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were before we came. We have no obligation to raise them to any cultural level
above their own."
"I'm going to try it as an experiment anyway," said Jason. "Besides it
will be one wary of controlling the _immunes_. We'll grant increases only on
condition that no _immunes_ be employed."
"I'm against it," said Westerman.
That afternoon an attention alarm sounded throughout the vast shops
where thousands of intent Venusians bent over their work benches on the long
assembly lines where the deadly weapons were being constructed.
Then there came the voice of Jason Cartwright, automatically being
translated into the Venusian tongue as he spoke. He promised the Venusians
that provision would be made for their own village near the plant, with
civilized homes, warmed and lighted and provided with water and sewage, for
these were the things that the Venusians had learned that Earthmen had. He
promised them good food and clothing, for in dress they desired to imitate the
Earthman. And he promised adequate antidote for Jungle Dread. The only
provision was that no _immunes_ were to be employed.
He allowed them an hour to come to a decision and at the end of that
time offered to meet their delegates. He was much surprised when they came to
the office twenty minutes later and accepted the full provisions of his plan
with complete agreement on the prohibition against _immunes_.
Jason smiled confidently at Westerman as he prepared to leave. "You
see? It takes only a little diplomacy and you can get anything out of these
Venusians. I'll bet they'd turn out a hundred thousand units if you asked them
to."
"And I'll guarantee your troubles aren't over yet," said Westerman.
"Within a week there'll be new ones. They've got something up their sleeves.
You'll see."
Jason laughed heartily and called to Old Tom who leaped agilely into
place within the ship. Within moments the ship disappeared into the fog.
* * * *
At home that night, Jason considered that he'd done a good day's work.
His success with the Venusians overcame somewhat the previous defeats that
still rankled in his mind.
The big house was empty in spite of the score of servants in various
parts ready to attend his slightest wish. It was Lotta who made that big house
into something that approached a home. It was the quiet background of her
presence that had provided Jason the small amount of mental peace that was
present in his life.
He had sold out on that pretty cheaply, he thought. He still would like
to know exactly how Lotta had found him out.
After the solitary dinner he wandered out into the spacious yards and
called in the foggy darkness for Old Tom, but the cat failed to respond. He
had the freedom of the yards at night and Jason gave up after a while. He went
to bed early, anticipating a good day to follow.
He rose early the next morning and found Old Tom already having a
breakfast of thick cream. Jason turned on the newscast coming direct from
Earth as he began his own meal.
The newscast was interrupted almost before it started by a sudden call.
Jason answered, and Westerman's frantic voice surged into the room.
"Jason! Something's leaked somewhere. The Venusians have got hold of
the information that these instruments are distorters and weapons of war. They
refuse to have anything to do with them because they are to be used in
killing. This morning the whole plant is shut down!"
"How did they find that out? They aren't smart enough to figure it out
for themselves. Take them off antidote!"
"I don't know bow they found out. They simply say it came out of the
jungle. Someone in the jungle told someone else, but they believe it. As for
the antidote, that's a joke, Jason, and it's on you."
"What are you talking about? Explain yourself!"
"You made them agree that no _immunes_ would work here. They're all
_immunes_, every one of them. Punish them by sending them away and the whole
plant closes. We're helpless to do anything about it and they knew it when you
bargained with them." Jason stared at him, trying to comprehend the
incomprehensible. "That's impossible. There aren't that many _immunes_."
"Have it your way. But I'm telling you what happened. We diluted the
day's antidote. Nothing happened. They show no response. And they won't work.
If you think you can get those sixty thousand units out of here in three days,
you'd better come on down."
"No ... no, we'll have to think of something. I'll call you later."
He sat down at the breakfast table again, his mind unable to
concentrate on a single point. It skipped frantically about the growing
pyramid of defeats he had experienced the past few days. First Lotta, then
Bridgeman had escaped him. But those events were minor compared to this. How
had the Venusians learned of the functions of the distorter!
He forced the breakfast food into his stomach and turned up the
newscast once more.
Halfway through his dish of Venusian colqua fruit he halted with spoon
in midair. The newscast announcer was saying:
"The biggest news this morning is the revelation of the near outbreak [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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