-time friend, Ed to the and through a pipe that among bushes. He rose above the trees, and a night wind pushed him on, while he to the he carried. His now was to Tom Granger as his next candidate for silence.
It was not necessary. The news was on the air: "Granger was in his just eight o'clock. The is not yet clear. He had just to his new speech: 'I am frightened. We are all frightened. But this can nothing of our purpose. In we are by a fact: an identity of a of spirit. A treachery. A slow, encroachment....'"
Prell had to Granger, then. If this was murder, maybe it was justified—if Earth was one less in with one quieted, for a while if not forever. But what had been so was small the threat that had been up in many minds and across the countryside.
The sky was with clouds. Weather Control, through its towers had already been smashed. The night was alternately a Stygian or a glare-lit full of which might that had already begun. So far, only were being used. Where a was there would be a of light that an had not look at. Then another mountain, over a different line, would up and with moving lava. And the power that the was the same as that which the stars.
Rising high and with his Midas Touch, Ed to work. He of Abel Freeman's camp, which the of which one slope. But that was not his now. He had for a power station house in a great trailer—and did it it to the older or the newer? He took great into its vitals. The pressure of space warps, a pressure of of to the square inch, gradually. A marble-sized of super-dense matter, and by the and by its opaqueness, to to meter-wide size and to its and as the it stopped. Soon the power plant, out a of electricity out of all to its small size, to function. Scattered of and inert.
There was no easily visible for the breakdown, until puzzled minute in tubes, air to enter, and and stopping their action.
Two great died, their energy cut off. But the power themselves were the threat, for they that sun-stuff them. Now the of one, which some person might to push too in of the of others, were useless.
Working of the line, Ed another energy source, and another. Then he count, not of a high score, but and had his mind somewhat. Yet he at his labors there was no other way. Within every square mile there was power to end his planet.
Around him, came from giants: "Men, eh? Jelly for insides!..." "Stinking Phonies—Hell-born or Prell-born!... Jim, I was wondering, this fizz-out looks fishy. Do you the have something?"
The had quieted. It be that, as as he had gone, Ed had actually the Earth together by a points. But he take no for himself out of this. The job go on and on, like a of water on a fire. It helped briefly, yet if there had been a thousand like him, but indestructible, the might still be without promise. The of the was too and scattered; the natural and the which had it up were too deep. The of Loman and Granger still walked in memory and maybe now in martyrdom. And the technology was still there. So Ed that, unless there was another way, he only go on attempting to a threat, until and or its him out.
It took him over an hour to stop one power station his was and it had to rain heavily. The great not kill him, but like lakes, they him into the mud, from which it might take days for him to himself. He waited in the of a of on the of a tree. There he the of his smallness.
As he waited, his mind rambled. Had groups of without his noticing, or was this only something that he were so? Where was Barbara now? Would he see her again?... Now he himself in a fantasy. He saw them Earth's the way they had come—she and he together; maybe and peace out there. Perhaps there were worlds—meteors—inhabited by such as they had once but to a where they think and build, and be friendly.
And, almost wistfully, he of another idyl—his father's, and Granger's, among millions of others. He almost see the of the houses, the gardens and the flocks. But how did one a against science—with science? It to do than the water out of the and trying to live in the thus made.
The rain ended. Ed was air-borne again. He one more power station to down. But there were others. And some that he had might already be repaired. And from his he other voices—not Granger's, but like Granger's. The old and that Granger had go on without him, as if in a drive toward suicide. Who be everywhere, to such clamoring?
In the dawn, Ed and hopeless. His mind was on Abel Freeman again—the memory man, somebody's family legend. It was an thing to out the for advice, for and for a joining of forces.
Ed had only part of an energy left for his Midas Touch. But this was more than to him across the to the of the with he must now admit a of flesh. Freeman was a local leader now among those of the same mark who had from the City, where the population was of the old kind. Technicians, craftsmen, of every sort, would be among Freeman's following.
Just as began, Ed over the vast, hodge-podge in the and the marshes. Part of the ground it had been to hot, consistency, by a small bomb. Maybe a hundred Phonies had died there—which added nothing to the of peace.
Abel Freeman himself was not too hard to find, for he a central, position among in great from any in an aircraft. But Abel Freeman, true to his legend, was a of boughs, which the light of his lamp. Before him was a device and a of books on many subjects, from to atomics, on which he was to up. He was upon book learning, for which he had little aptitude. But Ed, him in proportions, was able than others to why in need of to his grounds. Abel Freeman looked like the of and ability. Among leaders, he was the greatest.
Freeman had a small radio him. Ed Dukas did not try to read the meaning of its vibrations, for he was aware of their tone. To him the was a possible of himself and Freeman.
But Ed was not now the to make such contact. For something else happened. From the pages of an opened book in Abel Freeman's hands a of smoke, as were across the paper. Ed was close in the air to read them, too: "I am Mitchell Prell, who helped make your possible. I am one of you now—though undersize. Help keep the peace. Make no moves to start trouble."
Ed himself was startled. His uncle was here, then! They had at almost the same time. And Prell had a more means of communication—not ink, not an voice, but the spiderweb-thin of his Midas Touch used as a long stylus, while he clung, perhaps, to a on the of Freeman's hand!
For an instant, Abel Freeman was by surprise. But then, with rattlesnake-swift movement, his own Midas Touch was in his hand. His whole self to take on the of perfect which nothing but an machine have equaled.
"Prell or a liar?" he challenged. "Or Prell with a conscience—for his own people and against his brain children? Yes, I've how little you might be now."
Ed had only his uncle off among the of the air—another among them—a away he must be, at least. But Ed hadn't waited for contact. Instead he Freeman's radio, touched the of his to the proper surface, and spoke: "Maybe you'll me, too, Freeman. I'm Dukas, Prell's nephew. You and I have talked before, man to man. Prell is no liar. And the is there—for everybody, or otherwise. Yes, I'm with him, the same size. And there's a problem, everybody's problem, the one that I've of. So where do we any answer that makes sense? Some of it has got to come quickly, I'm afraid, Freeman."
Amplified, Ed's voice had out till it was like an to him. Once again a plastic box was opened above him and a was overhead. In the of smallness, there was almost a for a moment. Then came the of Freeman's hard, laugh, as he said, "I'll be damned! Smaller than and the way. People. Something better. Yep, it must be so, if I can't see you. That puts us way ahead, I guess. And it ain't a vision. Well, I it still don't make any difference. The old-time of us, and they'll stop while of us and them are alive. And us Phonies have been all we can take. They've on us here, just trying to miss. Could be we've done the same to them. It's a proposition. In they us all here, and clean and no left. So we them than gunpowder. So who and it first? We've them: an answer, under the ground. Maybe they can our other weapons, like it they can, but not this one. It's enough. Let 'em try to us hard, and it'll set off. Your old Moonblast will be a thousand times. Us Phonies are bullheaded. We were on Earth, same as them. It's ours as much as theirs. We came alive, and we can out again, fella!"
The of Freeman's rose and fell, with humor, and stubbornness. Two races, one of the knowledge by the other, to have each other into of no return. At some instant, the Big Zero would come.
Ed saw this picture more than before. His little with it. He looked at Mitchell Prell, who had come him now, where the pieces of that up the of a small set loomed, and he saw in his the puzzled, of a scientist had always at doing good. Just then Ed Dukas, micro-android, was from from the Big Earth as he used to know it. So now, in desperation, he at a which had once almost a fact.
"Freeman," he said, "maybe men can't or co-operate with supermen. Doing that can like extinction. But hasn't there always been an thing for us to do?"
"Umhm-m—you we should down," Freeman softly. "Set out for the wide-open that we were meant for. Leave the behind. Young fella, be that you and me see bigger. For others like us, it ought to be like that, only it ain't—yet. Most of the new people are butcher, and maker, Earth-born, and Earth-tied in their minds, like anybody. There's a ship, sure. But the are still off, and touched, and you can go just thinkin' about them. Lots of our would in their own sweet time, same as regular folks, sure. It's in their blood. You might say they got wings. But who how to use 'em yet? And our off their home world? When they're and like any being? Nope. Sorry!"
Ed's the old android's realism. For years the movement of had been and into space. It was at once a fact, a and a philosophy, like nearer to the Eternal Unknown. But most of the worth-while was already owned by the original species. Beyond was only the distance, not a path at all, an and novelty. One star ship was about completed, yes. Fast it would be, but its speed would still of the of light. So the nearer were decades, centuries, away.
An idea so familiar that it almost an can some of its in the hard of obstacles. Ed something like a him. Though he the of a micro-cosmic viewpoint, others did not have this and for the unknown. He saw the majority of them fatally. But he still had to try something, to as much of this as he could—if he any of it at all.
"I don't know or not to you and the others for the you say is here and elsewhere, Freeman," he said. "I can see why to do it. But I'm going to borrow your facilities, Freeman. Or someone else's. Because can be a powerful force. And I think I can give it a little push."
Mitchell Prell was still him. His was and sly. "Best of luck in what you intend, Eddie," he remarked. "Need a for your Midas Touch?... Meanwhile, I might try the teeth of some dragons, as you to have been doing. Got to be careful, though, that don't each other and nervous. Granger, knothead, was easy. I that somehow will be right so that he can come and learn. About Loman and the he made, I can differently."
"You heard?" Ed asked.
"It was on the air," Prell replied. "Somebody the news in from near that lab. At least the ones will know that they about which a horror: a old-race sympathizer, but an android, too! Can that make either proud?"
A minute later Ed on the of the which Freeman's equipment. He past an of rain water that like a him and entered a vent. Soon he touched the of his to the proper contacts. The was active. During the pause the of other and and information, Ed spoke quickly, like a sprite. "This is no voice. We that many want to take all of their the system."
The station did not stop sending at once. Blame that on the monitor, who must have been listening. Ed took of his opportunity. He was another moment to speak: "It is only natural that they should want to do that. Their of matches the stars. They don't need, or want, the Earth. Their in peace be a perfect answer to everything."
That much Ed got out the to silence. He he hadn't said anything original and that he had pushed an intensely, like a high-pressure salesman without full belief. What he had said was the way should be, perhaps, but were not. Yet, again, like a kid, had he the impact of his own words?
He was aware that would and millions of the old race—intent on from an enemy station—as well. A mysterious, voice was always a thing to attention, and his had been startling. That they would be and a thousand times from other was probable. For they were like a of in one of two of and strength.
But Ed that he'd no pictures of what his speech would but would wait for hard facts. He that he'd had a moment more to speak on the transmitter, to call out Barbara's name.
Now he again in a sunshine. Luck had out this at least. But over and and and grim-faced that looked as as could, there were that optimism. A ship high; an a of air white it—very close. And mountaintops, already and smoking, still would up dazzlingly. Android and and to as nothing could. The were men and women. Could children cry? Yes, some did.
Another thing happened. Ed, low in the air, the of and cries. A man who to be near was being helped by a near the of his dungarees. At a little distance, where size more as it used to be, Ed saw that the man was Les Payten. He was from to foot; his and arms were by brambles, his was a rag.
He was to Abel Freeman's shelter. There, supported by the youth, he spoke his piece: "I'm here again, Freeman, a friend of mine asked me to you something for him. Does that make me a fool? I know it does. Because he's only my of a friend now. Damn you all!"
Les Payten fainted. A in a plastic from his hands, but Abel Freeman it. A of Abel's sons looked on, puzzled scowls. Freeman them away with a fist, as an club, and then shouted, "Nancy! Oh, Nancy-y-y!" But there was no time for Ed to Freeman's as a nurse. He Freeman's radio again, and spoke, "Freeman, this is Dukas. I came to you to give and help. That means that I've to right about you. I I have. When your neo-biologists what Payten has brought, they will be able to its value to me and mine. And I think that they will be able to its with those of their own for something I'd like to see done. But there are other matters. Some of your power plants down, but so did others across the line. I did most of that. Prell must be doing more of it right now. What I said over your was meant to a little time."
Ed paused. Freeman did not open the radio case again. Ed couldn't see him. He only small and clinkings—the leader opening the that Les Payten had brought. Ed if he what was going on in Freeman's head, the thousand problems and that must be there.
Freeman might be no good at book learning. And his were in a century when a machine was a wild thought. But he had to be to match the him. And he had to take with a light for the same reason.
Finally Ed the of his chuckle. "You I'm one of your 'reasonable' variety," he said. "Meantime you my stuff, eh, little in the air! I ought to unreasonable! You might me off! I'm of about that! But I don't think you have to bother. I know that the old-time are moving more up. And they're mad, we got a of them in one place last night—sort of by miscalculation. What's this talk about us the stars? Well, fella, go 'head and talk some more. Yep, on our rig. What's left to lose? And I'm still curious."
On the way to the radio trailer, Ed looked to the ugly, of up a high, a miles away. This was fresh action by men of the old who had friends or family and who saw no in a succession. They were exposed, an easy target. But if they were destroyed, others would come. So they and defied, and the toward Big Zero to mount.
Ed to this for a moment. His by were a call for his wife: "Babs, this is Ed, at Freeman's camp! Barbara, come to us if you can. At least, try to with us. You know how. Barbara!..."
She had her own chip, active all the time, so she must hear! And if she did, she send a message just as he did, from some other station. But though Ed now had help, at Freeman's orders, no reply from his wife was from the that were received.
But his previous attempt to spread a had some results. The air was full of comments: "... A joke ... Psychological ... Perhaps, but what if the Phonies to leave? Some already it.... Who spoke? Let him speak again."
Ed was to oblige, his name, his present and how a being of such size, with a Midas Touch, might a power station. He this last item he did not want a to up more on sides. Otherwise, he himself mostly to the androids, aware that the old would listen, too.
"... We were on Earth, but not for Earth. We were meant to go much farther. Since we have so much, to be other than would be stupid. We have peace and the future, and most of what man for, in our hands. That, or for everyone."
Though the movement on the burned-out continued, the of suspended. The was either promising or it was ominous.
He was into so that at he took a break. He to Freeman's and into the that Mitchell Prell had and that Les Payten had rescued. He from the air minute and the that had Barbara and him their micro-android on Mars.
The whole piece—the together with all the much equipment—Abel Freeman had hastily, so that entry into the the plastic had been easy. Freeman himself was not around.
For a moment Ed alone and wistful, to the of the shop. But then he saw a figure.
"Barbara!" he exclaimed.
Her tinkled. "Think I wasn't come back, Eddie?" she teased. "That I couldn't any in what to a big world?" Her almost him. Her at once, and he saw that she looked worn. "I know," she said. "It's not funny. We might have up with the Earth—far apart. But I busy. I to call you yesterday from a station in the City. But I wasn't sure I touched the proper contacts. And last night I had to be a good saboteur. I got three weapon-feeding power houses—though I that the be against us easily enough. Later, I was lost—high up in the wind. With you along, it have been wonderful. Of course, I news broadcasts. About Loman's lab. And from Freeman's station, a report of how Les with a device. This I your call, but there was no way to answer. Eddie, Freeman's copy us in normal size easily and quickly, couldn't they? And in vitaplasm. The methods have been improved. Our personal recordings, lost, wouldn't be needed. Should we try to have it done? Then there'd be two of each of us, in different sizes. Two...."
Ed chuckled. "Not a word about returning to the old flesh, eh?" he said. "So have we learned? Android to go anywhere, to be almost anything. Yep, magic almost. I think you'd on or a cloud, or be pushed by light pressure, like sleeping spores, to a thousand light-years away! Well, it still happen. Part of us has been by like that to there. But the older part much like it was and to the size plane that we about."
They each other and laughed. And they were by the around them. But the were still there, only someone's madness. And what can a world's end be like, in a instant, to one's senses? Certainly it must be a quick, almost experience.
Ed aware of a flicker. Then there was something like an thud; he tell a crash of took part in it or not. Around him was whiteness, without or form. Then there was nothing.
