9 Tales Told in the Dark 5 by 9 Tales Told in the Dark

Author:9 Tales Told in the Dark [Dark, 9 Tales Told in the]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bride of Chaos
Published: 2015-04-15T22:00:00+00:00

IX. Vorchek’s Solution

We ate. There wasn’t much decent food left. I dreaded being forced to accept the native fare, even assuming they were willing to feed us. Maybe they would, to fatten us, although their herd had looked pretty scrawny. Then, exhausted, I retired to my cramped stone cubicle, tried to sleep. My recent adventures kept me anxious, antsy, and I slept or dozed in short spurts, with frequent feverish awakenings. I would huddle my arms in the musty darkness, sink into troubled slumber again. Once I woke to the sound of low voices, an exchange in scant whispers, further muffled by stone walls. Vorchek and Parker were rapt in earnest conversation. At first I did not heed them, until the gist of their words struck me. What I heard sounded bizarre, yet slightly, improbably hopeful.

Vorchek was saying, in response to a heated retort, “I do not ask you to approve, only to accept. It is a way. I tell you it is the only way. I deigned to see the matter from their point of view. As they put it, we are asking a great deal, an incredible forbearance on their part. I ask them to implicitly trust us. In return, they insist that we suborn our modern niceties to their cherished customs. All things considered, I call it a fair trade.”

“It’s madness,” Parker shot back. “Even if we did such a thing, we don’t know they’d honor the agreement.”

“The calculated risk, you can be sure, torments both sides. Will they free us if the deal is made? Will we keep silent if we return to our world? Both sides take chances. If this comes off, you and I live, may venture here again in the years to come, relishing the rich studies that we keep ever to ourselves. Knowledge, Parker, for the sake of knowledge; it not that enough? It is for me. It is for you. I chose you with an understanding of your mind and heart.”

“The price is monstrous.”

“A small affair, trivial in the grand scheme, quickly over. We gain what we desire, in exchange for the loss of worthless trash. I foresaw the possibility.”

Parker gasped. “Don’t say that, Anton. Please don’t. I could almost believe that you planned it all from the start.”

I thought Vorchek broke off a chuckle. “Do not plague yourself with sterile doubts, Parker. I revolved ideas in my mind, entertained potential outcomes; that is all. Surely you questioned my decision to bring with us such refuse.”

“Stop it, Vorchek; no more.” A long silence, then: “An end to talk. We do what must be done. If we devote our lives to the selfless cause of science, that will atone for much. You’re in charge. Arrange it. And the girl?”

“Miss Delaney is a wonderfully level-headed young woman. In addition, she is, after her odd fashion, remarkably fond of me. I can bring her around.”

I heard no more then. During a later period of brief wakefulness, my groggy brain pondered the import of what I’d vaguely overheard.

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