Part 9 (1/2)

”Of course, it's possible that the whole thing is a put-up job--a smoke screen for our benefit. That's why we must and will keep a closer watch. But only a few of the Earth's higher-up would know that it was a smoke screen; the rest believe it, whether it is true or not. MacMaine would have to be very careful not to let the wrong people get their hands on him if he returned.”

”It's no smoke screen,” MacMaine said in a matter-of-fact tone. ”I a.s.sure you that I have no intention of returning to Earth. If Keroth loses this war, then I will die--either fighting for the Kerothi or by execution at the hands of Earthmen if I am captured. Or,” he added musingly, ”perhaps even at the hands of the Kerothi, if someone decides that a scapegoat is needed to atone for the loss of the war.”

”If you are guilty of treason,” Hokotan barked, ”you will die as a traitor! If you are not, there is no need for your death. The Kerothi do not need scapegoats!”

”Talk, talk, talk!” Tallis said with a sudden bellow. ”We have agreed that MacMaine has done nothing that could even remotely be regarded as suspicious! He has fought hard and loyally; he has been more ruthless than any of us in destroying the enemy. Very well, we will guard him more closely. We can put him in irons if that's necessary.

”But let's quit yapping and start thinking! We've been acting like frightened children, not knowing what it is we fear, and venting our fear-caused anger on the most handy target!

”Let's act like men--not like children!”

After a moment, Hokotan said: ”I agree.” His voice was firm, but calm.

”Our job will be to get our hands on one of those new Earth s.h.i.+ps.

Anyone have any suggestions?”

They had all kinds of suggestions, one after another. The detectors, however, worked because they detected the distortion of s.p.a.ce which was as necessary for the drive of a s.h.i.+p as the distortion of air was necessary for the movement of a propeller-driven aircraft. None of them could see how a s.h.i.+p could avoid making that distortion, and none of them could figure out how to go about capturing a s.h.i.+p that no one could even detect until it was too late to set a trap.

The discussion went on for days. And it was continued the next day and the next. And the days dragged out into weeks.

Communications with Keroth broke down. The Fleet-to-Headquarters courier s.h.i.+ps, small in size, without armament, and practically solidly packed with drive mechanism, could presumably outrun anything but another unarmed courier. An armed s.h.i.+p of the same size would have to use some of the s.p.a.ce for her weapons, which meant that the drive would have to be smaller; if the drive remained the same size, then the armament would make the s.h.i.+p larger. In either case, the speed would be cut down. A smaller s.h.i.+p might outrun a standard courier, but if they got much smaller, there wouldn't be room inside for the pilot.

Nonetheless, courier after courier never arrived at its destination.

And the Kerothi Fleet was being decimated by the hit-and-run tactics of the Earth's ghost s.h.i.+ps. And Earth never lost a s.h.i.+p; by the time the Kerothi s.h.i.+ps knew their enemy was in the vicinity, the enemy had hit and vanished again. The Kerothi never had a chance to ready their weapons.

In the long run, they never had a chance at all.

MacMaine waited with almost fatalistic complacence for the inevitable to happen. When it did happen, he was ready for it.

The _Shudos_, tiny flags.h.i.+p of what had once been a mighty armada and was now only a tattered remnant, was floating in orbit, along with the other remaining s.h.i.+ps of the fleet, around a bloated red-giant sun.

With their drives off, there was no way of detecting them at any distance, and the chance of their being found by accident was microscopically small. But they could not wait forever. Water could be recirculated, and energy could be tapped from the nearby sun, but food was gone once it was eaten.

Hokotan's decision was inevitable, and, under the circ.u.mstances, the only possible one. He simple told them what they had already known--that he was a Headquarters Staff officer.

”We haven't heard from Headquarters in weeks,” he said at last. ”The Earth fleet may already be well inside our periphery. We'll have to go home.” He produced a doc.u.ment which he had obviously been holding in reserve for another purpose and handed it to Tallis. ”Headquarters Staff Orders, Tallis. It empowers me to take command of the Fleet in the event of an emergency, and the decision as to what const.i.tutes an emergency was left up to my discretion. I must admit that this is not the emergency any of us at Headquarters antic.i.p.ated.”

Tallis read through the doc.u.ment. ”I see that it isn't,” he said dryly.

”According to this, MacMaine and I are to be placed under immediate arrest as soon as you find it necessary to act.”

”Yes,” said Hokotan bitterly. ”So you can both consider yourselves under arrest. Don't bother to lock yourselves up--there's no point in it. General MacMaine, I see no reason to inform the rest of the Fleet of this, so we will go on as usual. The orders I have to give are simple: The Fleet will head for home by the most direct possible geodesic. Since we cannot fight, we will simply ignore attacks and keep going as long as we last. We can do nothing else.” He paused thoughtfully.

”And, General MacMaine, in case we do not live through this, I would like to extend my apologies. I do not like you; I don't think I could ever learn to like an anim ... to like a non-Kerothi. But I know when to admit an error in judgment. You have fought bravely and well--better, I know, than I could have done myself. You have shown yourself to be loyal to your adopted planet; you are a Kerothi in every sense of the word except the physical. My apologies for having wronged you.”

He extended his hands and MacMaine took them. A choking sensation constricted the Earthman's throat for a moment, then he got the words out--the words he had to say. ”Believe me, General Hokotan, there is no need for an apology. No need whatever.”

”Thank you,” said Hokotan. Then he turned and left the room.