«I might have a little trouble leaving this planet,» said Alak. «You might, too.»
«I can always find a hiding place and go into hibernation for a few years till they forget about me,» said Slinh. «But a human at large might have difficulties even staying alive. I doubt if any Luanian crooks would help a»—he lowered his hissing voice—«Patrolman now that there’s a war on. In such times, the mob hysteria officially known as patriotism infects all classes of society.»
«True. But illogical. Patrolmen are more tolerant toward lawbreakers than local police.»
Slinh shook his scaly head in some bewilderment. «I never could figure out the Patrol,» he said. «Even its members of my own race I can’t understand. Officially it exists to coordinate the systems of the Galactic League and to enforce the laws of the central authority. But after a while I quit paying attention to the stories of fabulous raids and arrests by Patrolmen and began watching for myself and speaking to eyewitnesses. And y’know, I have not been able to verify one case of the Patrol acting directly against a crook. The best they ever do is give the local police some technical advice, and that’s rare. I’m beginning to suspect that the stories of the huge Patrol battle fleet are deliberate lies and the stereographs of it fakes—that though the Patrol makes big claims, it’s never yet really arrested a criminal. In fact»—Slinh’s claws tightened about his glass—«it seems one of the most corrupt organizations in the Galaxy. Voal’s speech today was—true! I know of more cases where it’s made alliance with crooks, or supported crooked governments, or engaged in crooked political deals, that I could easily count. Like in this case here—first the Patrol on the feeblest ‘right of discovery’ excuse, awards Lhing to the Marhalian System—Lhing, that was a Luanian development from the first—and then it seeks to overthrow the democratically elected Luanian government and set up some kind of revolutionary junta that’s sure to empty the public coffers before running for a distant planet. I don’t blame Luan for seceding from the League!»
«You could turn me in,» said Alak. «There must be a reward.»
«Not I,» said Slinh. He grinned evilly. «The police don’t approve of sivva or those who sell it. Also, what’s Luan to me? They could blow up the planet for all I care—once I’m off it. And finally—it’s barely possible we could make a deal.»
Alak ordered another beer and vurzin. «Pray continue,» he said. «You interest me strangely.»
Despite his purpose, despite the knowledge he had and the implacable hostility which seethed within him, Sharr felt a stirring of awe as he entered the cathedral. The long nave loomed before him, a dusky immensity lit with the wonderful chromatic sunlight that streamed through the stained-glass windows; the vaulted ceiling was lost in a twilight of height through which fluttered white birds like living benedictions; the heavy languor of incense was in the cool dark air, and music breathed invisible beauty about him from—somewhere. Here, he thought, was peace and security, rest for the weary and hope for the grieving—
Aye, the peace and security of death, the resting from duty, and a false cold-bloodedly manufactured hope which destroyed souls. The magnificent shell of the cathedral covered a cosmic rottenness that—
The archbishop stood waiting for him near the great altar, resplendent in the dazzling robes of the new church. He was of this planet, Crios, but tall and impressive, with the cold wisdom of the Galaxy behind his eyes—the upper clergy of the new god were all Crians educated on League planets. Sharr was acutely conscious of his own shabby dress and his own ignorance of the cynical science that made miracles to order. No wonder all Crios was turning from the old faith to this lying devil who called himself a new god.
«Greeting, my son,» said the archbishop sonorously. «I was told by my angel you were coming hither and—»
«I am not your son,» said Sharr flatly, «and I happen to know that your ‘angel’ is a creature from the stars who has to live in a tank but has the unholy power to read men’s thoughts—»
«That is blasphemy,» said the archbishop mildly, «but since you have been misled all your life, even to the extent of becoming a high priest of the false god, you will be forgiven this time.»
«Oh, I know your artificial thunderbolts—you must have some, all your other miracles are artificial—could smite me where I stand,» said Sharr wearily. «No matter. My knowledge will not die with me.»
The archbishop’s eyes narrowed. Sharr hurried on: «When the strangers first came from beyond the stars, they brought a great hope to Crios. They cured us of many ancient ills, they gave us machines which produced more abundantly than slaves ever could… oh, yes, all the nations of Crios were glad to unify and join their Galactic League as a whole planet. But now I see all this was but the mask of the Evil Ones.»
«In what way?» asked the other. «Before, there was only one faith on Crios. Now all gods can compete equally. If the stronger—that is, the truer—gods drive the weaker from the hearts of the people, what harm? Rather it is good. If your god is true, let him produce miracles such as ours.»
«Let us not mince words,» said Sharr. «There is no one here but us. All Crios rejoiced at the possession of spaceships, for now we could bring the true faith to other worlds, saving countless souls from the Evil Ones. But no sooner had we begun organizing a great crusade than you appeared—and your sly words and your false miracles and your machine-made magnificence turn more and more Crian hearts to the god in which you yourselves do not believe.»
«How do you know we don’t?»
«Few Crians have been to space, and most of those who went have returned as traitors like yourself,» said Sharr. «I went to see what power this Galactic lord of yours has elsewhere. I had my own ship and I used my own eyes. I saw that no other world had ever heard of him. I saw machines doing the same sort of things which you do here, seemingly by the power of your god, to impress the ignorant—building your churches overnight, scattering gold from nowhere, turning one metal into another; I saw creatures of horrible aspect which read minds—Oh, I began to see what your god really was. When I came back, I did a little investigation, I had my spies here and there—I know you for the cold-blooded liars you are.»
«Why should we lie? What is the point in preaching a false religion?»
«Power, glory—I can think of many reasons, but my personal belief is that you are agents of the Evil Ones, sent to destroy the great Crian crusade before it got started. Had all of this planet been pure in faith, the All-Father would have aided us and we would have swept the Galaxy before us into his fold—now we must first get rid of the false Galactic lord and then slowly, by prayer and repentance, win back our worthiness.»
The archbishop smiled, a curiously chilling smile. «And how will you go about it?» he asked softly.
«I have taken care that all priests of the true faith know what I do,» said Sharr. «It won’t help you to kill me. We will tell the truth to the people. We have prepared machines which will duplicate a number of your miracles.» Sharr lifted a clenched fist and his voice shook with triumph: «I came, really, to warn you—if you’re wise, you will leave this planet at once!»
The expected dismay did not appear. The archbishop said calmly and implacably: «You might be better off doing that. Surely you don’t think we didn’t foresee this?»
With a sense of dawning horror, Sharr stood in the singing gloom while the white birds circled far overhead. He heard the steady, relentless voice continue: