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Read Ebook: Off Course by Reynolds Mack Freas Kelly Illustrator
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Ebook has 101 lines and 5941 words, and 3 pages
"Yes, sir," Larry Dermott said. "I just got a report on the radio that the governor is on his way, sir. How about him?"
The general muttered something under his breath. Then, "When the governor arrives, let me know; otherwise, nobody gets through!"
Dameri Tass said, "Faith, and what goes on?"
"Yes, sir," Dermott said. "He had some kind of a machine. He put it over Tim's head and seconds later he could talk."
"Nonsense!" the general snapped.
Further discussion was interrupted by the screaming arrival of several motorcycle patrolmen followed by three heavily laden patrol cars. Overhead, pursuit planes zoomed in and began darting about nervously above the field.
Dameri Tass was hurried, via helicopter, to Washington. There he disappeared for several days, being held incommunicado while White House, Pentagon, State Department and Congress tried to figure out just what to do with him.
Never in the history of the planet had such a furor arisen. Thus far, no newspapermen had been allowed within speaking distance. Administration higher-ups were being subjected to a volcano of editorial heat but the longer the space alien was discussed the more they viewed with alarm the situation his arrival had precipitated. There were angles that hadn't at first been evident.
Obviously he was from some civilization far beyond that of Earth's. That was the rub. No matter what he said, it would shake governments, possibly overthrow social systems, perhaps even destroy established religious concepts.
But they couldn't keep him under wraps indefinitely.
It was the United Nations that cracked the iron curtain. Their demands that the alien be heard before their body were too strong and had too much public opinion behind them to be ignored. The White House yielded and the date was set for the visitor to speak before the Assembly.
Excitement, anticipation, blanketed the world. Shepherds in Sinkiang, multi-millionaires in Switzerland, fakirs in Pakistan, gauchos in the Argentine were raised to a zenith of expectation. Panhandlers debated the message to come with pedestrians; jinrikisha men argued it with their passengers; miners discussed it deep beneath the surface; pilots argued with their co-pilots thousands of feet above.
It was the most universally awaited event of the ages.
And nine-tenths of the population of Earth stood ready and willing to be guided. The other tenth liked things as they were and were quite convinced that the space envoy would upset their applecarts.
Viljalmar Andersen, Secretary-General of the U.N., was to introduce the space emissary. "Can you give me an idea at all of what he is like?" he asked nervously.
President McCord was as upset as the Dane. He shrugged in agitation. "I know almost as little as you do."
Sir Alfred Oxford protested, "But my dear chap, you've had him for almost two weeks. Certainly in that time--"
"What happened?" Sir Alfred asked.
The President showed embarrassment. "He used some rather ripe Irish profanity on us, rolled over, and went back to sleep."
Viljalmar Andersen asked, "Well, what happened yesterday?"
"We actually haven't had time to question him. Among other things, there's been some controversy about whose jurisdiction he comes under. The State Department claims the Army shouldn't--"
"The Secret Service reports he spent the day whistling Mother Machree and playing with his dog, cat and mouse."
"Dog, cat and mouse? I say!" blurted Sir Alfred.
The President was defensive. "He had to have some occupation, and he seems to be particularly interested in our animal life. He wanted a horse but compromised for the others. I understand he insists all three of them come with him wherever he goes."
"I wish we knew what he was going to say," Andersen worried.
"Here he comes," said Sir Alfred.
The alien frowned worriedly. "Sure," he said, "and what kin all this be? Is it some ordinance I've been after breakin'?"
McCord, Sir Alfred and Andersen hastened to reassure him and made him comfortable in a chair.
Viljalmar Andersen faced the thousands in the audience and held up his hands, but it was ten minutes before he was able to quiet the cheering, stamping delegates from all Earth.
Finally: "Fellow Terrans, I shall not take your time for a lengthy introduction of the envoy from the stars. I will only say that, without doubt, this is the most important moment in the history of the human race. We will now hear from the first being to come to Earth from another world."
He turned and gestured to Dameri Tass who hadn't been paying overmuch attention to the chairman in view of some dog and cat hostilities that had been developing about his feet.
But now the alien's purplish face faded to a light blue. He stood and said hoarsely. "Faith, an' what was that last you said?"
Viljalmar Andersen repeated, "We will now hear from the first being ever to come to Earth from another world."
The face of the alien went a lighter blue. "Sure, an' ye wouldn't jist be frightenin' a body, would ye? You don't mean to tell me this planet isn't after bein' a member of the Galactic League?"
Andersen's face was blank. "Galactic League?"
Sir Alfred was on his feet. "I don't understand! Do you mean you aren't an envoy from another planet?"
Dameri Tass held his head in his hands and groaned. "An envoy, he's sayin', and meself only a second-rate collector of specimens for the Carthis zoo."
He straightened and started off the speaker's stand. "Sure, an' I must blast off immediately."
Things were moving fast for President McCord but already an edge of relief was manifesting itself. Taking the initiative, he said, "Of course, of course, if that is your desire." He signaled to the bodyguard who had accompanied the alien to the assemblage.
A dull roar was beginning to emanate from the thousands gathered in the tremendous hall, murmuring, questioning, disbelieving.
Viljalmar Andersen felt that he must say something. He extended a detaining hand. "Now you are here," he said urgently, "even though by mistake, before you go can't you give us some brief word? Our world is in chaos. Many of us have lost faith. Perhaps ..."
Dameri Tass shook off the restraining hand. "Do I look daft? Begorry, I should have been a-knowin' something was queer. All your weapons and your strange ideas. Faith, I wouldn't be surprised if ye hadn't yet established a planet-wide government. Sure, an' I'll go still further. Ye probably still have wars on this benighted world. No wonder it is ye haven't been invited to join the Galactic League an' take your place among the civilized planets."
He hustled from the rostrum and made his way, still surrounded by guards, to the door by which he had entered. The dog and the cat trotted after, undismayed by the furor about them.
They arrived about four hours later at the field on which he'd landed, and the alien from space hurried toward his craft, still muttering. He'd been accompanied by a general and by the President, but all the way he had refrained from speaking.
He scurried from the car and toward the spacecraft.
President McCord said, "You've forgotten your pets. We would be glad if you would accept them as--"
They followed him to the spacecraft. Just before entering, he spotted the bedraggled horse that had been present on his landing.
A longing expression came over his highly colored face. "Jist one thing," he said. "Faith now, were they pullin' my leg when they said you were after ridin' on the back of those things?"
The President looked at the woebegone nag. "It's a horse," he said, surprised. "Man has been riding them for centuries."
Dameri Tass shook his head. "Sure, an' 'twould've been my makin' if I could've taken one back to Carthis." He entered his vessel.
The others drew back, out of range of the expected blast, and watched, each with his own thoughts, as the first visitor from space hurriedly left Earth.
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