The Henry Kuttner Mega Science Fiction Mega Collection by Henry Kuttner

Author:Henry Kuttner [Kuttner, Henry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2016-11-09T23:00:00+00:00

"What is the truth? You mean the cat-people evolved in thirty years from primitives?"

"From the jaguars of the valley," Craddock supplemented. "But it was not merely thirty years. Thirty million or billion, with the radiations pouring out from the Flame. Remember I told you a man could have a lifetime in a second? What took place in our world over a period of eons, happened in Paititi in three decades. The metabolism, the life-rate, was speeded up so enormously that the jaguars evolved in hours or days to savages. And thence to reasoning beings. Their paws became hands.

"They learned to walk upright. If we could have looked down on Paititi from above, in those times, we could have seen the shapes actually flowing, living flesh melting and changing." He paused, glancing at his hands.

"Yes," he went on, after a time. "The cat-people evolved and became intelligent. They created a culture of their own based on the older culture that had preceded them. The other life-forms in the valley reached dead ends. Only one species becomes dominant in any milieu. Here it was the cat.

"Only lately, the Flame has begun to sink again. When I wakened it, I gave it an artificial stimulus, and its flare-up will die as swiftly. In another generation or two, it will sink beneath the danger-level, and then the malignant radiations that destroyed the First Race will come pouring out."

Quickly Raft sucked in his breath. "I see. I'm getting it now, finally."

"Yes. That's why Parror abducted me. Because the records of the First Race that held the secret of the Flame no longer exist. I left them in the cavern then, and they were destroyed by that horror. As I would have been destroyed if I'd stayed longer. Parror thought I knew how to waken the Flame."

"Don't you?"

"I could not understand all the records," Craddock admitted. "I told you that. I can waken the Flame, but I can't control it. That's the danger."

"Not even Parror will risk that," Janissa suggested. "Until he finds the knowledge he seeks, he won't take chances."

Craddock gestured urgently. "Someone is coming. Parror, I think."

Janissa touched the mirror. "We can speak no more, then, until he is gone. But tell him nothing, Craddock."

"How can I? the man asked. Then gray clouds blotted out his face.

Raft leaned back, realizing that he was sweating and exhausted. Janissa watched him sympathetically.

"It is not an easy road unless you know the way," she told him. "But it is a road we must take again."

"Yeah. I'd like to get my hands on Parror personally. Or see him in my rifle-sights."

"Perhaps you will, later." The cat-face was somber. "You see, there is still danger. Craddock did not understand all the old records, but he read them."

"So?"

"The memory is in his mind. It is forgotten now, hidden away, but it is not lost. Such memories can be recovered. And if they are, Parror will know how to use the wisdom of the First Race."

"He can dig up Craddock's memories, eh? Mnemonics--hypnosis, I suppose.

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