Hegedus smiled coldly while Brion shook his head in a solemn no. “It won’t be that easy or even possible. There are millions, probably billions, of stars in this lenticular galaxy. How can we ever find this solar system? We haven’t a clue we have never even seen the sun so we have no idea of even what type it is. Or in what direction it lies. We’re out of luck. When the delta beacon goes, so goes all contact with Arao. Forever. Unless they want to contact us.”
“No chance in the slightest of that,” Hegedus said. “And what you say is perfectly true. We do not want your interference, nor will we ever have it. Officially I have forgotten your subversive Party Statements but personally I know how you feel. Your quasi-beneficent Cultural Relationships Foundation won’t be sneaking in here to change our happy way of life. To stir up the workers and create dissention. We like the way we are. You are not going to change anything. We will go now. The less you know about us the happier we will be. Sergeant!”
“Sir!” the Sergeant said, throwing open the door the instant the command had been given.
“Have your squad take these two to the transmission area at once. They are to talk to no one on the way.”
“As you command, sir!”
There were eight men in the squad, heavily armed and fully equipped. They entered the room with much stamping and clattering of equipment. With guns at the ready, they formed up in obedience to the Sergeant’s shouted orders. Lea had been holding her temper, but all this stamping and shouting and military nonsense was too much for her.
“Murderous madness! You people are the most stupid “
“Silence!” the Sergeant bellowed, shoving her towards the door. Aiming his drawn pistol at Brion’s instinctive motion towards him. “Follow orders and you won’t be hurt. Forward … march!”
There was absolutely nothing they could do. Brion held Lea’s arm, felt it shaking, and knew it was rage not fear. He felt the same way. Frustrated. He was willing to try anything but nothing he did would affect the outcome. They were going back to Selm-II. Alive or dead. And the insanity and waste of this war would continue as long as the planet had resources left to plunder.
They marched down the long metal corridor, footsteps thudding in step. Four soldiers before them, four to the rear. And the Sergeant, a menacing guardian, just a pace behind them.
If there were only something we could do,” Lea said.
“There’s nothing. You can’t worry yourself over it. We’ve done our best. The war is over on Selm-II, the people there will be taken care of.”
“But what about the people on this planet? Are their lives to be stunted and deprived by this useless war …”
“No talking,” the Sergeant shouted, so close behind them that his voice hurt their ears. “I’ll do the talking here. Eyes front. Keep walking.”
And then he spoke again, in a whisper so quiet they could just make it out above the sound of the marching boots.
“We’re not all like Hegedus, you know. He’s a general. He didn’t tell you that. We have over six thousand generals in the army. Make more money than a sergeant does, let me tell you. Don’t turn around or we’re done for! That room was well bugged. I heard everything said. No bugs in this hall. Only a few moments left. People like me, its the army or the factories. Work a nine day week in the factories. No meat, ever. That was a general’s steak you had. It’s got to end. Maybe you people can help. Tell everyone about us. Tell them we need help. Bad.”
There was a large door at the end of the corridor, guarded by two soldiers. The door opened as they approached.
“This is it,” the whispered voice said. “You, Brion Brandd, turn around and say something before we reach the door. I’ll push you. Have your hand over your chest …now!”
Brion took one step, then another. Did the man mean it? Or was this a sadistic trap set by Hegedus? They were almost at the door. It might simply be a plan to kill them both …
“Do it!” Lea hissed. “Or, damn you, I will!”
“You can’t make us leave like this,” Brion shouted, turning on his heel.
“Just shut your mouth!” The Sergeant shouted angrily, slamming his hand into Brion’s chest so hard that he was pushed backwards, falling. “Pick him up! Drag him in! The woman too!”
Rough hands seized them both, hauling them forward through the door and into the large room beyond. Hurling them down onto the scratched metal flooring. The soldiers stepped back, guns pointed as they withdrew.
“Put those on,” the Sergeant ordered, as technicians advanced with a pair of the thick black suits.
They were dressed in silence, the suits sealed, the faceplates snapped shut. Then they were alone in the middle of the metal-plated area. Brion raised his hand in farewell when the force hit them …
They were standing on hard rock, a warm sun shining down on them. Brion whirled about at the sound of a sudden explosion; the Delta Beacon was just a mass of smoking rubble. He stripped off his suit, then helped Lea with hers.
“What happened?” she said, the instant her head was free of the helmet.
“He gave me this,” Brion said, slowly opening his hand. A scrap of folded paper lay on his palm. He opened it slowly and smiled at the row of numbers that had been hastily scribbled there.
“Is that what I think it is?” Lea asked.
“It is. Galactic coordinates. A stellar position relative to the navigational centerpoint. A star, a sun …”
“With a planet named Arao in orbit around it! Aren’t the Cultural Relationships people going to have a fine time designing a social structure that is a little more responsible to the people than the present one.”
“Anything would be an improvement. I want to volunteer for this assignment. This is one I am going to enjoy!”
“Say we. It may be years before it is done, but I promise to be patient. Because at the end of all that waiting I’ll be able to see the expression on Hegedus’s face when we walk into the room.”
The sun hung over the valley, reflecting bright glints from the small tracked vehicle standing there. As they walked over to it the engine started and it vibrated gently, waiting for them to enter
“The last machine,” Brion said as they closed the door and the vehicle started forward.
There was a box on the seat with all of their equipment still intact inside of it, Lea took out the radio and handed it to Brion. “Please call the life ship. Give it urgent instructions so it will be waiting for us when we get out of this place. I’ve had enough of this planet as well as the last one.”
When the canyon emerged onto the grassy plain the silver needle of the spacecraft was standing there before them. The robot car stopped and the engine died away into silence.
After all the centuries of destruction, the war was finally done.