you’re no doubt aware, in
a town like this it’s impossible to try and do anything without somebody finding out
about it. At times, individual egos have been known to endanger the way of life for
entire communities. I personally called on them more than a few times, but Franz—the
girl’s father—always maintained they were simple experiments in chemistry.”
The mayor’s face wore a heavy shade of fatigue. Saying not a word, D continued gazing
out the window. As far as the eye could see, the brown plains bent away from them.
The town’s cruising speed, it seemed, was far from leisurely.
“If only I’d taken notice sooner . . .” the mayor continued. His voice was leaden.
“Mr. and Mrs. Knight were the town’s foremost chemists. It was only Mr. Knight’s intellect
that saved us from famine fifteen years back, or averted the thunder-beast attacks
in the nick of time a mere four years ago. If not for him, a good seventy percent
of the town would’ve gone to their reward. I thought we could overlook their somewhat
unconventional hobby, and the townsfolk seemed to feel the same way. That was a mistake.
And then one day, he suddenly decided to leave town . . . Yes, it was just about two
months ago. I tried my best to dissuade him, but his resolve was strong as steel.
I can still recall the look on his face. He looked like flames were ready to shoot
out of his eyes. I suppose whatever he discovered here in town could’ve served him
quite well in a life in the accursed world below. He could’ve very easily come up
with something useful like that. And I had no choice but to let them off. Of course,
I didn’t neglect to make it perfectly clear they’d never again be allowed back in
town. And that’s all there was to it.”
“I don’t think it was,” D said, as if conversing with the wind. “There was something
in their house that bordered on utter ruin. Anyone would notice it. Where did you
dispose of the things that were in the house?”
“There wasn’t anything like that,” the mayor said, fairly spitting the words. “The
only really unsettling stuff was some odd-looking bottles of medicine and two or three
contraptions it looked like he’d thrown together, and we wasted no time in destroying
those. But the rest of the drugs and machinery were sent over to other labs or factories
that could make use of them. There wasn’t anything out of the ordinary at all.”
“Who did the actual work?”
“Folks from all over town pitched in. Just check the names and you’ll see.”
“You mean to tell me you weren’t involved?”
The mayor shook his head. “No. I give the orders around here. I was right there when
it came time to board the place up.”
D said nothing, but gazed at the mayor. His eyes were dark beyond imagining, and clearer
than words could say. “I’ll need a list of everyone involved in the project. I want
to ask them about something.”
“Why? Do you think I’m lying?” the mayor asked, not seeming the least bit angry.
“Anyone can lie,” D replied.
“I suppose you’ve got a point there. Just give me a second. I’ll make you a copy.”
The mayor used the intercom on his desk to give the command to the listing computer,
and in fewer than five seconds the mayor handed D a sheet of paper. The names and
addresses of nearly twenty men were recorded on the list. Putting the paper in his
coat pocket, D went back outside without making a sound.
-
The old room felt dirty. Aside from the industrial facilities, this place had more
working machinery than anyplace else in the whole town, and after nuclear energy had
been produced the waste was promptly processed and dispelled as a harmless dust. Despite
that, the room did indeed look somewhat soot-stained.
A black figure crept over to the control panel that regulated the trio of nuclear
reactors. Because this section provided energy for all the town’s needs,
a town like this it’s impossible to try and do anything without somebody finding out
about it. At times, individual egos have been known to endanger the way of life for
entire communities. I personally called on them more than a few times, but Franz—the
girl’s father—always maintained they were simple experiments in chemistry.”
The mayor’s face wore a heavy shade of fatigue. Saying not a word, D continued gazing
out the window. As far as the eye could see, the brown plains bent away from them.
The town’s cruising speed, it seemed, was far from leisurely.
“If only I’d taken notice sooner . . .” the mayor continued. His voice was leaden.
“Mr. and Mrs. Knight were the town’s foremost chemists. It was only Mr. Knight’s intellect
that saved us from famine fifteen years back, or averted the thunder-beast attacks
in the nick of time a mere four years ago. If not for him, a good seventy percent
of the town would’ve gone to their reward. I thought we could overlook their somewhat
unconventional hobby, and the townsfolk seemed to feel the same way. That was a mistake.
And then one day, he suddenly decided to leave town . . . Yes, it was just about two
months ago. I tried my best to dissuade him, but his resolve was strong as steel.
I can still recall the look on his face. He looked like flames were ready to shoot
out of his eyes. I suppose whatever he discovered here in town could’ve served him
quite well in a life in the accursed world below. He could’ve very easily come up
with something useful like that. And I had no choice but to let them off. Of course,
I didn’t neglect to make it perfectly clear they’d never again be allowed back in
town. And that’s all there was to it.”
“I don’t think it was,” D said, as if conversing with the wind. “There was something
in their house that bordered on utter ruin. Anyone would notice it. Where did you
dispose of the things that were in the house?”
“There wasn’t anything like that,” the mayor said, fairly spitting the words. “The
only really unsettling stuff was some odd-looking bottles of medicine and two or three
contraptions it looked like he’d thrown together, and we wasted no time in destroying
those. But the rest of the drugs and machinery were sent over to other labs or factories
that could make use of them. There wasn’t anything out of the ordinary at all.”
“Who did the actual work?”
“Folks from all over town pitched in. Just check the names and you’ll see.”
“You mean to tell me you weren’t involved?”
The mayor shook his head. “No. I give the orders around here. I was right there when
it came time to board the place up.”
D said nothing, but gazed at the mayor. His eyes were dark beyond imagining, and clearer
than words could say. “I’ll need a list of everyone involved in the project. I want
to ask them about something.”
“Why? Do you think I’m lying?” the mayor asked, not seeming the least bit angry.
“Anyone can lie,” D replied.
“I suppose you’ve got a point there. Just give me a second. I’ll make you a copy.”
The mayor used the intercom on his desk to give the command to the listing computer,
and in fewer than five seconds the mayor handed D a sheet of paper. The names and
addresses of nearly twenty men were recorded on the list. Putting the paper in his
coat pocket, D went back outside without making a sound.
-
The old room felt dirty. Aside from the industrial facilities, this place had more
working machinery than anyplace else in the whole town, and after nuclear energy had
been produced the waste was promptly processed and dispelled as a harmless dust. Despite
that, the room did indeed look somewhat soot-stained.
A black figure crept over to the control panel that regulated the trio of nuclear
reactors. Because this section provided energy for all the town’s needs,
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