Takeoff. Part 30

Baley says: "I knew in time you would confess this awful crime. You Understand, of course, you're in an awful mess!"

The Commissioner keels over on the floor.

When he wakes up, R. Daneel says: "We're not sore; Since the crime was accidental, we'll be merciful and gentle.

Go," he says in solemn tones, "and sin no more!"

Then says Baley to the robot, with a grin: "It was nice of you to overlook his sin.

As a friend, I wouldn't trade you! By the Asimov who made you, You're a better man than I am, Hunka Tin!"

ALFRED BESTER'S.

"THE DEMOLISHED MAN".

By Randall Garrett

This "Review in Verse" was taken from Bester's original magazine version, which appeared in Galaxy. It differs somewhat from the book version. For instance, "the author, Mr. Bester, doesn't specify the year" in the magazine version, whereas, in the book version, he does. Another change was his lessened use of shortcut symbols. In the original, "Tate" was spelled "T8"; in the book, it's spelled out. Also, there's a character in the original called "$$son." Now, I could have sworn that was "Dollarson" and I wrote the verse accordingly. But when the book came out, it was spelled "Jackson."

"Obscure, Alfie," says I.

"That's why I changed it," says he.

At any rate, when you read it-and it must be read aloud for full effect-p.r.o.nounce the symbols as though they were words. "@" is p.r.o.nounced "at," so "f@" is p.r.o.nounced "fat." The trouble is that the twelfth letter of the alphabet and the fi.gure "one" look pretty much alike in print, so, in Verse 14, when you come to the word "18," p.r.o.nounce it "late," not "ei.ghteen."

"*" is "asterisk," "%" is "percent," and "(" is "parenthesis."

Now you're on your own.

In the far & distant future-you can pick the d8 2 suit your- Self, the author, Mr. Bester, doesn't specify the year- There's a fellow named Ben Reich, a rich investor who's no piker, Who has dreams about a Faceless Man in nightmares odd & queer.

Craye D-Courtney is his rival. Says Ben Reich: "While he's alive, I'll Never rest, so I must rub him out the best way th@ I can"'

But, according 2 report, neither Ben Reich nor old D'Courtney Knows the other well enough 4 Ben 2 h8 the older man.

Now, despite his wealth & power, Ben Reich still does not see how ar- Ranging old D'Courtney's death car, be achieved with grace & ease.

If he gets in2 a mess, perception by an expert Esper Will eventually happen, 4 these lads are thick as fleas.

But since Reich remains determined 2 extermin8 th@ vermin,d- Rastic action must be taken 2 make sure he won't get caught.

So he calls Augustus T8, a doctor who, we find, is r8ed As a 1st Cla.s.s Esper Medic. Reich is sure he can be bought.

"Gus, D'Courtney is a bird I rather think I'd like 2 murder, & I'll pay an even million if you'll help me kill the slob!"

T8 says: "I don't like it, still you never know-an even million?

Th@'s an awful lot of money, Ben; I think I'll take the job!"

Next he needs some brain protection from the Espers' keen detection; Just a song th@ he can think of so they cannot read his mind.

So he calls a gal named Duffy, who is just a bit of fluff he Knows, who has a music shop th@ carries songs of every kind.

"Just a song with rhythm in it?" Duffy frowns & thinks a minute. "Well, we have all kinds of songs, but if you simply must have 1 Th@ keeps running through your head, the best we have is 'lOser, said the 10sor, 10sion, apprehension & dission have begun!' "

Now the fireworks really start; he hears from T8 about a party At the Beaumonts" Craye D'Courtney will be there without a doubt.

Ben Reich packs his g@ & goes there, smiles @ everyone he knows there, & sneaks up 2 old D'Courtney's room when all the lights are out.

Craye says: "Ben, I'm sick & feeble!" Says Ben Reich: "You can't make me bel- Ieve a word of all th@ guff!" & then he shoots Craye through the head.

But Ben's planning's al14 naught; around comes old D'Courtney's daughter , & she grabs the g@ & runs off when she sees her father dead.

Now comes Powell, a detective, whose main job is 2 collect ev- Aders of the law, who ought 2 know th@ they can not succeed.

He's an Es% by the police 2 peep @ all the people @ the party 2 determine who has done this dreadful deed.

His Lieu10ant, known as $$son, is hot beneath the collar.

"What's the motive? Where's the witness? Who's the killer? Where's the gun?

Ben Reich's mind cannot be read, the best I get is: '10ser, said the 10sor, 10sion, apprehension & distortion have begun!' "

"It's a tough 1," murmurs Powell, "& I really don't see how I'll Get the evidence I need 2 take this murder case 2 court.

& I may be wrong, but still, I really think Ben Reich's the killer.

If he is, 2 take him in will prove 2 be a bit of sport."

Ben says: "This'll be a , & I'm much afraid the f@'ll Soon be in the fire unless I find the young D'Courtney dame."

Likewise, Powell's biggest worry is 2 get his hands on her, he Knows he'll really have 2 scurry, 4 Ben Reich's goal's just the same.

Babs D'Courtney is loc8ed by Ben Reich, but he's 2 l8, a d- Ame who's known 2 all as Chooka tells friend Powell where she's @.

Ben Reich's chances would be gone, except th@ Babs is c@@onic, & the 3rdo can't make her tell where she got Ben Reich's g@.

Powell still has 1 more chance. A Reich employee has the answer 2 a note Ben sent D'Courtney 2 conclude a business deal.

Powell's sure th@ Ben Reich's motive 4 the murder's in this note, he v- Ows 2 get it from this Ha.s.sop, even if he has 2 steal.

Then, 2 Powell's consternation, Ben Reich goes 2 a s.p.a.ce station

Known as Ampro, a resort with tropic jungles grown inside.

Ben goes in with Ha.s.sop. "Now I'll have 2 find them," mutters Powell.

"Mr. Ha.s.sop has gone in2 th@ mor* his hide!"

Since he knows th@ Ben won't pa.s.s up this big chance 2 murder Ha.s.sop, He & several other Pee%er Ampro 4 the search.

But when the note's collected, it's not what the cop expected, & the case just falls apart, which leaves poor Powell in the lurch.

Powell mutters: ''I'll get dirty! Though Ben thinks he can't be hurt, he Still has dreams about a Faceless Man who wakes up screaming screams."

Espers of the lst Cla.s.s rBing start their minds 2 conr8ing Ben begins 2 see the Faceless Man come stalking from his dreams!

Powell has the famed "last laugh"; he drives poor Ben completely daffy, & they take him 2 a nuthouse, where he's out of Powell's hair.

Though they've gone and caught the villain, I'm inclined 2 think it's still un- Necessary 4 policemen 2 be quite so d.a.m.ned unfair.

There's a part of the plot I completely forgot; I'll insert it down here, if you like.

Craye D'Courtney & Barbara, respectively, are The (ter of Reich.

L. SPRAGUE DE CAMP'S.

"LEST DARKNESS FALL".

By Randall Garrett

There are some books one reads over and over again, and, for me, Sprague's Lest Darkness Fall is one of them. Like Slan, the Lensman series, the Foundation trilogy, and a handful of others, Sprague's book is an old friend that is always showing me something new.

I first read it in John Campbell's Unknown, a World War II casualty. I literally wore that issue of the magazine out by rereading that one story; When it finally came out in book form, years later, I was overjoyed. It had been expanded and was much richer.

It was the first history I ever read that made me realize that history could be interesting.

Thank you, Sprague.

The reader's tossed into this tale with great impetuosity.

The hero, struck by lightning, sees a burst of luminosity!

His vision clears, and he is overcome with curiosity- The lightning's tossed him back in Time to ancient Gothic Rome!

At first, poor Martin Padway thinks he's stricken with insanity, To find himself immersed in early Roman Christianity, But finally he buckles down to face it with urbanity; He knows that he's forever stuck and never will get home.

Now, Europe's just about to start the Age of Faith and Piety, And such an awful future fills our hero with anxiety, So he begins to bolster up this barbarous society With modernistic gadgets that the Romans haven't got.

A moneylending Syrian of singular sagacity Succ.u.mbs, in time, to Mr. P's remarkable tenacity, And, though he makes remarks decrying Martin's vast audacity, Proceeds to lend him quite a lot of money on the spot.