They skirted mountain ranges, forded rivers, circled over endless plains. Occasionally they saw other tanks, static and silent, frozen in their tracks. The slow pace of their own tank was frustrating to George. He said to Senilde: “Damn this ponderous thing! Why didn’t you choose something faster, say one of those wheeled torpedoes?”
“Because they’ve no accommodation for passengers. Because, unlike this tank, they’re not self-powered: to get one moving, I’d have to start the whole war up again. Because the torpedo shape is a target for all triangle forces. Reasons enough?”
After a fruitless, eventless week, Senilde became bored and headed the chariot home. They expostulated but Senilde said: “I don’t want Leep to die while I’m wasting time out here. I want some fun out of him first.”
George thought maybe Leep had had enough by now, too. Maybe he would be willing to talk.
But he wasn’t, even though he was skeleton-thin and very weak. Senilde and George tempted him with food, but he only smiled faintly and said: “You know my terms.”
Senilde said: “You have until sunset tomorrow, if you don’t die before then. After which, I’ll show you some old toys of mine. The electric rack. The eye magnet—it pulls your eye out slowly. The manicure set—it cuts your toes too. Have you ever been filletted hydraulically? It can be done artistically, and I assure you I’m an artist.”
George was disgusted, but made no comment. He hoped Leep would talk first, but if not, he would never allow him to be tortured. Mara regarded Senilde thoughtfully, but likewise said nothing. That night George slept, using the provision box for a pillow. Mara had a soft spot for Leep, and George didn’t trust her.
In the middle of the night Mara crept to Leep’s side with a double handful of food bars. He murmured, “Thank you, child,” and ate the lot without pause. Afterwards: “Oh, Mara, this cursed servitude of mind to food! Why weren’t we designed to live on air, as Senilde does? Why did you steal for me, child?”
They were speaking softly in their language, Teleos off.
“I’m a woman. I’m not hard, like a man. And I’m not ungrateful. In Fami, you often gave me good advice for nothing. I can’t let you die. Why don’t you try stealing for yourself, Leep? It’s so easy.”
“George was sleeping with his head on the box. It was impossible—”
“Far from impossible. I merely held his head up while I slid the box aside.”
“I haven’t the touch for such feats… Mara, would you steal again for me?”
“I’m… not sure. There are only a few bars left, and George must not go hungry—”
“I don’t mean food. While you were all away, I searched the house, both physically and with my mind. There’s a room upstairs all of steel, and inside—I divine it —is a sealed bottle containing the preparation which bestows immortality. Senilde has preserved it all this time. One needs such a tiny dose!
But the steel door is locked. And it’s ringed with protective devices—toothed traps that would bite off your hand, poisoned needles which shoot from hidden sockets… I know where they are. But I don’t know how to make them harmless. Such things were used in Fami, as you know. A skilled thief like you, plus my knowledge, could defeat them. Then we could both become immortal, and defy that wretched Senilde.”
She said: “I don’t want to be immortal. On the other hand, I don’t want to be dead. And Senilde will try to kill me when he discovers what I’ve done.”
“If you could cover your traces, he may not discover it for a long time. Meantime, you must escape.”
“Why should I run these risks for you? No!”
“I’m not asking you to do it for nothing. In return I would give you the position of the spaceship. Then you and George can escape in Senilde’s war chariot—it’s his only available conveyance: he can’t overtake you. Go to the ship; go to Earth with George—Senilde can’t reach you there.”
“Maybe he can.”
“No, Mara, you over-estimate him. His body may be immortal but his mind is nearing second childhood. It shows all the symptoms: frequent memory lapses, wandering attention, fits of petulance…People who never really grow out of their first childhood are prone to early mental decay. In a few years Senilde will become a witless and vacant- minded fool, forgetting even his own identity, wandering aimlessly round, never able to die.”
Mara shuddered. “Horrible!”
“But a fact. Well, Mara?”
After a few moments: “I’ll do it,” she decided.
