The Sinners of Erspia

Could a thought beam affect Klystar himself? Presumably not. It was a question of individuality. Social insects such as ants, bees and termites had none. They could not distinguish one another as individuals, only as members of a caste: worker, drone or warrior. Klystar stood at the other extreme: he was pure individual, able to achieve unaided what would take an entire society of human beings. He had no need of companionship or co-operation.

Mankind stood midway between the two: a social being with some level of intelligence. For that reason human beings were susceptible to thought-moulding.

Laedo asked himself what he could do to remedy his dreadful act. Return the projector station to Erspia-1 and switch the beam back on? He didn't yet know how to do the first. In fact ‘Klystar’ had made it sound as though he never would be able to take control of the station.

Return to Erspia-1 and remove the Ahrimanic beam? A similar problem presented itself there. His cargo ship had a protective beam weapon, but the manoeuvring engine would not take it to Erspia-1.

Despondently Laedo trudged the rest of the way to his cargo ship. Histrina was still in the lounge, looking at the viewscreen.

“What was that monstrous thing that came walking by?” she asked breathlessly. “That's not a person, is it?"

“That's Klystar. Sort of."

He sat down and became lost in his thoughts.

“Klystar? Who the station keeps chasing? Now it's found him, can we go to Harkio if we want?"

Laedo didn't answer. He had his head in his hands.

Histrina was oblivious of his mood. Her eyes were gleaming. “Let's not go there straight away. Pleasure palaces ! Let's try those first!"

She jumped to her feet. “Let's go now!"

Laedo raised his heed and looked at the tops of the domes and pavilions which showed over the horizon.

There seemed little danger in visiting the palaces. Both Garo and ‘Klystar’ apparently assumed Laedo would take up residence there of his own accord sooner or later.

Also, he was curious to see the heart of Klystar's operation.

“All right."

They left the station together. The walk to the complex took only a few minutes. It was like approaching a theme park or amusement centre. There was a light, airy elegance to the prospect which opened up and expanded the nearer one came. They made for the largest of the palaces and stopped before a grandiloquent entrance flanked by Doric pillars. They cautiously entered a spacious hall with a gleaming tiled floor. People crossed the hall on enigmatic errands, appearing and disappearing through various doorways. All were dressed in loose flowing robes and bore an air of calm.

A tall, slim young man accosted them. “You are strangers,” he said in a friendly voice. “Are you from below?"

“That's right,” Laedo answered.

“Ah. It is rare for us receive adults.” He paused. “You will wish to find places here."

“That depends,” Laedo said. “We were not brought here. We came under our own power. If we don't like it we can go back."

The slim man looked puzzled at this statement. Then his face cleared as he dismissed the conundrum.

“Oh, you will certainly like it here! No one could prefer the drab world below. It is nearly time for the evening banquet, which I urge you to attend. Such food!"

“Well, can we have a look round?"

“By all means. Later I will assign you quarters and we can discuss your role here."

Still smiling, their host touched two fingers to his brow in a casual gesture of farewell, and went on his way.

Histrina sighed. The great sunny entrance hall, the palace staff quietly going about its business, all had a reassuring quality. It was easy to imagine that life here could be pleasant indeed.

* Then something happened which reminded Laedo of what Garo had said. A group of children ran into the hall, aged perhaps eight to ten, laughing, playing a game of tag. They were completely naked, which made a bizarre contrast with the fact that their faces were heavily made up with lipstick, rouge and eye shadow, both girls and boys.

The group swirled around the two and then were off, disappearing through one of the doorways. A gleeful leer came over Histrina as she realized the import of the children's unclothed cosmetics. She started off towards the way they had gone, only to be restrained by Laedo.

“Later,” he placated, sadly aware that he would not be able to deflect Histrina from her lustful nature if they stayed here any length of time.

By now little Helsey Fong was probably running around naked somewhere not far away, available to the older staff members.

Histrina tailed after him as he began the task of exploring the palace. The banqueting hall, already being laid out for the evening repast, was nearby. There were salons, fountained arcades, a huge kitchen, sumptuous boudoirs obviously not designed simply for sleeping, and contrarywise, sleeping quarters.