Stopover on Perusha
ear God, what the hell is that?" The helmsman/navigator uttered when
an unusual multi-colored line appeared on the view screen. "Captain?"
Fren Steere turned his attention from a conversation with the ships'
first officer and focused on the image. The line roiled and churned as
it approached the intergalactic freighter, its color transmuting
rapidly. The closer the line came, the larger it grew.
"It's a shock wave," Steere shouted. "Judging by the size it's probably from a nova." He turned to number one. "Glaze, sound general alarm. Get everyone into protective gear. Judging by the speed of that things' approach, we haven't much time."
Though the freighter, Galacia II, was state of the art, there was no record of any ship in its class ever having encountered a shock wave of such magnitude. Without experience to guide him, Steere had to guess how well the hull and booms could handle so great a stress and take an appropriate action based on that judgement. The crew, helmeted and padded, waited for the wave to strike. Tension on the ship crackled.
When the wave struck, it tossed the Galacia II around like flotsam caught in a tidal wave. Anything not tied down became a weapon; a deadly missile that could maim or kill on contact. Crewman not strapped at their post were certain to be lost. The helm would not respond, leaving the craft to the whim of the force. Just as suddenly as the wave struck, it moved on leaving a buffeted craft and battered crew in its wake.
After assessing the storm damage, Steere asked the navigator to fix their location so a revised course could be plotted for the Galacia's original destination, Deneb IV.
"That's going to be very difficult, sir," the navigator informed him.
"That wave must have carried us one hell of a distance because I can't spot a single star or constellation that's familiar."
"Exactly what are you trying to say, helm," Steere asked.
"The only other way I can put it sir, is, we are very, very lost."
"Nice! Very nice," Steere mumbled, then ordered probes be launched. "Set a course as near to the one we were on when the wave hit," he told the helmsman/navigator. "We'll just have to wing it till we get some better information to work with."
"Wing it sir? What's that?""
"An old Earth expression that means take a guess!"
One of the probes radioed the location of a planet containing what appeared to be a hospitable atmosphere and Steere ordered a course be set for the new coordinates. He wanted to make landfall as quickly as possible.
Fren Steere left the command seat and moved to his navigator's console. "Just how much further is it to this planet?" he asked while studying the readouts.
"About three parsecs, sir."
Steere nodded, then strolled to the observation port. He stared out into vast blackness of space decorated with thousands of red, blue, yellow, gold, and white points of light.
The first mate, Tom Glaze, walked over and stood beside him. "It's on the left 12 degrees, sir, fourth planet from that red dwarf there," he pointed.
Steere nodded. "After what the men have gone through they need the diversion of a shore leave. I think just planting their feet on soil of any kind will be regenerating to their nerves and a restorative to their humor. If there is an intelligent species in residence, so much the better."
"That may be more than we can hope for," Glaze said. "This appears to be a totally uncharted area of the galaxy. We are lucky the probe found anything at all, much less an inhabited planet."
As the Galacia II drew closer to the planet, more data were gathered by the ships' scanners adding to the store of information transmitted by the drone. The planet itself was 8500 miles in diameter, large for a solid satellite of a Dwarf Red, 78 percent verdant land mass, and surrounded by an envelope of eighteen percent Oxygen with Nitrogen and other inert gasses making up the balance. The mean temperature at the equator hovered around 95 degrees Fahrenheit while the poles were sub zero.
The scans disclosed oceans, forests, rivers, mountain ranges, plains and plateaus. There were even weather patterns that resembled those of Earth. Actually, everything about the planet except for the size reminded Fren of Earth. The only disappointment was there was no sign of life other than the very lush vegetation that covered the rich soil of the planet. Glaze threw down the print- outs of the data and snorted through his nose in Steere's direction.
"Just like Arcturus five," he said. "That's where my family comes from."
During a general meeting of the crew it was decided the most logical landing site was near the equator, close to the shoreline of the planet's largest ocean. A line of hills ran parallel to the coastline, from five to twelve miles inland, for hundreds of miles which made the landing site easy to defend should they encounter anything hostile the scanners might have missed.
"Fat chance of anything like that happening," Glaze groaned as he studied the most recent readouts of the scan. "According to this, there isn't anything alive anywhere on the planet, except for the plants and trees that is. It's the same results we got from the long range scans, only more definite. There's nobody, humanoid or animal living on the planet."
The landing was flawless. After touchdown the crew worked feverishly to verify the data gathered concerning the atmospheric envelope and the nature of the flora preparatory to disembarking the craft. When the science officer gave his approval, the men were given leave to disembark the ship and set up camp on solid ground.
"I don't want anyone wandering this area alone or to get out of visual range, at least not for a day or two," Steere cautioned. "Not until the explorer crews have studied the area and given us an all clear," he said. "Even vegetation has been known to be hostile on some planets." Steere remained aboard along with Glaze and a skeleton crew to keep the systems up and running and accomplish those repairs made necessary by the shock wave. He was alone in his cabin, reading, when the intercom buzzer jarred him from his lassitude. He punched the intercom button.
"Yes?"
"Captain," a voice crackled," I got something here I figure you'd want to know immediately."
"Well, what is it?" Annoyance crept into Steere's voice, underscoring a growing irritability.
"Sir, Able and Charley patrol are back, but Baker is still ten klicks west of the ship, near the line of hills.
"That is the urgency you mentioned?"
"No, sir. The fact is, they've found signs of life, sir. It seems there may be something more than vegetation living on the planet." Steere snapped to full alert, his mind racing. Urgent news, hell. Electric! "Signal them to stay put and send a homing signal. Inform them we're on our way."
Steere and Glaze leapt from the air car almost before it came to a halt and joined the patrol leader who's eyes were glued to his binoculars, focused on an object across a valley and halfway up a foothill. When Steere reached him, he handed over the binoculars and pointed.
"There, sir. Thirteen degrees west, elevation 26 percent, set into that glade of trees."
Steere focused on the glade. A dwelling came into view, small, virtually indiscernible, its' color that of the surrounding verdure . He thought he made out movement within the structure, then caught his breath when its door opened and a manlike creature emerged and took a seat on a stump in front of the structure. He handed back the binoculars, issued a few whispered orders to the patrol leader, then motioned for Glaze to follow him. They entered the air car and took off across the valley.
As the vehicle reached the glade and settled, the humanoid rose from his seat and approached the pair. Obviously a man, he was dressed in a pure white, flowing toga-like garment. His feet were sandaled and his very long, white hair seemed never to have been shorn.
"Welcome," he called out. "Welcome to Perusha."
The pair stopped in their tracks, amazed to hear the greeting. "How is it you speak our language?" Steere asked when the shock passed. "I speak all tongues," the man responded, "Know all cultures." Steere moved to introduce himself and Tom, his hand extended. "I am called..."
"Fren Steere," the man finished, "and your number one is Tom Glaze. I am called Ain Soph." He took Fren's hand, then Tom's. "The questions the two of you have will be answered in time, but for now, if you will allow me to accompany you in that wonderful machine, I would be pleased to give you a tour of a small portion of Perusha." Not waiting for an answer, Ain Soph entered the Air Car and settled into the cushions of the rear seat. Fren and Tom shared a look. Steere shrugged his shoulders and they entered the car after Ain Soph.
"What direction?" Tom asked as he brought the machine to life.
"South, along that line of hills," Ain Soph pointed. "While we cruise I will attempt to describe Perusha to you."
"Captain, are you O.K.?" a voice crackled through the communication speaker.
"Yes, fine," Steere answered, his voice slightly distant. "Head on back to the ship," he ordered, his voice more authoritarian. "We'll follow you soon." The car lifted from the ground and turned south.
"As the two of you can see, everything appears as you remember your own home planets to be, as it does to every member of your crew. Every tree, hill, stream, building, reminds you and your crew of your home and the people you remember. That is the wonder, and the danger of this planet."
As the air car sped on, homes began to appear on the sides of the hills, nestled in the valleys, and along the banks of a stream that flowed through the hills to the vast sea.
"Observe that not one of the homes faces another, nor are they built close to each other. This is the personality of Perusha, here and throughout the planet."
Steere and Glaze glanced at each other, then Fren turned to look into Ain Soph's eyes. "Why?"
"In good time, captain," Ain Soph said, "In good time."
The communicator crackled again. "Captain, you'd better get back to the ship, fast. We got troubles here in paradise."
"On our way," Steere barked, then signaled Glaze to head back. He turned to Ain Soph. "Sorry I've got to cut this tour short, but there seems to be a crisis back at the ship. We'll drop you on the way." Soph nodded his understanding.
"We shall meet again tomorrow," he said.
When Steere and Glaze stepped from the Air Car he was met by the Day Watch Officer, at that moment a very nervous young man.
"Sir, I apologize but there's something going on around here that I just can't explain."
"Go on."
"Well, sir, it's the men. Every one of `em swears he's only a few miles from home, or his girl's home, or a relatives. It's all I can do to keep them from busting ranks and going AWOL. I swear, sir, this place's giving me the willies."
Steere nodded his understanding. He gazed out at the terrain.
"You all right sir?" Glaze asked. "You look like you've just seen a ghost."
Fren shook his head and ran the back of his hand across his eyes. "I have!" He turned to the O.D. "Set up an electric perimeter and get all non-essential personnel back on board. Now! Tom, help him. Make sure nobody who isn't one hundred percent upstairs stays outside the ship.. When all's secure, see me in my cabin." He turned and entered the ship.
"We did roll-call as you suggested," Glaze reported. "Three are missing; Goldbart, Cecemon, and Braak. They must have sneaked off before the perimeter guard line was set up." Glaze sat in a cabin chair and ran his fingers through his hair. "I don't understand what's happening, sir. What's gotten into the crew?"
"They see home," Fren Steere said.. "Or what they think is home," he added more to himself than the mate. He looked directly into Tom Glaze's eyes. "The truth. Haven't you thought of jumping ship and going home? Wasn't there someone out there you thought was someone you knew?"
No answer, just an almost imperceptible nod.
Steere smiled. "Me too," he confessed. "Below, earlier, you said I looked like I saw a ghost. I did. My ex wife. Oh, I know it was just some form of hallucination but for that moment it was so real, so," he paused and gathered his thoughts, "desirable. I wanted to walk off and go with her to her place just over that hill, wherever it led."
"You never mentioned you were married."
"Never felt a need to," Steere said. "She was beautiful, smart, much smarter than me, and as vicious as a lioness protecting her young. Nobody was safe from her razor sharp tongue or her manipulations. I don't believe she ever did a thing in her life unless she could gain some advantage from it.
"One night I got back from a journey sooner than expected and rushed home to be with her. She wasn't in the house. I waited for hours, then I guess I fell asleep. I woke to the sound of her key in the lock but left the lights off so I could surprise her when she came in. The door swung open and I flicked on the lights, but the surprise was on me. I just packed and left; never looked back." Steere had a far away look on his face. "God she was beautiful."
Glaze shook his head. "What happened to her?"
"She was killed in a space runner accident."
"So how could you see her here, on this planet, Perusha is it?"
Steere shook his head. "Damned if I know. This planet is a poisonous place. Something here plays tricks on the mind of any who land on its surface. My thoughts are we get off of this planet the second all repairs are completed."
Tom nodded. "Agreed. Shall I double the repair crews?"
"Yes, and make three shifts. We go around the clock on this one."
Glaze rose to leave. "And Tom, keep everyone off the ground. Leave only your most mentally tough out there or we will lose more."
Morning roll call found three more crew members missing. None of the perimeter guards had left their post so it couldn't be determined when they might have jumped ship. Steere spent the morning spurring the repair crew to redouble their efforts, pushing himself and them to their limits and beyond. Glaze called him to the bridge.
Fren got to the bridge within minutes of the call. "What? Your message sounded urgent."
Tom pointed to the view screen. "We're getting company." The lone figure of Ain Soph was trudging toward the ship, crooked staff in hand, toga flowing in the gentle breeze conjured up by the planet's weather system. "Maybe we can get some insight into what's going on," he said.
The pair moved through the hatch and out onto the ground. Steere motioned for the guards to give them a discreet distance.
Soph ignored the proffered hands of greeting and suggested the three retire to Fren's cabin `for the sake of privacy' as he put it. Once there Ain Soph ignored any pretense of politeness and dove directly to the point.
"You have lost six of your crew in two days," he said matter-of-factly.
"That is just the beginning. If you remain on this planet your losses will most assuredly grow." Fren was about to voice his thoughts but Ain Soph raised his hand to stop them before they were uttered. "Soon, Captain, but please allow me to finish. You must flee this planet with all haste. But beware, for running from Perusha may be the same as running from yourselves, your past; your now. You may find that though you escape, you will return.
"You, Fren Steere, have seen the face of your ex wife, and you, Tom Glaze, the face of an uncle you considered unwholesome. The two of you thought them dead, and in the plane of your existence they are. Here on Perusha they live on. All who live on Perusha are the Godless. In their lives, as you knew them, they lived as if there would be no future. They made their way through life believing in nothing - giving even less. They are the Perushim; those separate from the rest of mankind. "On your brief excursion with me I pointed out that every dwelling faced away from its neighbor. That is the way of the Perushim. They do nothing for each other unless they can get something in return. In their hearts there is no charity, no compassion, no humanity. What they do is done merely for personal gain. Brothers and sisters do not speak to each other, nor do parents and children unless to threaten, demand, or make deals.
"On the top of one particular hill there stands a magnificent house of worship for every resident to see, but inside it is hollow, falling into ruin, for the Perushim do not seek, nor believe in a Deity. When still in your plane of existence, this legion of lost souls held no friendships. They recoiled from the kinship of man. They left the security of home and family when there was no more they could get from them. Perusha is what the greedy reap, and where the Godless settle after they leave their plane of consciousness. This is their eternity."
Steere shook his head to clear the thoughts spinning round inside. "You said we should flee, an option we fully intend to exercise as soon as repairs to the ship are finished, but the crewmen who've jumped ship..."
"Won't be aboard," Ain Soph finished the sentence. "There are a few more that may not leave. Time will determine who and how many. Hurry, captain, I warn you." He rose to leave.
"I will not allow one more soul to fall into your grasp," Steere said.
"That is no longer in your hands," Soph said, anger beginning to show in his eyes. "Perhaps it never was, but even were it, there's nothing you can do to stop the inevitable. If the soul is lost, It will return to Perusha."
"I will prevent anyone else from leaving the ship till we are off this - this Hell!"
"Bravely spoken, captain, but useless bravado. Some of us are doomed to the legion of the damned from our birth." Ain Soph rose from his chair.
"What does your name mean?" Glaze asked as Ain Soph made for the hatch.
He stopped and turned to the pair. "There is no end," he said, then was gone.
Steere and Glaze sat in silence, stunned by the revelations about their host planet. It was Fren who finally broke from the trance-like state the pair were in and shook Tom back to consciousness.
"I opt for every man-jack on the ship to assist in the repairs. No sleep till the job is done, then off this hell-hole," he said.
"Right," Glaze agreed. "I'll call up the guards and get them involved on the ship. Perimeter be damned, I'm for leaving yesterday."
The repairs were done at a frenzied pace, ever member of the crew kept busy and away from the ports. View screens were turned off. Perimeter guards were pulled into the ship to join in the work. As soon as repairs were finished, the ship was fired up and launched. There were no further losses among the crew.
Fren and Tom took a sparse dinner in Fren's cabin after launch, and while sharing the meal the voice of Ain Soph filled the cabin.
"You think you have left me behind, captain, but remember, wherever there is man, there are Perushim. You cannot defeat that which you cannot touch, but I must admire the fact that you would try. So, to show I am a fair opponent, I will offer these few hints. Let them be your weapons.
"Man must not live only by bread, but by loving kindness as well," the voice of Ain Soph said. "In your worlds there exists two kinds of people. Those who feel love and those who don't. The Perushim lived with doubt and fear and hatred of their fellow men. They are the loveless. Those who feel no love eat of the bread of bitter spices; envy, greed, ambition, ruthlessness, and selfishness. They grow on it; thrive on it, die with it, then, spend eternity in its embrace.
"Were you to have all the knowledge in the world it would avail you nothing without love for your fellows and the kindness you can bestow. The world of the Perushim is filled with the clever and the educated, but their water is slimy with mistrust and bitter with malice. Return to your worlds and stand firm for good, for justice, and loving kindness. In this way, whatever happiness may lie beyond the next star will be there for you to enjoy. These virtues are their own reward just as hatred and its spices are their own punishment. And pray you never see nor hear me again. You don't want me for a neighbor." Silence returned.
Fren Steere raised his head from the pillow on which it rested and fought to quell the waves of nausea the action initiated. He moaned, cursed, and made an attempt to rise to a sitting position, an action that renewed the nausea, and a throbbing pain emerged in his temples. He grabbed both sides of his head. "Damn," he managed. His eyes focused and settled on the second mate, in uniform, head bandaged, arm in an inflatable cast.
"Report," he grunted.
"After we were struck by the shock wave, you and the Exec. were knocked unconscious. We were tossed about for a while, then the wave moved past us and we floated aimlessly, engines dead, till engineering repaired the damage. We've resumed our original course. Only lost two standard days, sir." He saluted Steere who nodded acknowledgment.
"Damage other than to the engines?"
"Minimal, sir."
"Crew status?"
"Six dead, eleven injured, sir."
Six new Perushim, Steere thought. The ship's doctor stepped into the cabin and ordered Steere to remain at rest for another standard day, an order he was happy to obey. He lay on his bunk and tried to sleep, and think. A knock on the door shook him from his reverie.
"Come," he called out. Tom Glaze entered. "You all right?" Fren asked.
Wren nodded. "You?"
"Headache. Nothing more." Silence, then, "Did you, ah, were you..."
"Have an out of body experience? A dream?"
Steere nodded. "Yes, of, ah..."
"Perusha?"
Steere sat up. The nausea was less severe this time. "We were there, then. It wasn't a dream." The two gazed out the cabin port.
"We are two lucky men," Tom commented.
Steere smiled at his Exec. "Damn lucky!"
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