A Mile Beyond the Moon Part 3

GAMMADION BUO ISN OUTRCHD FR ESMERALDA AFTR YR INXPLCBL SLNCE.

ETWS BDLY BTN GAMMADION BUGS COM-PTSHN. MCG END.

He didn't want to hear any more about it. I could see him stalking away from the printer to the copydesk slot to chew his way viciously through wordage for the major splits. I wished I could see in my mind's eye Ellie slipping over to the Krueger 60-B circuit sending printer and punching out a word or two of kindness-the machine stirred again. It said: "JOE JOE HOW COULD YOU? ELLIE".

Oh, G.o.d.

"Leave me alone, will you?" I asked Chenery.

"Sure-sure. Anything you say," he humored me, and slipped out.

I sat for a while at the desk, noticing mat the smashed phone connection had been installed again, that the place had been policed up.

Leon Portw.a.n.ger came waddling in with a bottle in his hand. "I have here some prune brandy," he said.

Things began to clear up. "You gave me that mickey," I said slowly. "And you've been lying about me. You said I wrecked the ethertype."

"You are a determinist and I was trying to save your life," he said, setting down two gla.s.ses and filling them. "Take your choice and I will have the other. No micfceys." I picked one and gulped it down-nasty, too-sweet stuff that tasted like plum peelings. He sipped his and seemed to enjoy it.

"I thought," he said, "that you were in with their gang. What was I to think? They got rid of poor Kennedy. Pneumonia! You too would have pneumonia if they drenched you with water and put you on the roof in your underwear overnight. The bottles were planted here. He used to drink a little with me, he used to get drunk now and then- so did I-nothing bad."

"You thought I was in their gang," I said. "What gang are you in?"

"The Frostbite Interplanetary Party," he said wryly. "I would smile with you if the joke were not on me. I know, I know-we are Outs who want to be Ins, we are neurotic youngsters, .we are led by stooges of the Planetary Party. So what should I do-start a one-man party alone on a mountain-top, so pure that I must blackball everybody except myself from members.h.i.+p?

I am an incorrigible reformer and idealist whether I like it or not-and sometimes, I a.s.sure you, I don't like it very well.

"Kennedy was no reformer and idealist. He was a pragmatist, a good man who .wanted a good news story that would incidentally blow the present administration up. He used me, I used him. He got his story and they killed him and burglarized the bureau to remove all traces of it. Or did they?"

"I don't know," I muttered, "Why did you dope me? Did Downing really go crazy?"

"I poisoned you a little because Downing did not go crazy. Downing was under orders tokeep you from sending out that story. Probably after he had got you away from the ethertype he would have killed you if I had not poisoned you with some of my heart medicine. They realized while you were ill and feverish that it might as well be one as another. If they killed you, there would only be another newsman sent out to be inveigled into their gang. If they killed Downing, they could blame everything on him, you would never be able to have anything more than suspicions, and-there are a lot more Downings available, are there not?"

My brain began to click. "So your mysterious 'they' didn't want a top-drawer story to center around Frostbite. If it did, there'd be follow-ups, more reporters, ICC people investigating the explosion. Since the news break came from Gammadion, that's where the reporters would head and that's where the ICC investigation would be based. But what have they got to hide? The political setup here smells to high heaven, but it's no worse than on fifty other planets. Graft, liquor, vice, drugs, gambling-"

"No drugs," said the furrier.

"That's silly," I told him. "Of course they have drugs. With everything else, why not drugs?"

He shrugged apologetically. "Excuse me," he said. "I told you I was a reformer, and an idealist. I did not mention that I used to be an occasional user of narcotics. A little something to take the pressure off-those very small morphine sulphate tablets. You can imagine my horror when I emigrated to this planet twenty-eight years ago and found there were no drugs-literally. Believe me when I tell you that I- looked hard. Now, of course, I am grateful. But I had a few very difficult weeks." He shuddered, finished his prune brandy and filled both our gla.s.ses again.

He tossed down his gla.s.s.

"d.a.m.n it all!" he exploded. "Must I rub your nose in it? Are you going to figure it out for yourself? And are you going to get killed like my poor friend, Kennedy? Look here! And here!" He lurched to his feet and yanked down "WHO'S WHO IN THE GALAXY" and the United Planets Drug Committee Report.

His pudgy finger pointed to: "PARSONS, George Warmerdam, organic chemist, news-ppr pubr, b. Gammadion 172, s. Henry and Dolores (Warmerdam) P., studied Gammadion Chem. Inst. B.Ch 191, M.Ch 193, D.Ch 194; empl. dir research Hawley Mfg Co. (Gammadion) 194-198; founded Parsons Chem Mfg Labs (Gammadion) 198, headed same 198-203; removed Frostbite 203; founded newspaper Frostbite Phoenix 203. Author, tech papers organ chem 193-196.

Mem Univ Organ Chem Soc. Address c/o Frostbite Phoenix, Frostbite."

And in the other book: "-particular difficulty encountered with the stupefiant known as 'J-K-B.' It was first reported on Gammadion in the year 197, when a few isolated cases presented themselves for medical treatment. The problem rapidly worsened through the year 203, by which time the drug was in widespread illicit interplanetary commerce. The years 203-204 saw a cutting-ofl of the supply of J-K-B for reasons unknown. Prices soared to fantastic levels, unnumbered robberies and murders were committed by addicts to obtain possession of the minute quant.i.ties remaining on the market, and other addicts, by the hundreds of thousands presented themselves to the authorities hoping more or less in vain for a 'cure.' J-K-B appeared again in the year 205, not confined to any segment of the inhabited galaxy.

Supplies have since remained at a constant level-enough to brutalize, torment, and shorten the lives of the several score million terrestrial and extra-terrestrial beings who have come into its grip. Interrogation of peddlers intercepted with J-K-B has so far only led back through a seemingly endless chain of middlemen. The nature of the drug is such that it cannot be a.n.a.lyzed and synthesized-"

My head spun over the d.a.m.ning parallel trails. Where Parsons tried his wings in chemistry, J-K-B appeared. When he went on his own, the quant.i.ty increased. When he moved to another planet, the supply was cut off. When he was established, the supply grew to a constant level and stayed there.And what could be sweeter than a thoroughly corrupt planet to take over with his money and his newspaper? Dominate a machine and the members' "regularity" wfll lead them to kill for you-or to kill killers if need be. Encourage planetary ignorance and isolationism; keep the planet unattractive and depressed by letting your free-booters run wild-that'll discourage intelligent immigration. Let token parties in, fleece them fast and close, let them spread the word that Frostbite's no place for anybody with brains.

"A reformer and idealist I am," said Portw.a.n.ger calmly. "Not a man of action. What should be done next?'

I thought it over and told him; "If it kills me, and it might, I am going to send a rash of flashes and bulletins from this G.o.dforsaken planet. My love life depends on it Leon, do you know anybody on Mars?"

"A Sirian fellow named Wenjtkpli-a philosophical anarchist. An unreal position to take.

This is the world we are to, there are certain social leverages to apply. Who is he to say-?"

I held up my hand. "I know him too." I could taste that eleventh stinger again; by comparison the prune brandy was mellow. I took a gulp. "Do you think you could go to Mars without getting b.u.mped off?"

"A man could try."

The next two weeks were agonizing. Those a.s.syrian commissars or Russian belshazzars or whatever they were who walked down prison corridors waiting to be shot in the back of the head never went through what I did. I walked down the corridor for fourteen days.

First Leon got off all right on a bucket of bolts. I had no guarantee that he wouldn't be plugged by a crew member who was in on the party. Then there was a period of waiting for the first note that I'd swap you for a mad tarantula.

It came: NOTE FRBBUO HOW WELL XPCT KP CLNT IF UN-ABL DROP COPY? MCG.

MARSBUO.

I'd paved the way for that one by drinking myself into a hangover on home brew and lying in bed and groaning when I should have been delivering the printer copy to the Phoenix. I'd been insulting as possible to Weems to insure that he'd phone a squawk to McGillicuddy-I hoped. The tipoff was "h.e.l.l." Profanity was never, ever used on our circuits-I hoped. "h.e.l.l"

meant "Portw.a.n.ger contacted me, I got the story, I am notifying United Planets Patrol in utmost secrecy." Two days later came: NOTE FRBBUO BD CHMN WNTS KNO WOT KIND d.a.m.n KNUCKLHED FILING.

ONLY FOURFIVE ITMS DAILY FM XPNSVE ONEMAN BUO. XPCT UP-STEP PRDCTN.

IMMY, RPT IMMY MCG MARSBUO.

"d.a.m.n" meant "Patrol contacted, preparing to raid Frostbite." "Fourfive" meant "fourfive"-days from message.

The next note would have got ISN in trouble with the Interplanetary Communications Commission if it hadn't been in a good cause. I'm unable to quote it. But it came as I was in the bureau about to leave for the Honorable Homer With-erspoon's testimonial banquet. I locked the door, took off my parka and rolled up my sleeves. I was going to sweat for the next few hours.

When I heard the multiple roar of the Patrol s.h.i.+ps on rockets I very calmly beat out fifteen bells and sent: INTERSTELLAR FLASH.

UNITED PLANETS PATROL DESCENDING ON FROSTBITE, KRUEGER 60-B'S.

ONLY PLANET, IN UNPRECEDENTED Ma.s.s RAID ON TIP OF INTERSTELLAR NEWS.

SERVICE THAT WORLD IS SOLE SOURCE OF DEADLY DRUG J-K-B.

INTERSTELLAR BULLETIN.

THE Ma.s.sED PATROL OF THE UNITED PLANETS ORGANIZATION DESCENDED.

ON THE ONLY PLANET OF KRUEGER 60-B, FROSTBITE, IN AN UNPRECEDENTED.

Ma.s.s RAID THIS EVENING. ON INFORMATION FURNISHED BY INTERSTELLAR NEWSREPORTER JOE SPENCER THE PATROL HOPES TO WIPE OUT THE SOURCE OF.

THE DEADLY DRUG J-K-B, WHICH HAS PLAGUED THE GALAXY FOR 20 YEARS. THE.

CHEMICAL GENIUS SUSPECTED OF INVENTING AND PRODUCING THE DRUG IS.

GEORGE PARSONS, RESPECTED PUBLISHER OF FROSTBITE'S ONLY.

NEWSPAPER.

INTERSTELLAR FLASH.

FIRST UNITED PLANETS PATROL s.h.i.+P LANDS IN.

FROSTBITE CAPITAL CITY OF PLANET.

INTERSTELLAR FLASH.

PATROL COMMANDER PHONES EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW TO INTERSTELLAR.

NEWS SERVICE FROSTBITE BUREAU REPORTING ROUND-UP OF PLANETARY.

GOVERNMENT LEADERS AT TESTIMONIAL DINNER.

(WITH FROSTBITE).

FROSTBITE-ISN-ONE INTERSTELLAR NEWS REPORTER HAS ALREADY.

GIVEN HIS LIFE IN THE CAMPAIGN TO EXPOSE THE MAKER OF J-K-B. ED.

KENNEDY, ISN BUREAU CHIEF, WAS a.s.sa.s.sINATED BY AGENTS OF DRUGMAKER.

GEORGE PARSONS THREE MONTHS AGO. AGENTS OF PARSONS STRIPPED.

KENNEDY AND EXPOSED HIM OVERSIGHT TO THE BITTER COLD OF THIS PLANET,.

CAUSING HIS DEATH BY PNEUMONIA. A SECOND INTERSTELLAR NEWS SERVICE.

REPORTER, JOE STCNCER, NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH AT THE HANDS OF A.

DRUG-RING MEMBER WHO SOUGHT TO PREVENT HIM FROM SENDING NEWS.

OVER THE CIRCUITS OF THE INTERSTELLAR NEWS SERVICE.

INTERSTELLAR FLASH PATROL SEIZES PARSONS.

INTERSTELLAR BULLETIN.

FROSTBITE- IN A TELEPHONE MESSAGE TO INTERSTELLAR NEWS SERVICE A.

PATROL SPOKESMAN $AJD GEORGE PARSONS HAD BEEN TAKEN INTO CtSTODY AND UNMISTAKABLY IDENTIFIED. PAR-.

SONS HAD BEEN LIVING A LIE ON FROSTBITE, USING THE NAME CHENERY AND.

THE GUISE OF A COLUMNIST FOR PARSONS' NEWSPAPER. SAID THE PATROL.

SPOKESMAN;-"IT IS A TYPICAL MANEUVER. WE NEVER GOT SO FAR ALONG THE.

CHAIN OF J-K-B PEDDLERS THAT WE NEVER FOUND ONE MORE. APPARENTLY.

THE SOURCE OF THE DRUG HIMSELF THOUGHT HE COULD PUT HIMSELF OUT OF.

THE REACH OF INTERPLANETARY JUSTICE BY a.s.sUMING A FICt.i.tIOUS.

PERSONALITY. HOWEVER, WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY IDENTIFIED HIM AND EXPECT A.

CONFESSION WITHIN THE HOUR. PARSONS APPEARS TO BE A J-K-B ADDICT.

HIMSELF.

INTERSTELLAR FLASH PARSONS CONFESSES.

(FIRST LEAD FROSTBITE).

FROSTBITE-ISN-THE UNITED PLANETS PATROL AND THE INTERSTELLAR.

NEWS SERVICE JOINED HANDS TODAY IN TRIUMPH AFTER WIPING OUT THE MOST.

VICIOUS NEST OF DRUGMAKERS IN THE GALAXY. J-K-B, THE INFAMOUS NARCOTIC.

WHICH HAS MENACED-.

I ground out nearly thirty thousand words of copy that night Bleary-eyed at the end of the run, I could barely read a note that came across: NOTE FRBBUO: WELL DONE. RETURN MARS JMMY: SNDNG REPLCEMNT.

MARSBUO MCG.

The Patrol flags.h.i.+p took me back in a quick, smooth trip with lots of service and no yaks.

After a smooth landing I took an eastbound chair from the field and whistled as the floater lifted me to the ISN floor. The newsroom was quiet for a change and the boys and girls stood up for me.

McGillicuddy stepped out from the copy table slot to say: "Welcome back. Frankly, I didn't think you had it hi you, but you proved me wrong. You're a credit to the profession and the ISN." Portw.a.n.ger was there, too. "A pragmatist, your McGillicuddy," he muttered. "Butyou did a good job."

I didn't pay very much attention; my eyes were roving over no man's land. Finally I asked McGillicuddy: "Where's Miss Masters? Day off?"

"How do you like that?" laughed McGillicuddy. "I forgot to tell you. She's your replacement on Frostbite. Fired her off yesterday. I thought the woman's angle-where do you think you're going?"

"Honest Blogri's Olde Earthe Saloon," I told him with dignity. "If you want me, I'll be under the third table from the left as you come in. With sawdust in my hair."