More Than Superhuman Page 5

  'I'm surprised,' Miliss was saying, 'that you continue to pursue me despite the fact that you are probably personally programmed and may be in grave danger.'

  Jaer answered her with complete assurance, 'I once allowed myself to be alarmed by such words. That will not happen again.'

  'What you're saying,' said Miliss sharply, 'is that you've abandoned reason.'

  'The Jana male,' was the cool reply, 'knows what is important. A female is. Motivations for fear are not.' He chuckled lazily. 'Let me reason out this situation for you. If you resist me, you may be arrested again. But I may not even press charges against Dav if you give in. Who knows what privileges may continue for you two if you and I occasionally meet privately during the many, otherwise dull years ahead.'

  Rocquel stood there behind the screen and shook his head. Nerda's intuition was correct. This entire action against the human beings was simply a typical Jana-male scheme in connection with a female.

  He was not shocked. Or surprised, really.

  Jaer said, 'It is late, my dear. Surely you do not expect any other visitors this evening.'

  The remark made it the ideal moment for Rocquel to come out of his hiding place.

  * *

  'What I said to him,' he told Nerda after he returned to the palace, 'was, "Jaer, if I'm going to surrender some of the prerogatives of the crown — it is because I believe you and others of the nobility, in exchange for greater political power, will give up the purely personal privileges of forcing individuals to yield to a lordly whim".'

  'And what did he answer?'

  'Nothing. He turned and walked out of the room and out of the house.'

  Nerda made a distasteful gesture.

  'If he can get rid of Dav, he'll count on eventually forcing Miliss to accept his protection.'

  'Then you think he will press charges against Dav?'

  'Your words didn't reach him. He's still an old-style Jana male.' She shrugged. 'So, of course.'

  * *

  Dav sat apathetic throughout his trial. The defense attorney appointed by Rocquel could not even persuade him to testify on his own behalf.

  He was convicted of being an alien spy and sentenced to be beheaded,

  VII

  By the time Rocquel's helicopter settled down on the big compound where the executions would take place, the male nobility was milling around inside, catcalling and gambling. The wagers usually consisted of someone's maintaining that he would win the chance to chop off the head of a convicted person.

  Rocquel walked through the crowd of would-be executioners, hearing grumbling about the increasing shortage of criminal heads. He came to the roped-off area where the victims were guarded and saw what the problem was. Fewer than a hundred males, including Dav — and four females — were herded together at one end of an area that in the past had often held as many as five hundred.

  Roughly one hundred heads were to be divided among nearly eighteen hundred eager young nobles.

  Rocquel was handed the list of the doomed. Silently he scanned down it, looking for identifying comments. His attention caught two names. Their owners were classified as engineers. He scowled and turned to Jaer.

  'What are valuable men like that doing on this list?'

  Jaer held up a hand in a demanding way.

  'Your Majesty,' he said in a formal tone. 'I must call to your attention that you are violating the procedure of the new law. The king can no longer deal directly with individual cases. As your prime minister, I will consult you or listen to your advice and, in some instances but not all, will recommend that you grant mercy. Please give me that list'

  With a sinking sensation Rocquel handed it over. He had been intent on trying to save Dav and had automatically, as in times past, taken charge. He grew aware that the big male Jana was smiling satirically.

  'As for your question, sire,' Jaer said blandly, 'the new law specifies that all persons are subject to due process and to similar penalties.' He shrugged. 'They killed. They were tried. The sentence was automatic.'

  'I see,' said Rocquel.

  What he saw most of all was that the noisy crowd would be against Dav and that he had no solution to his problem of how to save the human.

  Jaer was speaking again.

  'Would you like to have me single these males out for questioning, sire?'

  The Jana prime ministers tone was tantalizing. He clearly felt himself in total ascendancy in this situation and was prepared to play hard at the game of constitutional monarchy, It seemed obviously in his favor.

  Rocquel nodded yes to the question. While the two doomed males were being located, he consciously forced himself to remember his old way of dealing with one thing at a time. Presently he was able to put the fate of the human being out of the forefront of his mind and concentrate his attention on the here and now.

  The scene that he was thus able to focus on was almost literally right out of old Jana. He saw everywhere the swishing silks of the nobles, a glinting ocean of changing colors. Each male's head was an elongated red shape that was visible at about the same height above the almost solid wall of silk. Eighteen hundred such heads made a picture of — oddly enough — innocent beauty

  But it was the beauty of a beast of prey, proud, arrogant, strong, untamed. It was as if a natural state of being were on display, The primitive impulses that still moved these males from violence to violence in a never-ending madness were the product of equally primitive necessities — their truth unquestioned on Jana until Dav and Miliss had begun to force self-control on a hierarchy that lived by the bloody law of supermasculinity.

  I am looking, thought Rocquel, on the end of an era. Here, in these eighteen hundred, is embodied the last of the really feudal thing...

  It had to go, of course. But how?

  His thought ended as the two scientists were brought before Jaer. The Dorrish male glanced questioningly at Rocquel, who stepped forward. A moment later he was confronting their reality.

  Professional scientists and all technical personnel had received special treatment from the courts for many years. They were not let off totally free, as a noble might be, but were given a preferred status. A person with an advanced degree was proclaimed to be the equal of twenty ordinary persons. Possession of a secondary degree made him the equivalent of fifteen persons. And the lowest degree, ten. Technicians started at two and went up to nine.

  Thus a twenty-person engineer who killed a wholly non-professional individual suffered what was only a one twentieth penalty — usually a fine. Only if he killed another scientist of a twenty-person status was he in serious danger of being executed. That was murder by law,

  Jaer was speaking,

  "Here they are, sire. I don't really see that we can do anything for them under the new regulations.'

  Rocquel had the same thought But he said nothing as Jaer turned away and ordered the males to be brought closer. The two engineers came forward and were identified as, respectively, a fifteen and a ten. The former had killed in a fit of rage, which — when his gag was removed — he earnestly protested had been a proper reaction to an insolent three. And the ten had killed a unit person in a fit of typical Jana-male temper for no particular reason.

  No occasion existed for favoritism. The new law must convince by its impartiality. The two were simply unlucky that they were the first examples of their class.

  Rocquel nodded. Jaer had the gags replaced and then read in a loud, clear voice the confirmation of the sentences.

  Moments later the lottery machine drew the names of the executioners. And, to the sound of much cursing on the part of those who had lost, the grinning winners came for ward, simultaneously raised their swords, and simultaneously struck at the heads on the blocks.

  And missed.

  A roar of amazement came from the gallery of noble Janae.

  Rocquel was fighting a peculiar confusion. Something — some energy — had snatched at one side of his body, pulled at one arm, spun him slightly. At that
moment the yelling started, and he realized that something was wrong.

  He whirled.

  The two nobles had recovered. Muttering words of outrage, they raised their swords for a second blow.

  'Wait!' Rocquel roared

  The swords wavered, were sullenly grounded. Two angry, embarrassed nobles glared at their hereditary king questioningly.

  'What happened?' Rocquel demanded.

  Both told the same story.

  Something like a wind had snatched at their swords. Or it was as if they had struck at a blast of air so strong it had diverted their slashing blows.

  Catcalls were beginning among the onlookers. Rocquel glanced unhappily at the prison compound and saw that Dav had come to the gate.

  Rocquel spoke to Jaer.

  'Let nothing happen till I return.'

  The Dorrish leader gave him a startled look but said nothing as Rocquel walked over to where Dav stood.

  The human greeted him with: 'What happened?'

  'That's what I was going to ask you.'

  He explained what the nobles had said.

  'Sounds like a Symbol,' Dav admitted, frowning. 'But I know of none that is applicable in a situation such as this, Due process has occurred. There's nothing better on Jana right now. Why don't you have Jaer continue with the executions? Maybe it was an accident.'

  Rocquel, who was remembering the grabbing sensation that had affected his right side moments before, and also on the morning of his return to Jana, silently doubted it. But he walked back to the executioners' blocks and ordered the two engineers released. That was the tradition.

  'You forfeit your wagers,' he curtly told the would-be executioners.

  The two males walked off, cursing.

  The order of procedure now required that the females be killed. One of the four was a poor little old thing who was quite insane. She believed the crowd was present to fete her. It did not even occur to Rocquel to do anything for her. Jana had no place for insane people. They were invariably put to death if they became a burden — and a burden she was.

  As Rocquel turned to consider the other females, he found his way barred by Jaer. The big male was shaking his head.

  'Sire,' he said, 'you have been taking command again.'

  The truth was obvious. Rocquel shook his head.

  He said with a twisted smile, 'Giving up power seems to be quite a difficult process. So bear with me, Lord Jaer, I mean well.'

  No answering smile moved that grim countenance

  Rocquel thought, What a remarkable man the ancient king on earth must have been who first agreed — when there were no precedents — to limit his absolute rights under a constitutional monarchy...

  At the moment he could not remember the name of that king, though Dav had told him.

  What brought the historic precedent to mind was that, even now, Rocquel found it hard to adjust to the idea that what he gave up, Jaer would gain. But finally Rocquel relaxed.

  He stepped back.

  'Continue, Lord of the Dorrish.'

  He was able then to observe the scene once more with out interference from his troubled inner self.

  Of the other three females, two were beyond anyone's power to help. They had been accused of adultery by their noble husbands and had been convicted. Rocquel privately doubted that the unnatural crime had occurred, but this was not the time to take issue with a court's findings.

  The remaining woman had denied the truth of religion. As she was brought before them, Jaer glanced questioningly at Rocquel. He evidently expected no interference, intended the glance to be a matter of form only.

  He was turning away when Rocquel caught has arm, The Dorrish leader faced about with a tolerant expression. It became quite evident, as he listened to Rocquel, that on these minor matters he was prepared to allow the king the prerogative of granting mercy.

  He finally said, 'Sire, why don't I say that in this instance a reprieve will be granted and then you state the reasons.'

  That was the way it was done.

  Rocquel spoke briefly to the assembled nobles, stressing the need — as Dav had urged upon him long ago — to keep religion humanitarian.

  He spared her life.

  He stood by then, tense, not knowing what to expect as the three overjoyed winners came forward. The two who were assigned the adulterous females uttered expressions of pleasure at having the privilege of performing so necessary a task.

  All three swords whipped high and came down as one. The females had been kneeling fatalistically. They looked up after a little as if to ask what was wrong.

  What was wrong was that the swords were lying a dozen feet away — Rocquel, who had watched closely, thought he had seen the glint of too much metal as the weapons had flown through the air. But he could not be sure. Something strong had grabbed at him, as with fingers of steel, and had moved him inches at the moment of attempted execution.

  He saw that Jaer was lying on the ground nearby. Rocquel helped the big male to his feet

  'What happened?'

  'This is magic,' Jaer muttered. 'Something hit me a terrific blow.'

  He seemed uncertain and offered no objection to Rocquel's suggestion that the executions should be temporarily halted, pending an investigation.

  'But what kind of investigation?' he asked in a bewildered tone.

  Rocquel assured him that three was at least one Person to question.

  And so, after the women had been released and the second group of executioners dismissed, Rocquel had Dav brought out of the compound.

  'You saw that?' he asked accusingly.

  'Yes. There's no doubt It's a Symbol, and the second time it was more violent. The power behind it is increasing very rapidly.'

  'But what Symbol can it be?' Rocquel protested. 'I thought Symbols were — ' He stopped, remembering that he had no idea what Symbols were. He finished lamely: 'What do you suggest?'

  Dav said, 'The next time there may be feedbacks, and the executioners may get hurt.' He seemed interested. Some of the apathy he had displayed earlier seemed to be lifting. His eyes were suddenly bright He looked around hopefully. 'Why don't you let Jaer try to execute me? That would solve a lot of problems.'

  Rocquel frowned. He shook his head. Injury to — or the death of — the head of the Dorrish clan would merely create confusion in an important segment of the Jana populace.

  The catcalls were beginning again, demanding decisions. But the nobles sounded puzzled. The tone of the raised voices showed that the vocalizers were not clear as to what was going on. And only a percentage was actually yelling. It struck Rocquel that to the aristocratic onlookers the events at the focal point of the executions had probably been obscure.

  Besides, no one had ever been able to explain anything, really, to Jana nobles as a group.

  The fact that no help could be expected from the nobility made the situation even more difficult. Rocquel stood distracted, not knowing what to do. The yelling grew louder, more insistent Abruptly Rocquel realized why. By bringing Dav out of the compound he had given the impression that the human was next in line for execution.

  And Dav's life was what those who cried out were demanding.

  Dav was pale but yelled above the bedlam almost directly into Rocquel's ear. 'Why not make the attempt? Let's see what happens.'

  Rocquel tried to answer back, tried to say, What's going on? What's happening? Is the Symbol I believed I had control of acting independently of my command — or any command at all?

  He couldn't say it The words wouldn't come. His face contorted with his effort to speak.

  Dav asked, 'What's the matter, sire?'

  Rocquel tried again to speak, could not A degrading awareness overwhelmed him.

  I'm programmed. I could tell Miliss about the Symbol I controlled, but I can't tell Dav...

  Not — the realization suddenly was strong — that he had ever really controlled it. It had been attached to him somehow — but in the manner of a Symbol it had react
ed in this situation because this was what it related to.

  'I feel,' said Rocquel — and now the words came easily — 'that these executions are not being allowed.'

  So he could speak if he made no direct reference to his Symbol.

  Dav was shaking his head.

  'I don't understand it. The time is not yet on Jana for the end of capital punishment. In fact — 'He sounded appalled. He waved vaguely, his gesture taking in the horizon. 'If a few million of those paranoid males out there ever get the idea that they cannot be executed, all hell will break loose.'

  The picture of total disaster — of pillage, rape, and mayhem — evoked by the man's words sent a chill through Rocquel. He visualized vast armies of criminals rioting in the streets, swarming in gangs through the country. Something had to be done at once.

  Belatedly, again he remembered that the Dorrish leader was in charge here and should be consulted. He swung about and became aware that the big male was standing off to one side, watching Dav from narrowed eyes.

  Rocquel had time for only a glance — the seconds were flying by, and the noise from the gallery was rising to such a crescendo that further conversation was impossible. Rocquel signaled the royal drummers to beat for silence.

  Moments later he explained to a startled audience what Dav had said about a Symbol's being involved.

  When he had finished, a loud voice cried from somewhere in the crowd, 'If we mob that so-and-so, it'll end the nonsense.'

  Whoever spoke must have tried to push forward. A movement started. A dozen, then dozens, then hundreds surged forward.

  A voice yelled in Rocquel's ear, 'Run for your life —'

  The tone was so urgent that Rocquel was a score of feet toward safety before he realized that it was Dav who had yelled at him. He stopped and turned — and was barely in time to see the disaster.

  VIII

  Male bodies were being spun as if in a whirlpool. A fountain was already up in the air, being held and twisted by an invisible force.