Dream thief

19

… STAY IN HERE AND don't move," whispered Adjani. "I'll see who it is and get rid of them."

Adjani had changed the access code to the door of his quarters and someone trying to punch in the old code had set off its signal. Spence, going through the drill, stepped inside the sanibooth and closed the panel to a crack so he could hear who it was.

In a moment he heard Adjani sing out, "It's all clear. You can come out."

Feeling like a burglar who had been discovered, he opened the door and crept out. The first thing he saw was Packer's fiery head bobbing excitedly.

"I don't like it," the big scientist was saying. "It's getting out of hand."

"What's up?"

"All we need is a little more time," Adjani explained.

Packer addressed Spence. "I had a visitor today. An inquisitive fellow from the insurance company. You were high on his agenda." "Oh?"

"He was nosing around and found out about your disappearance; thought he'd check it out while he was in the neighborhood."

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him you'd joined a monastery-what do you think I told him?" Packer's jaw thrust forward angrily; his face was flushed and red.

"Hold on. I know you've stretched your neck out as far as it'll go on this. But don't go turtle on us now. A few days more is all we need."

"We're making great progress," Adjani offered.

The scowl on the big man's face dwindled away, soon to be replaced by a slight, impish smirk. "You know, I do believe I twisted the old boy's tail just a bit. It wasn't really necessary, but the guy acted like I'd made off with his precious Dr. Reston. He tried to give me a real professional cross-examination, but I cut him off pretty quick."

Adjani and Spence looked at each other.

"Besides," Packer continued, "this guy gave me the willies. Him in that pneumochair and all shrunken up like that. He looked like a skeleton!"

Packer stared at his listeners. "Hey, what's the matter?-I say something wrong?" …

Two GREAT CURVING HEMISPHERES, blue in the light of a silvery moon, rose up like incandescent mountains-smooth, pale, and surrounded by a zigzagging wall which fell around them in a seamless black barrier. Spence looked and saw a tower, a thin heaven-poised finger, between the two domes shimmering darkly in the moonlight.

He sat on a stone ledge separated from the palace by a deep gorge. Between him and the palace, swinging in the wind rushing out of the chasm, hung an ancient bridge made of twisted rope and wood. He could hear the wind singing through the ropes and saw the frayed ends blowing on the breezes like an old woman's hair. The frail structure creaked as it danced, and the sound was a ghostly falling laughter which echoed away into the inky depths below. In Spence's ears the sound became the voice of his enemy jeering at him, daring him to cross the crevice on that bridge and come to the palace to face him.

He huddled with his hands around his knees, shivering in the chill night air, but then rose and went to the swaying bridge, gripping the frayed ropes with his hands and placing one foot cautiously on the footboards. At his first step the bridge bounced wildly. Spence drew back.

In a moment he worked up his courage again and stepped gingerly out onto the bridge. The laughter seemed to well up from the chasm below as he heard the roar of a crashing cataract, like the sound of an angry beast thrashing in its dark den. He closed his ears to the sounds and kept his eyes on the far side and walked on step by cautious step.

He reached the middle of the bridge and felt the sharp winds buffeting him, rustling his clothing. Then everything was still; the night sounds faded and a gentle warmth seeped into the air.

A new sound reached his ears-the sobbing of a young woman. He looked up and saw Ari standing on the far side of the brink. Her tears fell in liquid gems and sparkled on her cheeks. She was crying and lifting up her arms to him. Her long yell m, hair was white in the moonlight and it drifted like moondust.

"Ari!" Spence cried and heard the name repeated again and again far below him.

He raised his foot and put it down and felt himself step into the air. His foot failed to touch wood and he fell, plunging headlong down into the gorge, spinning helplessly down and down. He screamed in terror and anger and saw the form of his love turn into that of a wizened old man who peered over the edge and laughed at him. The rocks rang with laughter, and he shut his eyes and screamed to keep out the hideous sound.

Then he was on his knees in a dirty, stinking street, narrow between the crumbling facades of buildings. The moon shone between the buildings from above and he could see far down the canyon-street to where it ended at a broad gray river.

He began walking toward the river and felt a pang of terror clutch at his heart. He looked behind him and saw nothing, though he heard the rush of muffled feet.

He started to run.

The feet ran with him and he saw on either side of him dark shapes flitting by to become lost in shadow. He peered over his shoulder and saw a churning black mass sweeping ever nearer to him.

He came to a courtyard bounded on all sides by a high wall. He stood in the center of the yard on crumbling stone, one hand pressed to his side, breathing hard and feeling the burning stab of pain in his side. All at once he heard them, his pursuers, coming down the narrow street behind him. He turned and saw hundreds of narrow yellow eyes and the curved white slivers of bared teeth. He heard an enormous slavering growl tearing up out of a hundred throats as the dogs sprang on him, their jaws snapping, hackles raised, ears flattened to their angular heads.

The dogs leapt as one and he felt himself sinking. The stone was cool against his cheek and he heard the ripping of his clothing and flesh as the beasts lunged for him. He felt their teeth in him and the white-hot searing pain… …

"SPENCER, HEAR ME Now. This is Adjani. If you can bear me, say 'yes."' "Yes.

"You are dreaming, Spence. It is only a dream. Do you under stand?"

"A dream."

"Don't fight the dream, let it come. In a moment you will awaken and remember your dream. I want you to remember it." "Remember." The word was soft and mushy. Spence was deep in his dream.

Adjani knelt close beside him, his lips to his ear. He spoke slowly and with authority, as a hypnotist would speak to his subject.

"Spence, I want you to wake up now. I'm going to count to three, and when I reach that number I want you to wake up. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

Adjani counted off the numbers and Spence awakened to see his friend standing over him.

"Adjani!" Fear and relief mingled in his voice. "I was dreaming! "

"Yes, I know. I heard you cry out in your sleep." "You woke me up-"

Adjani nodded.

"It was terrible. Horrible. Oh!" Spence made to rise up, but Adjani placed a hand on his chest and held him down.

"Tell me about it. Quickly, before you forget."

"I won't forget this one." He proceeded to tell his dream in vivid detail.

"Yes, very frightening," murmured Adjani when he had finished.

"Very. I remembered, Adjani. I remembered everything. I've never been able to do that before."

"I gave you a hypnotic suggestion. I thought it might help us." All at once the significance of what Adjani was saying broke in on Spence's sleep-dulled brain. "The Dream Thief!"

Adjani nodded slowly.

"They know I'm alive. They're trying to get to me again."

"Was there anything in your dream that might give a clue to who they are or what they might want from you?"

"I don't know-it all seems rather bizarre. Dogs and castles and bridges… it doesn't mean a thing to me." He shuddered involuntarily as he remembered the flashing, slashing teeth tearing into him and heard again the sickening crunch of his own bones. "But is was so real! I've had lucid dreams before, but they were nothing like this. It was really happening."

"Maybe I shouldn't have awakened you so soon."

"I'm glad you did! They would have killed me!"

Adjani glanced at him sharply.

"Hold it!" Spence protested. "You don't think they actually could-no, it's impossible! You can't kill someone with a dream. Can you?" …

THE SNUB-NOSED TASER GUN seemed very natural in Tickler's hand. He held it steadily and surely; there was no hint of nervousness or jitters. It occurred to Spence that he had handled the weapon before under similar circumstances.

Spence had been waiting in Adjani's room for Adjani to return. "I'll fetch Ari and be back in a few minutes and we'll go over our plans for the trip down tomorrow," he had said and slipped out.

When he heard the signal Spence answered the door and found, not Ari and Adjani, but Kurt and Tickler, wearing the read and black jumpsuits and caps of the GM security force.

"You!"

"You have led us a merry chase, Reston." Tickler smiled a thin, snaky smile. "But now you're coming with us."

"I'm doing no such thing," said Spence. Then Tickler had drawn the taser – a mean little gadget which expelled a tiny electrified dart, instantly rendering its victim paralyzed and unconscious for two or three minutes.

Generally speaking there was no escaping a man armed with a taser.

"You will do as I say from now on, Reston." Tickler mouthed the words with special relish. It was clear he enjoyed his role as tough guy.

"Put that thing away, Tickler. Are you crazy?"

"Not crazy, doctor. Concerned. We've been very worried about you. When you didn't return from Mars we thought we'd lost you. It turns out that we were wrong. Happily so. Now that you're back we mean to hold onto you for a while."

"What is this all about? What do you want with me?" Spence hoped to keep them occupied until Adjani returned. It was his only hope.

"You are inquisitive, aren't you. But we have no time for questions now. There's someone waiting to meet you."

"Where are you taking me? I demand to know!" Spence shouted shrilly.

"Your demands mean nothing. Keep your voice down or we'll carry you out of here. Come on-" The taser waved him ahead. "Get moving."

"Just a minute. I need my shoes." Spence indicated his stockinged feet.

"Get his shoes for him," said Tickler. "Only you won't really be needing them once we get where we're going."

Spence took the shoes and sat down at Adjani's desk. He placed both shoes deliberately on top of the computer keyboard. He took the first shoe and put it on. When he picked up the second shoe he deftly tapped the ComCen key; the monitor flashed on across the room. Neither of the intruders noticed; their backs were to the screen.

Spence stood and said, "So, you're taking me down to the docking bay, huh? Then where? Not back to Mars, I hope." As he spoke he pushed the DICTATE key and hoped that Adjani had the machine programmed the same way he did.

"No place as far as all that," answered Tickler. "You'll find the trip anything but boring, I assure you." He jeered the nose of the gun toward the door. "Now, get going. And I warn you, Reston-don't try anything or I will make you very uncomfortable. We have a vehicle waiting outside."

"Nothing but the best for the condemned man," said Spence. He hoped the machine had picked up their conversation.

"You're taking this very well," said Tickler. "I hope you have abandoned any notions of escape. I will not hesitate to use this on you. I've used it before."

"I bet you have."

Millen led the way into the corridor and took the driver's seat of a small electric car. Tickler and Spence sat facing one another in the back as the open vehicle moved noiselessly away with its red light flashing to warn oncoming pedestrians to stand aside. …

"HE'S GONE," SAID ADJANI as soon as he entered the room. "Something's happened."

Ari looked stricken. "You mean they've taken him?" "Right. But maybe we can still catch them."

"Look!" Ari pointed to the ComCen screen on the wall. "Bravo! He left us a message." Adjani leapt to the computer console and tapped in instructions for an audio replay.

This is what they heard:

"… far as all that. You'll find the trip anything but boring, I assure you. Now get going. And I warn you, Reston-don't try anything or I will make you very uncomfortable. We have a vehicle waiting outside."

Then they heard, "Nothing but the best for the condemned man. "

There was a rustle and the faraway sound of people moving in the room. The first voice, faded and indistinct as the party left the room, said, "You're taking this very well. I hope you have abandoned…" The rest was lost as the portal slid shut.

Ari turned wide, horror-filled eyes upon Adjani. But her voice was calm and steady. "Do they mean to kill him?"

"I don't think so. Not yet, anyway. His reference to the condemned man was to let us know that he was under armed guard, I think."

"Where will they take him?"

"They mean to leave the station, I would guess-back to Earth somewhere."

Adjani bent over the computer keyboard and closed his eyes, his fingers poised above the keys. Then he smiled, and his hands began moving over the keys in swift, precise movements.

"Come on!" he shouted, jumping away from the desk. "Let's hope that will hold them until we get there."

"What are we going to do?"

"I don't know yet. Come on!" …

KURT NOSED THE SECURITY car into a recharging berth just outside the entrance to the docking bay. Tickler took the opportunity to warn his prisoner once more. "We are leaving Gotham, Dr. Reston. Do not attempt to attract attention. Security has already been advised that we are transporting a seriously disturbed prisoner."

"You think of everything."

"Shut up!" snapped Tickler. "Move! And remember, I'm right behind you."

Kurt picked up a long bundle from the driver's seat of the car and led the way into the air lock. Red lights warned them that the outer doors were open. Spence was shoved forward to the long line of pressure suits hanging in their racks. He squirmed into one under Tickler's watchful eye and wondered whether the suit might stop a taser dart. He decided that it probably would not but that if the right opportunity presented itself he might chance it.

While Tickler donned his suit, the cadet held the taser on him.

"This will go down on your achievement report, you know," he quipped. The young man spit on the floor. "Not much for achievement, I guess. Oh, well there's always computer maintenance."

"Shut up!" Kurt growled. "You've caused us enough trouble as it is. I don't have to listen to your smart mouth."

"It's all part of being a kidnapper. Occupational hazard." "Shut up, I said! So help me I'll let you have it!"

Spence said no more, figuring he had pushed his luck about as far as it would stretch for the moment. Tickler rejoined them, looking like a deflated snowman in his suit.

"What's the matter, Tickler? Didn't they have one your size?" "Put your helmet on," he ordered, and pushed the bleed switch.

He was still fumbling with the helmet when he heard the whoosh of escaping air. His ears popped and his nose trickled a thin pink thread of foaming blood before he got the helmet secured. Tickler had popped the valve at once rather than wait for the air to bleed off slowly. It was a dirty trick.

"Ready?" Tickler leveled the taser on him again and shoved him forward.

They walked out of the air lock and into the cavernous docking bay. Ahead of them, across a wide, empty expanse of gleaming duralum, two ships waited. One, the transport Gyrfalcon, dwarfed the smaller six-passenger shuttle-the one used by the director for his trips back and forth to board meetings and other special occasions. Between them and the ships waiting at the end of the tether ramps only a few roboskids moved about on their programmed errands; there was nothing to offer an escape.

They've thought of everything. They even picked a time when the maintenance crew is away and the outer doors open.

That meant, of course, that anyone entering the docking bay would have to don a pressure suit and thus be slowed down considerably. Most likely any attempt to save Spence would come too late-he was not even sure if there was an attempt being made to save him.

Tickler pushed him across the floor toward the small shuttle. Halfway to the vehicle Spence saw a large figure emerge from the Gyrfalcon and come toward them. He thought the huge, hulking form vaguely familiar.

Closer, the figure raised an arm to them and stepped into their path. Through the helmet's wide face plate Spence recognized the smiling, good-natured face.

"Ah! Dr. Reston! It is good to see you again!"

"Hello, Captain Kalnikov. It's good seeing you again, too."

Kalnikov, his manner easy and unconcerned, looked at the two men with Spence. He smiled, showing even rows of large white teeth. "Are you and your friends going somewhere?" the Russian asked, his booming voice sounding tinny and distorted as it overpowered the helmet's radio.

"Yes, we are," replied Spence vaguely. "A little trip. Allow me to introduce you." Spence fastened on the stalling tactic which Kalnikov offered him.

"That won't be necessary," said Tickler sharply.

"Oh, nonsense," objected Spence. His mind raced for a way to let Kalnikov know he was in trouble. "I'm sure we have time for a little chat. Captain, I'd like you to meet my two former assistants – Dr. Tickler and Cadet Millen. Very thorough, both of them."

"Charmed," said Tickler. His eyes strayed to the shuttle.

"Have you ever been aboard the Gyrfalcon, gentlemen?" Kalnikov asked.

"Thank you, no," said Tickler. "Perhaps some other time." He moved as if to continue on his way. Kalnikov stopped him, laying a big hand on his shoulder.

"Do not think that it would be an imposition, please," said Kalnikov. His smile remained, but his eyes had grown cold. "I would be happy to show you around."

Tickler hesitated. Spence saw the hesitation and pounced on it. "We'd be delighted! Why don't you take us aboard?"

As they moved toward the great transport, he felt an electric charge of excitement run through him. The game had been moved to neutral ground and now he had a chance to score a few points of his own.

He had just put his foot on the boarding ramp when he heard another familiar voice inside his helmet. "Spence! Wait for us!" It was Adjani. He turned to see two bulky figures emerge from the air lock and dash across the floor. A quick glance to Tickler's face showed that his kidnappers were getting worried.

They waited while Adjani and Ari drew up. "We've been looking all over for you, Spence," said Adjani.

Ari, with a strange, defiant scowl on her face, pushed her way through the others and came to stand beside him. "You promised to take me to lunch today. Remember?"

"Gosh, I clean forgot," said Spence.

"All right!" barked Tickler. His voice buzzed in their helmets. "Enough of this charade! Get back all of you!" He drew the taser again and waved it at them.

Kalnikov stepped forward, thrusting Spence and Ari behind him. "That is such a little gun. And it has only one sting. How will you stop all of us, I wonder?"

Tickler nodded to Kurt who brought up the cloth-wrapped bundle he was carrying. The cloth slid off to reveal a stun rifle.

"Does that answer your question? Now back off, all of you. Reston, step over here."

"I'm sorry," said Spence. "Nice try, everybody." He made to step around Kalnikov and as he passed the Russian pilot a strange thing happened.

Kalnikov raised his arm and his glove suddenly shot off his hand and flew into Tickler's face. There was a muffled whoosh and Tickler gasped as instantly a jet of white foam splashed over him.

Before anyone could speak or move, the foam jet was turned on the cadet and his face plate obliterated beneath the white mess. Spence saw his two antagonists reeling and heard their, voices swearing into their microphones; then Kalnikov was herding everybody up the ramp into the transport.

Spence reached the top of the ramp first and turned to pull Ari through the portal. Adjani jumped through and then he ducked inside. Kalnikov was right behind him shouting, "Close the hatch!"

Just as the Russian reached the hatch he staggered, his eyes rolling to the tops of his sockets and eyelids fluttering. A strangling noise came from his throat, his head snapped back and his arms flung themselves wide as a convulsion passed through his mighty frame. He collapsed onto the ramp and Spence saw the taser dart sticking out of his still-twitching body.

He did not wait to see more but jumped through the hatch and ran into the interior of the ship. He saw Adjani motioning to him and he ducked after him into the next section.

"I couldn't get the hatch closed," said Spence as they huddled together in the next compartment. "They'll be in here in a second. "

"I've got an idea," said Adjani, "Follow me."

Aware that their pursuers could hear every word in their own helmets, Adjani motioned for them to proceed aft. Inside the next compartment he pushed Spence and Ari into deck tubes and sent them and himself to the level below.

The three hurried further aft through the transport. They could hear Tickler and Millen, their rapid breathing and grunting loud inside their helmets; it made it seem as if they were inside their suits with them.

"Stop where you are!" shouted Tickler. Spence turned just in time to see the scientist level the stun rifle at him. He threw himself to the deck and rolled into the next compartment. Adjani punched the access plate and the door slid shut. Spence looked around-they were in the hold of the transport. Along the sides of the hold were the hatches of the empty landing pods. Adjani gestured excitedly toward the first hatch.

Ari dived into the pod with Spence behind her. Adjani jumped through and Spence threw the switch to seal the hatch. They were now safe within their own spacecraft. Adjani pressurized the cabin with a flick of a switch and waited a few moments until the light on the switch changed from red to green. Then he grabbed his helmet and gave it a sideways tug.

"Now what?" asked Spence. They could hear Tickler and Kurt pounding on the hatch outside.

"Get strapped in," said Adjani. "Hurry!"

"You can't be serious! We won't get anywhere in this."

"Where do you want to go?" asked Adjani, heading for the small pilot console.

"Earth, I guess. Wasn't that the plan?" He stared at his slim, brown friend buckling himself into his seat.

"This is a landing pod, isn't it? Well, we're going to land it. Now get yourself strapped in."

It had not occurred to Spence that the landing pods could make such a trip, but they could at least get out of Tickler's range and then figure something out. "Okay," he shouted when he had thrown the straps over him. "Just one more thing: you sure you know how to drive this bucket?"

"The question does not deserve an answer. Everybody ready? Hold on!"

There was an immediate rumble as the pod jettisoned from the transport. A pressure forced them back in their seats as if a giant hand had pressed on them. "I'd give a month's pay to see Tickler's face right now. I'd hate to be in his shoes when he reports to his boss."

Ari had been quiet since they entered the pod. Spence looked at her and she looked back, forcing a small, tentative smile.

"I'm sorry I've mixed you up in all this. You could have been hurt back there."

"I was mixed up in this a long time ago-from the day I met you. I'm all right."

"You sure?"

"I'm fine. I just haven't had much in the way of combat training. "

"Don't worry. That's behind us now." Spence tried to sound assured, but his tone fell short of persuasive. The truth was, he felt their troubles were only beginning.