Dream thief

32

…

THE PARTY BUBBLED AROUND him like a pot beginning to boil. Spence stood to one side with his arm in a sling, nursing a glass of apricot-colored champagne, watching the bubbles rise and burst as knots of guests crowded this or the other hero and the stories were told and retold to ever-eager listeners. Of all the figures in the drama of the moment only Spence remained aloof and alone, as much by choice as by chance.

The party had been Director Zanderson's idea-a way to reward in part the loyalty of the faithful and to thank his rescuers. After a lavish dinner the long tables had been removed and what the director called an "intimate" reception commenced, which seemed to include the whole of the station's population.

Kyr, of course, was the main attraction. Every eye in the room strayed constantly in his direction. Even Spence found himself from time to time watching the Martian, towering head and shoulders over the throng pressed around him. The room sparkled with energy, as if high-voltage live wires were pumping electricity into the air. Spence could almost guess what the headlines would read like back on Earth.

Kalnikov, sporting a bandaged wrist, and Packer, his left eye blackened by a blow he had received in the tangle with Ramm and his men, wore their wounds like badges of courage as they held forth to a mixed audience of MIRA technicians and third -year men and others of the sort who were mesmerized by the intricacies of the computer-cracking caper. Adjani was besieged by a crowd who hung on his every word and murmured amazement as they plied him with questions concerning the adventure.

Gita, whose natural innocence and charm made him an immediate celebrity among the Gothamites, kept a large coterie of well-wishers laughing with tales of adventures real and imagined, all told in his inimitable fashion.

August Zanderson, in top form, directed what amounted to a roving press conference as he visited each group in turn to extol in ringing platitudes the bravery and fortitude of all concerned.

Spence had heard the stories, too. The quick-thinking Ramm and his men, combing the air shafts, searching out the loyalists' hideout, were hit along with everyone else by the tanti's pulse. Upon recovery they continued the search, stumbling into the hideout, still dazed. Luckily, most of the loyalists had awakened by the time Ramm reached them. A quick combat ensued in which several cadets got darted by sluggish security men, and in which Kalnikov distinguished himself as a pugilist of the first magnitude-laying out Ramm and three of the more obstinate of his men in as many swipes of his great fists. Packer, too, used his fists to good account, and the remaining rebels offered no further resistance.

Dr. Williams, alone and confused, barricaded himself in his office where he was collected in due course, surrendering peace fully in exchange for consideration in the prosecution of his case by GM attorneys.

Zanderson and Gita recaptured AdSec, having little difficulty subduing the sleeping Wermeyer. The director was back at the helm by the time the effects of the tanti had worn off-much to the chagrin of his former assistant. The director had then gone on the air, broadcasting over the loudspeaker system of Gotham, to reassure a groggy and bewildered populace. After the initial shock, the space station had slowly gone back to business.

It was all over, but the retelling.

Spence sighed and glanced around. He had not seen Ari but for a brief moment before dinner. He craned his neck, hoping to catch a glimpse of her-last seen, she had been surrounded by a flock of her friends and a gaggle of doe-eyed young functionaries from the AdSec pool.

"Looking for someone?"

"Tell you the truth, I was looking for you." Spence looked into his glass.

"How sweet."

"I… uh, guess you're glad to be back…" Imbecile! he shrieked inwardly. Tell her!

Ari smiled, but the light in her eyes dimmed somewhat. "Yes, I am glad to be back. Aren't you?"

"Oh, sure… I guess." Spence looked away. How could he tell her all the things he wanted to say? It was not the time or the place-it was all wrong. Something had changed between them and that fact loomed like a dark cloud over both of them. "That's great about your mother."

"Yes, isn't it? The doctors say there's a better-than-even chance she'll get better. Daddy even talked to her this morning. She's certainly undergone a dramatic improvement-almost overnight. I'm so happy. I…" She let her voice trail off and then said softly, "Spencer, have I done something to hurt you?"

The question stung him. "No!" He looked up quickly. "What makes you say that?"

She shrugged and tilted her head to one side. "You do-the way you're treating me. Avoiding me all day, and now tonight…"

"The way I'm treating you-"

"You have to admit you haven't been very friendly since we've been back."

Spence colored and looked away. How could she blame him for the coolness she felt-it was her doing, not his. He struggled for a reply, but was saved by Adjani's sudden appearance.

"There you two are! I was hoping I'd get to see you tonight. I was finally able to break away." He indicated the swarm with his hand. "It's quite a get-together, isn't it?" He noticed the look on Spence's face. "But you don't look like you're enjoying it exactly."

Oblivious to the tender feelings he might have been trampling on, Adjani blundered ahead. "Ari, did Spence tell you his news?"

"No, he hasn't." Her voice was a little stiff.

"Too modest, I guess." Spence wondered himself what it was that Adjani had in mind-there were several things he had been contemplating but none of them were at all decided.

Adjani finally sensed that he had walked into a touchy situation and endeavored to remove himself forthwith. "Excuse me, I promised Packer a word. I'm sorry I interrupted."

Adjani left and a painful silence descended behind him. Spence felt the urge to walk away, but fought it and stayed, realizing Ari must have felt the same way.

"What are your plans, Spence?"

"I don't know, not really. I only know I can't continue my work here."

That was a surprise. "Oh?" Her face remained calm, apparently unconcerned.

He looked at her, trying desperately to recapture some of the intimacy they had once shared. "It's no use anymore," he said; he might have been pronouncing judgment on the state of their relationship. Her eyes slid away from his. He hurried to correct the impression he had given. "I mean, it doesn't matter anymore. Something changed for me out there, Ari. There's so much to be done… I just couldn't be happy in research again. Not after what I've seen." "Oh."

"You can see that, can't you?"

"I guess so. We've all been through a lot."

Spence shook his head. "I didn't mean it that way. I've been changed, Ari." He fumbled for the words. "God called me-for the first time in my life I feel like I've been called to something higher than my own ambitions."

"That's wonderful, Spence." Ari forced a smile. "I mean that. I'm glad for you."

It was all wrong. Nothing was coming out like he hoped it would. The distance between them yawned wider by the second. There seemed to be no way to bridge it.

"What will you do?" Ari's voice was tentative.

Spence shrugged. "I think I should wait for a while before I decide anything."

"I see."

"I can't see getting into anything too hastily." "Of course."

She was not making it any easier on him. Spence took a deep breath and crashed ahead.

"I thought about going home for a few weeks. I'd like to see my family… there's a lot of loose ends I'd like to tie up, a lot of lost time to make up for…"

He looked at her and she turned away, but Spence thought her chin quivered and the light glinted liquidity in her eye. "Actually, I was kind of wondering if you'd go with me." There, I've said it at last.

She looked back at him and all at once her manner changed. Spence felt a warmth of feeling rush over him. "Oh, Spence, really?"

"Sure, that is… I mean, there are some people I want you to meet. My family." For a moment they stood before one another; Spence felt the room shift slightly and then Ari was in his arms and his face was buried in her hair. The world seemed fresh once more and, peculiarly, lemon-scented.

"Now that's more like it!" The reunited couple turned and met Adjani and Kyr gazing at them. "I was wondering how long it would take for you two to get reacquainted," Adjani said.

Spence was aware that every eye in the room was now on him. He did not care.

"Adjani and I have been talking," said Kyr. "There is something I must say to you in the presence of your friends." The Martian drew himself up to make his announcement. "I have decided that it is time to give the gifts of my people to the people of Earth."

"Spence," Adjani chimed in, "he wants you to lead the team that will organize and catalog the treasures of Mars!"

Spence did not respond; he could think of nothing to say.

"Did you hear me? Nothing in the last ten thousand years compares with this!" Adjani quickly perceived the source of Spence's hesitation.

"I know you want to do something about all the disease and poverty-you want to help those people you saw down there. Your eyes were opened to a world you never knew existed, and you have some vague notion of going back with food and bandages. But isn't it possible that God is putting in your hands the means of doing that on a far grander scale than you could ever dream of doing on your own? Think of it! As head of the discovery team you could choose how the gifts of Kyr's people could be best implemented on Earth."

True to his calling, Adjani the Spark Plug had made the connection. It was several moments before Spence could speak. A lump the size of a potato had formed in his throat. He felt Ari slip her arm through his and give it a squeeze.

"It is what I want," said Kyr. "You have proven to me that the men of Earth can be trusted. Ortu's wrongs must be redressed; his actions have left a heavy debt of suffering that must be repaid. It is time to give what has been saved for you. Dal Elna put this into my mind."

"You honor me highly," said Spence. "Of course I will accept. But only under the condition that Adjani shares the responsibility with me and you, Kyr, remain with us to teach us and lend wisdom to our decisions."

The Martian nodded. Adjani, fairly dancing with joy, cried, "Excellent! We will begin at once!"

"Not so fast! You two can begin at once. I have some personal business to attend to first." He looked at Ari. "Don't we?"

Just then Packer and Kalnikov came up with Gita in his blue turban bobbing between them. Director Zanderson followed close behind, beaming like a cherub.

"Gentlemen, and lady," he said formally with a nod and a wink to his daughter. "Dr. Sundar Gita has agreed to remain with us for a while and take a refresher-tuition and instruments courtesy of GM, of course. And who knows, he may get to like it here and stay on. We're bringing up his wife and daughters on the next available shuttle."

"Please, you are too kind. I am, however, much needed at home." He grinned. "Though my wife and children would never let me pass up the opportunity to let them come and see this place. It is a dream come true."

"Welcome aboard!" they all said in unison.

Director Zanderson glanced around the group. "By the way, I want to congratulate… That's funny-1 could have sworn Spence and Ari were just standing here." …

THE GARDEN SEEMED COOL after the stuffy warmth of the party. The station was tilted away from the sun and the solar shields were open to the light of a spray of stars. Crickets trilled their evening song among the leaves and a fountain pattered gently nearby. The moist, perfume-laden air lay still and dark. They had exhausted themselves in talking and now Spence and Ari wandered aimlessly in green solitude, their steps lit by small lanterns set in among the foliage along the pathways.

"We'd better be getting back," said Spence after a while. "Before they send out a search party."

"Mmm," sighed Ari, raising her head from where it rested lightly on his shoulder. "I feel as if I'm in a dream. It's a shame it has to end." She turned to face him, looping her arms around his waist.

"It doesn't have to end," he said, pulling her closer to him. "The dream is just beginning."