The Winds of Limbo
By Michael Moorcock
 
When the Fireclown spoke, promising salvation and life to the dying planet, his
listeners trembled. What was the secret of his hypnotic power? Did he plan to
save Earth for all mankind-or to make it his slave-planet?
 
CHAPTER ONE
 
IT WAS a vast cavern. Part of it was natural, part of it had been hollowed out
by the machines of men. Some parts were deep in dancing shadows and others were
brilliantly illuminated by a great blazing mass-a roaring, crackling miniature
replica of the sun itself, that hung, constantly quivering and erupting, near
the high roof.
Beneath this blazing orb a tall column rose up as if to meet it, and arms akimbo
upon a platform at the top stood a gross figure, clad in ragged, harlequin
costume. A soft, floppy, conical hat was jammed over his lank, yellow hair; his
fat-rounded face was painted white, his eyes and mouth adorned with smears of
red, yellow and black, and on the ragged red jerkin stretched taut upon his
great belly was a vivid yellow sunburst.
Below this gross harlequin the dense crowd surrounding the column ceased its
movement as he raised an orange hand that seemed to shoot from his torn sleeve
like fingers of flame.
He laughed. It was as if the sun had voiced unearthly humor.
"Speak to us!" the crowd pleaded. "Fireclown! Speak to us!"
He ceased his laughing and looked down at them with a peculiar expression moving
behind the paint. At length he bellowed:
"I am the Fireclown!"
"Speak to us!"
"I am the Fireclown, equipped for your salvation. I am the gift bearer, alive
with the Fire of Life, from which the Earth itself was formed! I am the Earth's
brother. .. ."
A woman in a padded dress representing the body of a lion cried shrilly: "And
what are we?"
"You are maggots feeding off your mother. When you mate it is like corpses
coupling. When you laugh it is the sound of the winds of limbo!"
"Why? Why?" shouted a young man with a lean, mean face and a pointed chin that
could pierce a throat. He leaped exuberantly while his eyes glinted and looked.
"You have shunned the natural life and worshipped the artificial. But you are
not lost-not yet!"
"What shall we do?" sobbed a government official, sweating in the purple jacket
and purple pantaloons of his rank, caught by the ritual enough to fidget and
forget to stay in the shadows. His cry was echoed by the crowd.
"What shall we do?"
"Follow me! I will reinstate you as Children of the Sun and Brothers of the
Earth. Spurn me-and you perish in your artificiality, renounced by Nature on
whom you have turned your proud backs."
And again the clown broke into a laugh. He breathed heavily and roared his
insane and enigmatic humor at the cavern roof. Flames from the suspended
miniature sun leaped, stretched and shot out, as if to kiss the Fireclown's
acolytes who laughed and shouted, surging about him, applauding him.
The Fireclown looked down as he laughed, drinking in their adoration.
In a shadow cast by the dais, detached from the milling crowd, a gaunt Negro
stood as if petrified, his eyelids painted in checks of red and white, his mouth
colored green. He wore an extravagant yellow cut-away coat and scarlet tights.
He looked up at the Fireclown and there were tears of hunger in his eyes. The
Negro's name was Junnar.
The faces of the crowd were lashed and slashed by the leaping fire, some eyes
dull, some bright, some eyes blind and some hot, overloaded with heat.
Many of the figures wore masks molded in plastic to caricature their own
faces-long noses, no noses, slit eyes, cow eyes, lipless mouths, gaping mouths.
Some were painted in gaudy colors, others were naked and some wore padded
clothes representing animals or plants.
Here they gathered around the dais. Many hundreds of them, loving the man who
capered like a jester above them, lashing them with his wriggling rhetoric,
laughing, laughing. Scientists, pickpockets, spacemen, explorers, musicians,
confidence tricksters, blackmailers, poets, doctors, whores, murderers, clerks,
perverts, government officials, spies, policemen, social workers, beggars,
actors, politicians, riff-raff.
Here they all were. And they shouted. And as they shouted the gross Fool capered
yet more wildly and the flame responded frenetically to his dancing and his own
wordless cries.
"The Fireclown!" they sobbed.
"The Fireclown!" they bellowed.
"The Fireclown! The Fireclown!" they howled and laughed.
"The Fireclown!" He giggled and he danced like a madman's puppet upon his dais
and sang his mirth.
All this, in the lowest level of the multi-storied labyrinth that was the City
of Switzerland.
With a great effort the Negro Junnar turned his eyes away from the Fireclown,
stumbled backwards, wrenched his body round and ran for one of the back exits,
bent on leaving before he was completely trapped by the Fireclown's spell.
Behind him, the sound of the maddened crowd diminished as he ran along fusty,
ill-smelling corridors until he could no longer hear it. Then he began to walk
up ramps and stairs until he came to an escalator. He stepped on to the
escalator and let himself be taken up to the top, a hundred feet from the
bottom. This corridor was also deserted, but better lighted and cleaner that
those he had left. He looked up and found a sign at an intersection:
NINTH LEVEL (Mechanics) Hogarth Lane-Leading to Divebomber Street and
Orangeblossom Road (Elevators to Forty Levels)
He made for Orangeblossom Road, an old residential corridor but very sparsely
inhabited these days, found the elevators at the end, pressed a button and
waited impatiently for five minutes before one arrived. He entered it and rose
non-stop to the forty-ninth level. Outside he crossed the bright, bustling
corridor and got into a crowded lift bound for the sixty-fifth-the
topmost-level.
The liveried operator recognized him and said deferentially: "Any tips for when
the next election's going to be held, Mr. Junnar?"
Junnar, abstracted, tried to smile politely. He shook his head. "Tomorrow, if
the RLMs had their way," he said. "But we're not worried. People have faith in
the Solrefs." He frowned. He had caught himself using a party slogan again.
Apparently the operator hadn't noticed, but Junnar thought he saw a hint of
irony in the man's eyes. He ignored it, frowned again, this time for a different
reason. Obviously people were losing faith in the Solar Referendum Party. A sign
of the times, he thought.
At length the elevator reached the sixty-fifth level and the operator called out
conscientiously: "Sixty-five. Please show appointment cards as you go through
the barrier."
The people began to shuffle out, some towards the transport that would take them
right across the vast plateau of the Top Level, some towards the distant
buildings comprising the Seat of Government, various Ministries and the private
accommodations of important statesmen, politicians and civil servants.
Built with the money of frightened businessmen during the war scares of the
1970s, the city had grown upwards and outwards so that it now covered almost
two-thirds of what was once the country of Switzerland-one vast building. A
warren with mountains embedded in it, it had begun as a warren of super-shelters
below the mountains. The war scares had died down, but the city had remained
along with the businessmen and, when the World Government was formed in 2005, it
seemed the natural place for the capital. In 2031, in a bid to get full rights
of citizenship for out-world settlers, the Solar Referendum Party had been
formed. Four years later it had risen to power. Its first act had been to
declare that from henceforth they were a Solar Government running the affairs of
the Federation of Solar Planets.
But since then more than sixty years had passed. The Solrefs had lost much of
their original dynamism, having become the most powerfully conservative party in
the Solar House.
The official at the barrier knew Junnar and waved him through. Sun poured in
through the glass-alloy dome far above his head and the artificially scented air
was refreshing after the untainted stuff of the middle levels and the impure air
of the lowest.
He walked across the turf-covered plaza, listening to the splashing fountains
that at intervals glinted among beds of exotic flowers. He was struck by the
contrast between the hot excitement, the smell of sweat and the surge of bodies
he had just left, and this cool, well-controlled expanse, artificially
maintained yet as beautiful as anything nature could produce.
But he did not pause to savor the view. His pace was hurried compared with the
movement of the few other people who sauntered with dignity along the paths. At
a distance, the tall white, blue and silver buildings of the ambiguously named
Private Level reflected the sun and enhanced the atmosphere of calm and
assurance of the Top.
Junnar crossed the plaza and walked up a clean, graveled path towards the wide
stone arch that opened on to a shady court. Around this court many windows
looked down upon the cool pool in its center. Goldfish glinted in the pool. At
the archway, a porter left his lodge and planted himself on the path until
Junnar reached him. He was a sour-faced man, dressed in a dark grey blouse and
pantaloons; he looked at Junnar with vague disapproval as the flamboyant Negro
stopped and produced his pass, sighing: "Here you are, Drew. You're very
conscientious today."
"My job is to check all passes, sir."
Junnar smiled at him. "You don't recognize me, is that it."
"I recognize you very well, sir, but it would be more than my job's worth to ..
."
"Let me in without checking my pass," Junnar finished for him. "You're an
annoying man, Drew."
The porter didn't reply. He was not afraid of incurring Junnar's disapproval
since he had a strong union that would be only too ready to take up cudgels on
his behalf if he was fired without adequate grounds.
So temporarily disoriented was Junnar that he allowed
this tiny conflict to carry him further, and as he went into the court he
shrugged and said: "It's better to have friends than enemies, though Drew . . ."
Immediately he felt foolish.
He took out a pack of proprietary brand marijuanas and lit one as he went
through a glass-panelled door into the quiet, deserted hall of the building. The
hall was lined with mirrors. He stood staring at himself in one of them, drawing
deeply on the sweet smoke, collecting his thoughts and pulling himself together.
This was the third time he had aliened one of the Fireclown's "audiences" and
each lime the Clown's magnetism had drawn him closer and the atmosphere of the
great cavern had affected him more profoundly. He didn't want his employer to
notice that.
After a moment’s contemplation Junnar went to the central glass panel which was
on the right and withdrew a small oblong box from his pocket. He put it close to
his mouth.
"Junnar," he said.
The panel slid back to reveal a black, empty shaft. There was a peculiar dancing
quality about the blackness. Junnar stepped into it and, instantaneously, was
opening the inner door of a cabinet. He walked out and the door closed behind
him. He was in a corridor lighted by windows that stretched from floor to
ceiling and showed in the distance the thick banks of summer cloud far below.
Immediately opposite him was a great door of red-timed chrome. It now opened
slightly.
In the big, beautiful room, two men awaited him. One was young, one was old;
both showed physical similarities, both appeared impatient.
Junnar entered the room and dropped his cigarette into a disposal column.
"Good afternoon, sir," he said to the old man, and nodded to the young man.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Powys."
The old man spoke, his voice rich and resonant. "Well, Junnar, what’s happening
down there now?"
 
CHAPTER TWO
 
ALAN POWYS fingered the case of papers under his arm, studying his grandfather
and the painted Negro as they confronted one another. They made a strange pair.
Minister Simon Powys was tall and heavy without much obvious fat, but his face
was as grim and disturbing as an Easter Island god's. The leonine set of his
head was further enhanced by the flowing mane of white hair which reached almost
to his shoulders, hanging straight as if carved. He wore the standard purple
suit of a high-ranking cabinet minister-he was Minister for Space Transport, an
important office-pleated jacket, padded pantaloons, red stockings and white
pumps. His white shirt was open at the neck to reveal old but firm flesh, and on
his breast was a golden star, symbol of his rank.
Junnar was sighing and spreading his hands. "If you, Minister Powys, want to
stop him you should act now. His power increases daily. People are flocking to
him. He seems harmless, insofar as he doesn't appear to have any great political
ambitions, but his power could be used to threaten society's stability."
"Could be? I'm sure it will be." Minister Powys spoke heavily. "But can we
convince parliament of the danger? There's the irony."
"Probably not." Alan Powys spoke distantly, conscious of an outsider's presence.
He thought he glimpsed, momentarily, a strange expression on the Negro's face.
"Helen and that mob of rabble-rousers she calls a political party are only too
pleased to encourage him," Minister Powys grumbled. "Not to mention certain
members of the government who seem as fascinated by him as schoolgirls on their
first dates." He straightened his shoulders which were beginning to stoop with
old age. "There must be some way of showing them their mistake."
Alan Powys chose not to argue with his grandfather in Junnar’s presence.
Personally, however, he thought the old
man over-emphasized the Fireclown's importance. Perhaps Junnar sensed this, for
he said softly:
"The Fireclown has a certain ability to attract and hold interest. The most
unlikely people seem to have come under his spell. His magnetism is intense and
almost irresistible. Have you been to one of his 'audiences,' Mr. Powys?"
Alan shook his head.
"Then go to one-before you judge. Believe me, he has something. He's more than a
crank."
Alan wondered why the normally self-possessed and taciturn Negro should choose
to speak in this way. Perhaps one day he would attend a meeting. He certainly
was curious.
"Who is he, anyway?" Alan asked as his grandfather paced towards the window
comprising the outer wall of the room.
"No one knows," Junnar said. "His origins, like his theories, are obscure. He
will not tell anyone his real name. There are no records of his fingerprints at
Identity Center; he seems demented, but no mental hospital has heard of him.
Perhaps, as he says, he came down from the sun to save the world?"
"Don't be facetious, Junnar." Minister Powys pursed his lips, paused, then took
a long breath and said: "Who was down there today?"
"Vernitz, Chief of the China Police-he is in the city on a vacation and to
attend the Police Conference next Sixday. Martha Gheld, Professor of
Electrobiology at Tel Aviv. All the Persian representatives currently elected to
parliament ..."
"Including Isfahan?" Minister Powys was too well bred to shout, but there was
astonishment in his voice. Isfahan was the leader of the Solref faction in the
Solar House.
"Including all the Persian Solrefs, I'm afraid." Junnar nodded. "Not to mention
a number of Dutch, Swedish and Mexican party members."
"We had advised our members not to take part in the Fireclown's farcical
'audiences' P'
"Doubtless they were all there on fact-finding missions," Alan interrupted, a
faint gleam in his eyes.
"Doubtless," Powys said grimly, choosing to ignore his grandson's irony.
"Your niece was there, too," Junnar said quietly.
"That doesn't surprise me. The woman's a fool. To think that she could be the
next President! "
Alan knew that his cousin, Helen Curtis, leader of the Radical Liberal Movement,
and his grandfather were both planning to run for President in the forthcoming
Presidential elections. One of them was sure to win.
"All right, Junnar." Simon Powys dismissed his secretary. The Negro went out
through a side door opening on an inner passage leading to his own office.
When the door had closed, Alan said: "I think you place too much importance on
this character, Grandfather. He's harmless enough. Perhaps he could threaten
society-but it's doubtful if he would. You seem to have an obsession about him.
No one else, in politics at least, seems so concerned. If the situation became
serious people would soon leave him or act against him. Why not wait and see?"
"No. I seem to have an obsession, do I? Well, it may be that I'm the only man
not blinded to what this Fireclown represents. I have already drafted a bill
which, if it gets passed, could easily put a stop to the fool's posturing."
Alan laid his briefcase on the desk and sat down in one of the deep armchairs.
"But will it? Surely it isn't wise at this stage to back what could easily be an
unpopular motion. The Fireclown is an attractive figure to most people-and as
yet harmless. If you were to oppose him openly it might cost you votes in the
Presidential election. You could lose it!"
Alan felt he had scored a point. He knew how important winning was to the old
man. Since the formation of the Solar Referendum Party, a Powys of every
generation had held the Presidential chair for at least one term of his life-a
Powys had in fact formed the first Solref cabinet. Yet it was likely the Powys
would not be voted in, for public opinion was gradually going against the
Solrefs and tending
to favor the more vociferous and dynamic RLM, which had grown rapidly in
strength under Helen Curtis's fiery leadership. Throughout his life Simon Powys
had aimed at the Presidency, and this would be his last chance to gain it.
"I have never sacrificed principles for mere vote-catching!" Simon Powys said
scornfully. "It is unworthy of a Powys to suggest it, Alan. Your mother would
have been horrified if she had heard such a remark coming from her own son.
Though you have the look of a Powys, the blood, whoever gave it you, is not
Powys blood!"
For a second before he controlled himself, Alan felt pain at this remark. This
was the first time his grandfather had referred to his obscure origins-he had
been illegitimate, his mother dying soon after he was born. Though, in his grim
way, Simon Powys had assured his grandson's education and position, he had
always been withdrawn from Alan, caring for him but not encouraging friendship
or love. His wife had died five years earlier and she and Alan had been close.
When Eleanor Powys died Simon had begun to see a little more of Alan, but had
always remained slightly distant. However, this remark about his bastardy was
the first spoken in anger. Obviously the matter of the Presidency was weighing
on his mind.
Alan ignored the elder Powys' reference and smiled.
"City Administration-if I may return to the original topic-isn't worried by the
Fireclown. He inhabits the disused lower levels and gives us no trouble, doesn't
threaten to come upstairs at all. Leave him alone, Grandfather-at least until
after the election."
Minister Powys went to the picture window and stared out into the twilight, his
erect body silhouetted against the distant mountains.
"The Fireclown is a tangible threat, Alan. He has admitted that he is bent on
the destruction of our whole society, on the rejection of all its principles of
progress and democracy. With his babbling of fire-worship and nature-worship,
the Fireclown threatens to throw us all back to disorganized and retrogressive
savagery!"
"Grandfather-the man isn't that powerful! You place too much importance on him!"
Simon Powys shook his head, his heavy hands clasping behind him.
"I say I do not!"
"Then you are wrong P' Alan said angrily, half aware that his anger was not so
much inspired by the old man's righteousness as by his earlier, wounding remark.
Simon Powys remained with his back to Alan, silent.
At least his grandfather's solid reputation for integrity and sticking to what
he thought was well earned, Alan reflected. But that reputation might not save
him if the Fireclown became a political issue in the elections.
His own view, shared with a great many people, was that the Fireclown's
mysterious appearance a year ago was welcome as an agent to relieve the
comparative monotony of running the smoothly ordered City of Switzerland.
"Goodbye, Grandfather," he said, picking up his briefcase. "I'm going home. I’ve
got a lot of work to get through this evening."
Simon Powys turned-a considered and majestic movement.
"You may like to know that I have approached the City Council on this matter,
suggesting that they completely seal off the lower levels. I hope they will
adopt my suggestion. City Administration, of course, would be responsible for
carrying it out. As Assistant Director, you would probably be in charge of the
project."
"If the City Council has any sense they'll ignore your suggestion. They have no
evidence of law-breaking on the Fireclown's part. They can take no legal steps
against him. All he has done, so far as I can see, is to address a public
meeting-and that isn't a crime in this democracy you've been boasting of. To
make it one would invalidate your whole argument. Don't you agree?"
"One short step back could save us from a long slide down," Minister Powys said
curtly as Alan left the room.
Entering the elevator that would take him home to the sixty-fourth level, Alan
decided that he could have misjudged his grandfather over the matter of the
Fireclown. He had heard a great deal about him and his "audiences" and,
emotionally, was attracted by the romantic character of the man. But he had
argued the Fireclown's case too strongly without really knowing it at first
hand.
He left the elevator and crossed to the middle of the corridor, taking the
fastway belt towards his flat. As he neared it, he crossed to the slowway with
instinctive practice, produced a small box from his pocket and spoke his name
into it. The door of the flat opened in the wall.
In the passage his manservant took his briefcase and carried it into the study.
"We were expecting you home earlier, sir. Madeleine apologizes, but she feels
the polter may be overdone."
"My fault, Stefanos." He was not particularly fond of synthetic poultry, anyway.
"And Miss Curtis is waiting for you in the living room. I told her you hadn't
dined . . ."
"That's all right." Outwardly decisive, he was inwardly confused. He even felt a
slight trembling in his legs and cursed himself for an uncontrolled buffoon. He
had only seen Helen once, briefly, since their affair 'had ended, at a party.
He entered the austere living room.
"Good evening, Helen. How are you?"
They did not shake hands.
"Hello, Alan."
He could not guess why she was here but he did not particularly want to know. He
was afraid he might get involved emotionally with her again.
He sat down. She seated herself opposite him in the other padded, armless chair.
She was made up-which was unusual. Her lips were a light green and she had on
some sort of ultra-white powder. Her eyebrows and eyelids were red. Her taste,
he thought, had never been all it might. She had an almost triangular face;
short, black hair and a small nose so that she looked rather like a cat-save for
the make-up which made her look like a corpse.
"I hear you attended the Fireclown's 'audience' today?" he said casually.
"Where did you hear that? Bush telegraph? Have you been at a cocktail party?"
"No." He smiled half-heartedly. "But spies are everywhere these days."
"You've been to see Uncle Simon, then? Is he planning to use the information
against me in the election?"
"I don't think so-no."
She was evidently nervous. Her voice was shaking slightly. Probably his own was,
too. They had been very close-in love, even-and the break, when it had finally
come, had been made in anger. He had not been alone with her since.
"What do you think your chances are of winning it?"
She smiled. "Good."
"Yes, they seem to be."
"Will you be pleased?"
She knew very well that he wouldn't be. Her political ambitions had been the
main reason for their parting. Unlike all the rest of his family, including
remote cousins, he
had no interest in politics. Maybe, he thought with a return of his earlier
bitterness, Simon Powys had been right about his blood being inherited from his
unknown father. He shook his head, shrugging slightly, smiling vaguely.
"I-I don't know," he lied. Of course he would be disappointed if she won. He
hated the political side of her character. Whereas he had nothing against women
in politics-it would have been atavistic and unrealistic if he had ,an
objection-he felt that her talents lay elsewhere. Perhaps in the painting she no
longer had time for? She had been, : potentially, a very fine painter.
"It's time the Solar System had a shake-up," she said. "The Solrefs have been in
for too long."
"Probably," he said noncommittally. Then, desperate to get it over: "Why are you
here, Helen?"
"I wanted some help."
"What kind of help? Personal . . .?"
"No, of course not. Don't worry. When you said it was over I believed you. I’ve
still got the mark on my shoulder."
This had been on his conscience and her reference to it hurt him. He had struck
her on her shoulder, not really intending the blow to be hard, but it had been.
"I'm sorry about that..." he said stumblingly. "I didn't mean..." ;
"I know. I shouldn't have brought it up." She smiled and; said quickly:
"Actually, I want some information, Alan. I; know that you're politically
uncommitted, so I'm sure you won't mind giving it to me." . ;
"But I don't have any secrets, Helen. I'm not in that position-I'm only a civil
servant, you know that."
"It's not really a secret. All I want is some-what d'you call it?-advance
information."
"About what?"
"I heard a rumor that the City Council plans to close off the lower levels. Is
that true?" ;
"I really couldn't say, Helen." News was travelling fast.: Obviously an
indiscreet councilor had mentioned Simon Powys' letter to someone and this had
been the start of the rumor. On the other hand, his grandfather, when he told!
him of it, had understood that he would keep the old man's: confidence. He could
say nothing-though the truth would put paid to the rumor.
"But you're in City Administration. You must know. You'd be responsible for the
project, wouldn't you?"
"If such a project were to be carried out, yes. But I have: been told nothing
either by the City Council or my Director. I should ignore the rumor. Anyway,
why should it bother you?"
"Because if it's true it would be interesting to know which councilors backed
the motion, and who egged them on. The only man with sufficient power and a
great enough obsession is your grandfather-my uncle, Simon Powys!"
"How many Solar Referendum councilors are in the Council?" he asked vaguely. He
was smelling her perfume now. He remembered it with a sad nostalgia. This was
becoming too much to bear.
"There are five Solrefs, three RLMs, one independent Socialist and one
Crespignite who slipped in somewhere on the pensioner's vote. Giving, if you are
so ignorant of simple politics, a majority to the Solrefs and virtual control of
the Council, since the Crespignite is bound to vote with them on nearly every
issue."
"So you want to tell the people that this hypothetical closing down of the lower
levels is a Solref plot-a blow to their liberty."
"My very words," she said with a kind of triumphant complacency.
He got up. "And you expect me to help you-to betray confidence, not to mention
giving my own grandfather's opponents extra ammunition-and let you know what the
City Council decides before it is made public? You're becoming foolish, Helen.
Politics must be addling your brains!"
"But it means nothing to you, anyway. You're .not interested in politics!"
"That's so. One of the reasons I’m not interested is because of the crookedness
that seems to get into the best of people-people who think any means to win
elections are fair! I’m not naive, Helen. I’m from the same family as you. I
grew up knowing politics. That's why I stay out of it!"
"Surely you don't support this victimization of the Fire-clown, Alan? He is a
simple, spontaneous .. ."
"I'm not interested in hearing a list of the Fireclown's virtues. And whether I
support any 'victimization,' as you call it, is of no importance. As a matter of
fact, I'm attracted to the Fireclown and consider him no danger at all. But it
seems to me that both you and Grandfather are using this man for your own
political ends, and I’ll have no part of it!" He paused, considering what he had
said, then added: "Finally, there has been no 'victimization,' and there isn't
likely to be!"
"That's what you think. I support the Fireclown for good reasons. His ambitions
and the ambitions of the RLM are linked. He wants to bring sanity and real life
back to this machine-ridden world. We want real values back again!"
"Oh, God!" He shook his head impatiently. "Helen, I've got a great deal of work
to do before I go to bed tonight."
"Very well. I have, too. If you reconsider . .."
"Even if there was a plot to arrest the Fireclown I wouldn't tell you so that
you could use it for political fuel, Helen." He suddenly found himself moving
towards her, gripping her arm. "Listen. Why get involved with this? You've got a
good chance of winning the election without indulging in dealings of this sort.
Wait until you're President, then you can make the Fireclown into a Solar Trust
if you like!"
"You can't understand," she said grimly, shaking herself free of his hand. "You
don't realize that you have to be comparatively ruthless when you know what
you're aiming for is right."
"Then I'm glad you know what's right," he said pityingly. "I'm bloody glad you
know. It's more than I do."
She left in silence and he went back to his chair, slumping down heavily and
feeling, with morose pleasure, that he had scored.
The mood didn't last long. By the time Stefanos came in to tell him his meal was
waiting for him he had sunk into a brooding, unconstructive melancholy.
Brusquely he told his manservant to eat the meal himself and then go out for the
rest of the evening.
"Thank you, sir," Stefanos said wonderingly, chewing his ridged underlip as he
left the room.
In this mood in which his confrontation of his ex-mistress had left him, Alan
felt incapable of work. The work was of little real importance anyway, routine
stuff which he had hoped to clear up before he took his vacation in two weeks'
time. He decided to go to bed, hoping that a good ten hours' sleep would help
him forget Helen.
He had reached the point where he felt he must see the mysterious figure for
himself, since so many matters seemed to be revolving around him all of a
sudden.
He walked into the darkened hall and ordered the light on. The light responded
to his voice and flooded the flat. The tiny escalator leading upstairs began to
move, too, and he stepped on it, letting it carry him to the landing.
He went into his bedroom. It was as sparsely furnished as the rest of the flat-a
bed, a mellowlamp for reading, a small shelf of books, a wing on the headboard
of the bed for anything he cared to put there, and a concealed wardrobe. The air
was fresh from the ventilators, also hidden.
He took off his scarlet jacket and pants, told the wardrobe to open, told the
cleaning chute to open and dropped them
in. He selected a single-piece sleeping suit and moved
moodily to sit on the edge of the bed. Then he got up and went back to the
wardrobe, removed
an ordinary suit of street garments and put them on. Rapidly, feeling that he
should have taken something (with him-a weapon or a notebook or an alarm
signaller which would contact the police wherever he was-he left the flat and
took the fastway towards the elevators.
He was going to the lower levels. He was going to find the Fireclown.
 
CHAPTER THREE
 
HE WAS unreasoningly annoyed that the liveried operator should recognize him and
stare at him curiously as he was taken down to the forty-ninth level. In the
back of his mind he was thrilling to the experience, unremembered since boyhood,
of exploration. He had chosen nondescript clothes so that he might move about
incognito.
He was alone in the unmanned elevator as it dropped swiftly to the ninth level,
causing him the added excitement of being alone and virtually helpless against
danger. He stepped boldly into the ill-lit corridor
named-incongruously-Orangeblossom Road, and then advanced cautiously until he
saw a sign which read: Escalators (down) five levels.
He rode the escalators into the chilly depths of the City of Switzerland,
feeling as if he were descending into some frozen Hell and at the same time
making a mental note that if people were, indeed, inhabiting the lower levels,
then City Administration should, out of humanity, do something about the heating
arrangements.
He wished he had some warmer clothing, but that would have meant applying to
Garment Center, since he rarely went outside save on vacation, and then all
necessary apparel was supplied.
But as he advanced deeper he became aware of a growing warmth and a thick,
unpleasant smell that he gradually recognized as being, predominantly, the smell
of human perspiration. In spite of his revulsion he sniffed it curiously.
As he walked slowly down the ramp leading to the notorious first level, reputed
to be the haunt of undesirables well before the Fireclown first made his
appearance, he saw with a slight shock that the light, was dancing and had an
unusual quality about it. As he drew closer his excitement increased. Naked
flame! The light came from a great, burning torch which also gave off
uncontrolled heat!
He approached it as close as he dared and stared at it, marveling. He had seen
recordings of the phenomenon, but this was the first time ... He withdrew
hastily as the heat produced sweat from his forehead, walking along a corridor
that reminded him, with its dancing, naked light, of the fairyland of his
childhood fantasies. On reflection, he decided it was more like the ogre's
castle, but so delighted was he by this wholly new experience that he forgot
caution for a while. It only returned as he rounded another corner and saw that
the roof was actually composed of living rock, so moist that it dripped
condensed water!
Alan Powys was not an unsophisticated young man, yet this was so remote from his
everyday experience that he could not immediately absorb it on any intellectual
level.
From ahead came sounds-the sounds of excited human voices. He had expected a
vast conclave of some description, but he heard only a few people, and they were
conversing. Occasionally, as he drew nearer, he heard a reverberating laugh
which seemed to him so full of delighted and profound humor that he wished he
knew the joke so that he could join in. If this was the Fireclown's famous
laughter, then it did not strike him as at all insane.
Still, he told himself, keeping in the shadows, there were many forms of
madness.
A cave came into view on his right. He hugged the left-hand wall and inched
forward, his heart pounding.
The cave appeared to turn at a right-angle so that he could only see the light
coming from it, but now he could make out fragments of words and phrases. At
intervals there came a spluttering eruption of green light and each time he was
caught in the flare.
"... shape it into something we can control..."
"... no good, if s only a hint of what we might..."
"... your eyeshield back. I’m going to ..."
A hissing eruption and a tongue of green flame seemed to turn the bend in the
cave and come flickering like an angry cobra towards Alan. He gasped and stepped
back as the roaring laughter followed the eruption. Had he been seen?
No. The conversation was continuing, the pitch of the voices now high with
excitement.
He crossed the corridor swiftly and stood in the mouth of the cave, straining
his ears to make out what they were talking about.
Then he felt a delicate touch on his arm and heard a whispering voice say: "I'm
afraid you can't go in there. Private, you know."
He turned slowly and was horrified at the apparition that still touched his arm.
He withdrew, nauseated.
The horrible figure- laughed softly. "Serves you right. They could keep me just
to stop people nosing around!"
"I didn't know you had any kind of secrecy," Alan babbled. "I really do
apologize if.. ."
"We welcome visitors, but we prefer to invite them. You don't mind?" The
skinless man nodded towards the corridor. Alan backed into it, forcing himself
to ignore the bile in his throat, forcing himself to look at the creature
without obvious revulsion-but it was difficult.
Flesh, veins and sinews shone on his body as if the whole outer covering had
been peeled off. How could he move? How could he appear so calm?
"My skin's synthetic-but transparent. Something in it takes the place of
pigment. They haven't worked out a way of giving the stuff pigmentation yet-I
was lucky enough to be the guinea-pig. I could use cosmetics, but I don't. My
name's Corso. I'm the Fireclown's^ trusty henchman and deal with anyone
interested in corning to his audiences. You arrived at the wrong time. We had
one this afternoon."
Obviously Corso was used to random explorers, particularly those curious about"
the Fireclown. Deciding to play his part in the role Corso had mistakenly given
him, Alan looked down at the floor.
"Oh, I’m sorry. When's the next one?"
"Day after tomorrow."
"I can come then?"
"Very welcome."
Alan turned to retrace his way.
"See you then," said the skinless man.
When Alan turned the corner of the corridor he had to lean against the wall for
some moments before he could continue. Too many unexpected shocks this evening,
he told himself.
As he began to recover his composure his curiosity started to operate again.
What was going on? From what he had seen and heard, the Fireclown and a group of
his friends were conducting some sort of laboratory experiment-and Corso, the
skinless man, had been left on guard to turn pryers away.
Well, everyone had a right to their privacy. But his curiosity came close to
overwhelming him. He began to return towards the cave when a soft voice that he
recognized said:
"It wouldn't be wise. If you went back a second time Corso would know you were
no innocent would-be initiate."
"Junnar!" he hissed. "What are you doing here?"
But he heard only a faint scuffling and received no reply.
Perhaps, however, the Negro's advice was good. There was no point in making
anyone suspicious since he would, if discovered, be excluded from any future
chance of seeing the Fireclown.
He began to return toward the ramp. What on earth had Junnar been doing in the
lower levels? Was he there on his own business or on Simon Powys'? Perhaps the
Negro would tell him tomorrow, if he could find an excuse for leaving the C.A.
building and visiting his grandfather's apartment.
Vaguely irritated, that he had seen so little of the Fire-clown's domain and
nothing at all of the Fireclown himself, he finally arrived on the sixty-fourth
level, took the fastway to his flat and went to bed with something of his
earlier sudden mood eliminated.
The day after tomorrow he would definitely attend the Fireclown's "audience".
Very deliberately, the next morning, Alan concentrated his thoughts entirely on
his job. By the time he arrived at his office in City Administration on North
Top, he had turned his thoughts to the matter of elevator installation which the
City Council had decided was necessary to speed up pedestrian flow between
levels.
His Assistant Directorship was well earned, but he had to admit that having it
was partly due to his family connections and the education which his grandfather
had insisted on him having. But he was a hard and conscientious worker who got
on well with his staff, and the Director seemed pleased with him. He had been
doing the job for two years since he had left the university.
He spent the morning catching up on lost time until just before lunch when
Carson, the Director, called him into his office.
Carson was a thin man with an unsavory appearance. He was much respected by
those working under him. His chin, however, always looked as if he needed a
shave and his swarthy face always appeared to need a wash. But this wasn't his
fault. After a little time in his company the first impression of his
unsavoriness vanished swiftly.
Carson said mildly: "Sit down, Alan. I wonder if you could leave the elevator
matter for a while and turn it over to Sevlin to get on with. Something else has
cropped up."
Powys sat down and watched Carson leaf through the papers on his desk. The
Director finally selected one and handed it to him.
It was headed Low Level Project, and a glance told Alan it was the proposed plan
to seal off the lower levels from the upper ones.
So Helen had been right in her thinking. Simon Powys did hold sufficient sway
with the City Council to have his "suggestions" put into action.
Carson was staring at 'his own right thumb. He did not look up. "It will involve
temporarily re-routing pedestrian traffic, of course, though to save trouble we
could work at night. It would be worth paying the men double overtime to get it
done as quickly as possible."
"With a minimum of fuss?" Alan said with an edge to his voice.
"Exactly."
"The Council hasn't announced this publicly, I presume?"
"There's no need to-no one lives in the lower levels any more. There will be
emergency doors constructed, naturally, but these will be kept locked. It
shouldn't bother anyone . . ."
"Except the Fireclown!" Alan was so furious that he found difficulty in
controlling himself.
"Ah, yes. The Fireclown. I expect he'll find somewhere else to go. Probably
he'll leave the City altogether. I suspect he's no real right to live there in
the first place."
"But the newspapers, the laservid, the RLM-and therefore the main weight of
public opinion-all regard the Fireclown in a favorable way. He has a good part
of the world on his side. This isn't political dynamite-it's a political
megabang!"
"Quite." Carson nodded, still regarding his thumb. "But we aren't concerned with
politics, are we, Alan? This is just another job for us-a simple one. Let's get
it over with."
Alan took the papers Carson handed him and got up. The director was right, but
he could not help feeling personally involved.
"I'll get started after lunch," he promised. He went back to his office, put the
papers in his confidential drawer, went to the roof of the C.A. building and
took a cab across the spacious artificial countryside to the Top towards his
grandfather's apartments, which lay close to the Solar House at South Top.
But when he got there he found only Junnar and another of his cousins-Helen's
brother, Denholm Curtis.
Curtis dressed with challenging bad taste. His clothes were a deliberate attack,
a weapon which he flaunted. They proclaimed him an iconoclast impatient of any
accepted dogma whether reasonable or not. Above the striped and polka-dotted
trappings draping his lean body was a firm, sensitive head-the heavy Powys head
with calm eyes, hopeful, seeming to be aware of detail and yet disdainful of it.
Curds' eyes were fixed on the future.
"Hello, Denholm, how are you?" He and his cousin shook hands.
"Fine-and you?"
"Not bad. And how's the Thirty Five Group? Still bent on gingering up the mother
party?"
Curtis led the radical wing of the Solref party. His group was small but
vociferous and carried a certain amount of weight in the Solar House. Yet,
though they stuck to the traditional party of the Powys family, he would have
been much more at home in his sister's movement. But his interest was in
changing the party to change the policy rather than splitting away from it and
forming a fresh one.
Curtis hadn't replied to Alan's question. He glanced at the big wall-clock just
as his grandfather came hurrying in through the side door.
"Grandfather." Alan stepped quickly forward but old Simon Powys shook his head.
"Sorry, Alan. I have to get to the Solar House immediately. Coming, Denholm?"
Curtis nodded and the two of them left the room almost at a run.
Something was in the air, Alan guessed, and it wasn't the closing down of the
lower levels. This seemed much more important.
"What's going on, Junnar?"
The Negro looked slightly embarrassed as their eyes met, but he spoke coolly.
"They're calling on old Benjosef to resign."
Benjosef, a dedicated member of the Solrefs, was Solar President. His two terms
of office had been popular but not particularly enlightened. He had not had much
public support over the last year, partly because he was slow to agree on a
policy of expansion and colonization involving Mars and Ganymede.
"On what issue?"
"The planets. Ganymede and Mars are ready for settlers. There are businessmen
willing to invest in them, ships ready to take them-but Benjosef is reluctant to
pursue a policy of expansion because he says we haven't a sufficiently good
organization for controlling it yet. He wants to wait another ten years to build
up such an organization, but everyone else is impatient to get started. You know
the story . . ."
"I know it," Alan agreed.
The projects to make the two planets inhabitable and fertile had been started
over a hundred years previously and it had been hard enough holding private
enterprise and would-be settlers back before they were ready. Benjosef had been
foolish to take a stand on the issue, but he had done what he thought was right
and his conviction now seemed likely to topple him.
"What are his chances of staying in power for the rest of his term?" Alan asked
curiously.
"Bad. Minister Powys and the majority of Solrefs have to stand by him, of
course, but Mr. Curtis and his group have sided with the RLMs. The other parties
are fairly equally divided between both sides, but Mr. Curtis' support should
give the vote against the President."
Once again Alan was glad he had decided to have no part of politics. Even his
just and stern old grandfather was going to behave like a hypocrite, giving a
vote of confidence for Benjosef while encouraging Curtis to vote against him.
He decided that there wasn't much he could do, since everyone would be at the
Solar House, including, of course, Helen. The current session ended in two weeks
and the next President would have to be elected during the recession. Probably,
he thought ironically, both the main runners had their machines all geared for
action.
"You'll be kept pretty busy from now on, I should think," he said to Junnar. The
Negro nodded, and Alan continued: "What were you doing in the lower levels last
night?"
"Keeping an eye on the Fireclown," Junnar said shortly.
"For Grandfather?"
"Yes, of course."
"Why is he so malevolent toward the Fireclown? He seems harmless to me. Has
grandfather any special knowledge that the public doesn't have?" Alan was only
partly interested in what he himself was saying. The other half of his mind was
wondering about the elections-and Helen.
Junnar shook his head. "I don't think so. It's a question of your point of view.
Minister Powys sees the Fireclown as a threat to society and its progress.
Others simply see him as a romantic figure who wants a return to a simpler life.
That's why he's such a popular cause with so many people. We all wish life were
simpler-we're suckers for the kind of simple answer to our problems that a man
like the Fire-clown supplies."
"Simple answers, sure enough," Alan nodded, "but hardly realistic."
"Who knows?" Junnar said tersely.
"Is Grandfather going to use the Fireclown as a platform?"
"I expect so. It will be taken for granted that whoever wins will encourage the
expansion bill. So the other main dispute will be the Fireclown."
"But if s out of all proportion. Why should the Fireclown become a major issue?"
Junnar smiled cynically. "Probably because the politicians want him to be."
That answer satisfied Alan and he added:
"Hitler, as I remember, used the Jews. Before him, Nero used the Christians.
Minority groups are always useful- they turn people's attention away from real
issues which the politicians have no control over. So Miss Curtis and Minister
Powys are using the Fireclown, is that it? One in support, one against. People
will take an interest in a battle over such a colorful figure and forget to
question other policies. It sounds almost unbelievable, yet it happens. History
proves that. What does Grandfather plan to do about the Fireclown if Re gets to
power?"
"Maybe nothing," Junnar said. "Maybe nothing at all- once he's in power." Then
he smiled brightly. "No, it's not fair. After all, I am Simon Powys' private
secretary. He really is deeply concerned about what the Fireclown represents
rather than the man' himself."
The apparent return of-loyalty in Junnar brought an awakening echo in Alan. He
nodded.
"Perhaps we don't do either of them justice. I was forgetting they are both
Powyses with a strong sense of family honor."
Junnar coughed. "I think I'd better go over to the Solar House myself. Can I
arrange an appointment for you to see your grandfather?"
"No, don't bother."
"Are you going to the Fireclown's audience tomorrow?"
"Probably."
"I may see you there."
"Yes," said Alan. He glanced at his watch and noted that he would arrive back to
his office late. He and Junnar walked into the corridor and went their separate
ways.
Alan sighed as he studied the Low Level project. Basically it was a simple job
to organize the sealing off of all entrances, stopping elevators and escalators
and cutting off light and heating where they existed. Ten levels were to be shut
down, involving the moving of less than a thousand people to accommodation
higher up. The residents of levels nine and ten would welcome the change, he
knew. They, at least, could be relied upon to support the operation.
No, it wasn't the project itself but the way the newspapers and entertainment
media would treat it, what Helen Curtis would say about it. It was going to
cause City Administration and the City Council as much trouble as if they told
the populace they had decided to torture and kill all pet dogs in the City. And
this move would have world-wide repercussions-the Fireclown had been the subject
of innumerable popular features treating him in a sympathetic manner.
Already he was convinced that his grandfather had committed political suicide by
this move. But, for- the moment, he wasn't worried so much about that as about
the trouble he and the Director would come in for.
He, in particular, would be slandered-the grandson of the man who wanted to
victimize the innocent Fireclown. He would be talked of as a puppet in the hands
of the old man. Doubtless he would even be shouted at in the public corridors.
He contacted City Works, waited for the manager to be located.
Tristan B'Ula was, like Junnar, a Zimbabwean from what had once been Rhodesia.
The State of Zimbabwe had grown to great power in the African Federation and
many of the Solar System's best administrators came from there.
"Good afternoon, Tristan." Alan was on friendly terms with the manager. "New
project I'd like to have a word with you about."
B'Ula pretended to groan. "Is it important? All my available manpower is taken
up at the moment."
"The City Council wants us to give this priority. It's also highly confidential.
Is there anyone else in the room with you?"
B'Ula turned, looked behind him and said: "Would you mind leaving the room for a
minute or two, Miss Nagib?"
His pretty Egyptian secretary crossed the screen.
"Okay, Alan. What is it?"
"City Council wants us to seal off ten levels-numbers one to ten, to be precise.
Concrete in the entrances, lighting, heat and water supply cut off, elevators
and escalators to stop operation."
It took B'Ula a moment to absorb all this. His face showed incredulity. "But
that's where the Fireclown is! What are we expected to do? Wall him up-entomb
him?"
"Of course not. All residents will be moved before the project goes ahead. I'd
thought of housing them in those spare corridors in Section Six of the Fifteenth
Level and Sections Twelve and Thirteen of the Seventeenth Level. They'll need to
be checked to make sure they're perfectly habitable. The Chemical Research
Institute was going to take them over since they're getting a bit cramped, but
they'll have to . . ."
"Just a minute. Alan. What's going to happen to the Fireclown?"
"Presumably, he'll take the alternative accommodation we're offering to everyone
else," Alan said grimly.
"You know he wouldn't do that!"
"I don't know the Fireclown!"
"Well, I'm having no part of it," B'Ula said rebelliously, then he switched out.
Completely taken aback, Alan sat at his desk breathing heavily. This, he
decided, was only a hint of how the news would be received by the public. His
colleague had always struck him as a solid, practical man who did his job well-a
good civil servant, like himself. If Tristan B'Ula could be so affected by the
news as to risk his position by refusing to obey the City Council, then how
would others take it?
The word Riot popped into Alan's head. There had been no public disorder in a
hundred years!
This was even bigger than he'd expected.
Another thing-B'Ula felt so strongly about it that he wasn't likely to keep the
project secret. Someone had to convince the Zimbabwean that the closing off of
the levels was not a threat against the Fireclown. Reluctantly, he would have to
tell Carson of his little scene with the manager.
Slowly he got up from his desk. Slowly he walked into Carson's office.
 
CHAPTER FOUR
 
BENJOSEF had resigned.
After a meeting in the Solar House lasting well into the night as Benjosef tried
to put his arguments to the Solar representatives, the old President had been
shouted down.
Denholm Curtis had asked for a vote of no confidence in Benjosef. The ballot had
been secret, and though Simon Powys had seemed to support Benjosef it had been a
masterly deception. He had managed to convey the image of a strong man standing
beside his leader put of nothing but loyalty. In spite of favoring-or appearing
to favor- Benjosef s cautious policies, Simon Powys had risen in public esteem.
Doubtless the heavy Solref vote would be his in the election. Alan was sure that
his grandfather had actually voted again Benjosef. Principles the old man might
have-and plenty of them-but they seemed at that moment to carry little weight
against Simon Powys' actions. This strange duality which seemed to come upon
even the best politicians was not new to Alan, yet it constantly shocked him.
At 0200 Benjosef, baffled by what he considered mad recklessness on the part of
the Solar House, reluctantly resigned as President, his term of office, which
should have continued for another eighteen months, to finish with the current
session.
Alan read and saw all this as he breakfasted, glancing from news-sheet to
laservid and constructing all the details of the dramatic, and in some ways
tragic, session. He rather sympathized with Benjosef. Perhaps he was old and
wise, perhaps he was just old. Simon Powys was only five years younger, but he
possessed a forceful vitality that belied his age. Alan observed, judiciously,
that Helen Curtis had not actually demanded the President" s resignation, though
other members of her party had been vociferous in attacking him. It would not
have been diplomatic or polite for a would-be President to ask the current head
to step down.
He sighed and finished his coffee-a new brand from which the caffeine had been
removed and replaced by a stimulant described as "less harmful." The strange
thing was it tasted better, though he would have liked to have denied this.
So now the fight was between his grandfather and his cousin. Would Simon Powys
see the light of day at last and ignore the Fireclown issue? As yet, of course,
it had not really become an issue. It would take a political battle to make it
one. Or would he plug on? Alan had a sad feeling that he would-particularly if
Helen drew the Fireclown into her platform.
When he got to the office Carson was looking pale and even less savory than
usual. People were not chosen as directors of City Administration for their
looks; but at this moment Alan rather wished they had a smiling, pleasant-faced
he-man who could cozen the public into realizing the truth of the situation.
"What did B'Ula have to say, sir?" Alan asked.
"I was unable to contact him, Alan. I tried the Works but he must have left as
soon as he switched out on you. I tried his private number but his wife said he
had not come back. When I tried again later he still wasn't there."
"What was he doing, I wonder?"
"I can tell you. He was broadcasting the news everywhere. Not only broadcasting
but elaborating on it.-You can imagine what he said."
"I can imagine what would be said by some. But B'Ula ..."
"I've just had Chairman Fou on the line. He says the Council is most disturbed,
thinks we should have been able to judge B'Ula better. I pointed out, somewhat
obscurely, that they appointed B'Ula. But it seems we're the scapegoats-from the
public's point of view and evidently from the Council's."
"The news this morning was so full of 'stormy scenes in the Solar House' that
they probably haven't gotten round to us yet," Alan said with mock cheerfulness.
"But doubtless we'll be getting it in an hour or two."
"I expect so. Well, we've still got work to do. I'm going over to Works myself,
to see what the men think of the project. If they oppose it as strongly as B'Ula
we're going to have trouble with the unions before long."
"What will we do if that happens?"
"Brick up the bloody levels ourselves, I suppose." Carson swore.
"Black labor! " Alan said, shocked. "We'd have a system-wide strike on our hands
then.!" It was true.
"I'm hoping the City Council will realize the implications and back down
gracefully." Carson walked towards the door. "But they didn't seem as if they
were going to, judging by Chairman Fou's tone. Goodbye, Alan. Better stick to
something routine until I find out what's happening."
When Alan buzzed for his filing clerk his secretary came in.
He raised an eyebrow. "Where's Levy?"
"He didn't come in this morning, Mr. Powys."
"Is he sick?"
"I don't think so. I heard a rumor he'd asked for his back pay from the cashiers
and said something about resigning."
"I see. Then will you bring me the Pedestrian Transport file? Number PV12, I
think it is."
As he ploughed through the monotonous work, Alan learned from his secretary that
about a quarter of the staff in the C.A. building had not turned up for work
that morning. That represented over three hundred people. Where were they all?
It was evident why they had left.
The whole business was growing into a monster. If three hundred people from one
building alone could feel so strongly about the Fireclown, how many millions
were there supporting him?
To Alan it was incredible. He knew, intuitively, that so many people could not
be roused merely because of the proposed closing down of ten virtually unused
levels-or, for that matter, give up their jobs in support of the Fire-clown. It
must be that the Fireclown represented something, some need in modern mankind
which, perhaps, the sociologists would know about. He decided not to ask a
sociologist and risk being plied with so many explanatory theories that his mind
would be still further confused.
But what was this tenuous Zeitgeist?
Perhaps the world would be in flames before he ever found out. Perhaps, whatever
happened, no one would ever really know. He decided he was being too
melodramatic. On the other hand, he was extremely disturbed. He had a liking for
peace and quiet-one of the reasons why he had rejected the idea of entering
politics-and the world's mood was distinctly unpeaceful.
Facing facts, he realized that this was not a localized outbreak, that it would
have to grow in magnitude before it died down or ' was controlled. What had his
grandfather started? Nothing, really, of course. His move had merely served to
bring it out into the open, whatever it was.
But the people's hysteria was increasing, becoming evident everywhere. A
hysteria that had not entered the human race since the war scares two centuries
earlier. It seemed to have blown up overnight, though perhaps he had seen its
beginnings in the worship of the Fireclown, the demand for Benjosef's
resignation and other, smaller, incidents that he had not recognized for what
they were.
The morning dragged. In the back of his mind something else nagged him until he
realized that this was the night when the Fireclown was to hold his "audience."
He felt slightly perturbed at attending it now that public anger seemed to be
building to such a pitch, but he had said he would go, promised himself that he
would go-and he would.
Carson came back just as Alan's secretary brought him some lunch.
"Any luck?" Alan said, offering his boss a slice of bread impregnated with beef
extract. Carson refused it with an irritable wave of his hand, apologizing for
his brusque gesture with a slight smile.
"None. Most of the workmen didn't turn up this morning, anyway. The union
leaders deny influencing them, but someone has. . . ."
"B'Ula?"
"Yes. He spoke to a public meeting last night, attended by most of the men who
work for him. Told them that this victimization of the simple Fireclown was a
threat also to their liberty. The usual stuff. And once the news, got round, he
wasn't the only one talking and rabble-rousing. At least a dozen others have
used the same theme in speeches to incredibly big crowds. They didn't have to do
much convincing, either. The crowds were already on their side."
"It's all happened so suddenly." Alan repeated his earlier thoughts aloud. "You
wouldn't think a thing like this could grow so fast. People aren't even
bothering to speak to their political representatives or beam the City Council."
"That's what's so peculiar. We might have expected angry letters demanding that
we call a halt to the project-and if we'd had enough of them we should have had
to. That's democracy, after all. I'd really thought the idea of law and order
had finally sunk into the human race. Looks as if I was wrong."
"Disproves the Fireclown's cant about 'artificial living' producing 'artificial'
men and ideas. The public's chock-a-block with human nature this morning. They
seem as hysterical and as bloodthirsty as they ever were."
"Mass neurosis and all that." Carson stared at his thumb, inspecting the nail.
It was dirty. However much he cleaned them, his nails always seemed to get dirty
a few moments afterwards.
By mid-afternoon, Carson and Alan were staring in blank incredulity at one
another. At least two hundred more people had not come back after lunch. It was
useless to attempt continuing work.
Another disturbing point was that they had been unable to contact the City
Council. The beam had been jammed continuously. Obviously some people had
decided to ask the City Council about the matter.
"I think we'd better go quietly to our homes," Carson said with a worried
attempt at jocularity. "I'll keep a skeleton staff on and give the rest the
afternoon off. I might as well, they'll probably be walking out soon, anyway."
Glad of this for his own reasons, Alan agreed.
He returned to his flat and changed into the nondescript suit he had worn
earlier. He had had some trouble getting there, for the corridors were packed.
Angry and excited conversations were going on all over the place. Ordered
discipline had given way to disorganized hysteria and it rather frightened him
to see ordinary human beings behaving in a manner which, to him, was a rejection
of their better selves.
Outside in the jostling corridor he was carried by the crowd to the elevators
and had to wait for nearly a quarter of an hour as the mob's impatience grew.
There just weren't enough elevators to take them all at once.
Down, down, down the levels. Into level nine and they milled down the escalators
and ramps, Alan unable to go back now even if he had wanted to.
The smoke from the torches of the first level, the smell of sweat, the
atmosphere of tension, the ululating roar of the crowd all attacked his senses
and threatened to drug his brain as the crowd entered a huge cavern which, he
knew, had once been part of an underground airstrip during the years when the
City had first been planned.
And at last he saw the Fireclown, standing upon the tall column that served him
as a dais, seeming to balance his huge bulk precariously on the platform.
There above him, Alan saw the spluttering mass of the artificial sun. He
remembered having heard of it. The Fireclown had made it-or had it made-and
somehow controlled it.
"What's this? What's this?" The Fireclown was shouting. "Why so many? Has the
whole world suddenly seen the error of its ways?"
There were affirmative shouts from all around him as the crowd answered,
somewhat presumptuously, for the rest of the planet's millions.
The Fireclown laughed, his gross bulk wobbling on the dais.
Thousands upon thousands of people were packing into the cavern, threatening to
crush those already at the center. Alan found himself borne towards the dais as
the Fireclown's reverberating laugh swept over them.
"No more!" the Fireclown cried suddenly. "Corso-tell them they can't come in.. .
.Tell them to come back later. We'll be suffocated!"
The Fireclown seemed baffled by the crowd's size-bewildered, perhaps, by his own
power.
Yet was it his own power? Alan wondered. Was not the mob identifying the
Fireclown with something else, some deep-rooted need in them which was finding
expression through the Clown?
But it was immaterial to speculate. The fact remained that the Fireclown had
become the mob's symbol and its leader. Whatever he told them they would
do-unless, perhaps, he told them to do nothing at all.
The mob was beginning to chant:
"Fireclown! Fireclown! Fireclown! Speak to us!"
"How shall the world end?" he cried.
"In fire! In fire!"
"How shall it be born again?"
"In fire!"
"And the fire shall be the fire of man's spirit!" The Fireclown roared. "The
fire in his brain and his belly. Too long has the world lived on artificial
nourishment. The nourishment of processed food, the nourishment of ideas that
exist in a vacuum. We are losing our birthright! Our heritage faces extinction!"
He paused as the mob moved like a mighty, restless tide. Then he continued:
"I am your phoenix, awash with the flames of life! I am your salvation! You see
flames above." He raised an orange-painted hand to the spluttering orb near the
ceiling of the cavern. "You see flames around you." He indicated the torches.
"But these fires only represent the real flames, the unseen flames which exist
within you, and the Mother of Life which sweeps the heavens above you-the Sun!"
"The Sun!" the mob shrieked.
"Yes, the Sun! Billions of years ago our planet was formed from the stuff of the
Sun. The Sun nurtured life, and it finally nurtured the life of our earliest
ancestors. It has nurtured us since. But does modern man honor his mother?"
"No! No!"
"No! Our ancestors worshipped the Sun for millennia! Why? Because they
recognized it as the Mother of Life. Without the Sun man could never have been
born on Earth! The Earth itself could not have been formed!"
Some of the mob, obviously old hands at this, shouted' "Fire is Life!"
"Yes," the Fireclown roared. "Fire is Life. And how many of you here have ever
seen the Sun? How many of you have ever been warmed directly by its rays? How
many of you have ever seen a naked flame?"
A wordless bellow greeted each question.
Alan had to fight the infectious hysteria of the crowd. Though it was true that
many of the City's populace had never been outside, they had led better and
fuller lives within the walls. And there was nothing forbidding them to take a
vacation beyond the City. It was a kind of agoraphobia, not the State, which
held them back. They had, at any rate, reaped the benefits of the Sun in less
direct ways-from the great solar batteries which supplied power to the City.
As if he anticipated these unspoken thoughts, the Fireclown carried on:
"We are misusing the Sun. We are perverting the stuff of life and changing it to
the stuff of death! We use the Sun to power our machines and keep us alive in
plastic, metal and concrete coffins. We use the Sun to push our spaceships to
the planets-planets where we are forced to live in wholly artificial conditions,
or planets which we warp and change from what they naturally are into planets
that copy Earth. That is wrong! Who are we to change the natural order? We are
literally playing with fire-and that fire will soon turn and shrivel us!"
"Yes! Yes!"
In an effort to remain out of the Fireclown's spell, Alan encouraged himself to
feel dubiously towards the logic of what he was saying. The Fireclown continued
in that vein for some time, drumming the words into the ready ears of the mob,
again and again.
The Fireclown's argument wasn't new. It had been said, in milder ways, by
philosophers and politicians of a certain bent for centuries-possibly since the
birth of the industrial revolution. But, for all this, the argument wasn't
necessarily right. It came back to the question of whether it was better for man
to be an unenlightened savage in the caves, or whether he should use the
reasoning powers and the powers of invention which were his in order to gain
knowledge.
Feeling as if he had hit upon an inkling of the trouble, Alan realized that the
Fireclown and those, like his grandfather, who opposed him were both only
supporting opinions. Any forthcoming dispute was likely to be a battle between
ignorance of one sort and ignorance of another.
Yet the fact remained-trouble was brewing. Big trouble unless something could be
done about it.
"All religions have seen the Sun as a representation of God . .." the Fireclown
was saying now.
Perhaps he was sincere, Alan thought; perhaps he was innocent of personal
ambition, unaware of the furor he was likely to create, thoughtless of the
conflict that was likely to ensue.
And yet Alan was attracted to the Fireclown. He liked him and took a delight in
the man's vitality and spontaneity. It was merely unfortunate that he should
have come at a time when public neurosis had reached such a peak.
Now a voice was shouting something about the City Council. Fragmented phrases
reached Alan about the closing of the levels, an attack against the Fireclown, a
threat to free speech. It was marvelous how they accepted the principles of
democracy and rejected them at the same time by talk of mob action!
Marvelous-and deeply frightening. He turned to see if he could get back and out.
He could not. The mob pressed closer, packed itself tighter. A horrifying vision
of thousands of mouthing faces surrounded him. He panicked momentarily and then
suppressed his panic. It could not help him. Little could.
The Fireclown's voice bellowed for silence, swore at the mob, reviled it.
Abashed, the crowd quieted.
"You see! You see! This is what you do. So the City Council is to close off the
levels. Perhaps it is because of me, perhaps it isn't! But does it matter?"
Certain elements shouted that it did matter.
"What kind of threat am I to the City Council? What threat am I to anyone? I
tell you-none!"
Alan was mystified by these words, just as the mob was.
"None! I want no part of your demonstrations, your petty fears and puny
conflicts! I do not expect action from you. I do not want action. I want you
only to become aware! You can change your mental attitude. Study the words you
are using today. Study them and you will find them meaningless. You have
emotions-you have words. But the words you have do not describe your emotions.
Try to think of words that will! Then you will be strong. Then you will have no
need for your stupid, overvaunted so-called 'intelligence.' Then you will have
no need to march against the Council Building!"
Alan himself sought for words to describe the Fireclown's state at that moment.
What had been said had impressed him in spite of his decision to observe as
objectively as possible. They meant nothing much, really. They had been said
before. But they hinted at something-gave him a clue.. ..
Noble bewilderment. The elephant attacked by small boys. And yet concerned for
them. Alan was impressed by what he felt to be the Fireclown's intrinsic
innocence. But such an innocence, it could topple the world! Placards now began
to appear in the crowd: NO TO BURYING THE FIRECLOWN! HANDS OFF THE LOWER LEVELS!
COUNCIL CAN'T QUENCH THE FIRE OF MAN! Amused by the ludicrous messages, Alan
made out others. SONS OF THE SUN REJECT COUNCIL PLAN! was, perhaps, the best.
His mind began to skip, taking in first a fragmented scene-faces, placards,
turbulent movement, a woman's ecstatic face; then a clipping of sound, a sudden
idea that he could easily follow the Fireclown if he could hear the man convince
him in cooler, more intellectual phrases; the flaring gash of light that quickly
bubbled from the tiny sun and then seemed to be drawn back into it.
"Fools! " The Fireclown was shouting, incredulity and anger mixed on his painted
face.
It seemed to Alan that the paint had been stripped away and, for the first time,
he became aware of the man who stood there. An individual, complex and
enigmatic.
But the glimpse did not last, for he felt the pressure from behind decreasing.
At least half the mob had turned away and were surging towards the cavern's
exit.
And the Fireclown? Alan looked up. The Fireclown was appealing to them to stay,
but his words were drowned by the babble of hysteria.
Now Alan was borne back with the crowd, was forced to turn and move with it or
risk being trampled. He looked up at the dais and saw that the fat body of the
Fireclown had developed a slump that hardly seemed in keeping with his earlier
vitality.
As the mob boiled up to the third level, Alan saw Helen Curtis only a few yards
ahead of him and to his left. He kept her in sight and managed, gradually, to
inch through the stabbing elbows and hard shoulders.
On the ninth level he was just able to get into the same elevator with her. He
shouted over the heads of the others: "Helen! What the hell are you doing here?"
He saw a placard, FIRECLOWN FIRST VICTIM OF DICTATORSHIP, bob up and down and
realized she was holding it.
"Do you think this will win you votes?" he demanded.
She made no reply but smiled at him. "I'm glad to see you came. Are you with
us?"
"No, I'm not. And I don't think the Fireclown is either! He doesn't want you to
fight for his 'rights'-I’m sure he's perfectly able to look after himself!"
"It's the principle!"
"Rubbish!"
The doors of the giant elevator slid up and they crossed the corridor to the row
of elevators opposite. The liveried attendants attempted to hold the crowd away
but were pushed back into their own elevators by the force of the rush. He
managed to catch up with her and stood with his body tight against her side,
unable to shift his position.
"This sort of thing may win you immediate popularity with the rabble, but what
are the responsible voters going to think?"
"I’m fighting for what I think right," she said defiantly, grimly.
"You're fighting .. ." He shook his head. "Look, when we reach Sixty-Five make
your way home. Speak for the Fireclown in the Solar House if you must, but don't
make a fool of yourself. When this .hysteria dies down you'll look ridiculous."
"So you think this is going to die down?" she said sweetly.
The doors opened, the elevators disgorged their contents and they were on the
move again, streaming across the quiet gardens towards the distant Civic
Buildings.
It was night. The sky beyond the dome was dark. The crowd exhibited a moment's
nervous and calm, its pace slowed and then, as Helen shouted: "There! That's
where they are!" and flung her hand theatrically towards the Council Building,
they moved on again, spreading out and running.
Laservid cameramen and still-photographers were waiting for them, taking
pictures as they surged past.
Helen began to run awkwardly, her placard waving in her hands.
Let her go, Alan thought, old emotions returning to heighten his confusion. He
turned back.
No! She mustn't do it! He hated her political ambitions, but they meant much to
her. She could throw everything away with this ill-considered action of hers.
Or would she? Perhaps the day of ordered government was already over. -
"Helen!" He ran after her, tripped and fell heavily on a bed of trampled blue
roses, got up. "Helen!"
He couldn't see her. Ahead of the crowd lights were going on in the Civic
Buildings. Fortuitously, and perhaps happily for the City Council-all of whom
had private apartments in the Council Building-the headquarters of the City
Police were only a block away. And that building was lit up also.
He hoped the police would use restraint in dealing with the crowd.
When he finally saw Helen again she was leading the van of the mob who now
chanted the unoriginal phrase: "We want the Council!"
Unarmed policemen in their blue smocks and broad belts began to muscle their way
through the crowd. Laservid cameras tracked them.
Alan grasped Helen's arm, trying to make himself heard above the chant. "Helen!
For God's sake get out-you're liable to be arrested. The police are here!"
"So what?" Her face was flushed, her eyes over-bright, her voice high.
He reached up and tore the placard from her hands, flinging it to the ground. "I
don't want to see you ruined!"
She stood there, her body taut with anger, staring into his face. "You always
were jealous of my political success P'
"Can't you see what's happening to you? If you must play follow-my-leader, do it
in a more orderly way. You could be President soon."
"And I still will be. Go away!"
He shook her shoulders. "Open your eyes! Open your eyes!"
"Oh, don't be so melodramatic. Leave me alone. My eyes are wide open!"
But he could see she had softened slightly, perhaps simply because of the
interest he was taking in her.
Then a voice blared: "Go back to your homes! If you have any complaints, lodge
them in the proper manner. The Council provides facilities for hearing
complaints. This demonstration will get you nowhere! The police are authorized
to stop anyone attempting to enter the Council Building!"
Helen listened until the broadcast finished. Then she shouted: "Don't let them
put you off! They'll do nothing until they see we mean business."
Two hundred years "of peace had taught Helen Curtis nothing about peaceful
demonstration.
It was such a small issue, Alan told himself bewilderedly, such a small issue
that could have been settled by a hundred angry letters instead of a mob of
thousands.
The crowd was attempting to press past the police barrier.
Finally the barrier broke and fights between the police and the demonstrators
broke out. Several times Alan saw a policeman lose his temper and strike a
demonstrator.
He was disgusted and perturbed, but there was nothing he could do.
Wearily, he walked away from the scene. For the time being all emotion had been
driven from him.
 
CHAPTER FIVE
 
MISERABLY, unsure of his direction, Alan let his feet carry him aimlessly.
He was sure that the riot marked some important change in the course of Earth's
history, but knew with equal certainty that it would be twenty years before he
could look back and judge why it had happened.
Helen, I love you, he thought, Helen I love you. But it was no good. They were
completely separated now. He had picked an old scab. He should have left it well
alone.
He looked up and found that he was approaching the building which housed his
grandfather's apartment. He realized at the same time that he needed someone to
talk to. There had been no one since he and Helen had parted. The stern old man
would probably refuse to listen and would almost certainly refuse to give him
any advice or help, but there was nothing else for it.
He did not have a sonarkey for the matterlift, so he climbed the stairs very
slowly and went to the main door of the big apartment.
A servant answered and showed him in. Simon Powys was sitting in his lounge
intently watching the laservid relaying scenes of the riots outside. He turned
his great head and Alan saw that his brooding eyes held a hint of triumph.
"So the Fireclown was uninterested in power, was he?" Simon Powys smiled
slightly and pointed at the set. "Then what's that, Alan?"
"A riot," Alan said hollowly. "But though it's in the name of the Fireclown he
didn't encourage it."
"That seems unlikely. You were mixed up in it for a while, weren't you? I saw
you on that"-he pointed again at the screen. "And Helen, too, is taking an
active part."
"Very active," Alan kept his tone dry.
"You disapprove?"
"I tried to stop her."
"So you've changed your opinion of the Fireclown. You realize I was right. If I
had my way, every one of those rioters would be flung into prison-and the
Fireclown exiled from the planet!"
Slightly shocked by the savagery of his grandfather's last remark, Alan remained
silent. Together they watched the laservid. The police seemed to be coping,
though their numbers had had to be increased.
"I haven't changed my opinion, Grandfather," he said quietly. "Not really,
anyway."
His grandfather also paused before replying: "I wish you knew what I knew-then
you'd fight the Fireclown as strongly as I'm attempting to. The man's a
criminal. Perhaps he's more than that. Perhaps this is the last night we'll be
able to sit comfortably and watch the laservid."
"We both seemed to underestimate the Fireclown's popularity," Alan mused. "Are
you going to continue your campaign against him?"
"Of course."
"I should have thought you would spend your time better trying to find out why
the public is attracted to him?"
"The Fireclown's a menace. .. ."
"Why?" Alan said grimly.
"Because he threatens the stability of society. We've had equilibrium for two
hundred years... ."
"Why does he threaten the stability of society?"
Simon Powys turned round in his chair. "Are you trying to be impertinent, Alan?"
"I'm trying to tell you that the Fireclown himself means nothing. The public is
in this mood for another, a deeper, reason. I was down there in the cavern on
the first level. I saw the Fireclown try to stop them from doing this but they
wouldn't listen to him. Why?"
But the old man stubbornly refused to get drawn into an argument. And Alan felt
a hollow sense of frustration. His urge to try to clarify his thoughts by means
of conversation was unbearably strong. He tried again:
"Grandfather!"
"Yes?"
"The Fireclown pleaded with the crowd not to make this demonstration. I saw him.
But the crowd wasn't interested in what he said. They're using him, just as you
and Helen are using him for your own reasons. There is something deeper going
on. Can't you see that?"
Again the old man looked up at him. "Very well. The Fireclown symbolizes
something-something wrong in our society, is that it? If that's the case we
cannot strike at the general, we must strike at their particular, because that
is what is tangible. I am striking at the Fireclown."
Alan wasn't satisfied. His grandfather's words were reasonable, yet he suspected
that no thought or sensibility lay behind them. His answer had been too pat.
"I intend to do everything possible to bring the Fire-clown's activities to a
halt," Simon Powys continued. "The public may be too blind to see what is
happening to them, what dangerous power the Clown wields over them, but I will
make them see, I will make them see!"
Alan shrugged. It seemed to him that the blind were accusing the blind.
"Politicians!" he said, suddenly angry. "What hollow individuals they are!"
Suddenly, his grandfather rose in his chair and got up, his back to the
laservid, his face taut with suppressed emotion.
"By God, I brought you up as a Powys in spite of your mother's shaming me. I
recognized you. I refused to take the easy way out and pay some woman to call
you her own. You received the name of Powys and the benefits of that name. And
this is how you reward me, by coming to my own house and insulting me! I
fostered a bastard-and now that bastard reverts to type! You have never
understood the responsibilities and the need to serve which mark our family. We
are not power-seekers, we aren't meddlers in the affairs of others! We are
dedicated to furthering civilization and humanity throughout the Solar System!
What do you understand of that, Alan whatever-your-name-is?"
"I think it most noble," Alan sneered, trying to hold back the tears of pain and
anger in his eyes. His body trembled as it had done when, as an adolescent, he
had been told the story of his birth. "Most noble, Grandfather, all you and the
Powys clan have done for me! But you could not keep my mother alive with your
high sentiments! You would not let her marry the man who fathered me! I know
that much from Grandmother. Some rough spaceman, wasn't it? Could you kill him
by shame, the way you killed my mother?"
"Your mother killed herself. I did everything for her...."
"And judged her for everything!"
"No... ."The old man's face softened.
"I’ve always given you the benefit of every doubt, Grandfather. I've always
respected you. But in this business of the Fireclown I've seen that you can be
unreasoningly dogmatic, that perhaps what I've heard about you was true! Your
attack on me was unfair-just as your attack on the Fireclown is unfair!"
"If you knew, Alan. If you knew just what..." The old man straightened his back.
"I apologize for what I said to you. I’m tired-busy day-not thinking properly.
I'll see you tomorrow, perhaps."
Alan nodded wordlessly and left, moved to an emotion towards his grandfather
which, he decided, could only be love. Love? After what they had both said? It
seemed to him that everything was turning upside down. The chaos of the mob, the
chaos of his own moods, the chaos of his private life-all seemed to point
towards something. Some remedy, perhaps, for his own and the world's ills?
On the roof of the building he looked around for a car which would carry him
above the riot below to North Top, where he could probably use one of the small
private elevators. Above the dome the sky was clear and the moon rode the sky in
a casual arc. Near the edge of the roof he saw Junnar.
The Zimbabwean was also watching the distant rioters.
"You're too late," he said cheerfully. "You missed the best of it. They're
dispersing now."
"I was in the best of it." Alan joined him and saw that a much smaller crowd
continued to demonstrate, but that most of the people were moving slowly back
towards the elevator-cone.
"Did you see any arrests?" Junnar asked.
"No. Did you?"
"The police didn't seem too keen. I think they took a couple in-probably
examples."
"What does all this mean, Junnar? What's happening to the world?"
"I’m not with you?" Junnar stared at Alan in curiosity.
"Nobody is, I guess. I’m sure that these riots are not just the result of the
Fireclown's speeches in his cavern. I'm sure they've been brewing for ages. Why
are the people so frustrated they have to break out like this suddenly? What do
they want? What do they lack? You may know as well as I do that mass
demonstrations in the past often had nothing to do with the placards they waved
and the cant they chanted-it was some universal need crying out for
satisfaction, something that has always been in man, however happy and
comfortable his world is. What is it this time?"
"I think I know what you mean." Junnar offered Alan a marijuana but he refused.
"That down there-the Fire-clown-the impatience to expand to the new Earth-type
planets-the bitter arguments in the Solar House-individual frustration-the 'time
for a change' leaders in the news-sheets and laservid programs. All threatening
to topple society from its carefully maintained equilibrium. You mean it's some
kind of-Junnar groped for a word- "force that's entered the race, that we should
be doing something, changing our direction in some way?"
"I think that's roughly what I mean. I'm finding it hard to put it into words
myself."
"Well, this is perhaps what the Fireclown means when he says we're turning our
backs on the natural life. With all our material comfort, perhaps we should look
inward at ourselves instead of looking outward at the new colony planets. Well,
what do we do about it, Mr. Powys?"
"I wish I knew."
"So do I." Junnar exhaled the sweet smoke and leaned back against the rail.
"You seem to understand what the Fireclown's getting at. You must believe that
he's innocent of causing these riots. Can't you tell my grandfather that?"
Junnar’s manner changed. "I didn't say the Fireclown was innocent, Mr. Powys. I
agree with your grandfather. He's a menace!" He spoke fiercely, almost as
fiercely as Simon Powys had done earlier.
Alan sighed. "Oh, all right. Goodnight, Junnar."
" 'Night, Mr. Powys."
As he climbed into an automatic car and set the control, he caught a final
glimpse of the Negro's sad face staring up at the moon like a dog about to bay.
To Alan, the world seemed suddenly sick. All the people in it seemed equally
sick. And it was bad enough today. What would it be like tomorrow? he wondered.
Next morning he breakfasted late, waiting for Carson to call him if he was
wanted at the office'. Both laservid and news-sheet were full of last night's
rioting. Not only had the City Council building been attacked but others, taking
advantage of the demonstration, had indulged in sheer hooliganism, smashing
shop-fronts in the consumer corridors, breaking light globes, and so on. Damage
was considerable; arrests had been made, but the Press didn't seem to complain.
Instead, they had a better angle to spread:
C.A. MAN GRAPPLES PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE! Alan Powys attacks Fireclown
supporters!
A picture showed him wrenching Helen's banner from her grasp. In the story he
was described as an angry spokesman for the establishment and Helen as the
heroine of the hour, going among the people to stand or fall with them. Maybe
she had been playing her game better than he had at first thought, he decided.
On the laservid a commentator's voice was heard over the noise of the riot:
"Last night, beautiful would-be President, Miss Helen Curtis, led a peaceful
party of demonstrators to the City Council building on Top. They were there to
protest against the abuse of Council power which, as everyone knows now, was to
take the form of a secret closing of ten of the lowest levels of the City of
Switzerland. Miss Curtis and her supporters saw this as a deliberate move to
stop free speech, an attempt to silence the very popular figure known as the
Fireclown, whose harmless talks have given many people so much comfort and
pleasure.
"The peaceful demonstration was savagely broken up by the large bodies of
policemen who forced themselves through the crowd and began making random
arrests almost before the people could lodge their protest.
"It is not surprising that some of the less controlled elements among the
demonstrators resisted arrest."
Shot of demonstrator kicking a policeman in the behind.
"Reliable witnesses attest to police brutality towards both men and women.
"In the van of the police bully-boys came Alan Powys, grandson of Miss Curtis's
rival in the forthcoming Presidential elections-and Assistant Director of City
Administration, who had already begun work on closing off the lower levels."
Shot of Alan grappling with Helen.
"But even Mr. Powys couldn't silence the demands of the crowd!"
Shot of him walking away. He hadn't realized laservids were tracking him the
whole time.
"And he went back to report his failure to his grandfather, Simon Powys."
Shot of him entering the apartment building.
The cameras panned back to the riot, and the commentary continued in the same
vein. He was horrified by the lies-and helpless against them. What could he do?
Deny them? Against an already prejudiced public opinion?
"Obviously someone Up There," the commentator was saying, "doesn't like the
Fireclown. Perhaps because he's brought a bit of life back into our drab
existence.
"This program decries the totalitarian methods of the City Council and tells
these hidden men that it will oppose all their moves to encroach further upon
our liberties!"
Fade-out and then fresh shots of a surly-looking man talking to a laservid
reporter.
Reporter: "This is Mr. Lajos, who narrowly escaped wrongful arrest in
yesterday's demonstration. Mr. Lajos, tell the viewers what happened to you."
Lajos: "I was brutally attacked by two policemen."
Lajos stood staring blankly into the camera and had to be prodded by the
reporter.
Reporter: "Did you sustain injuries, Mr. Lajos?"
Lajos: "I sustained minor injuries, and if I had not been saved in time I would
have sustained major injuries about my head and body."
Lajos's head seemed singularly free from any obvious injuries.
Reporter: "Did the police give you any reason for their attack?"
Lajos: "No. I was peacefully demonstrating when I was suddenly set upon. I was
forced to defend myself...."
Reporter: "Of course, of course. Thank you, Mr. Lajos."
Back in the studio, a smiling reporter bent towards the camera.
"It's victory for Miss. Curds and her supporters, folks. The Fireclown won't be
bothered by the Council-not so long as we keep vigilant, anyway-for the Council
told the people a few minutes ago that..."
The picture faded and Carson's face appeared in its place. That was the one
irritation of combining communication and entertainment in the single laservid
set.
"Sorry if I butted in, Alan. Have you heard the news?"
"Something about me-or about the Council?"
"The Council-they've backed down. They've decided not to close off the levels,
after all. Maybe now we can get on with some work. Will you come to the office
as soon as you can?"
Alan nodded and put down the news-sheet. "Right away," he said, and switched
out.
As he took the fastway to the elevators, he mused over the manner in which the
riot had been reported. He was certain that the police had tried not to use
violence. Yet, towards the end, they might have lost their patience. These days
the police force required superior intelligence and education to get into it,
and modern police weren't the good-for-nothing-else characters of earlier times.
Still, it could have been that because one side ignored established law and
order, so did the other. Violence tended to breed violence.
Violence, he thought, is a self-generating monster. The more you let it take
control, the more it grows.
He didn't know it, but he was in for a taste of it.
Two muscular arms suddenly shot out to each side of him. His face slammed
against them and he lost his balance on the fastway, falling backwards and
sliding along. Two figures rushed along beside him and yanked him onto the
slowway.
"Get up," one of them said.
Alan got up slowly, dazed and wary.
He stared at the tall, thin-faced man and his fatter, glowering partner. They
were dressed in engineers' smocks.
"What did you do that for?" Alan said.
"You're Alan Powys, aren't you?"
"I am. What do you want?"
"You're the man who attacked Helen Curtis yesterday."
"I did not!"
"You're lying." The man flicked his hand across Alan's face. It stung. "We don't
like Council hirelings who attack women!"
"I attacked no one!" Alan prepared, desperately, to defend himself.
The fat man hit him, fairly lightly, in the chest.
On the fastway people were passing, pretending not to notice.
Alan punched the fat man in the face and kicked the thin man's shins.
Neither had expected it. Alan himself was surprised at his own bravery. He had
acted instinctively. He was also shocked by his own violence.
Now the pair were pummeling him and he struck back at random. A blow in his
stomach winded him, a blow in his face made him dizzy. His own efforts became
weaker and he was forced to confine himself to protecting his body as best he
could.
Then it was over.
A new voice shouted: "Stop that!"
Breathing heavily, Alan looked up and saw the slightly ashamed face of Tristan
B'Ula.
He noticed, too, that all three were wearing a Sun emblem on their clothing-a
little metal badge.
The thin-faced man said: "It's Powys-the man who wanted to close the levels. The
one who attacked Miss Curtis last night."
"Don't be a fool," B'Ula said angrily. "He didn't want to close the levels; he
was taking orders from the Council. I know him-he isn't likely to have attacked
Helen Curtis, either."
B'Ula came closer.
"Hello, Tristan," Alan said painfully. "You've started something haven't you?"
"Never mind about that. What were you doing last night?" As B'Ula approached,
the two men stepped back.
"I was arguing with Helen, telling her she was stupid. Just as you're stupid.
None of you knows what you're doing!"
"You got a lot of Press cuttings this morning. If I were you I’d stay off the
public ways." He turned to the two engineers. "Get going. You're nothing better
than hoodlums. You pay too much attention to what the Press says."
Alan tried to smile. "The pot calling the kettle black. You started all this,
Tris. You should have thought for a while before you began shouting the news
about."
"You're damned ungrateful," B'Ula said. "I just saved you from a nasty beating.
I did what I had to-I wasn't going to let the Fireclown be shoved around."
"This way, he may get worse," Alan said.
B'Ula grimaced and walked away with the two engineers. Alan looked around for
his briefcase but couldn't find it. He got onto the fastway again and took the
elevator to the Top, but when he arrived he didn't go to City Administration.
He'd heard two people talking in the elevator. There was going to be a debate in
the Solar House on last night's riots.
Careless of what Carson would think when he didn't turn up, Alan took a car
towards the majestic Solar House where representatives from all over the Solar
System had gathered.
He wanted very badly to see his grandfather and his ex-mistress in action.
Solar House was a vast, circular building with tall, slender towers at intervals
around its circumference. Each tower was topped by a gleaming glass-alloy dome.
The center of the circle housed the main hall containing many thousands of
places for members. Each nation had, like the City of Switzerland, its own
councils and sub-councils, sending a certain number of candidates, depending on
its size, to the Solar House.
When Alan squeezed his way into the public gallery the House was almost full.
Many representatives must have just arrived back in their constituencies after
the debate on the outgoing President's policies only to hear the news of the
riot, and returned.
Politics hadn't been nearly so interesting for years, Alan thought.
The debate had already opened.
In the center of the spiral was a small platform upon which sat the President,
Benjosef, looking old and sullen; the Chief Mediator, Morgan Tregarith, in
ruby-red robes and metallic Mask of Justice; the Cabinet Ministers, including
Simon Powys in full purple. In the narrowest ring of benches surrounding the
platform were the leaders of the opposition parties-Helen Curtis in a dark
yellow robe, belted at the waist, with fluffs of lace at bodice and sleeves;
ancient Baron Rolf de Crespigny, leader of the right-wing reactionary Democratic
Socialists; John Holt, thin-lipped in black, leader of the Solar Nationalists;
Bela Hakasaki, melancholy-faced Hungarian-Japanese leader of the Divisionists;
Luis Jaffe of the New Royalists, and about a dozen more, all representing
varying creeds and opinions, all comparatively weak compared with the Solrefs,
RLMs, or even the Demosocs.
Behind the circle comprising the opposition leaders all the other Solar
representatives sat, first the minor lights in the Solref Cabinet-Denholm
Curtis, Under-Secretary for Hydro-Agriculture, was there-then the members of the
RLM shadow cabinet; de Crespigny’s shadow cabinet shared a tier with John
Holt's; behind them were four smaller groups; behind them again six or seven,
until, finally, the rank-and-file, split into planets and continents and finally
individual nations.
There were probably five thousand men and women in the Solar House, and they all
listened carefully as Alfred Gupta, Minister for Police Affairs, answered a
charge made by Helen Curtis that the police had used violence towards last
night" s crowd.
"Miss Curtis has accused Chief of Police Sandai of exercising insufficient
control over his officers; that the men were allowed to indulge in offensive
language towards members of the public, attacked these members in a brutal
manner and did not allow them to lodge a protest which they had prepared for the
City Council. These are all grave charges-charges which have also appeared in
the Press and on our laservid screens-and Miss Curtis mentions 'proof of police
violence having appeared on those media. If the charges are true, then this is a
matter of considerable magnitude. But I suggest that the charges are
fabrication, a falsification of what actually happened. I have here a statement
from Chief Sandai." He held up a piece of paper and then proceeded to read from
it-a straightforward account of what had actually happened, agreeing that some
police officers had been forced to defend themselves against the mob, having
been pressed beyond reasonable endurance.
Alan had seen one or two of the policemen attack with very little provocation
but he felt, from his own observation of the previous night's trouble, that the
chief's statement was fairly accurate, although painting his officers a trifle
too white to ring true.
The House itself seemed fairly divided on the question, but when Helen got up to
suggest that the paper contained nothing but lies she was loudly cheered. She
went on, in an ironical manner, to accuse the Solar Referendum Government of
deliberately provoking the riot by allowing the City Council to close off the
levels. Minister for Civil Affairs, Ule Bengtsson, pointed out that it was not
the Government's policy to meddle in local politics and that if this matter had
been discussed in the Solar House in the first place, then it might have been
possible to veto the Council. But no such motion, he observed cynically, had
been placed before the House.
This was indisputable.
Alan saw that Helen had decided to change her tactics, asking the President
point-blank if it was not the Solar Referendum Party* s fixed intention to
silence and get rid of the Fireclown who, though he represented no political
threat, was in his own way revealing the sterility of the Government's policies
in all aspects of life on Earth and beyond it?
Benjosef remained seated. His expression, as it had always been, was strangely
affectionate, like an old patriarch who must sometimes chide his children. He
spoke from his chair.
"You have heard Miss Curtis accuse my Government of underhand methods in an
attempt to rid ourselves of this man who calls himself the Fireclown. I speak in
honesty for myself, and for the majority of my Cabinet, when I say we have no
interest whatsoever in the Fireclown or his activities so long as they remain
within the law. Already"-he glanced at Helen with a half-smile on his face-"it
is doubtful whether his supporters have kept within the law, though I have heard
that the Fireclown did not encourage last night's riot."
Alan, looking down on the old man, felt glad that someone, at least, seemed to
be keeping things in fair perspective.
Then, surprisingly, the House was shaken by a tremendous verbal roar and he saw
that several thousand representatives had risen to their feet and were, for the
second time in forty-eight hours, shouting the President down.
He saw his grandfather glance towards the Chief Mediator. His features hidden
behind his mask, the Mediator nodded. Simon Powys got up and raised his hands,
shouting to be heard. Very gradually, the noise died down.
"You do not disbelieve President Benjosef, surely?"
"We do!" Helen Gurus' voice was shrill, and it was echoed by hundreds of others.
"You think the Government is deliberately seeking to outlaw the Fireclown?"
"We do!" Again Helen Curtis' statement was taken up by many of the others.
"And you also think the Fireclown wanted last night's riot?"
There was a slight pause before Helen Curtis replied:
"It was the only way his friends could help him. Personally, he is an ingenuous
man, unaware of the forces working against him in the Solar House and
elsewhere!"
"So you think the rioters were justified?"
"We do!"
"Is this democracy?' Simon Powys said quietly. "Is this what my family and
others fought to establish? Is this Law? No-it is anarchy. It is anarchy which
the Fireclown has inspired, and you have been caught up in the mood. Why?
Because, perhaps, you are too unintelligent, too impatient, to see how mankind
may profit from this Law we have created! The Fireclown's babblings are
meaningless. He talks of our speech having no meaning and turns sensible
individuals into a maddened mob with the choice of a few emotional phrases that
say nothing to the mind and everything to the belly! The Fireclown has caught
popular fancy. That much is obvious." He sighed and stared around the House.
"I am speaking personally now. For some time I have been aware of the
Fireclown's potential ability to whip up the worst elements in human nature. I
have seen him as a very great threat to the Solar nation's stability, to our
progress, to our development and to individual liberty. And I note from last
night's events that I was right...."
Alan saw in astonishment that his grandfather's level words had calmed the
assembly, that they seemed to be having some effect. He had to admit that the
old man seemed to be right, as he'd said. Yet, in a way, his words were too
convincing. It was still a feeling he had-a feeling that no one in the assembly
had as yet discussed anything.
Alan thought that, for them, the Fireclown had ceased to exist. He was
witnessing a clash between different ways of thought, not a debate about the
Clown at all. He remembered the old Russian technique of choosing a vague name
for their enemies and then using it, specifically, to denounce them-attacking
the Albanians instead of the Chinese had been one example. Everyone had known
who the real enemies were, but there was never a direct reference to them.
Still, that had been a calculated technique, rather a good one for its purpose.
But Simon's angry relatives were now using it unconsciously. They were attacking
and defending something they were unable to verbalize but which, perhaps
wrongly, they were identifying with the Fireclown.
He looked down at the great assembly and for a moment felt pity, then
immediately felt abashed by his own arrogance. Perhaps he misjudged them-perhaps
they were not less aware but more hypocritical than he thought.
Helen Curtis was speaking again, staring directly into her uncle's eyes as he
remained standing up on the platform.
"I have never doubted Minister Powys' sincerity in his denunciation of the
Fireclown. But I do say he is a perfect example of the reactionary and
conservative elements in the House who are unable to see a change as progress.
They see their kind of progress, a progress which is inherent in their policies.
I see a different kind. Theirs leads to sterility and decay. Ours, on the other
hand, leads to an expansion of man's horizons. We wish to progress in many
directions, not just one! That is why I see the Fireclown as a victim of the
Solref Government. He offers scope and life and passion to human existence. The
Solrefs merely offer safety and material comfort!"
"If Miss Curtis had studied the Solar Referendum manifesto in any detail," Simon
Powys exclaimed, addressing the assembly, "she would have noted that we are
pledged first to forming a strong basis upon which future society might work and
expand. Evidently, from the mob-worship of this disgusting monster, the
Fireclown, we have yet to succeed!"
"You see the Fireclown as a threat! You see him as a monster! You hound this man
because, in his naive and simple manner, he has reawakened mankind's spirit!"
Helen spoke directly to Powys, her finger pointing up at him. "Then you are a
hollow man with no conception of the realities!"
"So the Fireclown, Miss Curtis tells me, is a happy innocent, bereft of schemes
or ambition, a prophet content only to be heard." Powys smiled at the assembly.
"I say the Fireclown is a tangible threat and that this madman intends to
destroy the world!"
Alan craned forward. His grandfather would not possibly have made so categorical
a statement without evidence to back it up.
"Prove it!" Helen Curtis sneered. "You have gone too far in your
hatred-senseless and unfounded hatred-of the Fireclown! Prove it!"
Simon Powys' face took on a sterner expression as he turned to speak to the
President.
"I have already alerted the City Police," he said calmly, "so there is no
immediate danger if they work quickly. There is no question of it-I have been
supplied with full proof that the Fireclown is planning to destroy the world by
flame. In short, he intends to blow up the planet!"
 
CHAPTER SIX
 
ALAN was astounded. For a moment his mood of cynicism held and he was aware of a
cool feeling of disbelief as the House, hushed for a second, began to murmur.
Helen suddenly looked frightened. She stared rapidly around the House then up at
Powys, whose stern manner could not disguise his triumph.
"Acting on my information, the police have discovered a cache of plutonium
war-heads. . . ." he continued.
"War-heads!" someone shouted. "We haven't got any! They were outlawed in
forty-two!"
"Presumably the Fireclown or some of his friends manufactured them. It is well
known that several scientists have been aiding him with his peculiar experiments
with fire."
"But he would need fantastic resources!" - Simon Powys spread his hands, aware
that his moment of power had come.
"Presumably," he said, "the Fireclown has them. I told you all that he was more
than a mere irritation. His power is even more extensive than I at first
guessed."
Helen sat down, her face pale. She made no attempt to question Powys' statement.
She was baffled, yet as convinced of the truth as everyone else in the House.
The crowd in the public gallery was muttering and shoving to get a closer look
at Simon Powys.
The old man's leonine head was raised. Evidently he no longer felt the need for
oratory. The House was his.
"If the police discover the war-head cache we shall hear the news in a few
moments." He glanced towards the towering central doorway and sat-down.
As the tension built up, Alan felt he could take no more of it. He was preparing
to turn back into the crowd behind him when a uniformed figure appeared at a
side door and made his way down the tiers towards the platform.
It was Chief Sandai, his brown-yellow face shiny with sweat. Watched by
everyone, he climbed up the few steps of the platform and approached President
Benjosef respectfully.
The microphone picked up his voice and relayed it throughout the House:
"Mr. President, it is my duty to inform you that, acting upon my own initiative,
I have declared a state of emergency in the City of Switzerland. A cache of
plutonium war-heads equipped with remote control detonators of a type used for
setting off bombs from space has been found hidden on the first level. My men
have impounded them and await orders."
Benjosef glanced at Powys. "Are you sure you have found all the bombs?" he said.
"No, sir. All we know of are those we found. There could be others. These were
stored in a disused war-house cavern."
"You are certain that there was no oversight when the war-house was cleared of
its armaments in the past?"
"Perfectly certain, sir. These are new additions. They were being kept in
containers previously used for the same purpose, that is all." Benjosef sighed.
"Well, Minister Powys, this is really your department now, isn't it? How did you
find out about the bombs?"
"My secretary, Eugene Junnar, first reported his suspicions to me two days ago.
Later investigations proved them to be true. As soon as I knew I informed the
police." Powys spoke slowly, savoring his triumph.
Benjosef addressed Chief Sandai. "And have you any evidence to show who was
responsible for this illegal stockpile?"
"Yes, sir. It is almost certain that the man concerned is the individual known
as the Fireclown. The chamber was guarded by men known to be in his employ. They
at first tried to stop us from entering, but offered no physical resistance. One
of them has since admitted himself to be a follower of the Fireclown."
"And the Fireclown?" Powys asked urgently. Chief Sandai swallowed and wiped his
forehead. "Not in our custody yet, sir."
Angry impatience passed rapidly across Simon Powys' face before being replaced
by a further jutting of the jaw and an expression of resolve. "You had better
find him and his accomplices as soon as you can, Sandai. He may well have other
bombs • already planted. Have you sealed spaceports and checked all means of
exit from the City itself?"
"Naturally, sir." Sandai seemed aggrieved.
"Then hurry and find him, man. The existence of the world may depend on locating
him and arresting him immediately!"
Sandai galloped down the steps and strode hastily from the House.
Alan didn't wait for any further development in the debate. Simon Powys had made
his point, illustrated it perfectly and punched it home relentlessly to the
assembly. It was practically certain the Presidency was his.
Pushing through the crowded gallery, he left to take an elevator down and an
escalator out of the House. The news must already have leaked to the Press, for
laservid reporters were swarming around Chief Sandai, who was obviously
flustered and trying to shove his way past them.
Careless of who saw him and the inference that might be put on his act, Alan
began to run across the turf towards the nearest elevator cone.
He was sure that his earlier judgment of the Fireclown could not have been so
hopelessly wrong. It was only instinct that drove him, but he was so sure that
his instinct was right that he was going back, for the second time, to the
labyrinthine first level to look at the evidence for himself:
By the time he got to the lower levels another group of vociferous reporters
were already on the scene. Police guards surrounded a stack of square, heavy
metal boxes, unmarked, at the bottom of the ramp which led down to the first
level.
Taking advantage of the police guards' occupation with the reporters, Alan
worked his way round them and entered the tunnel which he had gone down
earlier-the one which led to the Fireclown's laboratory.
Two guards stood on each side of the entrance. Alan produced his City
Administration card and showed it to the men, who inspected it closely.
"Just want to look round, sergeant," he said coolly to one of them. "C.A. would
like to know what" s going on here so we can take whatever precautions are
necessary."
They let him through and he found himself in a big chamber, equipped with all
kinds of instruments and devices. He couldn't recognize the purpose of many of
them. The place was dark, lit only by an emergency bulb burning near the door.
It seemed to have been vacated very rapidly, for there was evidence that an
experiment had been taking place and had been hastily abandoned. The door of a
cooling chamber was open; broken test tubes crunched beneath his feet; chemicals
glinted in the half-light, splashed across floor, benches and equipment. He
didn't touch anything but made his way to another door. It was an old-fashioned
steel door, nearly a foot thick, but it opened when he pushed. In the room the
darkness was complete. He went back to find some means of lighting and finally
settled for a portable emergency bulb, picking it up by its handle and gingerly
advancing into the next room.
The acrid smell of the spilled chemicals was almost unbearable. His eyes
watered. This must have been a storeroom. Most of the chemical jars were still
intact, so were the boxes of spare parts, neatly labelled. Yet there was nothing
to suggest any warlike purpose for the laboratory. There was little
manufacturing equipment. It was certain the place had only been used for
research. Yet, of course, it was possible that a small manufacturing plant might
have been housed in another section of the first level.
He came out of the store-room and pushed another door on his left. At first he
thought it was locked, but when he pushed again it gave. Whereas the store-room
had smelled of chemicals this one smelled merely damp. It was an office. Files
and notebooks were stacked around, although a microfile cabinet had been damaged
and its contents removed. He noticed also a small, old fashioned, closed circuit
television screen and wondered what the cameras were aimed at. He switched it
on. The screen flickered and showed part of the corridor outside. He turned the
control but each picture showed an uninteresting corridor, a cavern or a room,
until he turned once more and the screen brightened to show a well-lighted room.
In it were two men and a woman.
The woman was unknown to Alan. But the men were unmistakable-the skinless Corso,
his red, peeled body even more repulsive in good light, and the Fireclown, his
great bulk seeming to undulate as he breathed, his face still painted.
Excitedly, Alan tried to get sound, but there appeared to be no sound control on
the set. He had no idea where the trio were, but it was fairly certain that
cameras were only trained on parts of the first level. Therefore they must be
close by.
The woman came up to the Fireclown and pressed her body against him, her right
arm spread up across his back, the fingers of the hand caressing him.
He smiled-somehow an extremely generous gesture considering he was now a hunted
man-and gently pushed her away, saying something to her. She did not appear
annoyed. Corso was more animated. He obviously felt a need for urgency which the
Fireclown did not.
Alan suddenly heard a movement in the first chamber and hastily killed the set.
"Mr. Powys, sir?" the sergeant's voice shouted.
"What is it?" he replied, inwardly wishing the man dead.
"Wondered if you were all right, that's the only thing, sir-the smell in here is
almost overpowering."
"I'm fine, sergeant, thanks." He heard the sergeant return to his post.
Now he noticed a smaller door leading off the room. It had no lock of any sort,
just a projection at the top. He reached up to inspect it when the door wouldn't
open. It was a small bar of metal sliding into a socket. He fiddled with it for
a while, pulled at it and, at last, the right combination of chances released
the mechanism and he pulled the door. Alan had never seen a bolt before.
The emergency bulb lit the place and showed him a narrow, low-roofed passage. A
rusted sign hung suspended lopsidedly by one chain; the other had broken. Alan
caught hold of it, disliking the touch of grimy rust on his fingers, and made
out what it said: Restricted to all personnel! He let the sign go and it swung
noisily against the wall as he continued along the tunnel. Finally he came to
another door, but this one would not open at all. He went past it until he
reached the end of the tunnel. This was half blocked by the fallen bulk of
another massive steel door. He pulled himself over it, wondering if anyone had
ever come this way since the lower levels, which had primarily been used for
storing armaments, battle-machines and military personnel, had been abandoned
with the Great Disarmament of 2042.
A noise ahead of him suddenly startled Alan and he automatically switched off
the emergency bulb.
Voices sounded, at first indistinct and then clearer as Alan moved cautiously
closer.
"We shouldn't have left those machines intact. If some fool fiddles about with
them, heaven knows what* 11 happen."
"Let them find out." It was the Fireclown's voice, sounding like a pulse-beat.
"And who'll be blamed?" he heard Corso say tiredly. "You will. I wish you'd
never talked me into this."
"You agreed with my discoveries, Corso. Have you changed your mind now?"
"I suppose not. . . Damn!" Alan heard someone stumble. A woman giggled and said:
"You're too hasty, Corso. What's the hurry? At present they're combing the
corridors they know about. We have plenty of time."
"Unless they find the boat before we get there," Corso said querulously. Alan
was creeping behind them now, following them as they moved along in the dark.
"I'm only worried about the fuel. Are you sure we've enough fuel, Corso?" The
Fireclown spoke. Although this man had been accused of planning to blow up the
world, Alan felt a glow as he listened to the rich, warm voice.
"We wouldn't make Luna, certainly, on what we've got. But we've got enough to
take us as far as we want to go."
"Good."
Alan heard a low whine, a hissing noise, a thump, and then the voices were cut
off suddenly. A few yards further on his hand touched metal.
He switched on the emergency bulb and discovered that he had come to a solid
wall of steel. This was completely smooth and he could not guess how it opened.
He tried for almost an hour to get it to work, but finally, his body feeling
hollow with frustration, he gave up and began to make his way back in the
direction he had come.
A short time later the ground quivered for a few seconds and he had to stop,
thinking insanely that the stock-pile of bombs had exploded. When it was over,
he thought he could guess what had caused it. The Fireclown had made some
reference to a boat-a space boat. Perhaps that had taken off, though how it was
possible so deep underground he couldn't guess.
He was feeling intensely tired. His limbs and his head ached badly and he was
incapable either of sustained thought or action. He had to keep stopping every
few yards in order to rest, his body trembling with reaction. But reaction to
what? To some new nervous or mental shock, or was it the cumulative effect of
the past few days? He had been unable to sort out and analyze his emotions
earlier, and was even less capable of doing so now.
An acute sense of melancholy possessed him as he stumbled miserably on, at last
arriving back at the office. Wearily, he dumped the emergency bulb down in the
main chamber, suddenly becoming conscious of a tremendous heat emanating from
some source outside. When he reached the entrance the guards had gone. Somewhere
in the distance he heard shouts and other noises. As he reached the opening on
to the main corridor he saw that it was ablaze with light.
And the light-a weird, green-blue blaze-was coming from the Fireclown's great
cavern.
A policeman ran past him and Alan shouted: "What's happening?"
"Fire!" the policeman continued to run.
Now, pouring like a torrent, the flames were eddying down the corridor, a
surging, swift moving inferno. There was nothing for the fire to feed on, yet it
moved just the same, as if of its own volition.
Fascinated, Alan watched it approach. The heat was soon unbearable and he backed
into the chamber.
Only at that moment did it dawn on him that he should have run towards the
ramps. He was completely trapped. Also, the laboratory contained inflammable
chemicals which would ignite as soon as the blaze reached them.
He ran towards the entrance again, stupefied by the heat, and saw that it was
too late. The wall of heaving flame had almost reached him.
He still felt no panic. Part of him almost welcomed the flames. But the air was
becoming less and less breathable.
He wrenched open doors, looking for another exit. The only possible one seemed
to be that which he'd just come back from.
It occurred to him that the Fireclown had been misjudged all round-by everyone
except his grandfather who had realized the danger.
The Fireclown had released an inferno on the City of Switzerland. But how? He
had never seen or heard of any flames like those which now began to dart around
the corridor. He coughed and rubbed the sweat out of his eyes.
At last his brain began to function again. But too late, now, for him to do
anything constructive.
Suddenly the entrance was filled with a roaring mass of fire. He retreated from
it, hit his back against the corner of a bench, stumbled towards the office. As
he slammed the steel door behind him he heard an explosion as the flame touched
some of the spilled chemicals.
Air was still flowing in from another source in the small tunnel. He kept the
door open.
The other door, sealing off the flames, began to heat and he realized, with
fantastic horror, that when it melted, as it inevitably must, he would die.
He would, he decided, leave the office and head into the tunnel at the last
minute. Sitting in the darkness, his confused mind began to clear as the heat
rose, and he faced death. A peculiar feeling of calm came upon him and
belatedly, he began to think.
The thoughts were not particularly helpful in his present predicament. They told
him of no way of escape, but they helped him face the inevitable. He thought he
understood, now, the philosophic calm which came to men facing death.
For some days, he realized, he had been moving in a kind of half-dream, grasping
out for something that might have been-he hesitated and then let the thought
come-love. His emotions had ruled him; he had been their toy, unaware of his
motives.
He had always been, to a degree, unstable in this way, perhaps because of his
tendency to suppress the unpleasant ideas which sometimes came to him. Having no
parents, unloved by his grandfather, his childhood had been spent in a perpetual
quest for attention; at school he had been broken of his exhibitionism, and the
nature of his job gave him no means of expressing these feelings. Now he sought,
perhaps, that needed love in the Fireclown with his constant evoking of parent
images. Certainly he had sought it in Helen, so much so that a similar need in
her had clashed with his own. And now, spurred on by his grandfather's bitter
references to his illegitimacy, he had embarked on a search which had led him to
this-death!
He got up, abstractedly watching the door slowly turning red hot.
Had many others, like him, identified the Fireclown with some need to feel
wanted?
He smiled. It was too pat, really-too cheap. But he had hit upon a clue to the
Fireclown's popularity even if he was not yet near to the exact truth.
Looking at it from another angle, he assembled the facts. They were few and
obvious. The Fireclown's own psychological need had created the creed that he
had preached, and it had found an echo in the hearts of a large percentage of
the world's population. But the creed had not really supplied an answer to their
ills, had only enabled them to find expression.
The door turned to smoky white and he smelled the steel smoldering. A slight
glow filled the room and his mouth was dry of saliva, his body drained of sweat.
The world had reached some kind of crisis point. Perhaps it was, as the
Fireclown had said, because man had removed himself from his roots and lived an
increasingly artificial life.
Yet Alan couldn't completely accept this. An observer from another star, for
instance, might see the rise and fall of man-made constructions as nothing more
than a natural change-process. Did human beings consider an ant-hill
"unnatural?" Wasn't the City of Switzerland itself merely a huge ant-hill?
He saw with surprise that the door had faded from white to red hot and the heat
in the room was decreasing. Immediately there was some hope. He forgot his
reverie and watched the change intently. Soon the door was only warm to his
touch. He pushed at it but it wouldn't budge. Then he realized that the heat had
expanded the metal. He waited impatiently, giving an experimental push every now
and then until, at last the door gave and he stepped into the ruined laboratory.
The fire had destroyed much, but now the room swam with liquid. An occasional
spurt from the walls close to the ceiling told him the source of his salvation.
Evidently the old section of the City had had to protect itself against fire
more than any other part-the old automatic extinguishers had finally functioned
and engulfed the fire.
In the passage outside it was the same. The extinguishers had not been
tested-not even known about-for years but, activated by the extreme heat, they
had finally done the job they had been designed for.
With relief, he began to run up the pitch-dark corridor, at last finding his way
to the ramp. A small heap of containers was still there, but there were not so
many as he had seen earlier. Had the police managed to take them, or had they
been salvaged by the Fireclown? It was, of course, virtually impossible for fire
to destroy the P-bombs' shielding, but how many knew that these days? How much
panic, Alan wondered, had been the result of the Fireclown's holocaust?
Levels all the way up had been swept by fire. He was forced to push his body on
and on, climbing the emergency stairways, avoiding charred corpses and wreckage.
Naked flame had not been used in the city for many years and fire precautions
had been lax-there had been no need for them until now.
Alan wondered wryly if the Fireclown's popularity was as great as it had been
yesterday.
The first group of men he met were on the fifteenth level. They were forcing
open a door in a residential corridor, obviously equipped as a rescue team.
They stared at him, astonished.
"Where did you come from?" one of them asked, rubbing a dirty sleeve over his
soot-blackened face.
"I was trapped down below-old fire extinguishers put out the fire."
"They may have put out the fire that the initial fire started," another said,
"but they wouldn't have worked on the first lot. We tried. Nothing puts it out
once it's under way."
"Then why is it out now?"
"Just thank the stars it is out. We don't know why. It suddenly subsided and
disappeared between the fifteenth and sixteenth levels. We can only guess that
the stuff it's made of doesn't last forever. We don't know why it burns and we
don't know what it burns. To think we trusted the Fireclown and he did this to
our homes . . ."
"You're sure it was the Fireclown?"
"Who else? He had the P-bomb cache, didn't he? It stands to reason he had other
weapons, too-flame-weapons he'd made himself."
Alan passed on.
The semi-melted corridors gave way to untouched corridors full of disturbed
people, milling around men organizing them into rescue teams. Emergency hospital
stations had been set up and doctors were treating shock and burn victims, the
lucky survivors. The lowest level had been built to withstand destruction of
this kind, but the newer levels had not been. If he had been on the tenth level,
or even the ninth where a few families had still lived before the blaze, he
wouldn't be alive now.
Though climbing the emergency stairs and ramps was hard going, Alan chose these
instead of the overcrowded, fear-filled elevators. On he climbed, grateful for
the peace and quiet of the stairs in contrast to the turbulence in the
corridors.
He was crossing the corridor of the thirtieth level when he saw that one of the
shopfronts-it was a consumer corridor-bore a gaudy slogan. A FREER LIFE WITH THE
RLM, it said. The place was the election headquarters of the Radical Liberal
Movement. Another poster-a tri-di build-up-showed the smiling face of Helen
Curtis. At the top, above the picture, it said Curtis, and at the bottom, below
the picture, it said President. The troublesome for had been left out.
He stopped and spoke to the door of the place.
"May I come in?"
The door opened. He walked into a poster-lined passage and into a large room
stacked with election literature. Bundles of leaflets and posters, all brightly
colored, were stacked everywhere. There didn't seem to be anyone around.
He picked up a plastipaper poster of Helen. An audiostrip in its lining began to
whisper softly: Curtis for President, Curtis for President, Curtis for
President. He flung it down and as it crumpled the whispering stopped.
"I see that's another vote I've lost," said Helen's voice behind him.
"I had a feeling I was going to meet you," he said quietly, still staring at the
fallen poster.
"It would be likely, in my own election headquarters. This is only the
store-room. Do you want to see the offices? They're smart." Her voice, unlike
her words, was not a bit cheerful.
"What are you going to do with all this now?" he said, waving a tired arm around
the room.
"Use it, of course. What did you expect?"
"I should have thought a campaign wouldn't have been worth your time now."
"You think because I supported the Fireclown when he was popular I won't have a
chance now he's unpopular-is that it?"
"Yes." He was surprised. Her spirit, it seemed, was still there. She didn't have
a chance of winning the elections now. Was she hiding the fact from herself? he
wondered.
"Look, Alan," she said forcefully, "I could have walked into the Presidency
without a fight if this hadn't happened. Now it's going to be a tough fight-and
I'm rather glad."
"You always liked a fight."
"Certainly-if the opposition's strong enough."
He smiled. "Was that levelled at me by any chance? I've heard it said that if a
man doesn't love a woman enough she thinks he's strong; if he loves her too much
she thinks he's weak. Was the opposition weak, Helen?"
"You're very sensitive today." Her voice was deliberately cool. "No, I wasn't
levelling anything at you. I was talking about your grandfather's happy turn of
luck. Our positions are completely reversed now, aren't they?"
"I don't know how I feel about it," he said, stopping the tendency to sulk.
Helen's retort had stung him. "I'm not really in support of either of you. I
think, on the whole, I favor the RLMs. They could still win the constituency
elections, couldn't they, even if you didn't get the Presidency? That would give
you a strong voice in the House."
"If they kept me as leader, Alan." Her face softened as she admitted a truth
which previously she had been hiding from. "Not everyone who approved of my
stand yesterday approves of it today."
"I hate to say I warned you of it. You should have known better, Helen, than to
go around whipping up mobs. People have to trust politicians as well as like
them. They want a modern, up-to-date President, certainly-but they also want a
respectable one. When the voters sit down and think about it, even if this
Fireclown business hadn't taken the turn it has, they'll choose the candidate
they can feel confidence in. Fiery politics of your sort only work for short
spells, Helen. Even I know that much. Admittedly, after showing yourself as a
'Woman of the People' you could have stuck to parliamentary debate to make your
points and probably danced home. But now you've identified yourself so strongly
with the Fireclown that you haven't a hope of winning. I should give it up." He
looked at her wistfully.
She laughed shortly, striding up and down between the bales of posters. "I
haven't a dog's chance-you're right. But I'll keep on fighting. Lucky old Simon,
eh? He's now the man who warned the people of their danger. Who else could they
vote for?"
"Don't get bitter, Helen. Why don't you start painting again? You know what
you're doing in that field. Really, even I know more about politics than you do.
You should never have entered them. There are people who are natural born
politicians, but you're just not one of them. I've asked you this a dozen times
previously, but I'd still like to know what makes you go on with it."
"One of the strongest reasons is because the more people disapprove of my
actions, the harder I pursue them. Fair enough?" She turned, staring at him
quizzically with her head cocked on one side.
He smiled. "In a word, you're just plain obstinate. Maybe if I’d encouraged you
in your political work you might have been a well-known painter by now-and well
rid of all this trouble."
"Maybe. But it's more than that, Alan." She spoke softly, levering herself up on
to one of the bales. She sat there swinging her legs, looking very beautiful.
She no longer wore the make-up she'd had on earlier. "But I've got myself into
this now, and I'm going to stick at it until the end. Sink or swim."
He told her about his visit to the first level-omitting that he'd heard the
Fireclown and his friends leaving-and of his narrow escape.
"I thought I was going to be killed," he said, "and I thought of you. I
wondered, in fact, if we weren't both searching for the same thing."
"Searching? I didn't know you were the searching kind, Alan."
"Until this Fireclown business blew up, I was the hiding kind. I hid a lot from
myself. But something grandfather said must have triggered something else in
me." He paused. "Was it only three days ago?" he mused wonderingly.
"What did he say?"
"Oh," Alan answered lightly, "he made a rather pointed reference to the fact
that my ancestry isn't all it might be."
"That was cruel of him."
"Maybe it did me good. Maybe it brought something into the open. Anyway, I
started getting curious about the Fireclown. Then you visited me and I was even
more curious. Perhaps because you associated yourself with the Fireclown's
creed, I associated him with you and it led on from there. I went to see the
Fireclown the same night, you know."
"Did you speak to him personally?" She sounded envious.
"No. I never got to see him, actually. But I attended yesterday's 'audience.' I
thought I understood why you supported him. In his own heavy way he made sense
of a kind." He frowned. "But the same could be said for Grandfather, I suppose.
That was a good speech this morning."
"Yes, it was." She was staring at him, her mouth slightly open, her breasts
moving beneath her lacy bodice as she breathed.
"I'm glad all this has happened," he continued. "It's done a lot of good for me,
I think."
"You're glad about the P-bombs being found-about the fire, too?"
"No. I couldn't really believe the Fireclown was guilty until I saw the evidence
for myself. And I still don't hate him for what he tried to do-for what he still
might try to do, for that matter. I feel sorry for him. In his own way he is the
naive and generous giant you tried to tell me about."
"That's what I think. You were down there-were you satisfied that the Fireclown
was responsible for stockpiling those bombs and starting the fire?"
"The evidence was plain, I’m afraid."
"It's idiotic," she said angrily. "Why should he do a thing like that? A man so
full of love!"
"Love-or hate, Helen?"
"What do you mean?"
"He professed to love mankind-but he hated mankind's works. He hated what he
thought were our faults. Not exactly true love, eh?"
"We'll never know. I wonder if he escaped. I hope he has-so long as he doesn't
try any more sabotage."
For the second time in the last few days Alan found himself concealing something
from his ex-mistress. He didn't tell her that he knew the Fireclown had managed
a getaway, at least from Earth. Instead, he said: "Should he escape? After all,
he was responsible for the deaths of least a hundred people. The residential
corridors on nine and ten all the way up to fifteen were full of corpses.
Probably a great many more were roasted in their homes. A nasty death, Helen. I
know. I came close to it myself. Should he escape without punishment?"
"A man like the Fireclown is probably not conscious of his crime, Alan. So who's
to say?"
"He's intelligent. I don't think he's insane, in any way we can understand.
Warped, perhaps ... .?'
"Oh, well, let*s stop talking about the Fireclown. There's a world-wide search
out for him now. The fact that he vanished seems to prove his guilt, at least
for Simon Powys and the public. I've noticed a few remained loyal to the
Fire-clown for some time after they found out about the bombs, If the fire
hadn't started he'd probably still have strong support from people who thought
the bombs were planted."
"You can't plant a stack of P-bombs, Helen. The Fire-clown must have made them.
He's the only one with the resources."
"That's what everyone thinks. But a few of us politicians know better, Alan."
"Nuclear weapons have been banned for years. What are you talking about?"
"Not everyone gave up all their stockpile in the early days of the Great
Disarmament, Alan. There were quite a few who hung on to some secret arms piles
until they saw how things were going. Of course, when the Solar Government was
found to work and the threat of war dwindled away to nothing, they forgot about
them or got rid of them."
"Good God! Nuclear bombs. I'm not superstitious. War's a thing of the past. But
it seems dreadful that the weapons should still be around."
"There are plenty," she said ironically. "At least enough to fight a major solar
war!"
 
CHAPTER SEVEN
 
ALAN, like the rest of his contemporaries, had lived sc long in a peaceful world
that the concept of war, particularly war fought on a nuclear scale, was
horrifying. For nearly a century the world had hovered on the brink of atomic
conflict, but time after time governments had jus! managed to avoid it. With the
final outlawing of nuclear weapons in 2042, a great sigh of relief had gone up.
The human race had come dangerously close to destroying itself but at last it
could progress without that fear forever pressing on it.
And now Helen's casual reference to a solar war!
"You don't mean that as a serious suggestion, do you?" he asked her.
"Alan, the Solar Cabinet, myself and one or two other party leaders have been
aware of the existence of nuclear arms for some time. Simon Powys, in his speech
before the House this morning, could not reveal that, because if the news leaked
we might well have a fresh panic on our hands. Anyway, it suited his purpose to
suggest that the Fireclown manufactured them. The Fireclown might have been able
to make his, but he could just as easily have bought them."
"Bought-?" Alan gasped. "Bought them from whom?"
"From one of the men who specialize in such things. Over the years there has
been a constant 'black market* in nuclear arms. The police have been aware of it
and they have been vigilant. Many of those who discovered forgotten caches have
been arrested and the weapons destroyed. But some haven't. And these men would
welcome physical conflict-preferably on Earth or between Earth and one of the
other worlds, so that they could get to safety on the un-threatened world. If
one side began an attack with nuclear arms, the other would have to defend
itself-and the dealers could then get any price that they wanted."
"But, surely, arms dealing on such a scale is impossible!"
"Not if the cards are played right. And it has been evident to me for some time
that someone is playing their cards right. If he gets the hand he wants-bang!
Suddenly, overnight, without any kind of warning and none of the psychological
protection people perhaps had a hundred years ago, we'd be plunged into a war of
colossal destruction."
"I can't believe it!"
"Perhaps it's better. Remember, this is only what the dealers wish for-it might
not happen. That's why it's so secret. It might be possible to remove the danger
once and for all with none of the public knowing it was there. The RLM shadow
cabinet have a plan to prevent the eventuality; Simon Powys has another. I think
ours is better. Now you know one of the reasons I’m in politics and why I stay
in."
"I'll accept that," he said a trifle dubiously. "Do you think the Fireclown's
tied up with any of these dealers?"
"If he's tied up with one, he's probably tied up with them all. Those we haven't
caught are the most powerful and have very likely formed themselves into a
syndicate. That's what the rumors say, at any rate."
"I saw no evidence of a plant when I explored the Fire-clown's level. So it's
probable that he could have bought the P-bombs."
."There's another angle to it," Helen said thoughtfully. "Admittedly I may not
have been wholly objective about the Fireclown, but what if the dealers had
planted the P-bombs on him, knowing that someone would eventually find out?"
"Why should they do that?" Alan bent down and picked up a handbill, his eyes
fixed on it. It was another picture of Helen, this time in a heroic pose. Fifty
words of text underneath briefly outlined her ideals in purple adjectives.
"The arms dealers want a war-preferably one that wouldn't have too destructive
results and wouldn't involve all three habitable planets. First, hint that the
Fireclown has a stock-pile, supply the evidence to be found, take advantage of
the scare-and the possibility of the Fireclown possessing more weapons-then
unload a ready-made batch of weapons for 'defense' of the Solar Government. That
way, you see, there might not be a war at all-but the dealers would profit just
the same."
"That sounds close to the truth-if the dealers did frame the Fireclown, of
course. But we have proof that he caused the destruction of fifteen levels. How
do you explain that? That fire was impossible to extinguish. He had obviously
made it, in the same way he manufactured that weird artificial sun in the
cavern."
"He may have -been pushed into it-self defense."
"No, I don't think so."
"There's one way we can get more information," she said briskly, jumping down
off the bale. "We can go and see Simon Powys. He'd know more about it than
anyone."
"Do you want to do that?"
"I'm curious. More than that, Alan." She smiled nervously. "I may be able to
wheedle something out of the old patriarch that would be advantageous to me in
the election. If I could prove that the Fireclown was framed it would help a
lot."
He shook his head, wondering at her incredible optimism.
"All right," he said. "Let's go."
Simon Powys received them with the air of the conquering Roman general receiving
the defeated barbarian leaders. All he needed, Alan thought, was a toga and a
laurel crown.
He smiled urbanely, greeted them conventionally, offered them drinks, which they
accepted.
"Come into the study," he said to his grandson and niece. He led the way. He had
furnished the place with deliberate archaism. There were even a few family
portraits-of the best-remembered members of the Powys clan. The first Denholm,
Alan and Simon Powys hung there, as well as the two women Presidents of the
Solar Government. A proud and slightly somber-looking group. The bookcases were
of mahogany, filled primarily with books on politics, history and philosophy.
The novels were of the same type-political novels by Disraeli, Trollope,
Koestler, Endelmans and De la Vega. Alan rather envied his grandfather's
one-track mind. It made him good at his career.
"To tell you the truth," Simon Powys said heavily. "I feel sorry for you both.
You were misled, as most people were, and this business must-have left you
slightly in the air. It hasn't done you much good politically, has it, Helen? A
pity-you've got good Powys stuff in you-strong will, impersonal ambition . . ."
"And an eye to the main chance." She smiled. "Though you'll probably say, Uncle
Simon, that I lack self-discipline and could do with a spot more common-sense.
You'd probably be right' about the self-discipline. I lost out on that one-I
think I'm finished now, don't you?"
Alan admired her guile.
Simon Powys nodded regretfully. He probably did regret his niece's political
demise, just as he obviously regretted Alan's never having shown an interest in
politics. "Still, you were rather foolish, y’know."
"I know," she said contritely.
He turned to Alan. "And you, my boy? I suppose you understand why I was so
adamant earlier?"
"Yes, Grandfather."
The old man seemed to warm to both of them. "I shall be President, no doubt,
when the next session begins. It was really my last opportunity to take such
high responsibility-family tradition demands a Powys of every generation to
serve at least one term. I was hoping that you, Alan, would follow on, but I
suppose the task will fall to Helen's son and Denholm's. I wish my daughter . .
." He cleared his throat, seemingly moved to strong emotion, although Alan
thought the last line had been a bit stagey. It was probably for his benefit. He
wondered why he should have felt such momentary love for his grandfather at
their earliest interview.
"What made you suspicious of the Fireclown in the first place?" Helen said, in
the manner of a whodunit character preparing the detective for his denouement.
"Instinct, I suppose. Could have told you there was something fishy about him
the first time I heard of him. Made Junnar go down and have a look the first
opportunity he could. There was also another business which I can't really talk
about.. . ."
"He knows about the illegal stock-piles, Uncle," Helen said forthrightly.
"Really? A bit unwise to spread it around, isn't it?"
"I'm not in the habit of betraying confidences, Grandfather," Alan said tritely,
with a hard look at Helen.
"No. I suppose if s all right. But presumably Helen has impressed you with the
need for secrecy?"
"Of course," Helen said.
"Well, I had a feeling he'd been connected with the dealers. They're the only
group of criminals powerful enough to hide a man and help him change his
identity. I guessed that he had probably come from their hideout, though this
was all conjecture, you understand. The police investigated him and could find
nothing to indicate it, though they agreed with me."
"So, in fact, unless it can be established that the P-bombs are part of the old
stock, there is nothing to connect him with the dealers?" Helen said, trying
hard not to show her disappointment.
"I have already been in touch with the laboratory analyzing the bombs. They tell
me they are old stock-you would have discovered that soon, anyway, at the next
Committee meeting. Obviously we can't tell the public that."
"Obviously," said Helen, "though it might have strengthened my own case in the
House slightly."
"Not to any important degree."
"What's this committee?" Alan asked curiously.
"We call it the One Hundred Committee, after a slightly less effective British
anti-nuclear group which existed in the middle of the twentieth century.
Actually there are only ten of us. The Committee is pledged to locating every
single nuclear weapon left over from the old days and seeing the offenders
punished where possible. We work, of course, in close collaboration with the
highly secret ARP-the Arms Removal Police. Our work has been going on for years.
Helen is the secretary and I am the chairman. Other important politicians
comprise the remaining eight."
"Very worthy," said Alan. "Are you effective?"
"We have been in the past, though our job is becoming more difficult since the
dealers work together, pooling their resources. They would welcome an
opportunity to sell what they have-perhaps Helen has already told you."
"Yes, she has. But it occurred to me that you could offer to buy the dealers out
now. Surely it would be better to pay their price and have the arms without
waiting for a crisis to decide you?"
"That's our main bone of contention," Helen put in. "Uncle doesn't agree with
buying them now. I want to do that."
"The fantastic price these brigands would demand would beggar the Solar nation,"
Simon Powys said gruffly to his grandson. "We must do it in secret and justify
the expenditure at the same time. It would be impossible. I feel they'll
overstep the mark at some stage, then we'll catch them."
"The expenditure's worth it!" Helen said. "We could recuperate from poverty, but
survival in a nuclear war . . ."
"If we caught the Fireclown, then," Alan said slowly, "it might give us a lead
to the arms dealer."
"Possibly," Powys agreed, "though he might not admit to it. Secondly, he might
not even know who the dealers are. They are naturally extremely cautious.
However, they are certainly going to take advantage of the trouble the
Fire-clown has caused. The man must be caught-and destroyed before he makes any
more trouble!"
"Grandfather!" Alan was shocked. The death penalty had been abolished for more
than a hundred years.
"I'm sorry-I'm extremely sorry, Helen. You must forgive an old man's tongue.
These concepts were not quite so disgusting when I was a young man. Certainly
'we must imprison or exile the Fireclown."
Alan nodded.
"It's funny," he said, "that the Fireclown should preach a return to nature;
that, in fact, science leads to mankind's destruction, and yet he should be
planning that same destruction-or at very least is a tool of those who would
welcome it."
"Life," said the old man with the air of a philosopher, "is full of that sort of
paradox."
 
CHAPTER EIGHT
 
"I'LL see you home," Alan said lightly as they left the apartment.
"That would be nice," she said.
They walked slowly through the gardens, repaired and beautiful again. The
starlight was augmented by soft beams from the roof structure which had the
appearance of many tiny moons shining down, each one casting a single, exquisite
beam. The Top had been well designed. To live here was the ambition of every
young man and woman. It gave people, thought those at the Top, something to aim
for.
"If only I could speak to the Fireclown personally," Helen said wistfully. "Then
at least I'd be able to form a better idea of what he's really like."
Alan preferred to say nothing.
They reached the door of her apartment on the sixty-third level and went in.
Familiar smells greeted him, smells which he always associated with Helen-fresh,
slightly scented, of soap and oils. It was strange, he reflected, that women's
apartments always seemed to smell better than men's. Maybe it was an obvious
thought. He noticed he was breathing a little more quickly, slightly more
shallowly.
Neither recognized by outward expression the thought that was in their minds,
yet each was aware of the other's emotions. Alan was slightly fearful, for he
remembered the conflict between them as well as their old happiness and realized
that Helen probably did, too.
"Would you like a nightcap?" she invited.
"I'd prefer coffee, if you've got it." Unconsciously, he had given her her
opportunity. He was torn now, half afraid of what seemed likely to happen.
She came over to him as he sat down in a comfortable chair beside a small shelf
of book-tapes.
She leaned down and stroked his face lightly.
"You look dreadfully tired, Alan."
"I've had a hard day." He smiled. He took her hand and kissed it.
"I'll go and get the coffee," she said.
When she came back she had changed into a pair of chaste pyjamas and a robe of
thick, dark blue material. She had a tray of coffee-real coffee from the smell.
She put it down on a table and drew up a chair so that the table .was between
them.
Helen, he thought. Oh, Helen, I love you. They were staring at each other, both
wondering, perhaps, if this reunion would take on the same pattern as their
previous affair.
"We're wiser now," she said softly, handing him his coffee. "It's a Powys
trait-we learn by our mistakes."
"There are. always different mistakes to be made," he warned her. It was the
last attempt to retreat from the situation and allow her to do the same, as
gracefully as possible.
"That's experience," she said, and the fears were forgotten. Now they looked at
one another as if they were new friends.
When they made love that night it was entirely different from anything either
had ever before experienced. They treated one another delicately, yet
passionately, as if a return to their earlier, less self-conscious love would
plunge them back into the turmoil of four months before.
In the morning Alan's arm was aching painfully from having cradled her head all
night. He raised her head gently and propped himself on his elbow, tracing the
Softness of her shoulder with his fingers. She opened her eyes and seemed to be
looking at him like a respectful stranger. Presumably there was a similar
expression in his own face, for he felt he shared her emotion. He kissed her
lightly on the lips and pushed back the bed clothes, swinging himself out of the
narrow bed.
He sat slightly hunched on the edge, studying his head and torso reflected in
the mirror opposite.
"I've got an idea where the Fireclown is," he said suddenly.
She was half asleep and didn't seem to hear him.
He didn't repeat himself then but went into the kitchen to make coffee. He was
feeling rather tired now and his legs shook a little as the machine came alive
and produced two beakers of hot coffee. He transferred the coffee into cups and
took them back.
She was sitting up.
"What did you say about the Fireclown? You know where he is?"
"No, but we might be able to guess." He told her about overhearing the trio in
the passage.
"Why didn't you tell me about this yesterday?"
"That was yesterday," he said simply. She understood and nodded.
"They took off in a small space-boat. I’ve thought about it since and I think
there must be a launching ramp leading through the rock to somewhere outside the
City. Those old bombs had be launched from somewhere."
"That sounds logical. You say he remarked that they didn't have enough fuel to
make Luna. They may have made a transcontinental flight."
"Unlikely. You can't land even a small rocket without at least a few people
observing it. I’ve got a feeling they're orbiting-maybe waiting for someone to
pick them up."
"Or they may have gone to St. Rene's?"
"Why should they do that?" The Monastery of St. Rene Lafayette was the home of a
group of monks who practiced a form of scientific mysticism. Little was known
about the Order and it was thought that the monks were harmless. The monastery
was, in fact, an abandoned space-station which the monks had taken over. The
world had decided they were quaintly mad and had all but forgotten them.
"Well," Helen said, sipping her coffee, "it's just a connection that my mind
made. I associated one 'crank' with a group of others, I suppose."
"Unless they were orbiting, it's the only place they could have gone," Alan
agreed. "I wonder how we could find out."
"By going there, perhaps."
"We'd need a boat. We haven't got one."
"My brother has. A nice job-one of the latest Paolos."
"Would he let us take it?"
"We don't need to ask. I often use it. I have a pilot's license, the audiolocks
respond to my voice, the ground staff at the port know me-we'd have a good
chance of getting away with it."
"And going to our deaths, maybe. The Fireclown appears to be more ruthless than
we thought, remember?"
"But are the monks? They are bound to give sanctuary to those they term
'unclears,' I believe."
"If s worth a try." He got up. "I'm going to have a bath. Is my green suit still
here?"
"Yes."
"Good." He glanced at the chronom on the wall. "It's still early. If we leave
now we could . . ." He turned to her. "Where is your brother's ship?"
"Hamburg-she's a sea-lander."
"A fast cab could get us there in an hour. You'd better get up and get ready."
He grinned at her as she sprang out of bed.
Hamburg Spaceport was surrounded by a pleasant garden-city with a population of
less than two million. In contrast to the capital city of Switzerland, its
buildings were single- or double-storied. Beyond the spaceport buildings water
glinted in the summer sun, beneath a pale ,and cloudless blue sky. As the cab
spiralled down towards the landing roof a huge bulbous ship suddenly erupted
from the waves, water boiling to steam as it lumbered upwards.
Helen pointed: "The Titan, bound for Mars and Ganymede, probably carrying one of
the last seed consignments they need."
By the time the cab brought them down on the roof the ship had disappeared. From
his lodge, the only building on the roof, an official in a brown velvet cutaway
and baggy, cerise pantaloons came sauntering towards them. He was a firm-faced
man with a smile.
"Good morning, Miss Curtis. Sorry to hear about yesterday," he said. "Many
people's faith in the Fireclown seems to have been misplaced."
"Yes, indeed," said Helen, forcing a smile in response to his. "I’m planning to
make a pleasure trip until the fuss dies down. Is the Solar Bird ready?"
"I expect so. She was being checked in the locks, I believe. She should be okay
now. Do you want to go straight down?"
"Yes, please."
He took them into his lodge, a neat office with a big window overlooking the sea
which was still heaving and steaming after the Titan's take-off. A small
elevator cage was set in one wall. The man opened the gate for them, glancing at
Alan in a speculative way. Alan returned his stare blandly and followed Helen
into the elevator. It began to hiss downward.
A man in coveralls let them out, a plump red-faced man with a mechanic's badge
on his sleeve.
"Good morning, Miss Helen. Nice to see you."
"Good morning, Freddie. This is Mr. Powys-Freddie Weinschenk."
They shook hands and Weinschenk led them along an artificially lit corridor.
Alan had never been in Hamburg before, but he knew the general design of a
modern spaceport. They were now below ground level, he guessed, heading along a
tunnel which led under the sea-bed.
Finally, Freddie ordered a door to open and they were in a dark, cool chamber
with metal walls. From one wall, the back half of a small space-yacht projected,
seeming, at first, to be stuck on the wall until Alan realized that the other
half lay outside and that they were actually in a pressure chamber.
"Thanks, Freddie." Helen went up to the airlock and spoke, to it. It began to
slide open; then slowly the four doors all opened and they went into the cramped
cabin of the ship. Freddie shouted from outside:
"If you're leaving immediately, miss, I'll start the chamber up."
"Thanks, Freddie. See you when we get back."
Helen went to the control panel and touched a stud. The airlocks closed behind
them. She switched on the exterior viewer so they could see the chamber. Freddie
had left and Alan saw that the room was swiftly being flooded. Soon it was full
and the wall surrounding the ship began to expand away from the ship itself and
he saw the ramp extending outwards into open sea.
"We'll make a soft take-off," Helen said, strapping herself in the pilot's
couch. Alan got into the other couch. "We don't want anyone to think we're in a
hurry," she added.
"The softer the better," he smiled. "I’ve only been into space once and I didn't
much care for the trip. She was an old chemical ship and I was certain she was
going to break down every inch of the journey."
"You'll see a lot of difference in the Solar Bird." She activated the drive.
"It's unlikely they could improve a nuclear ship any further. They'll have to
start thinking of some new type of engine now, I suppose, just as the old type
starts getting familiar and comfortable."
The control panel was alive now, its instruments measuring and informing.
Alan felt a double pounding beat for a second or so, and then the ship was
speeding up the ramp, leaving it, plunging up through water and then was in
daylight, racing into the sky.
She switched on the chart-viewer, selected the area of space she wanted. It
showed her the position of the space-station monastery and gave her all the
information she needed.
"I hope your hunch is right," she said and turned round to see that Alan had
blacked out.
There had been no reason for this at all, since the mounting pressure outside
was completely countered by the ship's internal mechanisms. It was probably some
kind of reflex, she decided.
"I'm a fool," he said when he was awake again. "Did anything happen, or was it
just my imagination."
"Just imagination, I'm afraid. But you needed the sleep, anyway."
"Where are we?"
"In orbit. We should be getting pretty close to the station in a little while.
For the time being I’m going to pretend we're in trouble-that way we'll lull any
suspicions the monks might have if they are harboring the Fireclown."
Soon the wheel of the big station came in sight, the sun bright on its metal.
There were two ships they could see hugged in its receiving bays, a big one and
a little one. The big one was of unfamiliar design. They could see its title
etched on its hull from where they were. Pi-meson.
"Funny name for a ship," Alan commented.
"The monks-if it is their ship-have got funny ideas." She reached out to press a
red stud. "That's the May-day signal. With any luck they should get it."
In a moment their screen flickered and a face appeared on it-a thin man,
lean-nosed and thin-lipped.
"Would it be impertinent to deduce that you are in trouble?" he said.
"It wouldn't be, no," Helen replied. "Can you help us?"
"Who knows? Can you maneuver your ship so that we can grapple, or shall we send
out help?"
"The steering seems to be all right," she said. "I’ll come in."
She coasted the ship until they were near one of the empty bays and the
station's magnegraps pulled them into the bay.
When, finally, they climbed from their ship into the unpleasant air of the
monastery, they were greeted by the thin-faced monk. He was dressed in a blue
habit that did nothing for his already pale face. His hair was short but he had
no tonsure. His eyes and cheeks were sunken but, in his own way, he looked
healthy enough. He held out a skeletal hand with incredibly long fingers.
"I am Auditor Kurt," he said as Alan shook hands. "It is good that we can be of
service to you. Please come this way."
He took them into a small, barely furnished room and offered them tea, which
they accepted.
"What exactly is wrong with your ship?" he asked politely.
"I'm not sure. I’m not familiar with the type-it's new. I could not get the
landing jets to work when I tested them preparatory to re-entering the
atmosphere. It's just as well I did test them." She had personally jammed the
jet control. It could be fixed easily. "You were lucky to be so close." The monk
nodded.
Alan was wondering how he could find out if the Fire-clown was here.
"I'm extremely interested in your Order," he said conversationally. "I'm
something of a student of religions- perhaps you can tell me about yours?"
"Only that we were founded as long ago as 1950, although this Order did not come
into existence until 1976 and did not come here until about twenty years ago. We
are a branch of the original faith, which did not pay a great deal of attention
to its mystical aspects until we founded the Order of St. Rene. St. Rene is not
the true name of our inspired founder-that is secret to almost all-but that is
the name we use for him."
"I should like to see the monastery. Is that possible?" Alan looked around the
small room, avoiding the monk's intent gaze.
"Normally it would be possible-but, ah, we have repairs going on in many parts.
. . . We are not really prepared for visitors."
"Oh? Then whose is the ship, other than ours, in the receiving bay?"
"Which one?"
"There are two. The Pi-meson and the Od-Methuselah."
"Both ours," the monk said hastily. "Both ours."
"Then why did you ask which one I spoke of?"
The monk smiled. "We monks have devious minds, I'm afraid. It is the nature of
our calling. Excuse me, I'll go and check that the mechanics are repairing your
ship." He rose and left. They heard the door seal itself behind him. They were
locked in.
Alan sipped his tea.
"If the Fireclown's here, they're not likely to let on to outsiders who'd take
the news back to Earth," he said.
"We'll have to think of a means of getting a look around this place. Have you
noticed the atmosphere? It's weird."
The atmosphere of the place fitted well with the spacestation monastery circling
in space, away from the things of Earth. It had a detached air of calm about it,
and yet there, was a feeling of excitement here, too. It was possible, of
course, that he was imagining it, for he was very excited himself.
"Do you think they know what he's up to? Or is he just making use of their habit
of affording people sanctuary?" Alan asked her.
"They seem unworldly, to say the least," she replied, shivering a little, for
the room was not well heated.
The door opened and Auditor Kurt came back.
"Your boat has been fixed, my friends. I see from the registration plates that
it is owned by Denholm Curtis-an important man on Earth, is he not?"
"He's my brother," Helen said, wondering if the monk was getting at anything in
particular.
Alan became aware at last that they might be in danger. If the Fireclown was
here and knew they were here, too, he might decide it was risky to let them go.
"So you are Helen Curtis. Who, then, is this gentleman?"
"I'm Alan Powys."
"Ah, yes, Simon Powys' grandson. From what I have seen of recent lasercasts,
Miss Curtis and Minister Powys are at odds over certain issues. Which side do
you support, Mr. Powys?"
"Neither," Alan said coldly. "Just call me a disinterested spectator."
A peculiar expression came on the monk's face for a second. Alan could work out
what it indicated.
"I should say you were the least disinterested . . ." the monk mused. Then he
said briskly: "You asked earlier if you could look over the monastery. To tell
you the truth we are not always willing to let strangers inspect our home, but I
think it would be all right if you wanted to take a quick tour before you
leave."
Why the monk's sudden change? Was he planning to lead them into some sort of
trap? Alan had to take the chance.
"Thanks a lot," he said.
They began to walk along the curving corridor. This part, the monk told them,
was reserved for the monks' cells.
They turned into a narrower corridor which led them to another similar to the
one they'd just left, though the curve was tighter.
"Here is what we term our clearing house." The monk smiled, opening a door and
letting them precede him through. It was a fairly large room. Several monks sat
on simple chairs. They were dressed in brown dungarees. The monk in the center
was dressed, like Auditor Kurt, in a blue habit, and was chanting some sort of
litany.
"How would you worry somebody?" he chanted.
"By destroying their confidence," the other monks mumbled in reply.
"How would you make somebody happy?"
"By casting forth their engrams," said the monks in unison.
"How would you help somebody?"
"Teach them to-be clear."
"By the Spirit of the Eight Dynamics," intoned the blue-clad monk, "I command
thee to cast forth thy engrams forthwith!"
The monks seemed to freeze, concentrating intently. Above them, behind the monk
in the blue habit, a weird machine whirred and buzzed, dials swinging around
strangely marked faces, lights flashing.
Alan said respectfully: "What are they doing?"
"They are attempting to learn the ultimate secret of the Great Triangle,"
Auditor Kurt whispered.
"Ah," Alan nodded intelligently.
They left this room and entered another. Here a great screen was blank and there
were comfortable chairs scattered around before it.
"Sit down," said Kurt. "We are expecting a special event, today."
Alan and Helen sat down and watched the screen.
They fidgeted for over half an hour as nothing happened, and -Kurt continued to
watch the screen impassively, not looking at them.
Alan's sense of danger was heightened and he had a feeling the monk was
deliberately keeping them in suspense.
Then, all at once, big letters began to form on the screen until a whole
sentence was emblazoned there.
ANOTHER BROTHER CLEAR! said the message. It meant nothing to either of them.
Alan turned to the monk, half suspicious that a trick had been played on them,
but the monk was looking ecstatic and incredibly pleased.
"What does it mean?" Alan asked desperately.
"What it says-the hampering engrams have been exorcised from one of our
brothers. He is now a clear and ready to become a Brother Auditor, as I am. It
is a time for rejoicing in the monastery when this comes about."
Alan scratched his head and looked at Helen, who was equally perplexed.
"Well," beamed thin-faced Auditor Kurt, "now you have seen a little of our
monastery."
Half convinced that he was the victim of a practical joke, Alan nodded mutely.
He was no nearer to finding out if the Fireclown was here, although perhaps a
check on the Pi-meson when they got back to Earth would help them.
"Thank you for showing us," Helen said brightly. She, too, was obviously
uncertain of what to do next.
"Oh"-the monk seemed to remember something-"there is one other thing I should
like to show you before you leave. Will you follow me?"
They walked until they were close to the center of the spacewheel, came to a
small door in the curved wall of Central Control. Auditor Kurt ordered it open.
It hissed back and they stepped through.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Powys," said the Fireclown amiably.
 
CHAPTER NINE
 
"SO you did come here," Helen blurted out.
"I have no idea how you, deduced it." He grinned. "But I must praise your
intelligence. I hope no one else on Earth thinks as you do."
Alan kept silent. They would be safer if they didn't tell the Fireclown how they
had worked out his hiding place. He looked around. Corso and the woman were also
there, lounging in their seats and staring amusedly at the rest.
He felt dwarfed by the Fireclown's bulk, not only physically-the man stood at
least six foot six-but also psychologically. He could only stare stupidly,
unable to say anything. Yet it was peculiar. Now that they were face to face he
did not feel afraid any longer. The man's strange magnetism was tangible, and
once again he found himself liking the Fireclown, unable to believe that he had
committed an act of mass murder and plotted to blow up the Earth.
"So you are Alan Powys," mused the Fireclown, as if the name had some special
meaning. His face was still heavily painted, with wide lips and exaggerated
eyes, but Alan could make out the features under the paint a little clearer.
They seemed thoughtful.
"And why are you here, anyway?" Corso said, moving his repulsive red and
glinting body in the chair.
"To ask questions," Helen said. She was pale and Alan could understand why-the
skinless man took a lot of getting used to.
"Questions!" The Clown's body moved in a great shrug. He turned his back on them
and paced towards his seated friends. "Questions! By the solar firmament! What
questions can I answer?"
"They are simple-and demand only simple replies, if you are truthful with us."
The Fireclown whirled round and laughed richly. "I never lie. Didn't you know
that? I never lie!"
"But perhaps you mislead," Alan said quietly. "May I sit down?"
"Of course."
They both sat down.
"We want to know if you planned to blow up the world," Helen said with a trace
of nervousness in her voice.
"Why should I? I wanted to save it, not hurt it."
"You did a good job with the fire which swept Switzerland," Alan retorted.
"Am I to blame for that? I warned them not to tamper."
"Are you trying to tell us you weren't responsible for that fire?" Alan said
grimly.
"I’ve been watching the lasercasts. I’m aware of what's being said of me now.
They are fickle, those people. If they had really listened to me this would not
have happened. But nobody listened properly."
"I agree with that." Alan nodded. "I saw them-they were using you as a means of
rousing their own latent emotions. But you should have known what you were doing
and stopped P'
"I never know what I am doing. I am .. ." The Fireclown paused and glared at
him. "I was not responsible for the fire. Not directly, at any rate. Some of
those policemen must have tampered with my fire machines. They are very
delicate. I have been experimenting with means of controlling chemical and
atomic fire. I produced that little artificial sun and could have produced more
if I had not been interrupted by those meddlers."
"Why are you experimenting with fire? What's your purpose?" Helen leaned forward
in her chair.
"Why? I have no reasons. I am the Fireclown. I have no purpose save to exist as
the Fireclown. You do me too much honor, Miss Curtis, to expect action and plans
from me. For a time I spoke to the people in Switzerland. Now that's over I
shall do something else." He roared with laughter again, his grotesque body
shaking.
"If you have no plans, no thought for the future, then why did you buy P-bombs
from the arms dealers?"
"I know nothing of bombs or dealers! I had no inkling that those bombs were in
my cavern!"
Either he was blinded by the Fireclown's overpowering presence or the man was
telling the truth, Alan felt. He seemed to have a lusty disregard for all the
things that concerned Helen and himself. He did not seem to exist in the time
and space that Alan shared with the rest of the human race, seemed to tower over
it, observing it with complete and amused detachment. But how far could he trust
this impression? Alan wondered. Perhaps the Fireclown was the best actor in the
world.
"You must know something of what's happening?' Helen exclaimed. "Your appearance
at a time of acute crisis in society's development could not be mere
coincidence."
"Society has had crises before, young lady." Again he shrugged. "It will have
others. Crises are good for it!"
"I thought you ingenuous, then I changed my mind. I can't make you out at all."
She sank back into the chair.
"Why should you make me out? Why should you waste time trying to analyze others
when you have never bothered to look within yourself? My own argument against
machines and machine-living is that it hampers man from really looking into his
own being. You have to take him away from it, put him in the wilderness for a
short time, before you can see that I speak truth. In my way I worship the sun,
as you know. Because the sun is the most tangible of nature's workings!"
"I thought you represented a new breakthrough in thought," Helen said quietly.
"I thought you knew where you were going. That is why I supported you,
identified myself and my party with you."
"There is no need to seek salvation in others, young lady!" Again he became
disconcertingly convulsed with that weird and enigmatic laughter.
She got up, bridling.
"Very well, I’ve learned my lesson. I believe you when you say you weren't
planning destruction. I'm going back to Earth to tell them that!"
"I’m afraid Mr. Corso here, who advises me on such matters, has suggested that
you stay for a while, until I am ready to leave."
Alan saw his logic. "When are you leaving?" he said.
"A few days, I expect. Perhaps less."
"You won't, of course, tell us where." Alan smiled at the Fireclown for the
first time and when the man returned his smile, grotesquely exaggerated by the
paint around his lips, he felt dazzled, almost petrified with warmth and
happiness. It was the Fireclown's only answer.
Why did the Fireclown have this ability to attract and hold people just as if
they were moths drawn to a flame?
Auditor Kurt had left the room while they were conversing. Now he returned with
another man behind him.
"A visitor for you, Fireclown."
Both Alan and Helen turned their heads to look at the newcomer. He was a small,
dark man with a moody face. A marijuana was between his lips.
"I commend you on your choice of rendezvous," he said somewhat mockingly. His
hooded eyes glanced at the others in the room, stopped for a moment on Alan and
Helen. He looked questioningly at the Fireclown. "I hope you haven't been
indiscreet, my friend."
"No," said the Fireclown shortly. He chuckled. "Well, Mr. Bias, have you brought
what I wanted?"
"Certainly. It is outside in the ship I came with. We must talk. Where?"
"Is this not private enough for you?" the Fireclown asked petulantly.
"No, it is not. I have to be over-cautious, you understand."
The Fireclown lumbered towards the door, ducking beneath it as he made his way
out. "Corso," he shouted from the corridor, "you'd better come, too."
The skinless man got up and followed Bias from the room. The door closed.
"Bias," Helen said forlornly. "So the Fireclown has been lying to us."
"Who is he?"
"Suspected head of the arms syndicate." She sighed. "Damn! Oh, damn the
Fireclown P'
The woman, a full-bodied brunette with a sensuously generous mouth, got up from
her seat.
She stared down at Alan, regarding him closely. Helen glared at her.
"And what part do you play in this?" she asked.
"A very ordinary one," she said. "The Fireclown's my lover."
"Then your lover's a cunning liar," Helen snorted.
"I shouldn't condemn him until you know what he's doing," the woman said
sharply.
The three of them were alone together now that Kurt had left too.
"You're disappointed, aren't you?" the woman said, looking candidly at Helen.
"You wanted the Fireclown to be some sort of savior, pointing the direction for
the world to go. Well, you're wrong. And those who think he's a destroyer are
wrong also. He is simply what he is-the Fire-clown. He acts according to some
inner drive which I have never been able to fathom and which I don't think he
understands or bothers about himself."
"How long have you known him?" Helen asked.
"Some years. We met on Mars. My name's Cornelia Fisher."
"I've heard of you." Helen stared at the woman in curiosity. "You were a famous
beauty when I was quite young. You disappeared suddenly. So you went to Mars.
Hardly the place for a woman like you, was it? You must be over forty but you
don't look thirty."
Cornelia Fisher smiled. "Thanks to the Fireclown, I suppose. Yes, I went to
Mars. The life of a well-known 'beauty,' as you call me, is rather boring. I
wasn't satisfied with it. I wasn't satisfied with anything. I decided that I was
leading a shallow existence and thought I'd find a deeper one on Mars. Of course
I was wrong. It was merely less comfortable"-she paused, seeming to think back-
"though the peace and quiet helped, and the scenery. I don't know if you've seen
it since the revitalization plan was completed, but it is very beautiful now.
But I never really lost my ennui until I met the Fireclown."
"He was a Martian, then?" Alan knew there were a few families of second and
third generation colonists responsible for working on the revitalization
project.
"No. He came to Mars after a space-ship accident. He's from Earth originally.
But I don't know much more about him than you do. Once you've been with the
Fireclown for a short time, you learn that it doesn't matter who he is or what
he does-he's just the Fireclown, and that's enough. It's enough for him, I
think, too, though there are strange currents running beneath that greasepaint.
Whether he's in control of them or not, I couldn't say."
"His connection with Bias seems to disprove part of what you've said." Alan
spoke levelly, unable to decide what to think now.
"I honestly don't know what he and Bias are doing." Cornelia Fisher folded her
arms and walked towards her handbag which lay on the chair she'd vacated. She
opened it and took out a packet of cigarettes. Alan tried to look unconcerned
but he had never seen a nicotine addict before. She offered them defiantly. They
both refused, with rapid shakes of their heads. She lit one and inhaled the
smoke greedily. "I'd swear he's not buying arms. Why should he? He has no plans
of the kind Earth condemns him for having."
"Maybe he doesn't tell you everything," Helen suggested.
"Maybe he doesn't tell me anything because he hasn't got anything to tell me. I
don't know."
Alan went to the door and tested it. It was shut firmly.
"Judging by the evidence," he said, "I can only suppose that the accusations
made by my grandfather against the Fireclown are basically correct. Those
P-bombs were part of the arms syndicate's stock-and we have seen that the
Fireclown already knows Bias, who you say, Helen, is the head of the syndicate."
"It's never been proved, of course," she said. "But I'm pretty sure I'm right."
"Then the world is in danger. I wonder if the Fireclown would listen to reason."
"His kind of reason is different from ours," said Cornelia Fisher.
"If I see him again, I’ll try. He's too good to get mixed up in this sordid
business. He has a tremendous personality-he could use his talents to . . ."
Alan's voice trailed off. What could the Fireclown use his talents for?
Cornelia Fisher raised her eyebrows. "His talents to do what? What does safe
little Terra want with men of talent and vision? Society doesn't need them any
more."
"That's a foolish thing to say." Helen was angry. "A complex society like ours
needs expert government and leaders more than ever before. We emerged from
muddle and disorder over a hundred years ago. We're progressing in a definite
direction now. We know what we want to do, and if Bias and his friends don't
spoil it with their plots and schemings we'll do it eventually. The only
argument today is how. Planned progress. It was a dream for ages and now it's a
reality. Until this arms trouble blew up there were no random factors. We had
turned politics into an exact science, at long last."
"Random factors have a habit of emerging sooner or later," Alan pointed out. "If
it wasn't the nuclear stock-piles it would have been something else. And those
random factors, if they don't throw us too far out of gear, are what we need to
stop us from getting complacent and sterile."
"I’d rather not be blown to smithereens," Helen said.
"The Fireclown isn't a danger to you, I know." Cornelia Fisher sounded as if she
was less convinced than earlier.
"We'll soon know if the ARP fails to get hold of those stock-piles." Helen's
voice sounded a bit shaky. Alan went over to her and put his arm round her
comfortingly.
A short time later the Fireclown returned, seemingly excited. Bias was not with
him. Alan couldn't guess at Corso's expression. He could only see the red flesh
of his face, looking like so much animated butcher's meat.
"Did you get some more P-bombs?" Helen asked mockingly.
The Fireclown ignored her.
Corso said: "What are you hinting at, Miss Curtis?"
"I know Bias is head of the arms syndicate."
"Well, that's more than we do. Bias is supplying us with materials for our ship,
the Pi-meson, which we badly need. There has been no talk of armaments."
"Not a very convincing lie," Helen sneered.
Now Corso also ignored Helen. He watched the Fire-clown in a way that a mother
cat might watch her young-warily yet tenderly. Corso seemed to play nursemaid to
the clown in some ways.
"It will take time to fit," said the Fireclown suddenly. "But thank God we could
get them. We couldn't possibly have made them ourselves."
His gaudy red and yellow costume swirled around him as he turned to grin at
Alan.
"I wonder if you'd want to," he mused mysteriously.
"Want to what?" Alan asked.
"Come for a trip in the Pi-meson. I think it would do you good."
"Why me? And what kind of good?"
"You could only judge that for yourself."
"Then you could dispose of us in deep space, is that it?" Helen said. "We've
seen too much, eh?"
The Fireclown heaved a gusty sigh. "Do as you like, young woman. I've no axe to
grind. Whatever takes place on Earth has no importance for me now. I tried to
tell the people something, but it's obvious I didn't get through to them. Let
the darkness sweep down and engulf your hollow kind. I care not."
"It's no good." Helen shook her head. "I can't believe anything you say. Not
now."
"If you had it wouldn't have made any difference." Corso's ghastly face grinned.
"The rest of the world lost faith in their idol, and the world hates nothing so
much as an idol who turns out to have feet of clay! Not, of course, that the
clown wished to be one in the first place."
"Then why did you start that set-up on the first level? Why did he make speeches
to thousands? Why did he let them adore him at his 'audiences'?" Helen's voice
was high, near-hysterical.
As Alan watched and listened, a mood of absolute detachment filled him. He
didn't really care about the pros and cons any more. He only wondered what the
Fireclown's reasons were for suggesting the trip.
"The Fireclown was originally living down there in secret. We were working on
our machines. We needed help- scientists and technicians-so we asked for it, got
it. But the scientists told their friends about the Fireclown. They began to ask
him about things. He told them. All he did, in the final analysis, was supply an
outlet for their emotional demands."
Helen fell silent.
Alan came to a decision.
"I'd like to take that trip," he said "-if Helen can come, too."
"Good!" The Fireclown's resonant voice seemed suddenly gay. "I should like to
take you. I'm glad. Yes, glad."
Both Alan and Helen waited for the Fireclown to add to this statement, but they
were disappointed. He went and leaned against a bulkhead, his great face bent
towards his chest, his whole manner abstracted.
Was he thinking of the trip? Alan wondered. Or had he simply forgotten about
them now that they had agreed to go?
Somehow, he felt the latter was the more likely answer.
The Fireclown seemed a peculiar mixture of idiot and intellectual. Alan decided
that he was probably insane, but what this insanity might lead to-the
destruction of Earth?-could not easily be assessed. He must wait. And perhaps he
would learn from the trip, wherever it took them. Mars, possibly, or Ganymede.
 
CHAPTER TEN
 
HELEN was getting understandably restless. Five hours had passed and the
Fireclown still stood in the position he had taken up against the bulkhead.
Corso and Cornelia Fisher had talked sporadically with Alan, but Helen had
refused to join in. Alan felt for her. She had placed all her hopes on gaining
information from the Fireclown and, he guessed, she had desperately wanted him
to disprove the allegations now being made against him on Earth. But,
frustratingly, they were no nearer to getting an explanation; were worse
confused, if anything.
If he had been studying any other individual, Alan would have suspected the
Fireclown of sleeping with his eyes open. But there was no suggestion of slumber
about the Clown's attitude. He was, it seemed, meditating on some problem that
concerned him. Possibly the nature of the problem was such that an ordinary man
would see no logic or point in solving it.
The Fireclown seemed to exist in his own time-sphere, and his mind was
unfathomable.
At last the grotesque giant moved.
"Now," he rumbled, "the Pi-meson will be ready. We have been lucky to find
shelter with the monks, for they are probably the only men who can come close to
understanding the nature of the ship, and doubtless they will have done their
work by now. Come." He moved towards the door.
Alan glanced at Helen and then at the other two. Corso and Cornelia Fisher
remained where they were. Helen got up slowly. The Fireclown was already
thumping up the corridor before they reached the door.
"I hope you know what you're doing," she whispered. "I'm afraid, Alan. What if
his plan is to kill us?"
"Maybe it is." He tried to sound self-possessed. "But he could do that just as
easily here as in deep space, couldn't he?"
"There are several ways of dying." She held his hand and he noticed she was
shivering. He had never realized before that anyone could be so afraid of death.
Momentarily he felt a sympathy with her fears.
They followed the gaudy figure of the Fireclown until they reached the bay
section.
Auditor Kurt was there.
"They have just finished," he told the Fireclown, spinning the wheel of the
manually operated airlock. "Your equations were perfectly correct-it was we who
were at fault. The field is functioning with one hundred per cent accuracy. Five
of us were completely exhausted feeding it. Bias being able to supply those
parts was a great stroke of luck."
The Fireclown nodded his thanks and all three stepped through the short tunnel
of the airlocks and entered a surprisingly large landing deck. Alan, who had
seen the Pi-meson from space, wondered how it could be so big, for a
considerable portion of spaceships was taken up with engines and fuel.
Touching a stud, the Fireclown closed the ship's lock. A section of the interior
wall slid upwards, revealing a short flight of steps. They climbed the steps and
were on a big control deck. The covered ports were extremely large, comprising
more than half the area of the walls. Controls varied-some familiar, some not.
And there were many scarcely functional features-rich, red plush couches and
chairs, fittings of gold or brass, heavy velvet curtains of yellow and dark blue
hung against the ports. It all looked bizarre and faintly archaic, reminding
Alan, in a way, of his grandfather's study.
"I shall darken the room," the Fireclown announced. "I can operate the ship
better that way. Sit where you will."
The Fireclown did not sit down as Alan and Helen sat together on one of the
comfortable couches. He stood at the controls, his huge bulk blotting out half
the instruments from Alan's sight. He stretched a hand towards a switch and
flicked it up. The lights dimmed slowly and then they were in cold blackness.
Helen gripped Alan's arm and he patted her knee, his mind on other things as a
low whining arose from the floor.
Alan sensed tension in the Fireclown's movements heard from the darkness. He
tried to analyze them but failed. He saw a screen suddenly light with bright
whiteness, color flashed and swirled and they saw a vision of space.
But against the darkness of the cosmos, the spheres which rolled on the screen,
flashing by like shoals of multi-colored billiard balls, were unrecognizable as
any heavenly bodies Alan had ever seen. Not asteroids by any means, not
planets-they were too solid in color and general appearance; they shone, but not
with the glitter of reflected sunlight. And they passed swiftly by in hordes.
Moved by the beauty, astonished by the unexpected sight, Alan couldn't voice the
questions which flooded into his mind.
In the faint light from the screen the Fireclown's silhouette could be seen in
constant motion. The whining had ceased. The spheres on the screen began to jump
and progress more slowly. The picture jerked and one sphere, smoky blue in
colour, began to grow until the whole screen itself glowed blue. Then it seemed
to burst and they flashed towards the fragments, then through them, and saw-a
star.
"Sol," commented the Fireclown.
They were getting closer and closer to the sun.
"We'll burn up!" Alan cried fearfully.
"No-the Pi-meson is a special ship. I've avoided any chance of us burning.
See-the flames!"
The flames ... Alan thought that the word scarcely described the curling,
writhing wonder of those shooting sheets of fire. The control deck was not
noticeably warmer, yet Alan felt hot just looking.
The Fireclown was roaring his enigmatic laughter, his arm pointing at the
screen.
"There," he shouted, his voice too loud in the confines of the cabin. "There,
get used to that for a moment. Look!"
They could not help but look. Both were fascinated, held by the sight. And yet
Alan felt his eyes ache and was certain he would be blinded by the brightness.
The Fireclown strode to another panel and turned a knob.
The port coverings began to rise slowly and light flowed in a searing stream
into the cabin, brightening everything to an extraordinary degree.
When the ports were fully open Alan shouted his wonder. It seemed they were in
the very heart of the sun. Why weren't they made sightless by the glare? Why
didn't they burn?
"This is impossible!" Alan whispered. "We should have been destroyed in a
second. What is this-an illusion of some sort? Have you hypno-?"
"Be quiet," said the Fireclown, his shape a blob of blackness in the incredible
light. "I’ll explain later-if it is possible to make you understand."
Hushed, they let themselves be drawn out into the dancing glare.
Alan's soul seemed full for the first time, it even seemed natural that he
should be here. He felt affinity with the flames. He began to identify with
them, until he was them.
Time stopped.
Thought stopped.
Life alone remained.
Then blackness swam back. From far away he observed that his rigid body was
being shaken, that a voice was bellowing in his ear.
". . . you have seen! You have seen! Now you know. Now you know! Come back-there
is more to see!"
Shocked, it seemed, back into his body, he opened his eyes. He could see nothing
still, but felt the grip on his shoulders and knew that the Fireclown, his voice
excited- perhaps insane-was shouting from in front of his face. "That is why I
call myself the Fireclown. I am full of the joy of the flames of life!"
"How . . .?' The word stumbled hoarsely from his lips.
But the Fireclown's hands left his shoulders and he heard the man screaming at
Helen, shaking her also.
There could be no fear now, Alan decided. Though, earlier, he might have been
perturbed by the Fireclown's ravings, he now half ignored them, aware that there
was no need to listen.
What he demanded now was an explanation.
"How could we have seen that and lived?" he shouted roughly, groping out to
seize the Fireclown's tattered clothing and tug at it. "How?"
He heard Helen mumble. Satisfied, the Fireclown moved away from her, jerking
himself free from Alan's grip.
He got up and followed the Fireclown through the blackness, touched his body
again, sensing the tremendous strength in the man.
The Fireclown shook with humor again.
"Give me a moment," he laughed. "I have to feed the ship further directions."
Alan heard him reach the control panel, heard him make adjustments to studs and
levers, heard the now familiar whine. He groped his way back to Helen. She put
her arms round him. She was crying.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing. Really-nothing. It's just the-the emotion, I suppose."
The lights came on.
Arms akimbo, the Fireclown stood grinning down at them.
"I see you are somewhat stunned. I had hoped to turn you mad-but you are
obviously too entrenched in your own narrow 'sanity" to be helped. That grieves
me."
"You promised me you would explain," Alan reminded him shakily.
"If you could understand, I said, if you remember. I’ll explain a little. I am
not yet ready to tell you my full reason for bringing you with me. Now, see . .
." He turned and depressed a stud and a section of one port slid up to reveal
normal space, with the sun flaring-still near, but not so near as to be
dangerous. "We have returned to our ordinary state for a while. Now you see the
sun as any traveler would see it from this region of space. What do you think of
it?"
"Think of it? I don't understand you."
"Good."
"What are you getting at?"
"How important do the conflicts now taking place on Earth seem to you now?"
"I haven't. . ." He couldn't find the words. They were important, still. Did the
Fireclown think that this experience, transcendental as it might have been,
could alter his view of Earth's peril?
Impatiently, the Fireclown turned to Helen.
"Is your ambition to become president of Earth still as strong as it was, Miss
Curtis?" ^
She nodded. "This-vision or whatever it was-has no bearing on what are, as far
as you're concerned, mundane problems relating to our society. I still want to
do my best in politics. It has changed nothing. I have probably benefited from
the experience. If that* s the case, I shall be better equipped to deal with
Earth affairs."
The Fireclown snorted, but Alan felt Helen had never sounded so self-confident
as she did now.
"I still want to know how you achieved the effect," Alan insisted.
"Very well. Put simply, we shunted part of ourselves and part of the ship out of
normal time and hovered, as it were, on its edges, unaffected by many of its
rules."
"But that's impossible. Scientists have never ..."
"If it was impossible, Alan Powys, it couldn't have happened and you couldn't
have experienced it. As for your scientists, they have never bothered to
enquire. I discovered the means of doing this after an experience which almost
killed me and certainly affected my thought-process.
"The sun almost killed me, realize that. But I bear it no malice. You and I and
the ship existed in a kind of time freeze. The ship's computer has a 'mind'
constructed according to my own definitions-they are meaningless to the rigidly
thinking scientists of Earth but they work for me because I am the Fireclown!
"I am unique, for I survived death by fire. And fire gave my brain life-brought
alive inspiration, knowledge!" He pointed back at the sun, now dwindling behind
them.
"There is the fire that gave birth to Earth and fed its denizens with vitality.
Worship it-worship it in gratitude, for without it you would not and could not
exist. There is truth-perhaps the sum of truth. It flames, living, and is;
self-sufficient, careless of why, for why is a question that need not-cannot-be
answered. We are fools to ask it."
"Would you, then, deny Man his intellect?" Alan asked firmly. "For that is what
your logic suggests. Should we have stayed in the caves, not using the brains
which"-he shrugged-"the sun, if you like, gave us? Not using an entire part of
ourselves-the part which set us over the animals, which enabled us to live as
weaklings in a world of the strong and the savage, to speculate, to build and to
plan? You say we should be content merely to exist-I say we should think. And if
our existence is meaningless then our thoughts might, in time, give it meaning."
The Fireclown shook his painted head.
"I knew you would not understand," he said sadly.
"There is no communication between us," Alan said. "I am sane, you are mad."
The Fireclown, for the first time, seemed hurt by Alan's pronouncement. Quietly,
without his usual zest, he said: "I know the truth. I know it."
"Men down the ages have known a truth such as the one you know. You are not
unique. Fireclown. Not in history."
"I am unique, Alan Powys, for one reason if none other. I have seen the truth
for myself. And you shall see it, perhaps. Did you not become absorbed into the
fire of the sun? Did you not lose all niggling need for meaning therein?"
"Yes. The forces are overwhelming, I admit. But they are not everything."
The Fireclown opened his mouth and once more bellowed with laughter. "Then you
shall see more."
He closed the port and the room darkened.
"Where are we going?" Helen demanded grimly, antagonistically.
But the Fireclown only laughed, and laughed, and laughed, until the strange
spheres began to roll across the screen again. Then he was silent.
 
CHAPTER ELEVEN
 
HOURS seemed to pass and Helen dozed in Alan's arms. Alan, too, was half asleep,
mesmerized by the colored spheres on the screen.
He came fully awake as the spheres began to jerk and slow. A bright red filled
the screen, divided itself into fragments.
More spheres appeared, but these were suns.
Suns. A profusion of suns as closely packed as the planets to Sol. Huge, blue
suns, green, yellow and silver suns.
A thousand suns moving in stately procession around the ship.
The screens slid up from the ports and light, ever changing, flickered through
the cabin.
"Where are we?" Helen gasped.
"The center of the galaxy," the Fireclown announced grandly.
All around them the huge discs of flame, of all colors and all possible blends
of color, spun at extraordinary speeds, passing by in an orbit about an
invisible point.
Alan, once again, could not retain his self-possession.
Something within him forced him to look and wonder at the incredible beauty.
These were the oldest suns in the galaxy. They had lived and died and lived
again for billions of years. Here was the source of life, the beginning of
everything.
Though the Fireclown would probably have denied it, the vision was-profound. It
had significance of such magnitude that Alan was unable to grasp it.
Philosophically, he resigned himself to never knowing what the experience
implied. He felt that the Fireclown's belief of existence without significance
beyond itself was preposterous, yet he could see how one could arrive at such a
conclusion. He himself was forced to cling to his shredding personality. The
whirling stars dwarfed him, dwarfed his ideas, dwarfed the aspirations of
humanity.
"Now," chuckled the Fireclown in his joyous insanity, "what is Earth and all its
works compared with the blazing simplicity of-this!"
Helen spoke with difficulty. "They are-different," she said. "They are linked,
because they all exist together, but they are different. This is the order of
created matter. We seek an order of cognizant matter and the stars, however
mighty, however beautiful, have no cognizance. They might perish at some stage.
Man, because he thinks, may one day make himself immortal-not personally,
perhaps, but through the continuance of his race. I think that is the-
difference."
The Fireclown shrugged.
"You have wondered what is real, have you not? You have wondered that we have
lost touch with the realities, we human beings; that our language is decadent
and that it has produced a double-thinking mentality which no longer al-lows us
contact with the natural facts?" He waved his hands to take in the circling
suns. "Intelligence! It is nothing, it is unimportant, a freak thrown up by a
chance combination of components. Why is intelligence so esteemed? There is no
need for it. It cannot change the structure of the universe-it can only meddle
and spoil it. Awareness-now, that's different. Nature is aware of itself, but
that is all-it is content. Are we content?
No! When I go to Earth and try to convey what I know to the people, I am
conscious of entering a dream world. They cannot understand me because they are
unaware! All I do, sadly, is awaken archetypal responses in them which throws
them further out, so they run around like randy pigs, destroying. Destroying,
building, both acts are equally unimportant. We are at the center of the galaxy.
Here things exist. They are beautiful but their beauty has no purpose. It is
beauty-it is enough. They are full of natural force but the force has no
expression; it is force alone, and that is all it needs to be.
"Why ascribe meaning to all this? The further away from the fundamentals of life
we go, the more we quest for their meaning. There is no meaning. It is here. It
has always been here in some state. It will always be here. That is all we can
ever truly know. It is all we should want to know."
Alan shook his head, speaking vaguely at first. "A short time ago," he said, "I
was struck by the pettiness of political disputes, horrified by the ends to
which people would go to get power-or 'responsibility* as they call it-feeling
that the politicians in the Solar House were expending breath on meaningless
words .. ."
"So they were!" the Fireclown bellowed back at him approvingly.
"No." Alan plugged on, certain he was near the truth. "If you wished to convince
me of this when you took us on this voyage, you have achieved the opposite.
Admittedly, as one observes them at the time, the politicians seem to be getting
nowhere, society detaches itself further and further from the kind of life its
ancestors lived. Yet, seeing these suns, entering the heart of our own sun, has
shown me that this stumbling progress-unaware gropings in the dark immensity of
the universe, if you like-is as much a natural function as any other."
Gustily, the Fireclown sighed.
"I felt I could help you, Alan Powys. I see you have fled further back into your
fortress of prejudice." He closed the port covers. "Sit down-sleep if you wish.
I am returning to the monastery."
They berthed and entered the monastery in silence. The Fireclown seemed
depressed, even worried. Had he seen that, for all his discoveries, for all his
vision and vitality, he was not necessarily right? Alan wondered. There was no
knowing. The Fireclown remained still the enigmatic, intellectual madman-the
naive, ingenuous, endearing figure he had been when Alan first saw him.
Auditor Kurt greeted them. "We are looking at our, weekly lasercast. Would you
like to come and watch? It might interest you."
He took them to a small room where several monks were already seated. Corso was
there, too, and Cornelia Fisher. At the door the Fireclown seemed to rouse
himself from his mood.
"I have things to consider," he told them, walking away down the corridor.
They went in and sat down. The laserscreen was blank. Evidently the amount of
laser-viewing allowed the monks was limited.
Corso came and sat next to them. Alan was getting used to his apparently
skinless face.
"Well," he said good-naturedly, "did your voyage enlighten you?"
"In a way," Alan admitted.
"But not in the way intended, I think." Helen smiled a trifle wistfully, as if
she wished the Fireclown had convinced them.
"How did he hit on the discovery that enables him to travel so easily and to
such dangerous parts?" Alan said.
"Call it inspiration," Corso answered. "I’m not up to understanding him, either,
you know. We were co-pilots on an experimental ship years ago. Something went
wrong with the ship-the steering devices locked and pushed us towards the sun.
We managed, narrowly, to avoid plunging into the sun's heart and went into
orbit. But we were fried. Refrigeration collapsed slowly. I suffered worse in
some ways. It took my skin off, as you can see. My fellow pilot-the Fireclown to
you, these days-didn't suffer so badly physically, but something happened to his
mind. You'd say he was mad. I’d say he was sane in a different way from you and
me. Whatever happened, he worked out the principle for the Pi-meson in the
Martian hospital-we were rescued, quite by chance, by a very brave crew of a
freighter which had gone slightly off course itself. If that hadn't happened,
we'd both be dead now. We were in hospital for years. The Clown pretended
amnesia and I did the same. For some reason we were never contacted by
Spaceflight Research."
"How did you get the money to build the Pi-meson?"
"We got it from Bias, the man you accused of being an arms dealer. He thinks the
ship is a super-fast vessel but otherwise ordinary enough. He supplied us with
computer parts this time."
"Where is Bias now?"
"The last I heard he had a suite at the London Dorchester."
"The Dorchester? That's reasonable-a man could hide in the Mayfair slums and
nobody would know."
"I think you don't do Bias justice. He's an idealist. He wants progress more
than anyone. He wouldn't have any part in blowing the world up. At least. . ."
Corso paused. "He's a funny character, but I don't think so."
Alan was quiet for a while. Then he said:
"After that trip, I think I do believe you when you say you're not implicated in
the arms dealers' plans-not knowingly, anyway. At least the Fireclown has
satisfied me on that score, even if he didn't achieve his main object." He
turned to Helen. "What about you?"
"I agree." She nodded. "But I'd give a lot to know Bias's motives in helping
you." She looked at Corso. "Are you telling us everything?"
"Everything I can," he said ambiguously.
The laserscreen came to life. A news broadcast.
The newscaster bent eagerly towards the camera.
"It's fairly sure who the next President will be, folks. Simon Powys, the one
man to recognize the peril that the world is in from the infamous Fireclown's
insane plot to destroy the world, is top of this station's public opinion poll.
His niece, the only strong opponent in the elections which begin next week, has
dropped right down. Her violent support of the Fireclown hasn't helped a bit.
Rumor circulates that Miss Curtis and Minister Powys' grandson, Alan Powys, have
disappeared together. Strange that two people who were seen publicly fighting in
the recent riots should have teamed up."
Shot of Simon Powys in his home, a smug expression on his powerful old face.
Reporter: "Minister Powys, you were the first to discover the bomb plot. How did
it happen?"
Powys: "I suspected the Fireclown from the start. I don't blame people for being
duped by his talk-we're all human, after all-but a responsible politician has to
look below the surface. . . ."
Reporter (murmuring): "And we're all very grateful."
"I made sure that a constant check was kept on his activities," Simon Powys
continued, "and thus was able to avert what might have been a terrible crime-the
ultimate crime, one might say. Even now the threat of this man still trying to
bombard the Earth from some secret hiding place is enormous. We must be wary. We
must take steps to ensure his capture or, failing that, ensure our own defense."
"Quite so. Thank you, Minister Powys."
"Everything's calm again in Swiss City," announced the newscaster as he faded
in, "and we're back to normal after the riots and subsequent fire which swept
sixteen levels yesterday. The Fireclown's victims number over three hundred men,
women-and little children. We were all duped, folks, as Minister Powys has
pointed out. But we'll know better next time, won't we? The freak hysteria has
died as swiftly as it blew up. But now we're watching the skies-for the search
for the Fireclown seems to prove that he has left Earth and may now be hiding
out on Mars or Ganymede. If he's got bombs up there, too,-we must be ready for
him!"
Although angered, Alan was also amused by the laser-caster's double-thinking
ability. He, like the rest, had done a quick about-face and now Simon Powys,
ex-villain and victimizer, was the hero of the hour.
But the hysteria, he realized, had not, in fact, died down. It had taken a
different turn. Now there was a bomb scare. Though he hadn't planned it that
way, Alan thought, Simon Powys could easily be falling into the arms syndicate's
plot, for this scare was just what they needed to start trouble. As soon as he
got the chance he was going to tell the police about Bias and the Dorchester-or
else go there himself and confront the arms dealer.
He didn't bother to watch the lasercast but turned to Helen.
"We'd better try to get the Fireclown to let us go as soon as possible," he said
worriedly. "There're things to be done on Earth."
"Apart from anything else," she pointed out, "I've got an election to fight!"
A chuckle behind her, full-throated and full of humor, made her turn and look up
at the Fireclown's gaudy bulk filling the doorway.
"You are persistent, Miss Curtis. Even a journey into the heart of the sun does
nothing to change your mind. You'll be pleased to hear that we are leaving very
soon and you'll be able to return to Earth. But first. . ." He looked directly
at Alan, stared into his eyes so that Alan felt a strange thrill run through
him, partly fear, partly joy. There was no doubt that the Fireclown's magnetism
was something apart from his strange ideas. "I must talk with you, Alan Powys-
alone. Will you follow me?"
Alan followed. They entered a room decorated with marvelous oil paintings, all
of them depicting the sun seen in different ways.
"Did you do these?" Alan was impressed as the Fire-clown nodded. "You could have
put more across to the public by displaying them than with all that talking you
did," he said.
"I didn't think of it. These are private." The Fireclown indicated a metal bench
for Alan to sit on. "No one comes here but me. You are the first."
"I feel honored," Alan said ironically. "But why me?"
The Fireclown's huge chest heaved as he took an enormous breath. "Because you
and I have something in common," he said.
Alan smiled, but kindly. "I should say that extremely unlikely judging by our
earlier conversations."
"I don't mean ideas." The Fireclown moved about-like a caged lion. There was no
other analogy to describe his restless pacing, Alan thought. "I regret that I’ve
been unable to convince you. I regret it deeply, for I am not normally given to
regretting anything, you know. What happens, happens-that is all. I should have
said we have someone in common."
"Who?" Alan was half dazed already, for he thought he knew what the Fireclown
was going to say.
"Your mother," grunted the Fireclown. The words took time coming out of this
man, normally so verbose.
"You are my son, Alan."
 
CHAPTER TWELVE
 
"MY father.. ." Alan groped for words, failed, became silent.
The Fireclown spread his large hands, his painted fool's face incongruous now.
"I was, in spite of anything you may have heard, much in love with your mother.
We planned to marry, though Simon Powys wouldn't hear of it. I was a common
space-pilot and she was Miriam Powys. That was before we could find the courage
to tell him you were going to be born. We never did tell him-not together,
anyway."
"What happened?" Alan spoke harshly, his heart thumping with almost overwhelming
emotion.
"I got sent on a secret project. I couldn't avoid it. I thought it would only
last a couple of months but it kept me away for nearly two years. When I got
back Simon Powys wouldn't let me near you-and your mother was dead. Powys said
she'd died of shame. I sometimes think he shamed her into dying." The Fireclown
broke into a laugh but, unlike his earlier laughter, this was bitter and full of
melancholy.
Alan stood up, his body taut.
"What's your real name? What did you do? What did my grandfather say?"
The Fireclown ceased his laughter and shrugged his great shoulders.
"My real name-Emmanuel Blumenthal-Manny Bloom to my friends . . ."
"And fans," Alan said softly, remembering a book he'd had confiscated as a
child. His grandfather had, meaninglessly he'd thought, taken it from him with
no explanation. The book had been called Heroes of Space. "Manny Bloom, test
pilot of the Tearaway, captain of the Saturn Expedition. That was the secret
project, wasn't it? Savior of Venus Satellite Seven."
"Co-pilot of the Solstar. . ." The Fireclown added.
"That's right-the Solstar, an experimental ship. It was supposed to have gone
off course and crashed into the sun. You were reported dead."
"But a Martian freighter, carrying contraband so that it dare not notify the
authorities or land in an official port, rescued us."
"Corso told me. That was ten years ago, as I remember. Why have you never
contacted me? Why didn't you get custody of me when you came back from Saturn
and found my mother was dead?"
"Simon Powys threatened to ruin me if I went near you. I was-heartbroken.
Heartbroken-yes-but I reckoned you'd have a better chance than any I could give
you."
"I wonder," Alan said gloomily. "A kid would have been happy just knowing his
father was Manny Bloom-Commander Manny Bloom, frontiersman of space!" The last
phrase held a hint of irony.
"I wasn't like the stories, though I thought I was when younger. I loved my own
legend then, had it in mind nearly all the time. I wasn't naturally brave. But
people behave as other people expect them to-I acted brave."
"And now you're the Fireclown, shouting and raving against
intelligence-championing mindless consciousness-with your fingerprints burned
off, I suppose, and no records of who you really are. That's part of the general
mystery solved, anyway. And part of my own-the main part."
"And now you know I’m your father, what will you do?"
"What can the knowledge possibly affect?" Alan said sadly.
"Your subconscious." The Fireclown grinned, half enjoying a private joke against
his son.
"Yes, that, I suppose." He sighed. "What are you going to do?"
"I have work that holds me. Soon Corso, Cornelia and I will journey out beyond
the Solar system in the Pi-meson. There I shall conduct certain experiments on
my own mind and on theirs. We shall see what good intelligence serves- and what
great good, I suspect, pure consciousness achieves. Do you want to come, Alan?"
Alan deliberated. He had no place with the Fireclown. There were things to sort
out on Earth. He shook his head.
"It grieves me to see you reject a gift-maybe the greatest gift in the universe
F'
"It is not a gift that suits my taste-Father."
"So be it," the Fireclown sighed.
The Solar Bird soared down into Earth's atmosphere and streaked across oceans
and continents before Helen switched on its braking jets and plunged into
Hamburg spaceport.
The berth was ready for her and she steered into it. The water drained from the
interior chamber.
Alan preceded her out of the airlock.
As he stepped into the chamber, a man entered through the other door.
"My God, Powys, where've you been?" It was Denholm Curtis, a mixture of worry
and anger on his face.
Alan didn't answer immediately but turned to help Helen out of the ship. He
didn't need the pause since he had already worked out his answer.
"We've been to see my father."
"Your father! I didn't know you .. ."
"I only found out who he was recently."
"I see. Well..." Curtis was nonplussed. "I wish you and Helen had told me."
"Sorry. We had to leave in a hurry. Your ship's perfectly all right."
"The ship's not important-it was you and Helen..." Curtis pursed his lips.
"Anyway, I'm glad that's all it was. What with the threat of the Fireclown
making an attack and everything, I thought you might have been kidnapped or
killed." He smiled at his sister, who didn't respond. Helen had been silent for
most of the trip. "But rumors about the pair of you are rife. Scandal won't do
either of you any good-least of all Helen. Uncle Simon's popularity is rising
incredibly. Overnight he's become the dominant man in Solar politics. You've got
a tough fight on-if you still intend to fight."
"More than ever," Helen said quietly.
"I've got a car upstairs. Want to come back with me?"
"Thanks," they said.
As her brother lifted his car into the pale Hamburg sky Helen said to him: "What
do you think of this Fireclown scare, Denholm?"
"It's more than a scare," he said. "It's a reality. How can we be sure he hasn't
planted bombs all over the world- bombs he can detonate from space?"
Alan felt depressed. If Denholm Curtis, who rebelled habitually against any
accepted theory or dogma, was convinced of the Fireclown's guilt then there was
little chance of convincing anyone else to the contrary.
"But do you realize, Denholm," he said, "that we have only the word of one
man-Simon Powys-and circumstantial evidence to go on? What if the Fireclown
isn't guilty?"
"The concept's too remote for me, I’m afraid," Denholm said with a curious
glance at Alan. "I didn't think anyone doubted the Fireclown had planned to
detonate his cache. There were enough bombs there to blow the world apart."
"I doubt if he planned anything," Helen said.
"So do I." Alan nodded.
Denholm looked surprised. "I can understand you being uncertain, Helen, after
your support of the Fireclown. It must be hard to find out you've been wrong all
the way down the line. But you, Alan-what makes you think there could be a
mistake?"
"There's the one big reason-that all the evidence against the Fireclown is
circumstantial. He might not have known about the bombs, he might not have been
responsible for the holocaust that swept the levels. He might not, in fact, have
had any plan to destroy anything at all. We haven't captured him yet, we haven't
brought him to trial-but we've all automatically judged him guilty. I want to
see my grandfather-he's the man who has convinced the world that the Fireclown
is a criminal!"
Curtis was thoughtful. "I never thought I'd get caught up in hysteria," he said.
"But, although I'm fairly sure the Fireclown is guilty, I admit there's a
possibility of his being innocent. If we could prove him innocent, Alan, the war
scare would be over. I'm already perturbed about that. You know the government
has been approached by the arms . syndicate?" This last remark to Helen.
"It's logical." Helen nodded. "And we've also considered the chance that this
whole thing has been engineered by the dealers-not the Clown."
"That crossed my mind, too, at first," Denholm agreed. "But it seems too
fantastic."
"Let's go and have this out with the Man of the Moment," Alan suggested. "Can
you take us to Grandfather's apartment, Denholm?"
"Take you? I'll come with you."
As the trio entered Simon Powys' apartment, they were greeted by Junnar.
"Glad to see you're both all right," he said to Alan and Helen. "Minister Powys
is in conference with the President, Chief Sandai, Minister Petrovich and
others."
"What's it about?" asked Alan, unwilling to be put off. "The Fireclown
situation."
"So that's what they're calling it now!" Alan said with a faint smile. "You'd
better disturb them, Junnar. Tell them we've got some fresh information for
them."
"Is it important, sir?"
"Yes!" Helen and Alan said in unison. Junnar took them into the sitting room,
where they waited impatiently for a few moments before he came back, nodding
affirmatively.
They entered Simon Powys' study. The most powerful politicians in the Solar
System sat there-Powys, Benjosef, gloomy-faced Petrovich, Minister in the Event
of Defense; hard-featured Gregorius, Minister of Justice; smooth-skinned,
red-cheeked Falkoner, Minister of Martian Affairs; and tiny, delicate Madame
Ch'u, Minister of Ganymedian Affairs. Beside the mantelpiece, standing relaxed
and looking bored, was a man Alan didn't recognize. His eyes were at once
amiable and deadly.
Simon Powys said harshly: "Well, Alan, I hope you've got an explanation for your
disappearance. Where have you been?"
"To see the Fireclown." Alan's voice was calm.
"But you said . . ." Denholm Curtis broke in.
"I had to tell you something, Denholm. That was before I decided to come here."
"The Fireclown! You know his whereabouts?" Powys glanced at the tall man by the
mantelpiece. "Why didn't you tell us as soon as you knew?"
"I didn't know for certain until I found him."
"Where is he?" Powys turned to address the tall man. "Iopedes, be ready to get
after him!"
"I met him in space," Alan said carefully. "We went aboard his space-ship. He
won't be in the region of space now. He wouldn't let us go until he'd moved on."
"Damn!" Simon Powys got up. "We've got every ship of the three planets combing
space for him and you discovered him, by chance. Did you learn anything?"
"Yes." Somewhere, in the last few action-filled days, Alan had found strength.
He was in perfect control of himself. He addressed the entire group, ignoring
his fuming grandfather.
"I believe the Fireclown to be innocent of any deliberate act of violence," he
announced calmly.
"You'll have to substantiate that, Mr. Powys," purred Madame Ch'u, looking at
him quizzically.
"How do you know?" Simon Powys strode over to his grandson and gripped his arm
painfully.
"I know because I spent some hours in the Fireclown's company and he told me he
had nothing to do with the bomb plot or the burning of the levels."
"That's all?" Powys's fingers tightened on Alan's arm.
"That's all I needed," Alan said, and then in a voice which only his grandfather
could hear: "Let go of my arm, Grandfather. It hurts."
Simon Powys glared at him and released his grip. "Don't tell me you're still
being gulled by this monster! Helen- you saw him, too-what did you think?"
"I agree with Alan. He says the policemen tampered with his delicate
flame-machines and that's what caused the holocaust. He says he knew nothing of
the bombs. I suspect they were planted on him by the arms syndicate-in order to
start the scare which you're now helping to foster."
"In short," Alan said, "I think this whole business has been engineered by the
syndicate."
The room was silent.
Alan pressed his point. "I think you've all been blinded by the apparent
discovery that the Fireclown wasn't what he at first seemed. Now you've turned
completely against him-you believe him capable of any crime!"
"Mr. Powys"-Petrovich spoke with an air of assumed patience-"we are the
government of the Solar System. We are not in the habit of jumping to
ill-considered and emotional conclusions."
"Then you're not humans," Alan said sharply. "Everyone can make mistakes,
Minister Petrovich-especially in a heated atmosphere like this."
Petrovich smiled patronizingly. "We have considered the place of the arms
syndicate in this business. We are sure they are taking advantage of the
situation-but we are convinced that they did not 'engineer it,' as you say."
Simon Powys roared: "My grandson's an immature fool! He has no understanding of
politics or anything else. When the Fireclown lisps his innocence he believes
him without question. Helen Curtis is just as bad. Both of them, to my own
knowledge, were on the Fireclown's side from the start. Now they refuse to see
the facts!"
The tall man, Iopedes, began to walk towards the door. Simon Powys called after
him. "Iopedes-where are you going?"
"The young people said the Fireclown had left the area of space he was
originally occupying. That could indicate he's gone to Mars or Ganymede. It's a
better lead than we held, at any rate." Iopedes left.
"Who's he?" Alan said.
"Nick Iopedes, the ARP's top agent. He's been commissioned to bring the
Fireclown to justice-by any means he has to employ."
"You're turning the system into a police state!" Helen said angrily.
"There's a state of-emergency existing!" Simon Powys said coldly. "The
world-perhaps the Solar System-is threatened with destruction."
"In your mind and in the minds of those you've managed to convince!" Alan
retaliated. "Have any bombs exploded? Has any threat been made?"
"No." This was Benjosef, who had hitherto seemed detached from the argument
taking place around him.
"And the arms syndicate has approached you with a bargain, I hear." Alan laughed
sharply.
"That is true," Benjosef agreed. Quite obviously, he»was no longer in control of
his cabinet. Simon Powys dominated it now, as if he had already superseded
Benjosef. The old man seemed to accept the situation fatalistically.
"So there's your answer-the syndicate plants the bombs and starts the scare.
Then they sell you more bombs to 'defend' yourselves against a non-existent
menace! Then what? Another scare-another move by the syndicate-until the seeds
of war have been thoroughly planted. Everybody's armed to the teeth and the
possibility of conflict between the planets is increased!"
"Oh, that's very pat," Simon Powys sneered. "But it doesn't fit the evidence.
You know what you've done? You've been to see the Fireclown and instead of
gaining information which could help us capture him, you've listened to his
sweet protestations of innocence and thrown away a chance to help save the
world!"
"Really?" Alan said in mock surprise. "Well, I disagree. It seems to me that you
are taking the world to the brink of destruction, Grandfather, by your blind
hatred of the Fire-clown."
"Leave, Alan!" Simon-Powys' voice shook with anger.
The assembled ministers looked disturbed and embarrassed by what was, in the
main, a family row.
Alan turned and walked out of the door, Helen following him. Denholm Curtis
remained in the room, a frown on his face.
Outside, Helen smiled faintly. "Well, we seem to have antagonized everyone,
don't we?"
"I'm sure we're right!" Alan said. "I'm certain of it, Helen. That trip the
Fireclown took us on convinced me. He's too interested in his weird
philosophizing to be capable of any plots against the system."
Helen took his arm.
"It's our opinion against theirs, I'm afraid."
"We've got to do something about convincing the ordinary people," Alan said as
they descended the steps to the ground floor. "This is still a democracy, and if
enough people protest they can be ousted from power and a more sane and rational
party can solve the situation better."
"They're sane and reasonable enough," she pointed out. "They just don't happen
to believe in the Fireclown's innocence."
"Then what are we going to do about it?"
She looked up at him. "What do you expect? I’m still in the running for
President, Alan. I'm still leader of my party. We're going to try and win the
election."
 
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
 
DIRECTOR Carson, head of City Administration, looked hard at Alan and nodded
understandingly.
"It would be best if you resigned," he agreed. "Though, as far as it goes,
you're the ablest assistant I've ever had, Alan. But with things as they are and
with you outspoken against Simon Powys and for the Fireclown, I doubt if City
Council would want you to stay on, anyway."
"Then we're both in agreement," Alan said. "I’ll leave right away, if that's all
right with you, sir."
"We'll manage. Your leave is due soon, anyway. We'll settle up your back-pay and
send it to you."
They shook hands. They liked one another and it was obvious that Carson
regretted Alan's leaving C.A. But he'd been right.
"What are you going to do now?" Carson said as Alan picked up his briefcase.
"I've got another job. I’m Helen Curtis' personal assistant for the Presidential
campaign."
"You're going to need a great deal of luck, then."
"A great deal," Alan agreed. "Goodbye, sir."
The Radical Liberal Movement Campaign Committee met at its headquarters. They
sat round a long table in the large, well-lighted room. One of the walls
comprised a huge laser screen-a usual feature of the windowless apartments in
the City of Switzerland.
Helen sat at the head of the table with Alan on her right, Jordan Kalpis, her
campaign organizer, on her left. The two heads of the RLM's Press and
Information Department sat near her-Horace Wallace, handsome and blank-faced,
Andy Curry, small, freckled, and shifty-eyed-both Scots who had hardly seen
Scotland and were yet anachronisms in their pride for their country. National
feeling hardly existed these days.
Also at the table were Publicity Chief Mildred Brecht, an angular woman;
Vernikoff, Head of Publications and Pamphlets; Sabah, Director of Research, both
fat men with unremarkable faces.
Helen said: "Although you've all advised me against it, I intend to conduct my
campaign on these lines. One,"-she read off a sheet of paper before her-"an
insistence that other steps be taken to apprehend whoever was responsible for
storing those bombs on the first level. Although we'll agree it's possible that
the Fireclown was responsible, we must also pursue different lines of
investigation, in case he was not. That covers us-the present policy of
concentrating on the pre-judged Fireclown does not."
"That's reasonable," Sabah murmured. "Unless someone reveals that you personally
believe the Fireclown innocent."
"Two,"-Helen ignored him-"that more money must be spent on interstellar
space-flight research-we are becoming unadventurous in our outlook."
"That's a good one." Mildred Brecht nodded.
"It fits our 'forward-looking* image." Curry nodded, too.
"Three, tax concessions to Mars and Ganymede settlers. This will act as an
incentive to colonizers. Fourth, price control on sea-farm produce. Fifth, steps
must be taken to re-locate certain space-ports now occupying parts of the
sea-bed suitable for cultivation. . . ." The list was long and contained many
other reforms of a minor nature. There were several short discussions on the
exact terms to use for publicizing her proposed policy. Then the means of
presenting them.
Mildred Brecht had some suggestions: "I suggest we can stick to old-fashioned
handbills for the main policy outline. World-wide distribution to every home on
Earth. Large size talkie posters for display purposes. Newspaper displays for
Earth and the colonies..." She outlined several more means of publicizing the
campaign.
Jordan Kalpis, a swarthy, black-haired man with prominent facial bones and pale
blue eyes, interrupted Mildred Brecht.
"I think, on the whole, we're agreed already on the main points of Miss Curtis'
policy as well as the means of publicizing them. We have a sound image, on the
whole, and some nice, clear publicity material. The only troublesome issue is
that of the Fireclown. I would like to suggest, again, that we drop it-ignore
it. Already we have lost a lot of headway by the swing in public opinion from
support to condemnation of the Fireclown. We can't afford to lose more."
"No," Helen said firmly. "I intend to make the Fireclown situation one of my
main platform points. I am certain we shall soon find evidence of the
Fireclown's innocence. If that happens, I shall be proved right. Powys proved
the hysteric he seems to be, and public faith in me should be restored."
"It's too much of a gamble!"
"We've got to gamble now," Helen said. "We haven't a chance of winning
otherwise."
Kalpis sighed. "Very well," and lapsed into silence.
Alan said: "When's the first public speech due to be made?"
"Tomorrow." Helen fidgeted with the papers before her. "It's at the City Hall
and should be well-attended."
The huge area of City Hall was packed. Every seat was occupied, every inch of
standing space crammed to capacity. On the wide platform sat Alan, Helen,
Wallace and Curry, staring out at the rows of heads that gaped at them from
three sides. Behind them on a great screen pictures were flashed-pictures of
Helen talking to members of the public, pictures of Helen with her parents,
pictures of Helen visiting hospitals, old people's homes, orphanages. A
commentary accompanied the pictures, glowingly praising her virtues. As it
finished, Alan got up and addressed the crowd.
"Fellow citizens of the Solar System, in just a few weeks from now you will have
voted for the person you want to be President. What will you look for in your
President? Intelligence, warmth of heart, capability. These are the basic
essentials. But you will want more-you will want someone who is going to lead
the Solar Nation towards greater freedom, greater prosperity-and a more
adventurous life. Such a woman is Helen Curtis. . . ." Unused to this sort of
speech-making, Alan found he was quite enjoying himself. Enough of the Powys
blood flowed in him, he decided, after all. He continued in this vein for a
quarter of an hour and then presented Helen to the crowd. The applause was not
as great as it might have been, but it was satisfactory.
Helen's platform manner was superb. At once alert and confident, she combined
femininity with firmness, speaking calmly and with utmost assurance.
She outlined her policy. At this stage she ignored the Fireclown issue entirely,
concentrating her attack on the sterile Solrefs and their Presidential
candidate, Simon Powys. She ignored hecklers and spoke with wit and zest.
When she finished she was applauded and Alan Powys got up, raising his arms for
silence.
"Now that you have heard Miss Curtis' precise and far-thinking policy," he said,
"are there any questions which you would like to ask her?"
Dotted around the auditorium were special stands where the questioner could go
and be heard through the hall. Each stand had a large red beacon on it. Beacons
began to flash everywhere. Alan selected the nearest.
"Number seven," he said, giving the number of the stand.
"I should like to ask Miss Curtis how she intends to work out the controlled
price of sea-farm produce," said a woman.
Helen went back to the center of the platform.
"We shall decide to price by assessing cost of production, a fair profit margin,
and so on."
"This will result in lower prices, will it?" the woman asked.
"Certainly."
The red light went out. Alan called another number.
"What steps does Miss Curtis intend to take towards the present ban on tobacco
production?"
"None," Helen said firmly. "There are two reasons for keeping the ban. The first
is that nicotine is harmful to health. The second is that land previously used
for tobacco is now producing cereals and other food produce. Marijuana, on the
other hand, is not nearly so habit-forming, has fewer smokers and can be
produced with less wastage of land."
There were several more questions of the same nature, a little heckling, and
then Alan called out again: "Number seven-nine."
"Miss Curtis was an ardent supporter of the Fireclown before it was discovered
that he was a criminal. Now it's feared that the Fireclown intends to bombard
Earth from space, or else detonate already planted bombs. What does she intend
to do about this?"
Helen glanced at Alan. He smiled at her encouragingly.
"We are not certain that the Fireclown is guilty of the crimes he has been
accused of," she said.
"He's guilty all right!" someone shouted. A hundred voices agreed.
"We cannot condemn him out of hand," she went on firmly. "We have no evidence of
a plot to attack or destroy the planet."
"What would you do if he was guilty," shouted the original speaker-"sit back and
wait?"
Helen had to shout to be heard over the rising noise of the crowd.
"I think that the Fireclown was framed by unscrupulous men who want a war
scare," she insisted. "I believe we should follow other lines of investigation.
Catch the Fire-clown, by all means, and bring him to trial if necessary. But
meanwhile we should be considering other possibilities as to how the bombs got
on the first level!"
"My parents were killed on the eleventh level!" This was someone shouting from
another speaking box. "I don't want the same thing to happen to my kids!"
"It's sure to unless we look at the situation logically," Helen retaliated.
"Fireclown-lover!" someone screamed. The phrase was taken up in other parts of
the hall.
"This is madness, Alan." She looked at him as if asking for his advice. "I
didn't expect quite so much hysteria."
"Keep plugging," he said. "It's all you can do. Answer them back!"
"Powys for President! Powys for President!" This from the very back of the hall.
"Powys for insanity!" she cried. "The insanity which some of you are exhibiting
tonight. Blind fear of this kind will get you nowhere. I offer you sanity!"
"Madness, more likely!"
"If you listened to me like sensible adults instead of shouting and screaming,
I'd tell you what I mean." Helen stood, her arms folded, waiting for the noise
to die down.
Alan went and placed himself beside her.
"Give her a chance!" he roared. "Give Miss Curds a chance!"
When finally the noise had abated somewhat, Helen continued:
"I have seen the Fireclown since the holocaust. He told me that policemen
tampered with his machines and caused the fire. He had nothing to do with it!"
"Then he was lying!"
"Calm down!" she begged. "Listen to me!"
"We listened to the Fireclown's lies for too long. Why listen to yours?"
"The Fireclown told you no lies. You interpreted what he said so that it meant
what you wanted it to mean. Now you're doing the same to me! The Fireclown is
innocent!"
Alan whispered. "Don't go too far, Helen. You've said enough."
She must have realized that she had overshot her mark. She had been carried away
by the heat of the argument, had admitted she thought the Fireclown innocent.
Alan could imagine what the lasercasts and news-sheets would say in the morning.
"Are there any other questions?" he called. But his voice was drowned by the
angry roar of the crowd.
"Not exactly a successful evening," he said as he took her home. They had had to
wait for hours before the crowd dispersed.
She was depressed. She said nothing.
"What's the next stage in the campaign?" he asked.
"Next stage? Is it worth it, Alan? I'm getting nowhere. I've never known such
wild hysteria. I thought we got rid of all that a century ago."
"It takes longer than a hundred years to educate people to listen to reason when
someone tells them their lives are liable to be snuffed out in an instant."
"I suppose so. But what are we going to do? I didn't expect such a strong
reaction. I didn't intend to say that I thought the Fireclown was innocent. I
knew that was going too far, that they couldn't take direct opposition to what
they now believe. But I got so angry."
"It's just unfortunate," he said comfortingly, though inwardly he was slightly
annoyed that she had lost her self-control at the last minute. "And it's early
days yet. Maybe, by the time the campaign's over, we'll have more people on our
side."
"Maybe they'll just ignore us," she said tiredly as they entered her apartment.
"No, I don't think that. We're nothing if not controversial !"
Next day, the RLM Political Headquarters received a deputation.
Two men and two women. The men were both thin and of medium height. One of them,
the first to advance into the front office and confront Alan, who had elected to
deal with them, was sandy-haired, with a prominent Adam's apple and a nervous
tic. The other was less remarkable, with brown hair and a mild face in which two
fanatical eyes gleamed. The women might have been pretty if they had dressed
less dowdily and paid more attention to their hair and make-up. In a word, they
were frumps.
The taller woman carried a neat banner which read: THE END OF THE WORLD DRAWS
SLOWLY NIGH. LATTER-DAY ADVENTISTS SAY 'NO' TO FALSE GODS. STOP THE FIRECLOWN.
Alan knew what they represented. And he knew of the leader, had seen his face in
innumerable broadcasts.
"Good morning, Elder Smod," he said brightly. "What can we do for you?"
"We have come as the voice of the Latter-Day Adventists to denounce you," Elder
Smod said sonorously. The Latter-Day Adventists were now the strongest and only
influential religious body in existence today, and their ranks were comprised so
obviously of bewildered half-wits and pious paranoiacs that public and
politicians alike did not pay them the attention that such a large movement
would otherwise merit in a democracy. However, they could be a nuisance. And the
main nuisance was Elder Smod, second-in-command to senile Chief Elder Bevis, who
was often observed to have fallen asleep during one of his own speeches.
"And why should you wish to denounce me?" Alan raised his eyebrows.
"We've come to denounce the Radical Liberal Movement for its outrageous support
of this spawn of Satan, the Fireclown!" said one of the frumps in a surprisingly
clear and musical voice.
"But what have the Latter-Day Adventists to do with the Fireclown?" Alan asked
in surprise.
"Young man, we oppose the supporters of Satan."
"I'm sure you do. But I still don't see what connection ..."
"Satan seeks to destroy the world by fire before the good Lord has his chance.
We cannot tolerate that!"
Alan remembered now that the original twentieth-century sect had announced that
they were the only ones who would be saved when the world was destroyed by fire.
They had been a little chary of announcing the date but, egged on by slightly
disenchanted supporters, they had finally given an exact date for the end of the
world-2000 A.D., claiming the Third Millennium would contain only the faithful.
Sadly, when the Third Millennium dawned, it contained fewer of the faithful than
before, since many had not wholly accepted the fact pointed out to them by the
movement's elders, that the Bible had earlier been misread as to the date of
Christ's birth. (A speedy and splendid juggling with the Christian, Jewish and
Moslem calendars had taken place on January 1st, 2000 A.D.) But, in spite of the
discredit, the movement had grown again with the invention of a slightly altered
interpretation-i.e., that the world would not perish in a sudden holocaust but
that it would begin-and had begun-to perish from the year 2000-giving an almost
infinite amount of time for the process to take place. However, the coming of
the Fireclown scare, with its talk of destruction, had evidently thrown them out
again!
"But why, exactly, have you come to us?" Alan demanded.
"To ask you to side with the righteous against the Fire-clown. We were
astonished to see that there were still foolish sinners on Earth who could
believe him innocent! So we came-to show you the True Way."
"Thank you," said Alan, "but all I say-and I cannot speak for the RLM as a
whole-is that the Fireclown is not likely to destroy the world by fire. We have
no argument."
Elder Smod seemed a trifle nonplussed. Evidently he considered the Fireclown a
sort of johnny-come-lately world-destroyer, whereas his movement had had, for
some time, a monopolistic concession on the idea.
Alan decided to humor him and said gently: "The Fireclown could be an agent for
your side, couldn't he?"
"No! He is Satan's spawn. Satan," said Smod with a morose satisfaction, "has
come among us in the shape of the Fireclown."
"Satan? Yet the clown predicted a return of fire to the world unless, in your
terms, the world turned its back on Mammon. And one cannot worship both. . . ."
"A devil's trick. The Fireclown is Satan's answer to the True Word-our word! "
It was no good. Alan couldn't grasp his logic-if logic there was. He had to
admit defeat.
"What if we don't cease our support of the Fireclown?" he asked.
"Then you will be destroyed in the flames from heaven!"
"We can't win, can we?" Alan said.
"You are like the rest of your kind," Elder Smod sneered. "They paid us no
attention, either."
"Who do you mean?"
"You profess not to know! Ha! Are you not one of that band who call themselves
the Secret Sons of the Fireclown?"
"I didn't know there was such a group. Where are they?"
"We have already tried to dissuade them from their false worship. A deputation
of our English brothers went to them yesterday, but to no avail."
"They're in England? Where?"
"In the stinking slums of Mayfair, where they belong, of course!" Elder Smod
turned to his followers. "Come-we have tried to save them, but they heed us not.
Let us leave this gateway to Hell!"
They marched primly out.
Mayfair. Wasn't that where Bias had his hideout? Perhaps the two were connected.
Perhaps this was the lead that would prove, once and for all, whether the
Fireclown planned mammoth arson or whether the syndicate had framed him.
Alan hurriedly made his way into the back room where Helen and Jordan Kalpis
were planning her tour.
"Helen, I think I've got a lead. I’m not sure what it is, but if I’m lucky I’ll
be able to get evidence to prove that we're right about the Fireclown. He's
still got some supporters, I just learned, in London. I’m going there."
"Shall I come with you?"
"No. You've got a lot of ground to make up if you're going to get near to
winning this election. Stick at it-and don't lose your self-control over the
Fireclown issue. I’ll get back as soon as I’ve got some definite information."
"Alan, it's probably dangerous. Bias and his like take pains to protect
themselves."
"I’ll do the same, don't worry," he said. He turned to Kalpis. "Could we have a
moment, Jordan?"
Jordan walked tactfully out of the room.
Alan took Helen in his arms, staring down at her face. She had a half-startled
look, half-worried. "Alan . . ."
"Yes?"
She shook her head, smiling. "Look after yourself."
"I've got to," he said, and kissed her.
 
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
 
MAYFAIR moldered.
.Nowhere on the three planets was there a slum like it, and riches, not poverty,
had indirectly created it.
As Alan walked up the festering streets of Park Lane, a light drizzle falling
from the overcast afternoon sky, he remembered the story of how it had got like
this. Mayfair was the property of one man-a man whose ambition had been to own
it, who had achieved his ambition and was now near-senile-Ronald Lowry, the
British financier, who refused to let the government buy him out and refused,
also, to improve his property. The original residents and business houses had
moved out long since, unable to stand Lowry’s weird dictatorship. The homeless,
and especially the criminal homeless, had moved in. Like Lowry, they weren't
interested in improving the property, either. For them, it was fine as it was-a
warren of huge, disused hotels, office blocks and apartment buildings. Lowry was
rich-perhaps the richest man in the world-and Lowry, in spite of his senility,
had power. He would not let a single government official set foot on his
property and backed up his wishes by threatening to withdraw his capital from
industries which, without it, would flounder and give the government
unemployment problems, re-location problems and the like. Until a less cautious
party came to power, Mayfair would continue to molder, at least for as long as
Lowry lived.
The scruffy, old-world architecture of the Hilton, the Dorchester and the
Millennium Grande towered above Alan as he passed between them and the jungle
that grew alongside Hyde Park. Hyde Park itself was public property, neat and
orderly, well maintained by London's City Council, but roots had spread and
shrubs had flowered, making an almost impenetrable hedge along the borders of
the park.
Wisely, he did not head immediately for the Dorchester, where Bias was supposed
to be, but went instead to a cafe that still bore the name of the Darlington
Grill. The specialite de la maison these days, however, was fish and chips-from
the smell.
The majority of the men were gaudily dressed in the latest styles, but some were
down at heel-not necessarily criminals, but pridies, people who refused to
accept the citizen's grant which the government allowed to all who were unable
to work, whether because of physical or emotional reasons. These were extreme
emotional cases who, if they had not come to the official-free area of Mayfair,
would have been cured by this time and rehabilitated. Mayfair, Alan thought, was
indeed a strange anachronism-and a blot on the three planets. Ronald Lowry’s
vast financial resources had produced the only skid row now in existence!
Alan had taken the precaution of getting himself a green luminous suit and a
flowing scarlet cravat which made him feel sick whenever he saw himself in a
mirror. On his head was perched, at a jaunty angle, a conical cap of bright and
hideous blue, edged with gold sateen.
He saw by the list chalked on a board at the end of the cafe that his nose
hadn't lied. The only food was turbot and chips. The liquor, it seemed, was a
product of a local firm-a choice between wheat, parsnip or nettle wine. He
ordered a wheat wine and found it clear and good, like a full-bodied Sauterne.
It was only spoiled by the disgusting aroma of illicit cigarettes smoked by
several of the nicotine addicts who lounged in what was evidently a drug-induced
euphoria at the greasy tables.
Before he had left the City of Switzerland, Alan had procured one of the badges
previously worn by the Fireclown's supporters-a small metal sun emblem which the
disillusioned Sons of the Sun had rid themselves of when public sympathy for the
Fireclown had changed to anger. He wore it inside his cap.
He looked around over the rim of his glass, hoping to see a similar emblem, but
he was disappointed.
A sharp-faced little man came in and sat at Alan's table. He ordered a parsnip
wine. A few drops spilled on the table as the proprietor brought it.
Alan decided that he would have to chance the possibility that the cafe
fraternity were sufficiently angered against the Fireclown to cause trouble. He
took off his hat, lining upward so that the sun emblem was visible.
The sharp-faced man was also sharp-eyed. Alan saw him stare at the badge for a
moment.- Then he looked at Alan, frowning. In the spilled liquor on the table he
drew, with a surprisingly clean finger, a similar design.
"You're one of us, eh?" he grunted.
"Yes."
"Fresh to Mayfair?"
"Yes."
"You'd better come to the meeting. It's a masked meeting, naturally. We've got
to protect ourselves."
"Where do I go?"
"South Audley Street-a cellar." The man told him the number and the time to be
there. Then he ignored Alan, who finished his drink and ordered another. A
little later he got up and left.
Alan could understand the need for secrecy. The police would be searching for
any clue to the Fireclown's whereabouts. He wondered if this group knew. Or did
they have any real contact with the Fireclown at all? Perhaps in an hour's time,
at six o'clock, he would know.
At six he entered the broken-down doorway in South Audley Street and found
himself in a long room that had evidently been a restaurant. Through the gloom
he could make out chairs still stacked on tables. He walked over rotting
carpets, through the piled furniture to the back of the place. A door led him
through a filthy, dilapidated kitchen. At the end of a row of rusted stoves he
saw another door. Opening it, he saw that it closed off a flight of concrete
steps leading downwards. He advanced into a cellar.
About five or six masked figures were already there. One of them, stocky and
languid in his movements, Alan thought he recognized.
One of the others, a woman in a red and yellow hood that covered her whole face,
came up to him. "Welcome, newcomer. Sit there." She pointed to a padded chair in
a shadowed corner.
From a brazier at the end of the cellar flames danced. Huge, grotesque shadows
were spread along the floor and up the walls as the men and women began to come
down the cellar steps and sit on the damp-smelling chairs.
"Thirty-nine, plus the newcomer-forty in all," the stocky man said. "Close the
door and bar it."
The stocky man went and stood by the brazier. Alan wished he could place him,
but couldn't for the moment.
"We are come here," he intoned, "as the last loyal Sons of the Fireclown, to
honor our leader and prepare for his return. We are pledged to carry out his
work, even if we risk death in so doing P'
Alan realized suddenly that these people were using the Fireclown's name, just
as the majority had done earlier, to support some creed or obsession of their
own. The whole tone of the meeting did not fit with what he knew of the
Fireclown, his father. Probably, he thought, he understood the Fireclown better
than anyone-particularly since- he could recognize certain traits in the
Fireclown that had a milder expression in himself.
Certainly, he decided, this group was worth observing, for it might help clarify
the rest of the questions that needed clarifying before he could act in an
objective way.
What if the arms syndicate were operating this group for their own purposes? It
was possible that they had got hold of these people who seriously wished to put
the Fireclown's outre philosophy into practice and were making them act against
the Fireclown's interests.
Then he had it. The identify of the intoning man-Bias.
Now, he felt, there was substance for his theory that the arms syndicate was
using the Fireclown as a patsy-a fall-guy to carry the can for their devious
plans for the world conflict. He bent forward as Bias came to the important
point.
"You have each been given incendiary bombs to plant in some of the major
buildings around the globe. The burning buildings will act as beacons, heralding
the return of the Fireclown with his bolts of fire for the unclean and his gift
of a new world for you, the true believers. Are you all sure of what you must
do?"
"Yes!" each man and woman responded.
"Now." Bias's masked face was cocked to one side as he suddenly regarded Alan.
"The newcomer is not yet a full Son of the Fireclown. He must prove himself to
us."
Alan suddenly realized the menace in the words. He sensed, from the atmosphere
in the room, that this was not normal procedure.
"Come here, my friend," Bias said quietly. "You must be initiated."
There was a strong chance that Bias recognized him. But what could he do? For
the moment he would have to go through with it.
He got up slowly and walked towards the fiery heat of the brazier.
"Do you worship the Flame of the Sun?" Bias asked theatrically.
"Yes," he said, trying to keep his voice level.
"Do you see the fire as the Fire of Life?"
He nodded.
"Would you bring forth the fires of life in yourself?"
"Yes."
"Then"-Bias pointed at the brazier-"plunge your hand into the flames as proof
that you are a brother to the Flame of the Sun!"
Ritual! If Alan needed confirmation that these people had nothing to do with the
Fireclown in any real sense, he had it now. The Fireclown scorned ritual.
"No, Bias," he said scornfully, and turned to the masked gathering. "Don't
listen to this man. I know the Fire-clown-he is my father-he would not want
this! He would hate you to debase yourselves as you are doing now. The Fireclown
only uses fire as a symbol. He speaks of the human spirit, not-" he gestured at
the brazier "-natural fire!"
"Silence!" Bias commanded. "You seek to disrupt our gathering! Do not listen to
him, brothers!"
The Sons of the Fireclown were glancing at one another uncertainly.
Bias's voice spoke almost good-humoredly in Alan's ear. "Really, Powys, this is
nothing to you. Why do you interfere? Admit to these fools that you lied and
I’ll let you go. Otherwise I can probably convince them, anyway, and you'll be
roasted on that thing there."
Alan glanced at the blazing brazier, spouting flames. He shuddered. Then he
leapt at it and kicked it over in Bias's direction. Bias jumped away from the
burning coals, shouting something incoherent.
Alan pushed through the confused crowd and reached the door, wrenched the bar
away and fled up the stairs. He ran through the darkened restaurant and out into
the crumbling street a few seconds ahead of his closest pursuer. He dashed down
towards Grosvenor Square, an overgrown tangle of trees and shrubs. In the last
of the evening light he saw the monolithic tower of the old American Embassy,
fallen into decay long since.
A flight of steps led up to the broken glass doors. He climbed them hurriedly,
squeezed through an aperture and saw another flight of steps leading upwards.
By the time he had reached the second floor, let his feet lead him into a maze
of corridors, he no longer heard the
sounds of pursuit and realized, thankfully, that he had lost them. He cursed
himself for not wearing a mask. He should have guessed that Bias and the
suspicious Sons of the Fireclown had some connection.
And now it was almost certain that Bias, unknown to the Fireclown, was playing
both ends against the middle. But he'd still have to find out more before he
could prove the Fireclown's innocence.
He had only one course of action. To go to the Dorchester, where Bias had his
hideout. He knew he wasn't far from Park Lane, since he had studied a map
thoroughly before he left. He waited for two hours before groping his way down
to a different exit from the one he'd left and stumbled through the jungle of
Grosvenor Square, climbing over fallen masonry and keeping in the shadows as he
walked down Grosvenor Street and into Park Lane.
He threw away his hat and reversed his jacket as an afterthought so that the
reversible side showed mauve shot with yellow, hunched his shoulders to disguise
his outline and hid his face as much as possible, then continued down towards
the Dorchester.
Luckily, the street was almost deserted and he passed
only a couple of drunks sitting against the wall of a bank,
and a pretty young girl who hailed him with pretty old
. words. She reviled him softly in language even older when
he ignored her.
Reaching the side entrance of the Dorchester, he found the door firmly locked.
He continued round to the front. Lights were on in the lobby and two
tough-looking men lounged outside. He couldn't get past them without them seeing
him, so he walked boldly and said:
"I've come to see Mr. Bias-he's expecting me. Which suite?"
"First floor," said the guard unsuspiciously.
Alan found the lobby in surprisingly good repair. Even the elevators looked in
working order, although there was a good deal of litter about. He took the
stairs, reached the first floor, which was in semi-darkness, and saw a light
coming from under a pair of big double doors. He paused outside and strained his
ear to catch the mumble of voices from within. He was sure he recognized both of
them-one was probably Bias's anyway.
The other, he realized after a moment, was the voice of Junnar, his
grandfather's secretary!
He took from his pocket the squat laser pistol he had brought with him at
Helen's request and walked into the room.
"The plot," he said with forced lightness, "thickens. Good evening, gentlemen."
Bias took the cigarette out of his mouth with an expression of surprise. "Good
evening, Powys," he said amiably. "I didn't think we'd seen the last of you. If
you're not going to be impetuous we can explain everything, I think."
"Mr. Powys," Junnar said sadly, "you should have stayed out of this from the
start. What's the gun for?"
"Self-protection," Alan said curtly. "And I don't need much explanation. I've
had an inkling of this for some time. Grandfather put you up to planting the
bombs on the Fireclown-am I right?"
Junnar's silence was answer enough. Alan nodded. "He'd use any means to prove
the Fireclown a criminal, even if it meant supplying the proof himself, in a
very simple way. You got the bombs from Bias and planted them. But you bit off
more than you could chew when you started this war scare. What are you up to
now? Doing another deal with Bias over the arms he wants to supply the
government with as a 'defense' against a non-existent plot?"
"That's about it," Bias admitted.
Alan felt physically sick. His own grandfather, head of the house of Powys,
descendant of a line of strong, honest and fervently dedicated politicians, had
descended to faking evidence to prove his own theory about the Fireclown. And,
in consequence, he had started a wave of hysteria which he was virtually unable
to control. He wondered if Simon Powys now regretted his infamy. He probably
did, but it was too late.
And this was the man the public was almost bound to elect President.
"You bloody, treacherous pigs! " he said.
"You'd have to prove all this," Bias said softly, his self-assurance still
apparently maintained.
Alan was still in a quandary. All his life the concept of clan loyalty to the
Powys's had been drummed into him. It was hard to shake it off. Could he betray
his own grandfather, who in a peculiar way he still loved, at the expense of the
father responsible for his bastardy?
Slowly, standing there with the laser gun in his hand, its unfamiliar grip
sticky with sweat, he came unwillingly to a decision.
He waved the gun towards the door. "After you," he said.
"Where are we going?" Junnar asked nervously.
"The City of Switzerland," Alan told them. "And just remember what a laser can
do. I could slice you both in two in a moment. It's going in my pocket, and my
hand's going to be on it all the way."
"You're rather a melodramatic young man," Bias said resignedly as he walked
towards the door.
 
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
 
UNDER Alan's direction, Junnar brought the car down on the roof of the Powys'
apartment block.
"Climb out, both of you," Alan ordered. They obeyed him.
They descended to Simon Powys' apartment and Junnar made the door open. They
went through.
"Is that you, Junnar?" Powys called from his study.
Alan herded them in.
He saw a terrible expression of sheer fear cloud his grandfather's face as they
entered.
Hollowly, Alan said: "I know everything, Grandfather."
Simon Powys remained seated at his desk. Slowly he put down his stylus and
pushed the papers from him.
"What are you going to do then, Alan?"
"Denounce us, I expect," Bias said cheerfully. "May I sit down, Powys?" He
turned to Alan.
"Both of you sit," Alan ordered, his hand still on his pocketed gun.
"You'd have to prove it," Simon Powys said slowly, in an old man's voice. "It's
the word of an emotional young man against that of a respected minister. I could
say you were raving. Neither Junnar nor Bias would testify against me."
"Why?" Alan demanded. "Why, grandfather?"
"There are a number of reasons, Alan. It was my last chance to become President.
A Powys of every generation has been President at least once. I couldn't let
family tradition die-it would have been a disgrace."
"Isn't what you did a disgrace? Isn't it a crime?"
"You don't understand. Politicians can't always use clean methods. I was right.
The Fireclown's no good, Alan. It was the only way to show the public. . . ."
"That was only a matter of 'opinion. The fact is you framed the Fireclown in
order to prove your own theory about him-and because Helen was bound to win the
election if you didn't do something desperate. It was the only way to change
public opinion radically. Because of that, Sandai's police tampered with the
Fireclown's flame machines-and three hundred people were killed."
"I didn't want that to happen."
"But it happened-you were responsible for their deaths.!"
"I feel guilty. . . ."
"You are guilty! And you fell neatly into Bias's plan, didn't you? He supplied
you with the bombs with which you framed the Fireclown. And now, because you
dare not admit the whole thing was manufactured by you, he's holding the
government up to blackmail. There is a possibility of mass destruction if this
hysteria builds up-but even if that doesn't happen the money that Bias will
demand will impoverish Sol for years. And he's got you neatly in his trap-he can
dictate any terms he wants. If you were elected President you would be his
puppet. Bias would run Sol. And he nearly succeeded, didn't he?"
"As your grandfather pointed out," Bias said equably, "you still have to prove
all this, young man."
"I intend to, Bias. Grandfather-you're going to confess, before it's too late.
You're a Powys! You must!"
Simon Powys wet his lips and stared down at the desk.
"Are you going to confess, Grandfather?"
"No," said Simon Powys. "No, I am not."
It had been Alan's only chance, and it had failed. As his grandfather and Bias
had said, it was his word against theirs. Already he had the reputation as a
die-hard supporter of the Fireclown. Who would believe him now that Simon Powys
had turned the Solar System against the Fireclown? What could he do now?
His idealism, his belief that his grandfather would act in accordance with the
principles he had so plainly shed was shattered. He was drained of emotion and
could only stand staring down at the old man.
"Stalemate, Powys." Bias cross his legs.
There must be proof, Alan thought. There must be proof somewhere.
He knew that if he could prove his grandfather's guilt he could stop Bias's plan
for controlling the Solar System, avert the threat of a war almost bound to come
about with so much hysteria in the air, prove the Fireclown innocent and allow
Helen to become President.
Everything hinged on what was, in fact, a means of betraying his grandfather.
He gave Bias a disgusted glare.
"Yes, stalemate. But if I walk out of here now, you dare not do anything for
fear that I'll say too much. You can't rig evidence against me the same way as
you did to the Fireclown." As an afterthought, he added: "You could kill me, of
course."
"No!" Simon Powys rose from his chair. "Alan, come in with us. In a few weeks
the world will be ours!"
Alan went towards the door. "You accused me once of having none of the noble
Powys blood, remember? If that's what flows in your veins, thank God I haven't
got any!"
He flung down the gun and left.
Outside, he walked slowly towards the elevator cone, brooding and unable to
think coherently. All he had was definite knowledge of his grandfather's
perfidy, knowledge that he was unable yet to prove. Still, the knowledge itself
was something.
He went down to the thirtieth level and made his way to the RLM Headquarters.
He entered the front office, still stacked with posters. Jordan Kalpis was
there, his bony face full of worry.
"Powys! What did you find out?"
"Where's Helen? I’ll tell you later."
"At a meeting in the Divisional Hall on forty. There's some pretty bad heckling
going on. The crowd has turned nasty."
"Right. I'm going over there."
Alan went out into the corridor and took the fastway to the elevator, rose ten
levels and took the fastway again to the Divisional Hall. Every ten levels had a
Divisional Hall, comprising a meeting hall and the offices of the local
sub-council officials. Outside, the posters of Helen had been torn down.
There was a fantastic noise coming from inside. Alan entered the crowded hall
and glimpsed Helen at the far end on the platform. A man beside him threw back
an arm. Alan saw it held a piece of raw meat. As the man's hand came up to hurl
the meat, Alan grabbed it and wrenched it savagely back. He didn't give the man
time to see who had stopped him but pushed his way down the aisle. All kinds of
refuse was flying on to the platform as he hauled himself up.
Helen's face was bleeding and her clothes were torn. She stood rigidly,
defiantly shouting at the mob.
"Helen!"
She saw him. "Alan! What-?"
"Get out of here-they're not listening to you!"
She seemed to pull herself together.
Now the mob surged forward, faces twisted, hands grasping. He heard someone
shout: "She wants us burned to death."
She-wants-us-burned-to-death!
A gem of a phrase, Alan thought as he kicked the first man who tried to climb
the stage. It fed the hysteria which spawned it. He found himself hating
humanity and his kicks were savage.
Andy Curry's freckled face appeared from the side exit. "Quick! Here!"
They ran in and Curry ordered the door locked.
"I can only say I told you so," Curry said dourly. "You shouldn't have made the
speech in the first place, Miss Curtis."
"I avoided all mention of the Fireclown," she said furiously, "and they didn't
give me a chance!"
Curry picked up the phone in the passage. He pressed two studs.
The word Police flashed on the screen and an operator's face followed it.
"I'm speaking from Divisional Hall, level ten," Curry said swiftly. "There's a
riot going on down here. We're besieged. We need help."
The operator looked at him. "Helen Curtis meeting-is that right?"
"That's right."
"We'll have a squad there right away," the operator told him in a voice that
indicated he should have known better than to start trouble.
The police dispersed the crowd and the captain told Alan, Helen and Curry that
an escort was ready to see them home. He sounded unsympathetic, as if he was
helping them unwillingly.
When they reached Helen's door the leader of the escort said: "If I were you,
Miss Curtis, I should stay inside. You're liable to be attacked otherwise."
"I've got an election to fight," she pointed out.
"You'll have people to fight if tonight's trouble's repeated-and I don't doubt
it will be if you insist on setting yourself up to resist the whole climate of
public opinion! We've got enough on our hands with the Fireclown
investigation-crowds demanding to know when we're going to catch him,
rabble-rousers shouting that-we must prepare for war, and all the rest of it."
The escort leader shrugged. "We can't be held responsible if you deliberately
risk being mobbed."
"Thank you, officer." Alan followed Helen into the apartment. The door closed.
"So I’m supposed to stay boxed in here, am I?" she said bitterly. "Meanwhile
I've got to try and convince people that they're wrong."
"It's useless," he said hollowly, going into the sitting-room and slumping down
in a chair.
"What did you find out in London?"
"Everything."
"Even what Bias is up to?"
He told her, slowly and wearily, all that had happened.
"So we were right," she said thoughtfully. "But Uncle Simon-that's incredible."
"Yes, isn't it?" He smiled cynically. "And our hands are virtually tied. We've
got to do some cool thinking, Helen."
She was calmer now. She seemed to notice, for the first time, that he was
exhausted.
"We'd better sleep on it," she said. "We may feel more optimistic in the
morning.
As they breakfasted, Alan switched on the laser. "Let's see what's happened in
the world this morning," he said.
"... petition urging the government to speed up its defense plans," mouthed the
newscaster. Then he leaned forward urgently. "For those who missed our early
edition, the first attacks by the Fireclown have begun! Two nuclear bomb
explosions have been observed-one in the Atlantic and one in the Gobi Desert. So
far nobody has been reported hurt, but it will be impossible to know for certain
for some time yet. Where will the Fireclown's next bomb strike? Swiss City? New
York? Berlin? We don't know. Emergency shelters are being erected and bomb
detector teams are covering the areas around the main cities to try and discover
hidden bombs. Meanwhile, in Britain, mystery fires have devastated important
public buildings. The National Gallery is smoldering wreckage-the marvelous
architectural beauty of Gateshead Theatre is no more. Precautions are being
taken to protect other such buildings throughout the planet. There is little
doubt that the Fire-clown-or his die-hard supporters here-was responsible!"
"That's all Bias's work," Alan said angrily. "How are we going to prove it?"
"Look," Helen pointed at the screen. Simon Powys had appeared, looking dignified
and grave.
"My fellow citizens of the Solar System, I am speaking to you in troubled times.
As I predicted a short while ago, the Fireclown has attacked the globe. He has
been offered no hostility, we have intended him no harm. But nevertheless he has
attacked. We must defend ourselves. If we had to manufacture bombs and other
weapons for defense we should be wiped out before we had any chance. Luckily the
Solar Government has been offered arms." Powys paused as if saddened by the task
he had to perform. "A group of men-criminals we should have called them but a
few hours ago, but now we are more than thankful to them- have offered us a
supply of arms. We are going to purchase them, on your behalf, and set them up
around the planet. This will have to be done swiftly, and already bodies of
volunteers are working on emergency installations. Let us hope we shall be in
time to avert our peril. When I next speak to you, perhaps we shall know."
"The devil!" Helen swore. "He's obviously completely in Bias's power. He knows
that Bias will use him to control Earth-that we're threatened with a military
dictatorship, and yet, in his pride, he still refuses to stop. Doesn't he know
what he's doing?"
"He's gone so far now that he can't go back. His hate for the Fireclown and love
for his own political ambitions have combined and, in a sense I'm sure, turned
him insane! Maybe he can't even see the extent of his treachery."
"We've got to do something to stop him, Alan." Helen spoke quietly.
"Like what?"
"First we'll try to convince Sandai. Then, if that fails, we'll have to kill
him."
"Helen! Killing him won't do any good. What could we do? Set up another
dictatorship to control the people? Don't you see that if we continue this
violence we'll breed more violence ad infinitum? We've got to use legal means
against him. Otherwise, society as we know it is finished!"
"Then what other alternative is there?"
"First we'll see Sandai," he said. "Then we'll decide."
 
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
 
IT took time to get to see Sandai. It took over a day. By the time they walked
into his office they were looking very tired indeed. So was Sandai.
"If you've come to tell me that the Fireclown's innocent of these outrages," he
said, wiping his olive forehead, "I'm not interested."
Alan stood over the seated police chief, his hands resting on the man's desk.
"That's part of it, Chief Sandai. But that's not all. I have heard the man
responsible confess his guilt to me!"
"You've what?" Sandai looked up, astonished.
"The man responsible for framing the Fireclown, for setting off the bombs and
causing the fires in Britain, is a man named Bias."
"Bias? Francois Bias? He's suspected head of the arms syndicate." Sandai looked
thoughtful. "It's a possibility, Mr. Powys. But what proof have you? How did you
find out?"
"I heard that Bias had his headquarters in Mayfair. I went there and discovered
he was running an organization calling itself the Sons of the Fireclown."
"So Bias is working for the Fireclown?"
"No. The thing was definitely spurious. Bias was using it for his own ends.
Later I broke into Bias's apartment and confronted him with what I knew and what
I suspected. He denied nothing. He told me to prove it-which I couldn't do. I
then brought him and another man back to the capital. ..."
"Who was the other man?"
"Junnar, my grandfather's secretary."
"You mean you suspect he's been working against Minister Powys? That's
fantastic-if it's true."
"He's been working with Powys," Alan said firmly. "Bias and my grandfather are
hand-in-glove-they plan to use the war scare they've created and the fear of the
Fireclown to hold the Earth to ransom. You heard yesterday's announcement-about
Powys having to buy bombs from the syndicate. It's a set-up, Chief Sandai!"
"Young man, you're evidently deranged." Sandai stood up and patted Alan's arm
sympathetically.
"Listen to him!" Helen said urgently. "Listen, Chief Sandai. It sounds
impossible, but it's a fact."
"And the proof?" Sandai said gently.
"As circumstantial as that against the Fireclown," Alan pointed out.
"But the Fireclown is a renegade-your grandfather is virtually the leader of the
Solar System. That's the difference, Mr. Powys. I'm sorry, but your defense of
the Fireclown doesn't hold up. Why don't you admit that and work with the rest
of us to avert the menace?"
"It's the truth," Alan said. He felt the energy go out of his body, his
shoulders slump.
"I'm very busy," Sandai said. "You'd better leave now."
As they crossed the sunny gardens of the Top, Helen said to him: "That didn't
work. What do we do now, Alan?"
"Watch the world die," he said hopelessly.
"The whole lot of them deserve death for what they're doing," she said
cautiously.
"Maybe. But the law banished the death sentence over a hundred years ago. We
want to preserve the law, Helen, not demolish it further!"
"If only we could contact the Fireclown. Maybe he could help us."
"He's journeying off somewhere in that ship of his, conducting his experiment.
There's no hope there, anyway. He's not interested in Earth's problems, you know
that."
They reached the elevator cone and entered it with a dozen others.
As they descended a man stared hard at Helen.
"Aren't you Helen Curtis?" he said roughly.
"I am."
The man spat in her face.
Alan jumped at him, punching savagely. The attendant shouted for them to stop.
Hands grabbed Alan. The man punched him in the stomach and then in the head.
"Stinking fire-bug!"
Alan felt bile in his throat. Then he passed out.
He came to in a few seconds. The lift was still going down. Helen was bending
over him. The lift stopped. "You'd better get out, both of you," the attendant
said.
Alan got to his feet.
"Why?" he grunted.
"You're making trouble, that's why."
"We didn't start it."
"Come on, Alan," Helen said, taking his arm. "We'll walk."
He was weak with pain as they stumbled into the corridor. Also he was
insensately angry.
She helped him on to the fastway and supported his weight until his strength
returned.
"That shows you how much anything we say is worth," she said quietly. "Hatred
and violence are everywhere. What harm would a little more do? The good would
outweigh the bad, Alan."
"No," he gasped. "No, Helen. Simon Powys sold his principles. I'm not selling
mine."
"So," she said when they were back in her apartment, "what do we do? Just wait
here and watch the world collapse?"
"Switch on the set so we've got a good view," he said. She went over and turned
on the laservid.
They watched glumly as the announcer reported another explosion in the Pacific,
two more in Central Africa, killing a large number of people who lived in small
communities in the blast area. Work was under way on the defense project. Simon
Powys was directing the preparations.
"They don't need to bother with the farce of electing him," Helen said. "He's as
good as President now!"
"You mean Bias is," Alan told her. "He's the one pulling the strings."
Helen reached over to the laser and pressed out a number.
"Who are you calling?"
"My brother," she said. "Denholm's about the only person who can help us now."
Her brother's face came on the screen. "Hello, Helen, I'm rather busy-is it
important?"
"Very important, Denholm. Could you come over?"
"If ifs another defense of the Fireclown . . ."
"It is not."
Her brother's expression changed as he stared at her image. "Very well. Give me
an hour-all right?"
"Okay," she said.
"How can Denholm help us?" Alan said. "What's the point?"
"We'll tell him all we know. The more people of importance who are told about
it, the better chance we have."
Denholm came in, placed his gaudy hat on a chair arm and sat down.
"Alan," Helen said, "tell Denholm everything-from the time we went to see the
Fireclown until our interview with Sandai."
He told Denholm Curtis everything.
When he had finished, Curtis frowned at him. "Alan," he said, "I think I believe
you. Uncle Simon's been behaving a trifle mysteriously in some ways. The
alacrity with which he managed to contact the dealers when the government
finally decided to buy the arms was astonishing. It could mean that he's abused
his position as chairman of the One Hundred Committee f
"What do you mean?"
"Supposing in some way he had got hold of a list of the dealers and the location
of their caches? Supposing he held on to it without letting the other committee
members know, contacted Bias and concocted this scheme? Suppose then they worked
out a plan to take advantage of the Fireclown, get Simon Powys elected as
President, and then run the world as they wanted to run it? Powys might have got
in touch with Bias originally with a view to smashing the syndicate. But Bias
might have proposed the whole idea. We all know how much Uncle Simon hates the
Fireclown. It would have been the perfect means of getting rid of him.
"Maybe he intended to capture the Fireclown. Maybe the original deal was simply
over a few bombs. But Bias has provided the Fireclown with the means of
producing a super-ship, and he was fairly certain that the Fireclown would
escape when the chips were down. He did. The war scare started, aided by the
police tampering with the flame-machines. Simon Powys couldn't back out-and Bias
had him where he wanted him."
"That sounds logical," Alan agreed.
"But all this needs proof to back it up." Denholm Curtis pursed his lips
thoughtfully.
"It comes back to that every time." Helen sighed.
"There'd be only one way. To find the man who was Powys' original contact with
Bias, and get him to confess."
"But how?" Alan asked. "Where do we look?"
"We check the files of the One Hundred Committee-that was probably how Powys
found his contact. You're still secretary, Helen. Where are the files?"
"Right here. In the safe."
"Get them."
She got them-dozens of spools of microfilm. They fitted them into the projector.
It was more than six hours before they found what they were looking for. A
reference to one Nils Benedict, suspected of trying to sell arms to a
super-reactionary Crespignite splinter group. They had turned him over to the
police. The police had been unable to find any evidence against him. Simon Powys
had interviewed him while in custody and reported that, in his opinion, the man
was innocent. Simon Powys had been, apart from the police, the only man to
question Benedict. Benedict had a Brussels address.
"Do you think that's him?" Alan said, rubbing his eyes.
"It's the only one it could possibly be. What do we do now?"
"Pay Nils Benedict a visit, I suppose," Helen suggested.
A smaller, less complex version of the City of Switzerland, Brussels had an
altogether different character. Every inch of stonework was .embellished with
red lacquer, and over this bright designs had been laid. Gilt predominated.
The structure rose fourteen levels above the ground, five below, covering an
area of five square miles. The roof landing space was limited so that they were
forced to land outside the city and take a mono-rocket which let them off on the
tenth level. Benedict lived on level eight.
They reached his apartment. They had already decided that Denholm would do the
talking, since he was less likely to be suspect than the other two.
"Nils Benedict," he said to the blank "door, "this is Denholm Curtis. I've got
some good news for you."
The door opened. A tall, rangy man in a dressing gown of green silk stared
curiously at Curtis.
"Are you from Powys?" he asked as the door closed behind them.
Alan took the lead. "We want to contact Bias in a hurry. Can you arrange it?"
"Sure. But why? I thought he was in direct contact nowadays."
That was enough. Now they knew for certain.
"Oh, he is," Alan said. "But we thought it would be nice for you and Simon Powys
to meet again after all this time."
Benedict had been uncommonly slow, he thought, for a man who was supposed to
live by his wits. The man seemed gradually to realize that something was wrong.
He backed into his living room. They followed.
The answer was there. Benedict was an addict. The stink of mescaline was in the
room; nightmarish murals covered the walls. He was a mescamas who got his kicks
from descending into his own psychological hell.
Helen said in a strained voice: "I'll wait outside."
"Come on, Benedict," Denholm said roughly.
"I have rights, you know," Benedict said thickly. "Why does Powys want to see
me?" ,
"Are you scared of Powys?"
"He told me I'd be killed if I ever got in touch with him again."
"There's not a chance of that, I promise," Alan said.
Benedict was still wary. Alan suddenly hit him under the jaw. He collapsed.
"Let's get him dressed," Denholm said. "It wouldn't be proper for him to go out
without his correct clothes on."
They had surprisingly little difficulty getting Benedict to Helen's apartment.
Organization of the usual kind seemed to have gone to pieces during the fake
emergency.
While Helen tried to revive Benedict and Denholm tied his hands, the laser began
to flash. Alan answered it. Chief Sandai looked out at him.
"You're not the only madman in the system, it seems," he said. "I thought about
what you told me and thought I couldn't do any harm to assign a few men to go
undercover to Mayfair and check your story. It held up. We found Bias and Junnar
there. We're holding them, under the emergency laws which Simon Powys insisted
we make, as suspects in an arson plot. We got one of the Sons of the Fireclown,
too. But we're going to need more proof-and I'm still not convinced that your
tale about Simon Powys is true!"
Alan stepped aside so Sandai could see Benedict.
"Recognize this man, Chief?"
"I've got a feeling I do, but I can't place him. Who is he?"
"He's Simon Powys' original contact with Bias. He's a mescamas. If we withhold
his supply for a short time he should tell us everything he knows."
"If it's true, you've had a big stroke of luck, young man."
"It'll be the first we've had," Alan said dryly. "Can you come over and pick us
up? It might be wise to have an escort."
Sandai nodded. The screen blanked.
Bias alone remained seemingly at ease. Benedict was slumped hopelessly in his
chair, perhaps even enjoying the experience of defeat. Junnar had his back to
them, staring out of the window over the mountains. The police prison had a
wonderful view.
Bias said: "Chief Sandai, what evidence do you have for these fantastic charges?
Confront Simon Powys with them. He will laugh at you!"
Sandai turned to Denholm Curtis. "Where's Powys now? You've convinced me."
"He's at a special meeting in the Solar House. Members are asking him questions
on his war policy. He's bound to answer since we still retain a vestige of
democracy."
"What are you going to do, Chief?" Alan asked. "Something spectacular," Sandai
said. "It's probably the only thing we can do now to break Powys' power in front
of the assembly. Otherwise it may be too late."
"After what I've been through in the last day or so," Helen said grimly. "I'm
beginning to doubt that anyone can topple Uncle Simon!"
Standing nobly before the mighty assembly of Solar Representatives, Simon Powys
answered their questions in a grave and sonorous voice. He was the image of the
visionary and man of action. The weight of responsibility seemed to rest heavily
upon his broad shoulders, but he bore it manfully, not to say hypocritically.
Alan watched him on the screen outside the main entrance to the Assembly Chamber
itself. He, Denholm and Helen stood in a group to one side. Chief Sandai, four
policemen and the fettered trio of Junnar, Bias and the slobbering Benedict
stood to the other.
They choose their moment well, when a member for Afghanistan asked Simon Powys
what the police were doing in the Fireclown investigation.
Sandai pushed the button operating the double doors. The doors swept open and
the party pushed forward.
"The police," Sandai called, "have caught most of the men responsible for the
present situation." He gestured dramatically towards the shackled men. "Here
they are- there is only one man missing P'
Alan saw that Simon Powys' face bore an expression similar to the look he'd had
on the night he'd accused him.
But he held up well, Alan decided, considering everything.
"What does this interruption mean, Chief Sandai?"
Sandai spoke laconically. "Using the emergency powers vested in me by the
government of the Solar System I am holding under arrest the three men you see
there-Francois Bias, suspected arms dealer, Nils Benedict, a contact for the
arms syndicate-and Eugene Junnar, personal assistant to Minister Simon Powys.
All the men admit to being implicated in a plot, instigated by Minister Powys,
to frame the Fireclown, start a war scare by means of nuclear bomb explosions
and incendiaries, and thus assure Minister Powys of full political power as
President of the Solar System!"
Bias said: "He's lying, Minister Powys."
But Nils Benedict, not of Bias's caliber, continued the theme. "We didn't admit
anything, sir! I haven't said a word about the deal!"
Simon Powys thundered: "Be quiet! You have abused your powers, Sandai. I demand
that you leave the hall immediately!"
But the hubbub from the rest of the representatives drowned out anything else he
might have wished to say.
Alan walked swiftly down to the central platform and mounted it.
"We have witnesses, now, Grandfather! We have the proof you told us to get!"
Benjosef rose from his seat.
"What's the meaning of this, Mr. Powys?"
"My grandfather, sir, has betrayed every trust you and the system have ever put
in him." Briefly, Alan outlined the facts.
Benjosef turned to Simon Powys who stood rigidly, as if petrified, in his place.
"Is this true, Powys?"
"No!" Powys came alive, his face desperate-wretched. "No! Can't you see this is
the work of the Fireclown's supporters, an attempt to disgrace me and confuse us
in our hour of peril? My grandson is lying!*'
But Simon Powys had lost all self-control. His wild denial had convinced the
assembly of his guilt. He knew it. He stared around him, his breathing
irregular, his eyes wide. He advanced toward Benjosef.
"I run the Solar System now, Benjosef-not you! You can't do anything. The people
are with me!"
"Possibly," Benjosef said mildly, with a slight air of triumph, "but evidently
this assembly is not." Benjosef seemed pleased at his would-be successor's
downfall. "I was aware, Minister, that you wished to oust me as President- but I
did not expect you to take quite so much trouble." He gestured to the police
chief. "Sandai-I'm afraid you had better arrest Minister Powys."
Simon Powys leapt from the dais, stumbled and fell. He got up, evidently in
pain, and stood there panting as Sandai stepped cautiously towards him.
"You fool! I could have made the world a better place. I knew it was going soft.
I could have stopped the rot! You are under my orders, Sandai-don't listen to
Benjosef."
Sandai slipped a pair of electrogyves from his belt.
"No!" Simon Powys was sobbing now. "The Fireclown will destroy us! He will
destroy you all-as he destroyed my daughter!"
Alan looked up in surprise. So his grandfather had known all along that the
Fireclown was his father! That explained, even further, his insensate hatred of
the Fireclown.
He went up to the old man, pitying him now.
"Grandfather, I know you have suffered, but. . ."
Old Simon Powys turned his great head and looked into Alan's eyes. His
expression was that of a bewildered, tearful child.
"It was for her sake," he said brokenly. "For hers and yours, Alan."
The gyves hummed and curled about Powys' wrists. His head bowed, his seamed face
now tear-streaked, he allowed Sandai to lead him out of the assembly hall.
Benjosef stepped from the platform and touched Alan's arm. "I’m sorry you had to
do what you did, my boy. I must admit I never liked your grandfather-always
thought him, well, somewhat weak, I suppose. That was why I, and many members of
the party, never promoted him to a more prominent position; why he had never,
until now, been nominated as a Presidential candidate. Evidently I was right, at
least." He turned to Helen Curtis. "The world is going to be grateful to you
both, I suspect. The climate of opinion is going to take yet another reversal
before the elections are finally held. I hope you make a good President, Miss
Curtis."
"Thank you, sir," said Helen, looking worriedly at Alan.
Alan ran a hand across his face. He swallowed with difficulty and glowered at
the ground. Then he shook Benjosef s hand off his arm.
"I'm glad you're all proved right," he said bitterly. "I'm bloody glad about the
happy ending."
And he walked straight up the aisle and out of the Solar Hall, his pace fast as
he crossed the lawns. His heart pounding, his eyes warm, his fists clenched and
his mind in a mess.
 
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
 
TWO days later Alan emerged from the cavern on the first level, where he had
been avoiding everyone, and ascended to the Top, passing a great many
talkie-posters proclaiming Helen Curtis for President. Listening to the
conversation, his faith in the stupidity of human nature was fully restored. In
the swift movement of events, the public had changed their loyalty from the
Fireclown to Simon Powys, and now to Helen Curtis. Why did they need heroes? he
wondered. What was wrong in people that they could not find what they needed
within themselves? How did they know Helen was any better than the rest?
News-sheets announced the complete rounding up of the members of the arms
syndicate and the discovery of every nuclear cache left in existence. That was
one good thing. The new-sheets also said that order had been completely
restored. Alan wondered. On the surface, perhaps, it was true. But what of the
disorder that must still exist in the hearts and minds of most members of the
public?
He reached the Top and entered Police Headquarters. After a few moments he was
shown into Chief Sandai's office.
"Mr. Powys! There has been a general search out for you! You and Miss Curtis are
the heroes of the hour. Every laservid station and news-sheet in the Solar
System has been after you."
"In that case," Alan said coolly, "I'm glad they couldn't find me. I want to see
my grandfather, Chief-if that's possible."
"Of course. He made a full confession, you know. He's been very subdued since
his arrest-hasn't given us any trouble."
"Good. Well, can I see him now?"
Not exactly every home comfort had been provided for Simon Powys, but his room
hardly looked like a prison cell with its pleasant view of the clear summer sky,
the cloud-wreathed mountain peaks in the distance. It was well furnished. There
were books, writing materials and news-sheets on the small desk by the window.
His grandfather was staring out at the mountains, his chair pushed back from his
desk, when Alan entered
"Grandfather."
The old man turned. And it was an old man who stared gauntly up at his grandson.
All the vitality had left him. He seemed completely enervated.
"Hello, Alan. Glad to see you. Do sit down." He gestured vaguely towards the
only other chair in the room.
"How do you feel?" Alan asked inanely.
Simon Powys smiled thinly. "As well as can be expected," he said. "How are you?"
Alan seated himself on the edge of the chair. "I'm sorry I had to do it,
Grandfather, but you know why it was necessary."
"Yes. I’m glad, in a way, that you did-though I can hardly bear the shame. I
don't know if you'll understand, Alan, but I was insane, in a way. I was caught
up in a nightmare-my ambition, my hatred, my schemes ran away with me. Do you
know that when my fortunes turned after the Fireclown business I seemed to be
living in a dream thereafter? I feel as if I’ve just woken up. I remember I
accused you of having none of the good Powys blood. I shouldn't have done that,
and I'm sorry. But it seems you had better stuff in you than I. I’ve always been
conscious of my inherent weakness, that I wasn't of the same breed as our
ancestors, but I always fought it, Alan. I tried not to let it get the better of
me. It did, of course, but in a different way."
"You didn't really hate the Fireclown for anything he was doing, did you?" Alan
spoke softly. "You hated him for ' loving my mother, and giving her a son-me.
You knew he was Manny Bloom all the time."
"Yes." Simon Powys sighed and stared out of the window again. "I knew he was
Manny Bloom. I was responsible for sending him on the Saturn mission. That was
my first major mistake, I suppose. But I couldn't see my daughter marrying an
ordinary spaceman, however much of a hero he was in the public eye. I didn't
realize you were going to be born. He was away for two years. When he came back
you were here-and your mother had killed herself."
"Killed herself! I didn't know. . ."
"I'd told her Manny Bloom was dead-killed in a space accident. I didn't expect
those consequences, of course. That was the first death I was responsible for,
indirectly. As Minister for Space Transport I was in the perfect position to
send Manny Bloom wherever I chose. I bided my time-then I really did try to kill
him."
"What? You mean the rocket that went too near the sun?"
"Yes. I bribed the technician responsible for the final check-had him fix the
steering rockets so that the ship would plunge into the sun. I heard the ship
had gone off course and I thought I was rid of him. But somehow he survived-and
he came back, to haunt me as it were, as the Fireclown."
"So you really created your own nemesis. You caused my father to drift towards
the sun and that experience resulted in his strange mental state. Ultimately he
appeared as the Fireclown and, because of your hatred against him, brought about
your ruin without ever consciously wishing for vengeance against you."
Simon Powys nodded. "I appreciate the irony of it all," he said. "If s one of
the things I've been thinking about, sitting here and waiting for my trial."
"When is it to be?"
"They haven't fixed it yet. It's going to be a big one-will probably take place
after the Presidential elections."
"Helen will be able to influence the judges then," Alan said. "She'll probably
try to get you the lightest possible sentence."
"The lightest sentence would be death, Alan. And that, I'm afraid, is outside
even the President's powers to exact."
Alan remembered Helen's proposal to assassinate Simon Powys. In many ways,- he
thought, everyone would have welcomed it. It was painful to see this once
respected and powerful man in such a wretched state, no matter how much he
deserved it.
Simon Powys got up, extending his hand. "It was good of you to come, Alan. I
wonder if you would mind leaving now. This-this is somewhat hard to ..." He
broke off, unable to express his shame.
"Yes, of course," Alan went forward and shook Simon Powys' hand. The old man
tried to make the grip firm, but failed.
Feeling considerably more affection for his grandfather than he had ever felt in
the past, Alan left the cell, left Police Headquarters and stood for a long time
by a splashing fountain, staring into the clear water and watching the darting
goldfish swimming in the narrow confines of the pool. Did they understand just
how narrow their little universe was? he wondered. They seemed happy enough, if
fish could be happy. But if they weren't happy, he reflected, neither were they
sad. They had no tradition but instinct, no ritual but the quest for food and a
mate. He didn't envy them much.
 
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
 
IN the following weeks Alan led a fairly solitary life, taking little interest
in the elections, scarcely aware of the fact that Helen was almost certain to
win since there were no candidates in the field with her popularity. Denholm
Curtis, who had played some part in the denunciation of Powys, was now the
Solrefs candidate for the office, but he didn't stand much of a chance. Helen
was busy, but she had tried to contact him from time to time. He would see her
when he was ready.
The election date came. The votes were counted. Helen was President.
The day after her election she came to see him and he let her in.
"I thought you were angry with me," she said as she accepted a drink. "I
thought, perhaps, you'd decided not to see me again. I know you've had a bad
series of emotional shocks, Alan-but I could have helped you. I could have been
some comfort, surely."
"I didn't need comfort, Helen. I needed to be alone with myself. And anyway, you
couldn't have afforded to waste time on me-you had problems of your own."
"What do you propose to do now?" She couldn't disguise the fact that she was
anxious.
"Ask you to marry me, Helen."
"I accept," she said thankfully. "I thought. . ."
"We all tend to see other people's emotions as reflecting on ourselves. It's a
mistake. People's emotions are rarely created by anyone else. I think we might
be happy, don't you?"
"In spite of my work?"
"In spite of that, yes. I don't expect to see much of you for some time. But
maybe that's for the best."
A buzz began to sound on her wrist.
"I'm "sorry." She smiled. "I get issued with this thing-I'm on call, as it were,
all the time. I didn't expect it to start so soon."
She went to his laservid and pressed a number.
"President Curtis," she said to the slightly perturbed looking man on the
screen. She put the drink down on the set.
"Madame-there is probably no danger but I have just received news that a strange
space-ship has landed somewhere near Algiers. It's believed to be the
Fireclown's."
"No need for declaring a state of emergency now." She smiled. "It will be good
to see him again." She switched out and turned to Alan. "He's your father-want
to be part of a deputation?"
"If it's just the two of us, yes."
"Come on then. Let's see what his experiments have proved."
Before Helen could go she was forced to leave notification of her whereabouts.
Her Presidential duties had not really begun as yet, but from now on her time
would never be her own. In his new state of mind, Alan decided he could bear it
so long as she only served one term.
The Pi-meson rested on its belly, its pitted hull gleaming in the African sun.
As yet, nothing had been heard from the ship. It was as if it were empty, bereft
of life.
As their car settled beside it, the huge "airlock began to open. But nothing
else happened.
"What now?" Helen looked to Alan for guidance.
"Let's go in," he said, leading the way over to the ship and clambering into the
airlock.
On the big landing deck Alan touched the stud operating the sliding wall. It
opened and they climbed into the control deck. It was darkened. No light passed
the closed ports.
"Father?" Alan spoke into the silence, certain someone was here. "Fireclown?"
"Alan ..." The voice was rumbling, enigmatic, thoughtful.
"Yes-and Helen Curtis. We've got something to tell you." He was slightly amused
at his decision to announce his engagement formally to his strange father.
A single light shone now from the corner. Alan could just make out the slumped
bulk of the Fireclown. A short distance away Cornelia Fisher stirred. Corso
seemed prone, but Alan thought he heard him mumble under his breath.
"Is anything wrong father?"
"No." The Fireclown raised his huge body up from the couch. His gaudy tatters
curled about him, his conical hat still bobbed on his head and his face was
still painted. He chuckled. "I thought you'd come here first. I wouldn't have
admitted anyone else."
"Helen and I are getting married, Father."
"Ah... really?" The Fireclown didn't sound very interested. His manner had
become, if anything, more detached and alien.
"A lot's been happening on Earth, sir," Helen put in, "since we last met. You're
no longer an outcast."
The Fireclown's body shook with laughter which he at first suppressed and then
let roll from his mouth in roaring gusts. "No-longer-an-outcast. Ha! Ha! Ha!
Good!"
Nonplussed, Alan glanced at Helen, who frowned back at him.
"It is not I who am the outcast, young lady-not in the cosmic sense. It is the
human race, with their futile, worthless intelligence."
"I still don't understand .. ." Helen said bewilderedly.
"I took you to the heart of the sun-I took you even to the heart of the galaxy
and you still failed to understand! Consciousness is not the same as
intelligence. Consciousness is content to exist as it exists, to be what it is
and nothing more. But intelligence-that is a blot on the cosmos! In short, I
intend to wipe out that blot. I intend to destroy intelligence!"
"Destroy intelligence? You mean, destroy life in the Solar System!" Alan was
horrified.
"No, my son, nothing so unsubtle. For one thing, human life is the only
culprit-the only thing that offends against the law of the universe. I have
journeyed throughout the galaxy and have found nothing like it anywhere else.
Intelligence, therefore, is a weed in the garden of infinity, a destroying weed
that must be dealt with at once."
"You are mad!" Alan said desperately. "It's impossible to destroy intelligence
without destroying those who have it!"
"According to human logic, that is true. But according to my logic-the
Fireclown's logic-that is false. I have perfected a kind of fire-Time Fire, call
it-which will burn away the minds of those it strikes without consuming them in
body. My Time Fire will destroy the ability to think, because thought takes
time."
The Fireclown reached out his hand towards a stud and depressed it. The wall
hummed down. He went over to the controls and began to operate them. "I waited
for you to arrive because I still retain some human sentiment. I did not want to
make my son go with the rest. I will convince you, anon, that I speak truth and
you will agree with me. You will want only consciousness!"
Alan strode towards his father and grasped his huge arm. "It can't work-and even
if it could, who are you to take such a task upon yourself?"
"I am the Fireclown!"
The screen in front of them showed that the ship had once again set up its own
peculiar field. The spheres began to flash past.
"See those?" The Fireclown pointed. "They are chronons-Atoms of Time! Just as
there are atoms of matter, the same is true of time. And I control those atoms
as ably as the physicists control their electrons and protons. They are the
stuff of my Time Fire!"
Astounded, Alan could only believe his father. He turned to Corso, who was
opening his eyes, a dazed look on his red face. "Corso! Do you want any part of
this? Stop him! Cornelia"-the woman stared at him blankly-"tell him to cease!"
The Fireclown put his painted, bellowing face close to Alan's. "They cannot
understand you. They hear you-but they hear sound alone! They are the first to
gain from the Time Fire. They are fully aware but they have no intelligence to
mar their awareness."
"Oh, God!" Helen looked aghast at the blank-faced pair.
"Where are we going?" Alan yelled at his insane father.
"I intend to put the ship into a time-freeze. Then, as the globe passes beneath
me, I will unleash the Time Fire, covering the world with its healing flames P"
"No, Father!"
"Don't try to tamper with the controls, Alan. If you do you will disrupt the
time field and we might well perish."
The spheres-the chronons-flashed past. Alan stared at them, fascinated in spite
of the danger. Atoms of Time. He had heard the chronon theory before, but had
never believed it had any reality in fact. But there was no other explanation he
could think of for the Fireclown's ability to ignore the laws of matter and
venture into the sun's heart, travel swiftly through the galaxy to its center
and remain unharmed. Unharmed bodily, at least. His mind had obviously been
unable to stand up against the impressions it had seen.
Faster and faster the chronons rolled past on the screen.
Concentrating on his controls, the Fireclown ignored them.
"What are we going to do, Alan?" Helen said. "Do you think he's right about this
Time Fire?"
"Yes. Look at Corso and Cornelia for proof. He is a genius-but he's an idiot as
well. We've got to stop him, Helen. Heaven knows what destruction he can
work-even if it isn't as bad as he boasts!"
"How?"
"There's only one way. Destroy the controls!"
"We could be killed-or frozen forever in this 'time freeze' of his!"
"We've got to take the risk."
"But what can you do? We've no weapons, nothing to destroy them with!"
"There's one thing we can do. I’m going to grapple with him. He's incredibly
strong so I won't be able to hold him for long. While I keep him occupied, go to
the control panel and press all the studs, change the position of all the
levers, twist all the dials. That should do something. Ready?"
Conscious that this might be the last time he saw her before they perished, he
gave her a long, eloquent look. She smiled.
He leaped at the Fireclown's back and got his arm around his father's thick
neck.
The great arms went up and the hands closed over his wrists. The Fireclown shook
him off.
"I’ve spawned a fool! You could cause us to slip into a time vortex we could
never get out of!"
Alan grabbed the Fireclown's legs and, surprisingly, though the Clown was still
a trifle off-balance, pulled him down.
Helen dashed towards the controls and began depressing studs and pulling levers.
"No!"
The Fireclown raised himself on one elbow, his other hand outstretched in a
warning gesture.
The light began to fizz, to change color rapidly. The ship shuddered. He was
blinded by the glare, his head ached. He felt the Fireclown move and flung,
himself at his father. With a movement of his arm and body the Fireclown shook
him off again.
Then the deck seemed to vanish and they seemed to hang in space. All around him
now Alan saw the spheres whirling. The great chronons, each the size of the
moon, spun in a dazzling and random course.
The Fireclown bellowed like a baleful bull from somewhere. He heard Helen's
voice shouting. He could make no sense of their words. He tried to move but his
body was rigid, would answer none of his commands.
Then the chronons changed color and began to expand. They burst! A chaotic
display of colored streamers smeared themselves all around him and dissipated
swiftly. Alan tried to breathe but couldn't. Instead, he sucked in water!
It took seconds for him to realize that he was under the sea. He struggled
upwards and at last reached the surface, drew air into his lungs. He was in the
middle of an ocean, no land in sight.
There was no evidence that a ship had crashed. Had it entered the water so
smoothly that it hadn't made a ripple?
But-another thought came-he should have been in the ship! How had he gotten out?
Another head broke the surface. He swam towards it. The Fireclown! The paint
streaked his face. He was panting and cursing. Then Helen's head came up!
"What happened!" Alan gasped. "Father-what happened?"
"Damn you! You broke the time field-I’ve lost my ship!"
Overhead Alan heard the drone of an air-car. He looked up, waving frantically.
It was an amphibian and it seemed to be looking for them. It came down low and
landed.
Puzzled faces stared out of the cabin. Someone emerged on to the small, flat
deck and a line flashed out over the water. Alan caught it, swam towards Helen
and handed it to her. She was pulled swiftly in and, once aboard, the line was
sent back. Alan handed it to the Fireclown.
The man refused to take it. Automatically, he kept himself afloat, but his face
had an expression of melancholic suffering.
"Take it, Father!"
"Why should I? What purpose do I fulfill by continuing to live? I have failed."
Impatiently, Alan tied the rope around the passive Fire-clown and watched the
great bulk being towed in. The Fireclown made no move to release himself or help
himself on to the deck.
Alan took the line as it came out once again.
"How did you know we were here?" he asked the vessel's captain.
"We saw a peculiar kind of explosion in this area. We thought we'd better
investigate. Sorry it took us so long. We've been circling over this area for
three hours. Can't think how we missed you the first time."
"Three hours! But..." Alan stopped. "What time is it now?"
The captain glanced at his chronometer. "Fourteen hundred, almost."
Alan was about to ask the date but he decided against it. It seemed that they
had been deposited in the ocean exactly half an hour before they had entered the
Fireclown's ship. But what had happened to the ship? He asked the morose
Fireclown who had slumped himself moodily in a corner of the cabin.
"I told you-you broke the time field. What happened was simple-we existed in a
different time location, the ship in another. The ship should make its
appearance between now and the next million years P'
Thereafter, his father refused to answer further questions.
 
CHAPTER NINETEEN
 
THE trial of Simon Powys and the trial of the Fireclown were held at the same
time, but in different courts. The laservid stations and the news-sheets were
torn between which should have most prominence.
The Pi-meson had been found, intact, in Wyoming. Scientists had already stripped
it of its time mechanisms and were investigating them. The Fireclown offered
them no help when asked.
The relationship between the late protagonists came out, and scandal blended
with sensation to feed the news-sheets and laservid networks.
Simon Powys was not very entertaining, however. He admitted all charges and was
found guilty on all charges.
Even the judge did not exercise that strange prerogative which judges seem to
think themselves entitled to-his summing up contained no list of his personal
biases. It was quick and clean. Simon Powys was banished to a confined bunk in
one of the pressure domes in the asteroid belt.
The Fireclown was more verbose, his case harder to try since it had no
precedent. He could not be tried for his philosophical beliefs, or even for his
unique intentions to destroy intelligence. The charge, when it was finally
decided, read: "Plotting to disrupt human society to a point where it could no
longer function."
His long speeches in his defense-or rather in defense of his creed-agreed with
the charge.
"I am the victim of crude intelligence," he told the bewildered jury.
"Intelligence which has no business to exist in the universe. I have been pulled
down by it as it will pull down the human race in time. I tried to help you but,
for all your vaunted minds, you could not understand. Perish, then, in spirit.
Set yourselves against the law of the universe! Your punishment will come soon
enough and be well merited!"
Though still puzzled, the jury decided the Fireclown's own punishment soon
enough. They found him guilty but insane. He would be sent to a mental hospital
on Ganymede.
Meanwhile, the scientists continued to puzzle over his bizarre equations and
could arrive at no conclusion. In time, perhaps, they would, for once on the
track they would never leave it.
For the time being, public hysteria died down, and society once again settled
into an ordered existence. Helen Curtis began to put her reforms to the assembly
and they were accepted or rejected after discussion. Progress would be slow and
would always follow behind the demands of the reformers, but at least in this
manner it might retain its dynamism. Helen was comparatively satisfied. Their
wedding date was fixed. And then came the final drama. Alan, once more looking
for a job, scanned the list of specialist agencies, and sipped coffee. The
laservid buzzed and he switched it to receive. Helen's face appeared on the
screen.
"Alan-the Fireclown's escaped!"
He put down his cup with a clatter. "What! How?"
"You know how strong he was. He overpowered a guard, got hold of his gun and
held up the entire Police Headquarters. He made them release Uncle Simon and
they left in a stolen police car together."
"Where have they gone?"
"We don't know."
"I'm coming over. Are you at the House?"
"Yes."
When he reached the Presidential apartments Helen and some of her advisers were
staring at the huge wall-screen. A commentary boomed:
"Our cameras have succeeded in tracking the escaping space-ship Pi-meson,
containing convicts Manny Bloom, better known as the Fireclown, and Simon
Powys!"
Deep space. The ship in clear focus.
"The ship, degutted of its weird time devices but retaining its ordinary drive,
has so far outdistanced all pursuers."
"That answers my question," Alan said from behind Helen. "Where are they going?"
"They seem to be heading for Venus. They could just about survive there and
certainly escape the police. The re-vitalization project is two-thirds
complete."
"A strange pair to be traveling together," Helen reflected.
"They've got things in common," Alan pointed out. "In their different ways they
were both reactionary idealists. They wanted things simpler than they in fact
are."
The ship passed Venus.
"Where in the universe are they heading for?" Helen said, baffled.
Alan thought he knew.
He watched helplessly as the ship carrying his father and grandfather plunged
on.
"Perhaps it's for the best-for them and for us," he whispered.
The Pi-meson passed the orbit of Mercury.
They watched as it wheeled and sailed in towards the sun.
It vanished, consumed almost immediately, as it followed its unveering course
into the heart of Sol.
The watchers were silent. Helen turned her face up towards Alan and studied his
expression. She glanced back at the screen.
In a few short weeks a new Age had come to Earth and gone as swiftly. It had
left a strange mood behind it-and perhaps a new science. Sociologists and
psychologists attempted to explain the sudden ebb of hysteria that had seized
the people. There were a dozen theories, all complex, all with their merits. One
attempted to explain it as the result of the transition period between "natural"
(or biological) living and "artificial" (or machine) living. It concluded that
until the "artificial" became the natural and human psychology altered
accordingly we should experience many such disturbances.
It was a likely explanation. But there might have been another, far simpler
explanation.
Perhaps the world had just been-bored.
THE END