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As the storm continues, Graax tells Buck more about how his
people came to Earth. Since Buck, as a 19th century man, doesn’t
have much in the way of scientific background—except what he hears
second-hand from his medically inclined wife—Graax has to gloss over this
part of it in his explanation.
The Lebe’piti were made from the Pxelepiti, says Graax.
The Pxelepiti are motivated by self-gain and sex. They were the original
people on Squaattoos, better suited for survival in a savage world. The
Lebe’piti, “the changed people” are motivated by the achievement of
knowledge in and for the sake of itself and they also do things for the
greatest good.
Graax worries because he saw disguised Pxelepiti at Rev.
Rollins’s worship service when Rollins denounced the brrkup mind control
device. That can only mean that they’re on Earth and up to no good.
For more information about The Alien Sheriff and Science
Fiction Western adventure see www.sfwestern.com
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Episode 35
Deputies
Russell and Anaya spent a good chunk of the day helping people pick up the
pieces of their storm-fractured lives. They said they found it amazing how
everybody, clipped and unclipped, pitched in and worked together. Anaya busied
himself with compiling an account of the work to be done. Russell prioritized
the work and organized teams to do it.
Any
anger was directed at me. To the outrage of some, I spent the morning and the
first part of the afternoon finding out about the Pxelepiti from Graax and
mulling over everything he'd told me. To them, it looked like I was sitting
around on my duff and doing nothing more than talking.
I
believed Graax. I couldn't see he'd have a reason to lie. Furthermore, the
consequences were severe if I didn't believe him and it turned out to be true.
Furthermore, if I believed what he said about the universe, I couldn't see the
sense of not believing him about the Pxelepiti.
With
gusts left over from the morning's storm blowing outside the Metropolitan, the
Contention City Council faced me in stunned silence. It was three p.m. and I
was providing a partial total of the storm's costs. Up to that point, the
members had only considered how the storm affected them individually. Each of
them had a look of wide-mouthed shock hearing how everybody had suffered. The
bottom line was that it would take weeks to rebuild the town to what it had
been. New building materials would have to be flown in from California and the
east.
I
watched the wind shake the profile of the cottonwoods through the saloon's
stained glass windows. Except for some water and dirt blowing in through the
front door and an open window in the back, the Metropolitan had withstood the
storm in a fine fashion. It would have been disheartening if it hadn't. Its
standing meant man had defeated nature in at least one battle, proof the town
wouldn't have suffered so much if people had put more care into its
construction.
As
I finished, Hardy, acting as mayor, said, "This is a tragedy our treasury
can ill afford," stating the obvious.
"There's
no good time for a storm like this," Garza agreed, chuckling ruefully.
"Who
can prepare for something like this?" Hayes said, mournfully. "Let's
hope we never have one like this again."
"Yes,
but we will. Next time we need to build better," I said.
I
knew of no graceful way to lead in to what I had to say next: "I'm afraid
the bad news doesn't end yet."
Hayes
smiled paradoxically and ran his hand through his hair. "Of course that
couldn't be the end to it!" he said, chuckling.
"When
it rains, it pours!" Hawkins said, laughing too, ribbing Hayes.
It
had been easy to get the councilmen together for the emergency meeting. They'd
expected one after the storm. All the members showed up. It was as fine time
as any to have the Pxelepiti problem.
I
expected them to debate the Pxelepiti matter to death. If they didn't, it
would be an amazing and fine thing. In the end, I figured on them trusting my
judgment and leaving the matter up to Graax and me.
Graax
had debated with himself for five days. It was likely he thought we didn't
have a chance to fight them off. Whatever. I gathered I might never have heard
about the Pxelepiti if the storm hadn't put us together for so long.
Time
was precious. I knew we needed to stop the Pxelepiti before they entrenched.
Hopefully they hadn't done so already. Perhaps the storm delayed their
encampment. The task of fighting could only grow progressively more difficult.
I
told the Council everything Graax had revealed to me and then added: "I
know it's a lot to take in. It was for me too."
"That
it is, Mr. Turner," Councilman Hayes said, nodding in disbelief.
"Of
course we will do whatever you need us to do, help you in whatever way it is
in our power to do," Acting-Mayor Hardy said. "I can see why it is
important to act now, as they say, strike while the iron is hot."
Perhaps
Hardy, with a piece of Squaattoosian technology implanted in his brain, sensed
the vital truth of Graax's information. I wished I'd brainclipped the rest of
them too. Their support would have been automatic and I wouldn't have had to
waste time asking for help.
"The
way I see it," I began, "this town needs a defensive force and an
offensive force . . ."
Councilman
Hawkins interrupted. "Not so fast. I have some questions. I'm sure the
rest do too."
"Of
course," I said, dipping my head.
"What
about the flood?" Hawkins said. "That, to me, seems to be the main
problem here. You seem to have forgotten about the flood and the rest? We're
going to have people getting sick here . . ."
"Nobody's
forgotten about the flood," I insisted. "We just have to deal with
both."
"Just
a minute. These Pxele—whatever—haven't attacked anybody yet. We don't know
they're really a threat, and—let's face it—if they even exist,"
Hawkins said. "Sometimes you shoot first and ask questions later. This
isn't one of those times—definitely not when you've got a town to
rebuild!"
"Good
point, Hawkins!" I said with gusto hoping to disarm him. "Still, you
admit we cannot afford to ignore the threat completely. The consequences would
be grave!"
"So
you say," Hawkins said, leaning back in his chair, folding his arms.
"What did Graax say of the relations between his people and these
others?"
"They
don't come up with any science or inventions of their own. They steal the work
of the Lebe'piti," I admitted.
The
longer I spoke, the slimmer my chances of getting them to go along with me, I
reasoned. As a storekeeper friend of mine once said, "A customer either
wants to buy something or he doesn't."
"So
they don't like each other," Hawkins inferred.
"It's
not that simple. Some of the Pxelepiti work with the Lebe'piti and vice
versa," I said.
Hawkins
laughed as if he'd seen through some kind of ruse. "If anybody was
stealing anything from me, I wouldn't be inclined to think of them in
favorable terms."
How
was I going to get them to understand the complexities of the situation?
"The thing y'all have to understand is the Pxelepiti want to expand their
empire and Earth isn't a bad place," I said.
"On
Squaattoos there's several nations, just like here on Earth. They're not here
to study like Graax's people. There are resources here on Earth . . ."
"Like
what?" Hayes said.
"Everything.
They'll set up a fort, a headquarters, and start exploring with an eye toward
reshaping our world in a way that pleases them, taking whatever pleases them.
It isn't against their ethics.
"I'm
not trying to underplay the storm, but we've got to go and take care of the
Pxelepiti too," I said.
"I'd
beg to differ. I think you're acting like a fool. Whoever heard of invisible
people? It sounds like something out of a fairy story," Hawkins said.
"I
didn't say they were invisible," I reminded Hawkins, dismayed. How can I
convince someone who isn't even listening? "I said that Graax said they
changed their appearance so that our eyes see them differently—like a homely
woman making herself look better with makeup."
"Where's
Graax anyway?" Hayes said.
"Out
with Russell and Anaya—remember we've got trouble on both fronts? He'll be
with me when we round up the posse."
"If
these Pxelepiti are such a threat, shouldn't he be here?" Hayes said.
"Of
course, but the storm damage is important too," I insisted, exasperated.
"I'm trying to cover us on all fronts. We don't need to debate this
forever. This is a timely crisis as well."
Hawkins
held up his hand, palm facing out, as if to silence me. "Who are you to
state what someone else believes? That should be up to the man himself, alien
or not."
Everyone's
attention was focused on him so he continued: "That's what I'm trying to
get at. Where's the story from the other side? It's foolish to consider
fighting on one man's word, no matter who he is. Why don't we contact these -
did you call them Pxelepiti—and try to hear their version of events?"
"You've
got to be evenhanded," Hayes chimed in. "It sounds to me like this
is part of a dispute that isn't our own. Sure, I hold Mr. Graax in high
esteem. But I'd suspect he's got a grudge against them.
"As
you've said, Buck, we're not to their level yet. It isn't good policy to make
an enemy out of anyone like that. Only a fool goes and does that lightly! No
matter what Mr. Graax might say, we best wait and see."
"Look
—you can't go and do that," I said. "They're hiding anyway. That
could mean that they're up to no good in itself. If you've got an ally, and
they've always done right by you, you're a fool to go doubting their word -
especially when the consequences are severe if you don't heed their
warning."
I
started pacing slowly and nervously. "Are you getting what I'm driving
at? Are you prepared to go live on some reservation when you're an old man?
That could be what all this is leading toward. Our people have gone and done
that to the Indian and the old saying is that what goes around comes around.
All I can say is I don't want that for me or any of my kin. I'm trying to do
my damnedest to make theirs a better fate."
I
looked around at the eyes staring back at me. I could tell I wasn't convincing
anybody except Hardy.
They
burst out laughing.
"Don't
laugh! We're savages compared to the Pxelepiti too," I said, frustrated.
"Even Thomas Edison couldn’t build a brainclip!"
The
Council's laughter died away gradually and an uncomfortable silence rose to
fill the void. I was making them think and that was more than they'd been
doing before.
"Let
me get this straight. You're comparing us to a bunch of filthy savages? I
don't cotton to that. You best start explaining yourself, Buck," Hawkins
said, as if he was chewing on something distasteful.
"The
Pxelepiti hide from our eyes. You know they can't be up to any good, right? If
we contacted them, assuming we could, what would stop them from just denying
all their plans?" I continued. "Would Napoleon have told everybody
about his plans for world conquest? Of course not! He would have told lies and
nothing more. You have to figure out who to trust and then trust them, seems
to me. I trust Graax."
"I
hope we trust our common sense more," Hayes said.
"There's
much we can't see. My wife tells me how they're finding little animals make
people sick. Like Lister and Pasteur?
"Then,
you cannot see the colors flying through the air except when they get pulled
apart when they run into evaporated water after a storm, or even some
glass," I said. "Common sense is good, but it will not always lead
you to think correctly about the solution to a problem.
"Making
the best decision is going to take much more than plain common sense this
time. These are things nobody before us has ever had to confront."
Like
a collection of furniture, the Council sat silently.
"I
trust Graax," I begged. "You know him. He wouldn't lead us
wrong!"
Professor
Hayes admonished me with a waving finger as if I were one of his students:
"That's fine for you. I'm glad you trust him. I wouldn't want to think we
had a coward as a sheriff, Buck. But, before I get me, my family, and the
people who elected me into battle, I want to know everything possible about
the people we'll be fighting.
"¿Sabé?
You said Graax was here to study us? Couldn't this be some kind of a test? Why
not give him a good impression about how we think. Let's not be too hasty
about this and ruin something for ourselves," Hayes suggested.
They
were the ones convincing me rather than me convincing them. New doubts crept
into my mind. In a shaky, uncertain voice I protested: "Graax . . . he
wouldn't do that kind of testing. This isn't anything he'd fun with us about.
There's a line between research and . . . this . . . whatever it is."
"He
wouldn't?" Hayes said, probing. "How are you sure?"
"He
doesn't ever joke," I insisted, having made my decision. "He
wouldn't lie for the purpose of some half-baked test."
"Your
word isn't enough to convince me to let you pull together a posse that might
go and get themselves killed. Especially when we have the effects of a storm
to contend with as well, the worst storm we all can remember here!" Hayes
said.
Garza
said, "Finally, you make sense Hayes."
"We
may not see eye to eye sometimes Councilman, but I take it this time we
do?" Hayes said, smiling.
"Correctó,"
Garza said.
"Good.
Then we need more proof," Hayes said. "The potential for shame and
dishonor is too great if this war story turned out to be nothing more than a .
. . a . . . fairy tale. The voters would turn us out of office on our arses.
They'd be right to do it too."
"You
can try taking this to the Army as well. I can tell you they'd say much the
same thing," Graza said.
"I
just want to know why he's saying that the white man are like a bunch of damn
Indians!" Hawkins said, laughing at me.
"Unfortunately
there's no time for your proof or debate! I don't need the approval of this
board. I can just use the brrkup to raise the force I need to take on these
Pxelepiti! You people are damn fools!" I said, having lost patience a
long time ago. I regretted those words as soon as they left my mouth.
"That's
not why we had you go and put brainclips in people," Hawkins said.
"You're mad!"
"If
I think you're saying what you're saying, and you did that, you'd be seriously
overstepping your power as sheriff," Hayes said.
"I'm
here to protect the public," I said in defense.
"Since
when is it a crime to go to church?" Hayes rebutted.
"Come
on Councilman! Plenty of people go to church and cause lots of trouble," I
said.
He
ignored that and continued, "I'm sure everyone here would agree you'd be
putting your job in jeopardy. I wouldn't even hesitate to lock you up
myself!"
I
had to make them understand. No, I hadn't been successful so far, but I didn't
want to get myself fired! "I'm sorry . . ."
"Well
get rid of you, Buck, if you ever threaten us again. I don't care what you've
done," the professor said, his brow furrowed and eyes flashing with his
imagined power.
As
if waking from a dream, the normally closemouthed Craig said suddenly,
"What is this? You said you can make them fight?"
"That
was a bluff," I lied. I wasn't proud of prevaricating, but my lie was for a
good cause if any ever was. I counted on any bad feelings caused by my actions
to be forgotten when I was proven right. Any threat posed by a people who can
cross the vast distances in space isn't something to be cavalier about.
I
had to placate them. "What I'll do is this: I'll get you the proof you need
to back this important effort," I said. "Hopefully that proof will
suffice for the Army as well, since they're our experts in matters such as
these.
"I'll
get volunteers to help me gather that information. All I ask is that you be
ready to meet on a moment's notice."
All
except the acting-Mayor Hardy regarded me neutrally. Hardy cried out
enthusiastically, "Hurry back!"
The
others looked at him disdainfully.
"You've
gone and changed since I've known you," Hayes said to Hardy, perhaps
suspecting him of being brainclipped.
What
Hayes thought wasn't important in any case. Still, no matter what logic lie
behind the points Hardy presented, he'd carry no weight with the other members
of the board.
"Frankly
I'd be surprised if you found that proof, Sheriff Turner," Hayes said.
"To me, it still sounds like a test."
"Good
day!" I said tiredly, hurrying out of the Metropolitan into the diminishing
wind, into the town covered by the roiling silvery sky. I felt partly as
trusting as a baby at the warnings of my alien friend, and partly as cynical as
a jilted lover at the actions of the Council. I was afraid that either side
could be right.
I'd
take the brainclipped people and fight the cowboys Graax said were really
Pxelepiti. I'd get my proof.
With
all my heart I selfishly hoped Graax was right. I chided myself for even
thinking that. If he was, life would be too scary.
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