Page:Fantastic Universe (1956-10; vol. 8, no. 3).djvu/31

48 sions and ideals of the race creating it. You tipped your hand right off the bat by the irrational insistence on putting the control room of the ship against the keel plate.

"You couldn't tell me why. It just had to be that way, that's all. And any other form of design scared the daylights out of you. Simply because for a good many thousands of generations your entire culture had been built on the principle of protecting the head. This is so strong you demand that it be carried out even in your machines—and you didn't know why!"

The tips of sinew quivered as if Sleth Forander were fighting to restrain their power. George tried to ignore their closeness and went on. "There's a principle here," he said. "A very basic principle. Risk. You have to take a risk every time to take a step ahead. Risk to your vulnerable parts, whether it be in your physical body or your secret dreams.

"We learned that a long time ago. You have never learned it, because you demanded one hundred percent protection and no risk at all to your vulnerable spot.

"It's engraved on your souls so deeply that I doubt anything can ever rub it out. I doubt that Ragalians will ever learn how to turn about and face the stars, or whatever it is that beckons them. You don't have the courage, or you'd have long ago discovered you can't back your way along an upward trail.

"If you think I'm wrong, however," he went on more quietly, "now's your chance to prove it. We haven't built your ships the way you asked for them. We've put the control center up front, where it belongs. If you've got guts enough, take these ships and face the stars as you try to make your way among them. I don't think you have. I don't think you've got the guts to turn around and walk forward, facing the world, instead of backing from it!"

He saw the attack coming and leaped from it. He knew he didn't have a chance if those arms reached him with their slashing tips. But Sleth Forander didn't pursue. He stood still in the center of the room, crying a chill, wailing cry of doom while ripples of movement and changing hue moved over the surface of his body.

"Go!" he shrieked finally. "Go! Kill— Kill—"

George reached the door of the airlock and snatched at it, sealing himself in while the Ragalian collapsed on the other side of the transparent panel.

He removed the suit outside the chamber and hung it up. When he looked back Sleth Forander was still collapsed on the floor. He didn't know what to do. Certainly he'd touched off a long-delayed time bomb all right, but he hadn't counted on such a physical reaction. It couldn't be bad enough to—

He put the ugly thought out of his mind and called the physician