Empire of Two Worlds

“Our task is conquest, not to enquire after the health of slaves,” Imnitrin sneered mincingly. “If there is truth in your explanation, we shall appoint Rheattite slave-administrators to deal with it. Men of the Rotrox Tribe do not soil their hands with such matters. Indeed, once our Earth Empire is founded there are few who would wish to spend their time here.” He retreated back behind the table and seated himself, his expression becoming dour and gloomy. With the odd, slightly inhuman cast of the Meramite face it made him look almost tearful. “Here the air is too thick, all objects are too heavy, and outlines are blurred and difficult to see. Perhaps you, who claim also to hail from another world, appreciate how unpleasant Earth is.”

Bec nodded. “I’m glad we are agreed on one thing. Perhaps we can agree on other things. I can supply the drug the Rheattites need to your slaves and subject populations, making the supply dependent on their co-operation and good behaviour. An addict will do anything to get … well, maybe you’re not familiar with that aspect of human affairs. I can also cut off the supply from the forces that oppose you, reducing their fighting efficiency almost to zero. This drug, though you haven’t realised it yet, is the means to the most perfect control over the whole of Rheatt.”

He paused, giving the Meramite commander time to think. Then, forcefully and loudly, he said: “It is we, not you, who have that control.”

“For such impertinence you should die,” the other said coldly. “What the men of Rotrox want, they take. You say you control the drug? We will take it from you. If necessary we will manufacture it ourselves, using Rheattite technicians.”

“I’m afraid not.” Slowly and carefully Bec explained about Blue Space Valley, the one and only source of Rheattite dope. He finished by bringing me into the conversation. “Klein, tell them what orders our boys in the valley have.”

“To destroy everything and burn the orchards if anybody tries to get in. It’s quite easy to do: the valley isn’t very large. Either me or Bec has to turn up or there won’t be any Blue Space any more.”

“You should know that my men are very efficient and always carry out their orders,” Bec put in.

Imnitrin glanced round at his officers as if inviting comment. One of them stirred.

“Your story is ridiculous. We will simply set up production of the trees elsewhere.”

“They won’t grow anywhere else,” I explained. “The valley was created by a meteor impact. The meteor must have contained special minerals that enable the trees to synthesise the drug, because they’re a peculiar strain that’s evolved there alone. They won’t grow anywhere else. I guess if you did take over the valley eventually from our men you might find some seeds that had survived and could grow a new crop then, but that would take years.”

Big meteors occasionally fell on Killibol. Everybody knew of the one that had destroyed the city of Chingak, spreading radio-active wastes for miles around.

“You can check these facts with the Rheattites themselves — as you should have done long ago,” Bec supplemented. “Well, that’s the position, Commander. Now let’s talk terms.”

“Your behaviour is threatening and insolent.”

“I don’t see it that way,” Bec said, smiling. “We’re here to help you, not to harm you. Our interests are identical. Why, already we’ve made you better off than you were before. You know about the Blue Space drug and why your slaves aren’t able to work. You can even find out where the valley is.”

“Very well. What are your interests?” Imnitrin leaned over the table. I saw that despite his indulgence in answering Bec’s questions, despite the blunders and oversights that were typical of his race, he was hard, calculating and merciless. “You have not yet answered our questions. Where is your planet? Do you also plan invasion of Earth? What do you want here?”

“Our planet is so far away that it can’t be seen in the sky,” Bec answered. “It’s in another galaxy, if you know what galaxies are. There’s a special way of getting to it which only we know. As for your other questions, I may as well be perfectly frank. Then you’ll know you can trust me. We’re not here to conquer Earth; quite the reverse. No more of my people will be coming from our own planet. There are only us you have prisoner and my other men, with more powerful weapons you haven’t seen, in Blue Space Valley. We are outcasts from our own world. Our wish is to make a place for ourselves here and eventually to raise strong forces to return to our own planet and destroy our enemies. So that’s what we can offer you, Commander: not only the means to rule Rheatt with ease but also a new world to conquer, with our help. In return we wish to be given positions of honour in your empire.”

It looked as if Imnitrin was going to spit. “Men of other tribes are not honoured by the Rotrox. It would be necessary to swear oaths of allegiance.”