A. E. Van Vogt - M 33 in Andromeda (1971) (PDF) (Gorgon776) by Unknown Author

Author:Unknown Author
Language: eng
Format: epub

There was silence in the control room. But Morton noted with satisfaction that it was a silence of tight-lipped tensing against danger. He said softly:

“I am glad to see that no one is even looking as if we ought to turn back. That is all to the good. As servants of our government and our race, it is our duty to investigate the potentialities of a new galaxy, particularly now that the dominating power in the new system knows we exist Its ability to project a thought into my mind indicates that it has already observed us, and, therefore, knows a great deal about us. We cannot permit that type of knowledge to be one-sided.”

He finished on a harder tone: “I should say we were very wise indeed to spend seven months in the space between our galaxy and this one repairing the damage caused by that scarlet beast There was some suggestion, I believe, of heading for a planet, and doing our fixing up in more congenial surroundings. In our wisdom, we played safe—But now, Kellie, as our sociologist, what do you think of the environment we’re heading into?” His gray gaze fixed on the bald-headed man, who adjusted his pince-nez, and said:

“That’s a large order, commander. But I would say we are merely entering a civilized galaxy, and these whispers are simply the outward signs like coming out of a wilderness into an area under cultivation.”

“Some cultivation,” said Smith in a mournful tone. He hunched his long, bony body back into his seat. “Beg your pardon. As a biologist, I haven’t any business in this conversation.”

“You have every business,” said Morton. “This is life with a capital L. But go on, Kellie.”

Kellie said: “Remember, man, too, has left his imperishable imprint on his own galaxy. If he desires he can light fires that will be seen a hundred galaxies away; at his touch suns flash into Nova brilliance; planets leave their orbits, dead worlds come alive with green and wonderful verdure; oceans swirl and rage where deserts lay lifeless under blazing suns.

“And even our presence here in this great ship is an emanation of man’s power, reaching our farther than these vibrations around us have ever dared to go.”

The long-faced Smith gave a dry laugh, said: “Man’s imprints are almost always linear. When he acts in three dimensions, he is restricted to planets, and even there, he is, for all practical purposes, confined to the flat bosom of the land. His ships that cross the sea leave a gentle swell, which merges with the tide and, after an hour, cannot be traced by the finest instruments in the universe.

“His ships that fly the air likewise leave no trail in the wind. When they have passed, they might as well not have been for all the record they make.

“How can you, therefore, speak of such things in the same breath with this? Man, these pulsations are alive. We can feel them; and they mean something; they’re thought forms so strong, so all-pervading that the whole of space whispers at us.

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