WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:05.480 The link by Alan Edward Norse. It was nearly sundown 2 00:00:05.480 --> 00:00:08.039 when Rowdon eased the ship down into the last slow 3 00:00:08.199 --> 00:00:12.160 arc toward the Earth's surface. Stretching his arms and legs, 4 00:00:12.199 --> 00:00:14.320 he tried to relax and eased the tension in his 5 00:00:14.439 --> 00:00:18.359 tired muscles. Carefully, he tightened the seat belt for landing. 6 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:21.760 Below him, he could see the vast, tangled expanse of 7 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:26.079 jungle land spreading out to the horizon. Miles ahead was 8 00:00:26.120 --> 00:00:29.199 the bright circle of the landing field and the sparkling 9 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:32.840 glow of the city beyond. Raften peered to the north 10 00:00:32.920 --> 00:00:35.880 of the city, hoping to catch a glimpse of the concert, 11 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:39.079 before his ship was swallowed by the brilliant landing lights. 12 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:43.520 A bell chimed softly in his ear. Robden forced his 13 00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:47.320 attention back to the landing operation. He was still numb 14 00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:51.000 and shaken from the warp passage, his mind still muddled 15 00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:55.039 by the abrupt and incredible change. Moments before, the sky 16 00:00:55.079 --> 00:00:58.280 had been a vast, starry blanket of black velvet. Then 17 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:01.759 abruptly he had been hovering over the city, sliding down 18 00:01:01.799 --> 00:01:05.480 toward warm, friendly lights and music. He checked the proper 19 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:09.200 switches and felt the throbbing purr of the antigraph motors. 20 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:13.040 As the ships lit in toward the landing slot, tall 21 00:01:13.079 --> 00:01:16.480 spires of other ships rose to meet him, circle upon 22 00:01:16.599 --> 00:01:20.879 circle of silver needles pointing skyward. A little later they 23 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:23.239 were blotted out as the ship was grappled into the 24 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:27.400 berth from which it had risen days before. With a sigh, 25 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:30.480 ribed and eased himself out of the seat, his heart 26 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:34.439 pounding with excitement. Perhaps he thought he was too excited, 27 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:37.680 too eager to be home, for his mind was still 28 00:01:37.719 --> 00:01:42.159 reeling from the fearful discovery of his journey. The station 29 00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:45.480 was completely empty as Robdin walked down the ramp to 30 00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:48.079 the shuttles. At the desk, he checked in with a 31 00:01:48.120 --> 00:01:52.239 shiny punch card robot and walked swiftly across the polished floor. 32 00:01:52.840 --> 00:01:56.920 The wall panels pulsed a somber blue green, broken sharply 33 00:01:56.959 --> 00:02:01.359 by brilliant flashes and overtones of scarlet, reflecting with subtle 34 00:02:01.400 --> 00:02:05.200 accuracy the tumult in his own mind. Not a sound 35 00:02:05.319 --> 00:02:07.760 was in the air, not a whisper, nor sign of 36 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:12.439 human habitation. Vaguely uneasiness grew in his mind as he 37 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:17.319 entered the shuttle station. Suddenly the music caught him, a long, 38 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:21.599 low chord of indescribable beauty, rising and falling in the wind, 39 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:26.879 a distant whisper of life. The concert, of course, every 40 00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:29.439 one would be at the concert to night, and even 41 00:02:29.479 --> 00:02:32.759 from two miles away, the beauty of four hundred perfectly 42 00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:37.879 harmonized voices was carried on the breeze. Robdon's uneasiness disappeared. 43 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:41.360 He was eager to discharge his horrible news, get it 44 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:43.639 off his mind, and join the others in the great 45 00:02:43.639 --> 00:02:48.199 amphitheater set deep in the hillside outside the city. But 46 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:52.719 he knew instinctively that Lord Nemmon, anticipating his return, would 47 00:02:52.759 --> 00:02:56.879 not be at the concert. Riding the shuttle over the 48 00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:59.719 edges of jungle Land toward the shining, bright beauty of 49 00:02:59.719 --> 00:03:03.280 the sea, robbed and settled back, trying to clear his 50 00:03:03.400 --> 00:03:05.840 mind of the shock and horror he had encountered on 51 00:03:05.879 --> 00:03:10.240 his journey. The curves and spires of glowing plastic pasted him, 52 00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:14.159 lighted with a million ewes, he realized that his whole 53 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:17.439 life was entangled in the very beauty of this wonderful city. 54 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:21.199 Everything he had ever hoped or dreamed lay sheltered here 55 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:25.479 in the ever changing rhythm of colors and shapes and sounds, 56 00:03:26.319 --> 00:03:29.199 and now he knew he would soon see his beloved 57 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:32.919 city burning once again, turning to flames and ashes in 58 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:36.639 a heartbreaking memorial to the age old fear of his people. 59 00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:40.560 The little shuttle car settled down softly on the green 60 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:43.639 terrace near the center of the city. The building was 61 00:03:43.719 --> 00:03:48.000 a masterpiece of smoothly curving walls and tasteful lines, opening 62 00:03:48.039 --> 00:03:50.800 a full side to the south to catch the soft 63 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:55.280 sunlight and warm breezes, robed and strode across the deep 64 00:03:55.319 --> 00:03:59.800 carpeting of the terrace. There was other music here, different music, 65 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:04.759 a wilder, more intimate fantasy of whirling sound. An oval 66 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:08.520 door opened for him, and he stopped short, staggered for 67 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:11.479 a moment by the overpowering beauty. In the vaulted room, 68 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:14.919 a girl with red hair, the color of new flame, 69 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:19.079 was dancing with enthralling beauty and abandon her body, moving 70 00:04:19.240 --> 00:04:22.040 like ripples of wind to the music, which filled the 71 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:26.680 room with its throbbing cry. Her beauty was exquisite, every motion, 72 00:04:27.240 --> 00:04:31.160 every flowing turn, a symphony of flawless perfection. As she 73 00:04:31.319 --> 00:04:35.920 danced to the wild music. Lord Nemmon, the dancer threw 74 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:39.800 her head back sharply, eyes wide, her body frozen in 75 00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:43.560 mid air, and then abruptly she was gone, leaving only 76 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:47.720 the barrest flickering image of her fiery hair. The music slowed, 77 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:51.399 singing softly, and Raveden could see the old man waiting 78 00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:55.319 in the room. Nemmon rose, his gaunt face and graying 79 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:59.560 hair belying the youthful movement of his body. Smiling, he 80 00:04:59.639 --> 00:05:02.839 came forward, clap raped in on the shoulder and took 81 00:05:02.839 --> 00:05:06.600 his hand warmly. You're too late for the concert. It's 82 00:05:06.600 --> 00:05:09.720 a shame. Mishana is the master tonight, and the whole 83 00:05:09.720 --> 00:05:13.839 city is there. Robdin's throat tightened as he tried to smile. 84 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:18.040 I had to let you know. He said, they're coming, Nemmon. 85 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:22.319 I saw them hours ago. The last overtones of the 86 00:05:22.399 --> 00:05:26.680 music broke abruptly, like a glass shattered on stone. The 87 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:30.839 room was deathly still. Lord Neman searched the young man's face. 88 00:05:31.560 --> 00:05:35.000 Then he turned away, not quite concealing the sadness and 89 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:38.879 pain in his eyes. You're certain you couldn't be mistaken, 90 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:42.879 no chance. I found signs of their passing in a 91 00:05:42.920 --> 00:05:47.120 dozen places. Then I saw them, their whole fleet. There 92 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:51.519 were hundreds. They're coming. I saw them. Did they see you? 93 00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:55.759 Neman's voice was sharp, No, No, The warp is a 94 00:05:55.800 --> 00:05:58.240 wonderful thing with it, I could come and go in 95 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:00.920 the twinkling of an eye. But I could see them 96 00:06:01.079 --> 00:06:03.959 in the twinkling of an eye, and it couldn't have 97 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:07.879 been anyone else. Could anyone else build ships like the hunters? 98 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:12.879 Neman sighed wearily, No one that we know. He glanced 99 00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:16.199 up at the young man. Sit down, son, sit down. 100 00:06:16.360 --> 00:06:19.240 I I'll just have to rearrange my thinking a little. 101 00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:24.000 Where were they? How far? Seven light years? Robdin said, 102 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:28.000 can you imagine it? Just seven and moving straight this way? 103 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:31.240 They know where we are, and they are coming quickly. 104 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:35.160 His eyes filled with fear. They couldn't have found us 105 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:38.399 so soon unless they too have discovered the warp and 106 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:42.240 how to use it to travel. The older man's breath 107 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:45.480 cut off sharply, and there was real alarm in his eyes. 108 00:06:46.199 --> 00:06:49.879 You're right, he said softly. Six months ago it was 109 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:53.360 eight hundred light years away in an area completely remote 110 00:06:53.399 --> 00:06:56.920 from us. Now just seven in six months, they have 111 00:06:57.000 --> 00:07:01.160 come so close. The scout looked up at and desperation. 112 00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:05.120 But what can we do? We have only weeks maybe days, 113 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:08.720 before they're here. We have no time to plan, no 114 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:12.759 time to prepare for them. What can we do? The 115 00:07:12.839 --> 00:07:16.800 room was silent. Finally, the aged leader stood up wearily, 116 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:20.600 some fraction of his six hundred years of life showing 117 00:07:20.600 --> 00:07:24.360 in his face for the first time in centuries. We 118 00:07:24.439 --> 00:07:26.879 can do once again what we always have done before 119 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:31.480 when the hunters came, he said, sadly, we can run away. 120 00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:37.120 The bright street below the oval window was empty and quiet. 121 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:40.240 Not a breath of air stirred in the city. Raved 122 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:43.920 and stared out in bitter silence. Yes, we can run away, 123 00:07:44.439 --> 00:07:47.720 just as we always have before. After we've worked so hard, 124 00:07:47.800 --> 00:07:50.680 accomplish so much here, we must burn the city and 125 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:55.120 flee again. His voice trouted off to silence. He stared 126 00:07:55.160 --> 00:07:58.279 at Nemmen, seeking in the old man's face some answer, 127 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:03.120 some reassurance, But he found no answer there, only sadness. 128 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:07.079 Think of the concerts. It's taken so long, but at 129 00:08:07.160 --> 00:08:10.399 last we've come so close to the ultimate gull. He 130 00:08:10.519 --> 00:08:13.920 gestured toward the thought sensitive sounding boards lining the walls, 131 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:17.800 the panels which had made the Dancer illusion possible. Think 132 00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:21.160 of the beauty and peace we've found here. I know 133 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:24.920 how well I know. Yet now the hunters come again, 134 00:08:25.319 --> 00:08:28.399 and again we must run away. Robdin stared at the 135 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:32.279 old man, his eyes suddenly bright. Nemmin, when I saw 136 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:36.000 those ships, I began thinking, I've spent many years thinking, 137 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:40.519 my son, not what I've been thinking. Rabdin sat down, 138 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:43.879 clasping his hands in excitement. The hunters come and we 139 00:08:43.960 --> 00:08:47.120 run away, Nemen, think about that for a moment. We 140 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:50.639 run and we run, and we run from what. We 141 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:54.600 run from the hunters. They're hunting us, These hunters, they've 142 00:08:54.639 --> 00:08:58.399 never quite found us, because we've always already run. We're clever, 143 00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:01.039 we're fortunate, and we have way of life that they 144 00:09:01.080 --> 00:09:04.200 do not. So whenever they have come close to finding us, 145 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:08.480 we have run. Nemon nodded slowly. For thousands of years, 146 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:13.320 Rabden's eyes were bright. Yes, we flee, We cringe, We 147 00:09:13.399 --> 00:09:16.240 hide under stones, We break up our lives and uprid 148 00:09:16.279 --> 00:09:19.879 our families, running like frightened animals in the shadows of night, 149 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:22.879 in secrecy. He gulped a breath, and his eyes sought 150 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:27.879 Nemen's angrily. Why do we run, my lord? Nemon's eyes widened, 151 00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:31.519 Because we have no choice, he said, We must run 152 00:09:31.639 --> 00:09:34.360 or be killed. You know that you've seen the records. 153 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:37.879 You've been taught. Oh yes, I know what I've been taught. 154 00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:41.159 I've been taught that AONs ago our remote ancestors fought 155 00:09:41.159 --> 00:09:44.799 the hunters and lost and fled and were pursued. But 156 00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:47.960 why do we keep running? Time after time we've been 157 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:51.879 cornered and we've turned and fled. Why even animals know 158 00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:55.000 that when they're cornered they must turn and fight. We 159 00:09:55.200 --> 00:09:58.000 are not animals. Neman's voice cut the air like a 160 00:09:58.039 --> 00:10:02.440 whip latch. But we could fight eight animals fight. We 161 00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:05.559 do not. We fought once like animals, and now we 162 00:10:05.639 --> 00:10:08.679 must run from the hunters who continue to fight like animals. 163 00:10:09.080 --> 00:10:13.159 So be it. Let the hunters fight. Rowden shook his head. 164 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:15.519 Do you mean that the hunters are not men like us? 165 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:18.799 He said, that's what you're saying, that they are animals? 166 00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:22.279 All right? We kill animals for our food. Isn't that true? 167 00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:25.639 We kill the tiger beasts in the jungle to protect ourselves. 168 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:30.120 Why not kill the hunters to protect ourselves. Nemmon sighed 169 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:33.320 and reached out a hand of the young man. I'm sorry, 170 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:37.039 he said, gently. It seems logical, but it's false. Logic. 171 00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:40.159 The hunters are men, just like you and me. Their 172 00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:43.480 lives are different, their culture is different, but they are men, 173 00:10:44.039 --> 00:10:46.879 and human life is sacred to us above all else. 174 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:51.240 This is the fundamental basis of our very existence. Without it, 175 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:54.559 we would be hunters too. If we fight, we are dead, 176 00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:57.480 even if we live. That's why we must run away 177 00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:00.759 now and always, because we know that we must not 178 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:04.759 kill men. On the street below, the night air was 179 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:08.799 suddenly full of voices, chattering intermingled with whispers of song 180 00:11:08.919 --> 00:11:12.879 and occasional brief harmonic flutterings. The footfalls were muted on 181 00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:16.440 the polished pavement as the people passed slowly, their voices 182 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:21.679 carrying a hint of puzzled uneasiness. The concert's over riped 183 00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:24.360 and walked to the window, feeling a chill pass through him. 184 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:28.879 So soon, I wonder why. Eagerly he searched the faces 185 00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:32.480 passing in the street for Dana's face, sensing the lurking 186 00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:35.759 discord in the quiet talk of the crowd. Suddenly the 187 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:38.679 soundboards in the room tinkled a chillion of ruby tones 188 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:41.600 in his ear, and she was in the room, rushing 189 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:44.720 into his arms with a happy cry, pressing her soft 190 00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:48.639 cheek to his rough chin. You're back. Oh, I'm so glad, 191 00:11:48.919 --> 00:11:53.000 so very glad. She turned to the old Mannemn what 192 00:11:53.080 --> 00:11:56.639 has happened? The concert was run tonight. There was something 193 00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:59.720 in the air. Everybody felt it. For some reason, the 194 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:05.799 people seemed afraid. Rafton turned away from his bride. Tell her, 195 00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:08.679 he said to the old man. Dana looked at them, 196 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:12.679 her gray eyes widening in horror. The hunters they found us. 197 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:17.679 Robden nodded wordlessly. Her hands trembled as she sat down, 198 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:20.720 and there were tears in her eyes. We came so 199 00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:24.360 close to night, so very close. I've felt the music 200 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:27.639 before it was sung. Do you realize that I've felt 201 00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:30.440 the fear around me? Even though no one said a word. 202 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:34.879 It wasn't vague or fuzzy. It was clear. The transference 203 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:38.759 was perfect. She turned to face the old man. It's 204 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:42.159 taken so long to come this far, Neemmin, so much work, 205 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:46.240 so much training to reach a perfect communal concert. We've 206 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:49.600 had only two hundred years here, only two hundred. I 207 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:52.279 was just a little girl when we came. I can't 208 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:55.559 even remember before that. Before we came here, we were 209 00:12:55.639 --> 00:12:59.519 undisturbed for a thousand years. And before that four thousand, 210 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:03.799 but two hundred. We can't leave now, not when we've 211 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:09.240 come so far. Radden nodded. That's the trouble. They come 212 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:12.759 closer every time. This time they will catch us, or 213 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:15.399 the next time, or the next, and that will be 214 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:18.600 the end of everything for us, unless we fight them. 215 00:13:18.919 --> 00:13:22.240 He paused, watching the last groups dispersing on the street below. 216 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:26.240 If we only knew for certain what we were running from, 217 00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:29.639 there was a startled silence. The girl's breath came in 218 00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:33.720 a gasp, and her eyes widened as his words sank home. Rafton, 219 00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:38.279 she said softly, have you ever seen a hunter? Rafden 220 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:41.279 stared at her and felt a chill of excitement. Music 221 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:45.960 burst from the sounding board, awed wild music, suddenly hopeful. No, 222 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:50.000 he said, no, of course not. You know that. The 223 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:53.159 girl rose from her seat. Nor have I never? Not 224 00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:58.120 Once she turned to Lord Nemmon, Have you never? The 225 00:13:58.200 --> 00:14:02.360 old man's voice was harsh. Has anyone ever seen a hunter? 226 00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:07.840 Raftn's hands trembled. I don't know, none of us living now. No, 227 00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:11.480 it's been too long since they last actually found us. 228 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:15.600 I've read, Oh, I can't remember. I think my grandfather 229 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:19.519 saw them, or my great grandfather somewhere back there. It's 230 00:14:19.559 --> 00:14:23.919 been thousands of years, yet we've been tearing ourselves up 231 00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:27.440 by the roots, fleeing from planet to planet, running and dying, 232 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:30.799 and still running. But suppose we don't need to run anymore? 233 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:35.440 He stared at her. They keep coming, they keep searching 234 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:39.279 for us. What more proof do you need? Dana's face 235 00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:44.000 glowed with excitement, alive with new vitality, new hope, Rafting, 236 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:47.440 can't you see they might have changed, They might not 237 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:51.159 be the same. Things can happen? Look at us, how 238 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:54.200 we've grown since the wars with the Hunters. Think how 239 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:58.039 our philosophy and culture have matured. Oh, Rafton, you were 240 00:14:58.039 --> 00:15:00.919 to be a master at a concert next month? Think 241 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:04.480 how the concerts have changed. Even my grandmother can remember 242 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:07.440 when the concerts were just a few performers playing and 243 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:11.120 everyone else just sitting and listening. Can you imagine anything 244 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:14.960 more silly? They hadn't even thought of transference, then, They 245 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:18.240 never dreamed what a real concert could be. Why those 246 00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:21.720 people had never begun to understand music until they themselves 247 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:25.279 became a part of it. Even we can see these changes. 248 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:28.000 Why couldn't the Hunters have grown and change just as 249 00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:32.360 we have Nemon's voice broke in, almost harshly, as he 250 00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:37.039 faced the excited pair. The Hunters don't have concerts, he said, grimly, 251 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:40.519 you're deluding yourself, Dana. They laugh at our music, They 252 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:43.559 scoff at our arts and twist them into obscene mockeries. 253 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:46.879 They have no concept of beauty in their language. The 254 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:51.440 Hunters are incapable of change. And can you be certain 255 00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:54.360 of that when nobody has seen them for thousands of years? 256 00:15:55.399 --> 00:15:59.240 Nemon met her steady eyes, read the strength and determination there, 257 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:03.600 knew despairingly what she was thinking. That he was old, 258 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:07.159 that he couldn't understand, that his mind was channeled now 259 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:10.879 beyond the approach of wisdom. You mustn't think what you're thinking, 260 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:15.000 he said weakly. You'd be blind, You wouldn't know, You 261 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:17.879 couldn't have any idea what you would find if you 262 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:22.000 try to contact them. You could be lost, completely tortured, killed. 263 00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:25.960 If they haven't changed, you wouldn't stand a chance. You'd 264 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:30.200 never come back, Dana. But she's still right all the same, 265 00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:34.879 Robin said, softly, you're wrong, my lord. We can't continue 266 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:38.840 this way afoord to survive. Sometime our people must contact them, 267 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:41.480 find the link that was once between us and force 268 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:44.840 it strong again. We could do it, Dana and I. 269 00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:48.279 I could forbid you to go. Dana looked at her husband, 270 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:51.279 and her eyes were proud. You could forbid us, she said, 271 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:54.200 facing the old man, but you could never stop us. 272 00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:58.799 At the edge of the jungle land, a great beast 273 00:16:58.799 --> 00:17:02.720 stood with green gleams, licking his fanged jaws as he 274 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:07.119 watched the glowing city, sensing somehow that the mystifying circle 275 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:10.359 of light and motion was soon to become his jungle 276 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:14.759 land again. In the city, the turmoil bubbled over as 277 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:17.599 wave after wave of the people made the short safari 278 00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:23.559 across the intervening jungle to the circles of their ships. Husbands, wives, fathers, 279 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:28.440 mothers all carried their small, frail remembrances out to the ships. 280 00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:31.680 There was music among them still, but it was a 281 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:35.119 different sort of music now, and eerie, hopeless music that 282 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:38.119 drifted out of the city in the wind. It caused 283 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:40.960 all but the bravest of the beasts, their hair prickling 284 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:44.319 on their backs, to run in panic through the jungle darkness. 285 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:48.400 It was a melancholy music, carried from thought to thought, 286 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:51.400 from voice to voice, as the people of the city 287 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:56.200 wearily prepared themselves once again for the long journey to 288 00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:59.920 run away in the darkness of secrecy, to be gone 289 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:03.880 without a trace, without symbol or vestige of their presence, 290 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:06.960 leaving only the scorched circle of land for the jungle 291 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:10.319 to reclaim, so that no eyes, not even the sharpest, 292 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:13.400 would ever know how long they had stayed, nor where 293 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:17.000 they might have gone. In the rounded room of his house, 294 00:18:17.400 --> 00:18:21.559 Lord Nemon dispatched the last of his belongings, a few remembrances, 295 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:24.920 nothing more, because the space on the ships must take people, 296 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:28.400 not remembrances, and he knew that the remembrances would bring 297 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:32.440 only pain all day. Nemen had supervised the loading, the 298 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:37.599 intricate preparation following plans laid down millennia before he saw 299 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:41.519 the libraries and records transported mile upon endless mile of 300 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:45.480 microfilm carted to the ships, prepared to carry them stored 301 00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:48.680 until a new resting place was found. The history of 302 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:51.759 a people was recorded on that film, a people once 303 00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:56.119 proud and strong, now equally proud, but dwindling in numbers, 304 00:18:56.119 --> 00:18:59.839 as told for the constant roving, A proud people, yet 305 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:02.319 a people who would turn and run without thought in 306 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:05.400 a panic of age old fear. They had to run. 307 00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:08.960 Nemon knew if they were to survive, and with a 308 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:11.799 blaze of anger in his heart, he almost hated the 309 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:14.119 two young people waiting here with him for the last 310 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:17.240 ship to be filled, for these two would not go. 311 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:21.559 It had been a long and painful night. He had 312 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:24.319 pleaded and begged, tried to persuade them that there was 313 00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:27.799 no hope, that the very idea of remaining behind or 314 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:31.240 trying to contact the hunters was insane. Yet he knew 315 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:35.720 they were sane, perhaps unwise naive, but their decision had 316 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:39.240 been reached and they would not be shaken. The day 317 00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:41.920 was almost gone, as the last ships began to fill. 318 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:46.119 Nemon turned to Rothdon and Dana, his face lined and tired. 319 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:49.680 You'll have to go soon, he said. The city will 320 00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:52.400 be burned, of course, as always, You'll be left with 321 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:55.799 food and with weapons against the jungle. The hunters will 322 00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:58.680 know that we've been here, but they'll know when nor 323 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:02.039 where we have gone. He paused. It will be up 324 00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:05.039 to you to see that they don't learn. Dana shook 325 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:07.759 her head. We'll tell them nothing unless it's safe for 326 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:12.160 them to know. They'll question you even torture you, she 327 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:16.079 smiled calmly. Perhaps they won't, but as a last resort, 328 00:20:16.119 --> 00:20:20.279 we can blank out. Nemon's face went white. You know 329 00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:22.839 there is no coming back. Once you do that, you 330 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:25.599 would never regain your memory. You must save it for 331 00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:29.160 a last resort. Down below, on the street, the last 332 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:32.880 groups of people were passing. The last sweet, eery tones 333 00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:36.960 of the concert were rising in the gathering twilight. Soon, 334 00:20:37.079 --> 00:20:40.119 the last families would have taken their refuge in the ships, 335 00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:43.839 waiting for Nemen to trigger the fire bombs to ignite 336 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:47.079 the beautiful city. After the ships started on their voyage, 337 00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:50.640 the concerts were over. There would be long years of 338 00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:54.599 aimless wandering before another home could be found, another planet 339 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:57.799 saved from the hunters and their ships. Even then, it 340 00:20:57.799 --> 00:21:01.160 would be more years before the Concerts could again rise 341 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:04.799 from their hearts and throats and minds, generations before they 342 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:09.640 could begin work again toward the climactic expression of their heritage. 343 00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:13.319 Rafden felt the desolation in the people's minds, saw the 344 00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:16.839 utter hopelessness in the old man's face, and suddenly felt 345 00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:20.279 the pressure of despair. It was such a slender hope, 346 00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:24.119 so frail and so dangerous. He knew of the terrible fight, 347 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:27.200 the war of his people against the hunters, so many 348 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:31.240 thousand years before they had risen together a common people, 349 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:34.759 their home, a single planet, and then the gradual splitting 350 00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:38.599 of the nations. His own people living in peace, seeking 351 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:41.880 the growth and beauty of the arts, despising the bitterness 352 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:45.599 and barrenness of hatred and killing, and the hunters, under 353 00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:49.480 an iron hill of militarism, of government for the perpetuation 354 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:53.480 of government, split farther and farther from them. It was 355 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:56.599 an ever widening split, as the hunters sneered and ridiculed, 356 00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:59.119 and then grew to hate Rabden's people for all the 357 00:21:59.160 --> 00:22:04.079 things the hunters were losing. Peace, love, happiness. Ravda knew 358 00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:07.519 of his people, slowly dawning awareness of the sanctity of life, 359 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:11.599 shattered abruptly by the horrible wars, and then the centuries 360 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:14.160 of fear and flight, hiding from the wrath of the 361 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:18.400 hunter's vengeance. His people had learned much in those long years. 362 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:21.920 They had conquered disease, they had grown in strength as 363 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:24.880 they dwindled in numbers. But now the end could be 364 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:28.319 seen crystal clear, the end of his people in a 365 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:33.640 ghastly grave Nemon's voice broke the silence. If you must 366 00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:36.680 stay behind, then go now. The city will burn an 367 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:41.200 hour after the countdown. We will be safe outside the city. 368 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:44.400 Dana gripped her husband's hand, trying to transmit to him 369 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:48.920 some part of her strength and confidence. Wish is the best, Nemen. 370 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:51.720 If a link can be forged, we will forge it. 371 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:55.480 I wish you the best in everything. There were tears 372 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:57.720 in the old man's eyes as he turned and left 373 00:22:57.720 --> 00:23:02.240 the room. They stood in the jungle land, listening to 374 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:05.400 the scurry of frightened animals and shivering in the cool 375 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:08.160 night air, as the bright sparks of the ships exhaust 376 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:11.799 faded into the black, starry sky. A man and a 377 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:17.119 woman alone, speechless, watching, staring with awful longing into the skies. 378 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:21.200 As the bright rocket jets dwindled to specks and flickered out, 379 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:25.279 the city burned, Purple spumes of flame shot high into 380 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:28.799 the air, throwing a ghastly light on the frightened jungle land. 381 00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:32.359 Spires of flame seemed to be seeking the stars with 382 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:35.359 their fingers as the plastic walls and streets of the 383 00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:39.680 city hissed and shriveled, blackening bubbling into a vanishing memory 384 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:43.799 before their eyes. The flames shot high, carrying with them 385 00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:46.319 the last remnants of the city, which had stood proud 386 00:23:46.359 --> 00:23:50.480 and tall an hour before. Then a silence fell, deathly, 387 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:54.920 like the lifeless silence of a grave. Out of the silence, 388 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:58.279 little whispering sounds of the jungle land crept to their ears, 389 00:23:58.680 --> 00:24:02.720 first frightened, then curious, then bolder and boulder as the 390 00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:05.599 wisp of grass and little animals ventured out and out 391 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:09.519 toward the clearing where the city had stood. Bit by bit, 392 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:13.880 the jungle land gathered courage, and the clearing slowly, silently 393 00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:18.559 began to disappear. Days later, new sparks of light appeared 394 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:21.839 in the black sky. They grew to larger specks, then 395 00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:25.079 to flares, and finally settled to the earth as powerful 396 00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:32.400 flaming jets. They were squat, misshapen vessels, circling down like vultures, hissing, screeching, 397 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:36.039 landing with a grinding crash in the tall thicket near 398 00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:39.559 the place where the city had stood. Robden's signal had 399 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:42.599 guided them in, and hunters had seen them standing on 400 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:46.720 a hilltop above the demolished amphitheater men had come out 401 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:50.440