The Dueling Machine Page 6

to planetships, a tourist resort, meteorological station,communications center, scientific laboratory, astronomicalobservatory, medical haven for allergy and cardiac patients, andmilitary base. It was, in reality, a good-sized city with its ownmarkets, its own local government, and its own way of life.

  Dr. Leoh had just stepped off the debarking ramp of the starship fromSzarno. The trip there had been pointless and fruitless. But he hadgone anyway, in the slim hope that he might find something wrong withthe dueling machine that had been used to murder a man.

  A shudder went through him as he edged along the automated customsscanners and paper-checkers. What kind of people could these men ofKerak be? To actually kill a human being in cold blood; to plot andplan the death of a fellow man. Worse than barbaric. Savage.

  He felt tired as he left customs and took the slideway to theplanetary shuttle ships. Halfway there, he decided to check at thecommunications desk for messages. That Star Watch officer that SirHarold had promised him a week ago should have arrived by now.

  The communications desk consisted of a small booth that contained theoutput printer of a communications computer and an attractive youngdark-haired girl. Automation or not, Leoh thought smilingly, therewere certain human values that transcended mere efficiency.

  A lanky, thin-faced youth was half-leaning on the booth's counter,trying to talk to the girl. He had curly blond hair and crystal blueeyes; his clothes consisted of an ill-fitting pair of slacks andtunic. A small traveler's kit rested on the floor at his feet.

  "So, I was sort of, well, thinking ... maybe somebody might, uh, showme around ... a little," he was stammering to the girl. "I've neverbeen, uh, here ..."

  "It's the most beautiful planet in the galaxy," the girl was saying."Its cities are the finest."

  "Yes ... well, I was sort of thinking ... that is, I know we just, uh,met a few minutes ago ... but, well, maybe ... if you have a free dayor so coming up ... maybe we could, uh, sort of--".

  She smiled coolly. "I have two days off at the end of the week, butI'll be staying here at the station. There's so much to see and dohere, I very seldom leave."

  "Oh--"

  "You're making a mistake," Leoh interjected dogmatically, "If you havesuch a beautiful planet for your homeworld, why in the name of thegods of intellect don't you go down there and enjoy it? I'll wager youhaven't been out in the natural beauty and fine cities you spoke ofsince you started working here on the station."

  "Why, you're right," she said, surprised.

  "You see? You youngsters are all alike. You never think further thanthe ends of your noses. You should return to the planet, young lady,and see the sunshine again. Why don't you visit the University at thecapital city? Plenty of open space and greenery, lots of sunshine andavailable young men!"

  Leoh was grinning broadly, and the girl smiled back at him. "Perhaps Iwill," she said.

  "Ask for me when you get to the University. I'm Dr. Leoh. I'll see toit that you're introduced to some of the girls and gentlemen of yourown age."

  "Why ... thank you, doctor. I'll do it this week end."

  "Good. Now then, any messages for me? Anyone aboard the stationlooking for me?"

  The girl turned and tapped a few keys on the computer's console. A rowof lights flicked briefly across the console's face. She turned backto Leoh:

  "No, sir, I'm sorry. No message and no one has asked for you."

  "Hm-m-m. That's strange. Well, thank you ... and I'll expect to seeyou at the end of this week."

  The girl smiled a farewell. Leoh started to walk away from the booth,back toward the slideway. The young man took a step toward him,stumbled on his own traveling kit, and staggered across the floor fora half-dozen steps before regaining his balance. Leoh turned and sawthat the youth's face bore a somewhat ridiculous expression of mixedindecision and curiosity.

  "Can I help you?" Leoh asked, stopping at the edge of the movingslideway.

  "How ... how did you do that, sir?"

  "Do what?"

  "Get that girl to agree to visit the university. I've been talking toher for half an hour, and, well, she wouldn't even look straight atme."

  Leoh broke into a chuckle. "Well, young man, to begin with, you weremuch too flustered. It made you appear overanxious. On the other hand,I am at an age where I can be strictly platonic. She was on guardagainst you, but she knows she has very little to fear from me."

  "I see ... I think."

  "Well," Leoh said, gesturing toward the slideway, "I suppose this iswhere we go our separate ways."

  "Oh, no, sir. I'm going with you. That is, I mean, you _are_ Dr. Leoh,aren't you?"

  "Yes, I am. And you must be--" Leoh hesitated. _Can this be a StarWatch officer?_ he wondered.

  The youth stiffened to attention and for an absurd flash of a second,Leoh thought he was going to salute. "I am Junior Lieutenant Hector,sir; on special detached duty from the cruiser SW4-J188, home basePerseus Alpha VI."

  "I see," Leoh replied. "Um-m-m ... is Hector your first name or yourlast?"

  "Both, sir."

  _I should have guessed_, Leoh told himself. Aloud, he said, "Well,lieutenant, we'd better get to the shuttle before it leaves withoutus."

  * * * * *

  They took to the slideway. Half a second later, Hector jumped off anddashed back to the communications desk for his traveling kit. Hehurried back to Leoh bumping into seven bewildered citizens of variousdescriptions and nearly breaking both his legs when he tripped as heran back onto the moving slideway. He went down on his face, sprawledacross two lanes moving at different speeds, and needed the assistanceof several persons before he was again on his feet and standing besideLeoh.

  "I ... I'm sorry to cause all that, uh, commotion, sir."

  "That's all right. You weren't hurt, were you?"

  "Uh, no ... I don't think so. Just embarrassed."

  Leoh said nothing. They rode the slideway in silence through the busystation and out to the enclosed berths where the planetary shuttleswere docked. They boarded one of the ships and found a pair of seats.

  "Just how long have you been with Star Watch, lieutenant?"

  "Six weeks, sir. Three weeks aboard a starship bringing me out toPerseus Alpha VI, a week at the planetary base there, and two weeksaboard the cruiser SW4-J188. That is, it's been six weeks since Ireceived my commission. I've been at the Academy ... the Star WatchAcademy on Mars ... for four years."

  "You got through the Academy in four years?"

  "That's the regulation time, sir."

  "Yes, I know."

  The ship eased out of its berth. There was a moment of free-fall, thenthe drive engine came on and the grav-field equilibrated.

  "Tell me, lieutenant, how did you get picked for this assignment?"

  "I wish I knew, sir," Hector said, his lean face twisting into a puzzledfrown. "I was working out a program for the navigation officer ... aboardthe cruiser. I'm pretty good at that ... I can work out computer programsin my head, mostly. Mathematics was my best subject at the Academy--"

  "Interesting."

  "Yes, well, anyway, I was working out this program when the captainhimself came on deck and started shaking my hand telling me that I wasbeing sent on special duty on Acquatainia by direct orders of theCommander-in-Chief. He seemed very happy ... the captain, that is."

  "He was no doubt pleased to see you get such an unusual assignment,"Leoh said tactfully.

  "I'm not sure," Hector said truthfully. "I think he regarded me assome sort of a problem, sir. He had me on a different duty-berthpractically every day I was on board the ship."

  "Well now," Leoh changed the subject, "what do you know aboutpsychonics?"

  "About what, sir?"

  "Eh ... electroencephalography?"

  Hector looked blank.

  "Psychology, perhaps?" Leoh suggested, hopefully, "Physiology?Computer molectronics?"

  "I'm pretty good at mathematics!"

  "Yes, I know. Did you, by any chance, recei
ve any training indiplomatic affairs?"

  "At the Star Watch Academy? No, sir."

  Leah ran a hand through his thinning hair. "Then why did the StarWatch select you for this job? I must confess, lieutenant, that Ican't understand the workings of a military organization."

  Hector shook his head ruefully, "Neither do I, sir."

  VII

  The next week was an enervatingly slow one for Leoh, evenly dividedbetween tedious checking of each component of the dueling machine, andshameless ruses to keep Hector as