The Blue Tower | Page 5

to watch the budget, you know, because we

can hardly expect the Belphins to supply the components for this job.
Anyhow, I thought that, while my folks were waiting for me to finish it,
you would have a chance to warn the Belphins."
"Corisande," he murmured, "you are as noble and clever as you are
beautiful."
* * * * *
Then he caught the full import of her remarks. "Me! But they won't pay
any attention to me!"
"How do you know?" When he remained silent, she said, "I suppose
you've already tried to warn them about us."
"I--I said you had nothing to do with the plot."
"That was good of you." She continued in a warmer tone: "How many
Belphins did you warn, then?"
"Just one. When you tell one something, you tell them all. You know
that. Everyone knows that."
"That's just theory," she said. "It's never been proven. All we do know
is that they have some sort of central clearing house of information,
presumably The Belphin of Belphins. But we don't know that they are
incapable of thinking or acting individually. We don't really know
much about them at all; they're very secretive."
"Aloof," he corrected her, "as befits a ruling race. But always affable."
"You must warn as many Belphins as you can."
"And if none listens to me?"
"Then," she said dramatically, "you must approach The Belphin of
Belphins himself."
"But no human being has ever come near him!" he said plaintively.

"You know that all those who have tried perished. And that can't be a
rumor, because your grandfather said----"
"But they came to attack The Belphin. You're coming to warn him!
That makes a big difference. Ludovick...." She took his hands in hers;
in the darkness, the jewel swung madly on her presumably heaving
bosom. "This is bigger than both of us. It's for Earth."
He knew it was his patriotic duty to do as she said; still, he had enjoyed
life so much. "Corisande, wouldn't it be much simpler if we just
destroyed your uncle's secret weapon?"
"He'd only make another. Don't you see, Ludovick, this is our only
chance to save the Belphins, to save humanity.... But, of course, I don't
have the right to send you. I'll go myself."
"No, Corisande," he sighed. "I can't let you go. I'll do it."
* * * * *
Next morning, he set out to warn Belphins. He knew it wasn't much use,
but it was all he could do. The first half dozen responded in much the
same way the Belphin he had warned the previous day had done, by
courteously acknowledging his solicitude and assuring him there was
no need for alarm; they knew all about the Flockharts and everything
would be all right.
After that, they started to get increasingly huffy--which would, he
thought, substantiate the theory that they were all part of one vast
coordinate network of identity. Especially since each Belphin behaved
as if Ludovick had been repeatedly annoying him.
Finally, they refused to get off the walks when he hailed them--which
was unheard of, for no Belphin had ever before failed to respond to an
Earthman's call--and when he started running along the walks after
them, they ran much faster than he could.
At last he gave up and wandered about the city for hours, speaking to

neither human nor Belphin, wondering what to do. That is, he knew
what he had to do; he was wondering how to do it. He would never be
able to reach The Belphin of Belphins. No human being had ever done
it. Mieczyslaw and George had died trying to reach him (or it). Even
though their intentions had been hostile and Ludovick's would be
helpful, there was little chance he would be allowed to reach The
Belphin with all the other Belphins against him. What guarantee was
there that The Belphin would not be against him, too?
And yet he knew that he would have to risk his life; there was no help
for it. He had never wanted to be a hero, and here he had heroism thrust
upon him. He knew he could not succeed; equally well, he knew he
could not turn back, for his Belphin teacher had instructed him in the
meaning of duty.
It was twilight when he approached the Blue Tower. Commending
himself to the Infinite Virtue, he entered. The Belphin at the reception
desk did not give off the customary smiling expression. In fact, he
seemed to radiate a curiously apprehensive aura.
"Go back, young man," he said. "You're not wanted here."
"I must see The Belphin of Belphins. I must warn him against the
Flockharts."
"He has been warned," the receptionist told him. "Go home and be
happy!"
"I don't trust you