"Fred, Tremaine here. Put the buzzer on." I was happy in the lab. Headaches, nightmares and all. he said. "Sure you do, Jess. It's been a while,
though." "Jimmy," he said, "Jimmy Tremaine." "How are you, Jimmy? "Let's go somewhere and sit down, Jess." Between us, there's more." Jess nodded. "Still just the same, Jimmy. You know that. I never did go. But up close, you feel it. He's foreign, all right. "Beats me, Jimmy. She
was kind of senile, I guess. Tremaine stubbed out his cigarette, lit another. "I remember Soup," Tremaine said. "Dunno. Just meanness, I reckon. Tremaine shook his head. By that time, she was
already old. "I've got an oversized suitcase," Tremaine said. "After dark. You're over my head." Jess got to his feet. Tremaine went up the
steps and past heavy double doors. "We're closed," he said. "Come back tomorrow," he said. "I was hoping
to save a trip." His hand eased out, covered the bill. He grinned quickly. "See what I can do," he said. Bram. (see Vol. 9 & cet.)" "No, thanks," Tremaine said. the clerk called after him. "No. No trouble." Spry for that age." "I guess you're right." The clerk looked sideways at Tremaine. "Maybe so." The clerk leaned on the counter, assumed a knowing look. The clerk shrugged. "The
older are there in the shelves." "You have to handle
these old papers carefully." "That's it," she
said. "I'll remember." "I have to close the library now. Tremaine stopped
short, stared after the car. he said aloud. Tremaine set off at a run, covered the two blocks to the hotel, yanked
open the door to his car, slid into the seat, made a U-turn, and headed
north after the police car. A tall figure stepped out. "We could be." "Sure, you can talk to
him." "I thought you were going to keep your men away from Elsby until I gave
the word, Grammond." Grammond cursed. "You've got it all figured, I see. "Pull your lip back in. "Bicycles are out." Grammond snorted. "Okay, Tremaine," he said. the voice snapped. "Sure. "Come in." There is no future here for a young man." "I want some
information. "Of course." I distrust these glib phrases." "I have no idea." Just ... Bram." "You must forgive me." Tremaine stood up. Really sorry. Miss Carroll. You've been very kind. "I knew you as a boy, James. She paused. Tremaine waited. Miss Carroll drew a deep breath and went on. "I was torn between pity
and horror. I begged him to take me back. He refused." Miss Carroll
twisted her fingers together, her eyes fixed on the long past. He lit a lamp and threw
open a concealed panel. There were stairs. At dawn he emerged. He drove me home. Miss Carroll hesitated, then put her hand to her throat, lifted a
silver disc on a fine golden chain. It was heavy, smooth. Miss Carroll nodded. "Bram fears the thunder." Tremaine shook his head. "Sure. "I thought so too, Jess. The windows were dark. He tried the door. It opened. "In the car." "Better get it." Tremaine went to the car, dropped the pistol in his coat pocket,
rejoined Jess inside the house. It was silent, deserted. "This place is empty," he said. "Dern hounddog, I guess." Tremaine said. "Look here," he said. This is the kitchen." Tremaine said, "that we'd better go ask Hull Gaskin a few
questions." "He wants to talk to you." Tremaine said softly. the youth shot back. "Cops." The boy looked directly at Tremaine for an instant, flicked his eyes to
the corner of the cell. The boy looked at his feet. Tremaine said. The boy looked at him
sullenly. "You know anything about the blood on the kitchen floor?" "I don't know what you're talkin about," Hull said. "We was out
squirrel-huntin." "Hull, is Mr. Bram dead?" Hull blurted. Jess looked at the boy. "Hull's a pretty dumb boy," he said. Let's have it, Hull." The boy licked his lips. It was Bovey. "So then you set fire to the place. "I've got to get on my way, Jess. It was too bad about Bram. "You tryin to make more trouble for my
boy, I hear. Been over to the jail, stickin your nose in." "Sicked the cops onto him. I figger you owe me damages. "Git up, Soup!" Tremaine said. Tremaine stepped aside,
landed a solid punch on Gaskin's ear. Tremaine stood over him. "On your feet, jailbird," he said. "I'm taking you in,
Tremaine." "Sorry, copper," he said. "Get up, Soup. It was
smashed, split down the center. In the street below, tires screeched. Tremaine whirled to the phone. Get in their way all you can." He glanced in the mirror. I'll tell her you're here, Mr. Tremaine." Miss Carroll looked at him steadily. "No, James. They had guns. Miss Carroll gasped. The locket he gave you. Why ... no. "Not magic. Electronics. "He crossed the room. The panel slid aside. "Yes." "His life was not his own, he said. I fear it was too incoherent. "I don't know. Night was falling, and the enemy awaited him." "Then, when you got to the house...?" Then we were at the house. I followed. He lit a lamp and turned to me. The panel opened. His
face was white. Tremaine stepped on the gas. "James." Miss Carroll said, sitting up and looking behind. He was surprised at the firmness of
her step. "Press there." She put the spot on the wall. "Are you sure...?" "Yes. Try again, James." The panel opened below...."
Tremaine reached higher, pounded, pushed up, sideways--
With a click a three by four foot section of wall rolled silently
aside. Tremaine saw greased metal slides and, beyond, steps leading
down. He
reached back, pulled the suitcase after him. And thanks." Miss Carroll held out her hand. "Help me, James. He pressed
it. The panel slid back in place. "Let's go down." Miss Carroll gasped. Tremaine said tightly. He explored further. "It got his arm too, but not as deep. Tremaine whirled, startled. Miss Carroll stared, eyes wide. Miss Carroll gasped sharply. Bram moaned, stirred. Tremaine went to him. he said. His voice was deep, husky. "Bram, you're hurt ..."
A mewling wail started up. he
grated. "Help me up," he ordered. "Careful, Bram," he said. "To the Repellor," Bram muttered. "You, young man," Bram said. "Bram," Tremaine said. "Watch the wall there. My sight grows dim. Tell me what you see." "No. Bram tensed. he demanded. Long seconds passed. "Tell me how." You will not understand." "Very well. "I see: denial to the enemy." "But we were late. Even then the cycle is brief. I ordered my crew back. It closed. "Not in my life, Linda Carroll. Tremaine said. They
spoke of witchcraft, and fled." "All right. I'll be ready. Soon, I fear, will they renew the attack." "Stay where
you are and get some rest." Miss Carroll said, alarmed. "Hyperwave," Tremaine said. And
thought. "Such a device is new in the cosmos," Bram said. "No. I have
a hyperwave receiver here. "Let me take a look," Tremaine said. "Take care. Without it, we fall before the Niss." Tremaine went to the machine, examined it, tracing
leads, identifying components. And these are refracting-field
coils. Simple, and brilliant. "Sure." "Then try," said Bram. The minutes passed. "Okay," Tremaine said. "We're off the air," he said. "I hope my formula holds." "Make
haste." Bram struggled to his feet. "Now comes the
assault." Miss Carroll cried. "It comes quickly." Miss Carroll cried. Tremaine snapped the cover in place,
whirled to the chair, dragged it and its occupant away from the
machine, then turned, seized the grips. The wall cleared. Tremaine stared across at
the narrow room, the gray-clad Niss. They stood now, eyes on him. One
pointed. Others erected leathery crests. Tremaine squinted against the
brilliant white light from the high-vaulted Niss Command Center. There
was an odor of iodine. Tremaine shouted. It melted into slag. "Stop, stop!" _I could destroy it all_, he thought. Tremaine shouted. "Master yourself," Bram said hoarsely. Tremaine said. "Wise are you," Bram said. She
looked back steadily, her head held high. And Bram:
you were young, and you loved her. The
Niss did that. "You have mastered them," said Bram. "All right," he said "I guess the God complex
got me." "Bram, you said time is mutable. She was afraid. He whirled. he said. She
stood rigid in shock. Then....
"Mr. Bram...!" she gasped. she breathed. "Look--" he started. Tremaine snapped. "Time is mutable. Tremaine went on, not waiting for a reply. Bram said. "Fair lady
of Earth," he said. Tremaine shouted. "Don't be afraid," he said. "You know you love him; go with him now, or regret it all your days." asked Bram. He held out his hand to her. Linda
hesitated, then put her hand in his. Then he
was gone. He felt weak, drained of
strength. And the
Niss were defeated. It was a
temptation to step through it. But this was his world, with all its
faults. But then there's no TV, either. That makes up for a lot. The air was sweet.