Berserker Throne Read Free Page A

this slid more or less automatically through Sabel's mind, while the attractive smile on his face did not, or so he trusted, vary in the slightest.
    Strolling on, he shrugged. "Perhaps there's not a great deal more to say, about the Order. We study and teach. Oh, we still officially garrison this Fortress. Those of us who are Guardians maintain and man the weapons, and make berserkers their field of study, besides acting as the local police. The main defenses out on the outer surface of the Fortress are still operational, though a good many decades have passed since we had a genuine alarm. There are no longer many berserkers in this part of the Galaxy." He smiled wryly. "And I am afraid there are no longer very many Templars, either, even in the parts of the Galaxy where things are not so peaceful."
    They were still walking. Proceeding in the direction of Sabel's laboratory and quarters.
    "Please, tell me more." The girl continued to look at him steadily with attention. "Please, I am really very interested."
    "Well. We of the Order of Ex. Helen no longer bind ourselves to poverty—or to permanent celibacy. We have come to honor Beauty on the same level as Virtue, considering them both to be aspects of the Right. Our great patroness of course stands as Exemplar of both qualities."
    "Ex. Helen . . . and she finally founded the Order, hundreds of years ago? Or—"
    "Or, is she really only a legend, as some folk now consider her? No. I think that there is really substantial evidence of her historical reality. Though of course the purposes of the Order are still valid in either case."
    "You must be very busy. I hope you will forgive my taking up your time like this."
    "It is hard to imagine anyone easier to forgive. Now, would you by chance like to see something of my laboratory?"
    "Might I? Really?"
    "You have already seen the Radiant, of course. But to get a look at it through some of my instruments will give you a new perspective . . ."
    As Sabel had expected, Greta did not seem able to understand much of his laboratory's contents. But she was nevertheless impressed. "And I see you have a private space flyer here. Do you use it to go out to the Radiant?"
    At that he really had to laugh. "I'm afraid I wouldn't get there. Oh, within a kilometer of it, maybe, if I tried. The most powerful spacecraft built might be able to force its way to within half that distance. But to approach any closer than that—impossible. You see, the inner level of the Fortress, where we are now, was built at the four-kilometer distance from the Radiant because that is the distance at which the effective gravity is standard normal. As one tries to get closer, the gravitic resistance goes up exponentially. No, I use the flyer for field trips. To the outer reaches of the Fortress, places where no public transport is available."
    "Is that a hobby of some kind?"
    "No, it's really connected with my work. I search for old Dardanian records, trying to find their observations of the Radiant . . . and in here is where I live."
    With eyes suddenly become competent, Greta surveyed the tidy smallness of his quarters. "Alone, I see."
    "Most of the time . . . my work demands so much. Now, Greta, I have given you something of a private showing of my work. I would be very pleased indeed if you were willing to do the same for me."
    "To dance?" Her manner altered, in a complex way. "I suppose there might be room enough in here for dancing . . . if there were some suitable music."
    "Easily provided." He found a control on the wall; and to his annoyance he noticed that his fingers were now quivering again.
    In light tones Greta said: "I have no special costume with me, sir, just these clothes I wear."
    "They are delightful—but you have one other, surely."
    "Sir?" And she, with quick intelligence in certain fields of thought, was trying to repress a smile.
    "Why, my dear, I mean the costume that nature gives to us all, before our clothes are made. Now, if