Blind Spot Read online

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  BLIND SPOT

  By BASCOM JONES, JR.

  Illustrated by KOSSIN

  _Everyone supported the Martian program--until it struck home!_

  Johnny Stark, director of the department of Interplanetary Relations forMars' Settlement One, reread the final paragraph of the note which hehad found on his desk, upon returning from lunch earlier in the day.

  His eye flicked rapidly over the moistly smeared Martian scrawl,ignoring the bitterness directed at him in the first paragraphs. He wasvaguely troubled by the last sentences. But he hadn't been able to pinthe feeling down.

  _... Our civilization predates that of Earth's by millions of years. We are an advanced, peaceful race. Yet, since Earth's first rocket landed here thirteen years ago, we have been looked upon as freaks and contemptuously called 'bug-men' behind our backs! This is our planet. We gave of our far-advanced knowledge and science freely, so that Earth would be a better place. We asked nothing in return, but we were rewarded by having forced upon us foreign ideas of government, religion, and behavior. Our protests have been silenced by an armed-police and punitive system we've never before needed. Someday you will awaken to this injustice. On that day in your life, you have my sympathy and pity!_

  Stark knew that the Settlement's Investigations Lab could readilydetermine the identity of the Martian who had written the note. But hehesitated to send it over. Under the New System, such troublemakers werebanished to the slave-labor details of the precious-earth mines to theNorth.

  Crumpling the note in sudden decision, Stark dropped it into the officeincendiary tube. The morning visi-report had shown that there were morethan 17,000 workers at the mines. Only five had been Earthlings. Let thearmed-police system find the Martian through their own channels. Itwasn't his job.

  * * * * *

  A glance at the solar clock on the far wall reminded him there was stilltime for one more interview before the last bell, so he impatientlysignaled his secretary to send in the waiting couple.

  Ordinarily, he liked his work and time meant little to him. He hadjumped from interpreter to director in the ten years since thedepartment had been created. But this day was different.

  Stark was to announce his engagement at the Chief's monthly dinner partythat evening and time had seemed to drag since his lunch with Carol.

  When the door opened, he rose and nodded to the plump, freckle-facedgirl who entered. The girl topped five feet by one or two inches, butshe was no taller than the Martian man who followed her at theprescribed four feet.

  After the girl had seated herself, Stark and the Martian sat down. Starkopened the folder, which his secretary had placed on his desk earlier.

  "Your names are Ruth and Ralph Gilraut? And you want permission to moveinto Housing Perimeter D?" It was merely a formality, since theinformation was in the folder.

  When the girl nodded, Stark placed a small check mark in the spacebeside her name. Then he turned to the Martian.

  The large, single red eye set deep in the Martian's smooth, greenforehead above the two brown ones blinked twice before he answered.

  He spoke deliberately. "As is required of all Martians under the NewSystem, I have taken the name of one of the early Earthlings to writeand pronounce." The large red eye blinked again. "My wife would liketo move into Housing Perimeter D. By regulation, I respect her wish."

  Stark placed a check mark by the Martian's name. He wiped the smudge ofink off his hand and said, "You both know, of course, that Perimeter Dis reserved for couples who have intermarried and are about to haveoffspring?"

  The girl and the Martian nodded, and the girl passed Stark a medicalreport. Stark looked over the report and then made a notation on a smallpink slip.

  He said, "This permit certifies that you are eligible to move fromPerimeter E to Housing Perimeter D. It also certifies that your husbandhas no record as a troublemaker." Stark looked at the girl. "Youunderstand that you may visit your friends in Perimeter E, but, by law,they will not be allowed to enter Perimeter D to visit you. And, ofcourse, the new law clearly states that neither of you may visitEarthlings in Housing Perimeter A, B or C."

  The girl looked down at her hands. Her voice was almost inaudible. "Myhusband and I are familiar with the advantages and disadvantages listedunder the section pertaining to intermarriage in the new law, Mr. Stark.Thank you."

  * * * * *

  Stark rose as they left. For a brief moment, he thought he had detecteda sense of rebellion in their attitude. But that was not possible.

  The new law provided equality for all. And his department had beencreated to iron out relations between the two races--exceptingcomplaints originated by troublemakers for the purpose of weakening theNew System. In such cases, Investigations had stepped in and the Martianor Earthling troublemaker had been sent to the rare-earth mines.

  The reddish light filtering in through the quartz and lead wall of hisoffice showed that it was almost time for the last bell.

  On the street below, shoppers were streaming out of the stores on theirway to the various housing perimeters.

  Earthlings were climbing into their speedy little jet cars for the shorttrip to the recently modernized inner perimeters. Martians were waitingfor the slower auto buses. The traffic problem had been solved, underthe New System, by restricting the use of the Martian-built jet cars topersons living in the inner perimeters.

  As Stark watched, a black jet car impatiently hurtled out of the line oftraffic, bowled through a crowd of Martians waiting for an auto bus, andskidded to a stop at the curb in front of the building.

  A tall girl got out. The red evening glow reflecting from her goldenhair, made her breathing globe almost amber. Male Martians andEarthlings alike turned to stare in appreciation as she pushed her waythrough the crowd to the building's compressor lock. Carol was that kindof girl.

  * * * * *

  Almost at the exact moment that Carol opened the door into Stark'soffice, the yellow visi-screen of the vocal box upon Stark's deskflashed on brilliantly and the Chief's booming voice filled the office.The light from the screen picked up the highlights on the furniture andgave a sallow, greenish cast to Stark's features. Carol stepped backinto the doorway to stay out of range of the two-way unit.

  "Stark!" The automatic tuner on the box corrected to bring the Chief'simage in wire-sharp focus.

  "Yes, sir?"

  "About the dinner tonight. Just checking to make sure you're planning tobe there. We want a full turnout. An inspection team has come up fromEarth and we have two visiting dignitaries from Venus."

  Stark nodded and waited for the Chief to say something else, but thevisi-screen blanked out.

  Carol said, "That was Dad, wasn't it?"

  Stark felt very depressed suddenly. "Haven't you told him yet?"

  "No. He's been tied up with those inspectors all afternoon. And you knowhow Dad is, Johnny. There's a right and a wrong time to tell him things.Right now, he's only interested in hearing about Earth."

  "But we're supposed to announce our engagement tonight at the dinner."He shook his head. "We can't go on forever with just a few stolenmoments here and there, eating an occasional lunch or third mealtogether in little out-of-the-way places."

  Carol laughed, the youthful swell of her breasts against the soft,spun-glass material of her blouse. "Don't worry so, Johnny! I'm a biggirl now. This is my eighteenth birthday. Dad's bark is much worse thanhis bite. I'll tell him about us on the way home."

  She moved closer to him, until he could feel the warmth of her body. Hecould see the
warm, damp indentation where her breathing globe hadrested against her shoulders and chest.

  She asked teasingly, "What did you get me for my birthday, Johnny?Something real nice?"

  "What did you want?" Johnny asked her gently.

  * * * * *

  And suddenly she wasn't teasing any more. She put her arms around him."Dad and my brother would say I'm crazy. But all I want, Johnny, is you.Just you! You know that."

  Stark had picked out her birthday present, but he wanted it to be asurprise for that night. He said, "I already saw one of your presents. Ablack jet car!"

  "How did you know that?"

  "I saw you drive up in it a few minutes ago."

  Carol giggled. "Dad gave it to me. Did you see me plow through thatcrowd waiting for the auto bus?"

  "Did your brother send you anything?"

  She nodded. "Three new outfits from Earth. They were on the same linerthat brought the inspection team to the Settlement this morning. Oh,yes, and the captain of the liner brought me this."

  She showed him the tiny pin she wore attached to her collar. The pinitself was a carefully wrought but cruel caricature of an awkwardbuglike creature. A small ruby set in the center of its face served asits eye.

  Stark frowned. "Carol, you shouldn't be wearing that." He reached up andunpinned it. "That's the sort of thing our department is fighting."

  "But the captain said it was the latest rage back on Earth. They're evenmaking toys like it. I'm sure they're not designed to ... to poke fun atanyone."

  Stark started to say something, but the last bell interrupted him. Hesaid, "If you're going to take your father home and tell him about usbefore the dinner, you'd better hurry. I'll come early."

  Carol kissed him and said good-by. She left the pin on Stark's desk andwas smiling at him as she closed the door.

  * * * * *

  After waiting until the first rush of workers had gone and the buildingwas quiet, Stark caught the elevator down. The overhead lights in thecompressor lock were reflected in the twin rows of breathing globes. Thegreen-tinted ones had to be used by Martians in the building, and theclear ones were used by Earthmen when they were outside in the Martianatmosphere. Stark stopped in at a little open shop down one of the manyside streets. The sign said "Closed," but he rang the bell until alittle, dried-up Martian appeared.

  The storekeeper handed him a small box. Stark opened it to examine thering--Carol's birthday present. The single, large diamond set in thethin precious-metal band dated back to an all-but-forgotten custompracticed on Earth. Stark thought the engagement ring would pleaseCarol, though.

  Standing in the compressor lock at the Chief's home later, Stark rubbedthe diamond against the sleeve of his tunic. He fumbled with hisbreathing globe and then pushed the button that activated the door. Thetele-guard beyond the opening door scanned him rapidly. As he steppedforward, a red light above the tele-guard flashed on and the door beganto close again.

  Stark threw all his strength against the door and squeezed through intothe house.

  Throughout the house, Stark could hear the alarm bell. A taped voice,activated by the tele-guard, said, "Do not enter! Do not enter!"

  He found Carol and the Chief in the library alone. Nearly purple withrage, the Chief drew himself up to his full six feet.

  The Chief bellowed, "Stark! Are you crazy?"

  The growing feeling of sickness spread through Stark.

  "Who do you think you are?" the Chief yelled. "Get back to your officeand consider yourself under arrest as a troublemaker. Give you people aninch and you try to walk away with everything. Why, I wouldn't let youtouch my daughter if you were the last living being in the Universe!"

  Carol didn't look up. She stood through it all, silently, withoutmoving. Stark knew now where his blind spot had been. He turned and leftthem.

  * * * * *

  Back at his office, he waited for the police. Stark stared down at hisreflection in the polished top of the desk. A yellow, moist film ofsweat covered his face. The red eye set in his forehead blinked. But thepain visible just behind the surface of that eye was not over Carol orhimself.

  The pain was for what he was seeing for the first time ... now.

  --BASCOM JONES, JR.

  Transcriber's Note:

  This etext was produced from _Galaxy Science Fiction_ February 1955. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.