The Blue Tower

The Blue Tower, by Evelyn E.
Smith

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Title: The Blue Tower
Author: Evelyn E. Smith
Release Date: October 20, 2007 [EBook #23104]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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TOWER ***

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THE
BLUE

TOWER

By EVELYN E. SMITH

As the vastly advanced guardians of mankind, the Belphins knew how
to make a lesson stick--but whom?

Illustrated by DICK FRANCIS

Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy, February,
1958. Extensive research did not reveal any evidence that the U.S.
copyright on this publication was renewed.
Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note.

Ludovick Eversole sat in the golden sunshine outside his house, writing
a poem as he watched the street flow gently past him. There were very
few people on it, for he lived in a slow part of town, and those who
went in for travel generally preferred streets where the pace was
quicker.
Moreover, on a sultry spring afternoon like this one, there would be
few people wandering abroad. Most would be lying on sun-kissed
white beaches or in sun-drenched parks, or, for those who did not fancy
being either kissed or drenched by the sun, basking in the comfort of
their own air-conditioned villas.
Some would, like Ludovick, be writing poems; others composing
symphonies; still others painting pictures. Those who were without
creative talent or the inclination to indulge it would be relaxing their
well-kept golden bodies in whatever surroundings they had chosen to

spend this particular one of the perfect days that stretched in an
unbroken line before every member of the human race from the cradle
to the crematorium.
Only the Belphins were much in evidence. Only the Belphins had
duties to perform. Only the Belphins worked.
Ludovick stretched his own well-kept golden body and rejoiced in the
knowing that he was a man and not a Belphin. Immediately afterward,
he was sorry for the heartless thought. Didn't the Belphins work only to
serve humanity? How ungrateful, then, it was to gloat over them!
Besides, he comforted himself, probably, if the truth were known, the
Belphins liked to work. He hailed a passing Belphin for assurance on
this point.
Courteous, like all members of his species, the creature leaped from the
street and listened attentively to the young man's question. "We
Belphins have but one like and one dislike," he replied. "We like what
is right and we dislike what is wrong."
"But how can you tell what is right and what is wrong?" Ludovick
persisted.
"We know," the Belphin said, gazing reverently across the city to the
blue spire of the tower where The Belphin of Belphins dwelt, in
constant communication with every member of his race at all times, or
so they said. "That is why we were placed in charge of humanity.
Someday you, too, may advance to the point where you know, and we
shall return whence we came."
"But who placed you in charge," Ludovick asked, "and whence did you
come?" Fearing he might seem motivated by vulgar curiosity, he
explained, "I am doing research for an epic poem."
* * * * *
A lifetime spent under their gentle guardianship had made Ludovick
able to interpret the expression that flitted across this Belphin's

frontispiece as a sad, sweet smile.
"We come from beyond the stars," he said. Ludovick already knew that;
he had hoped for something a little more specific. "We were placed in
power by those who had the right. And the power through which we
rule is the power of love! Be happy!"
And with that conventional farewell (which also served as a greeting),
he stepped onto the sidewalk and was borne off. Ludovick looked after
him pensively for a moment, then shrugged. Why should the Belphins
surrender their secrets to gratify the idle curiosity of a poet?
Ludovick packed his portable scriptwriter in its case and went to call on
the girl next door, whom he loved with a deep and intermittently
requited passion.
As he passed between the tall columns leading into the Flockhart
courtyard, he noted with regret that there were quite a number of
Corisande's relatives present, lying about sunning themselves and
sipping beverages which probably touched the legal limit of
intoxicatability.
Much as he hated to think harshly of anyone, he did not like Corisande
Flockhart's relatives. He had never