Children of Tomorrow Read Free Page A

pursed his lips, and turned to the heavyset boy. ’Albert, take Bud home.’ He handed Albert a tiny instrument. ‘If his father makes trouble, press this button. You’ll have help in three minutes. Sack?’
    Bud was not to be reassured. ‘What kind of help?’ he half yelled.
    Mike gazed at him steadily. ‘Sack, Bud,’ he said, in a steady voice.
    The tone arrested Bud’s attention. His small face twisted up toward Mike. 'What docs that mean?’ he asked.
    ‘It means that I want an answer that shows that you’ve heard what I said.’
    ‘What kind of an answer?’ Bud seemed transfixed.
    'Say, “Sack, Mike”.’
    ‘And if I say "Sack”!’ Bud’persisted, 'that means I’ve heard
    you, and that I believe you, and that ends our conversation, and I go home.’
    ‘You’re pretty sharp, Bud. That’s what it means.’
    ‘But I don't believe it,’ said Bud.
    Mike said placatingly, ‘You’ll soon have confidence in our word, Bud. Except very occasionally, we speak what we think.’
    ‘How do I know this is not one of the occasions when you don’t?’
    ‘Because I tell you it isn’t.’ Abruptly impatient, Mike broke off. ‘Sack, Bud.’ He spoke in a deliberate tone.
    There was a long pause, during which the watcher telepathed the alien child:
    Say it, boy!
    I’m still testing.
    I know. But I analyse that, with Mike, the moment has come for agreement.
    Nevertheless, my father, I really will have trouble when I get home. You selected Mr Jaeger because he was a man who would resist outfit control of children. He’s already told me that so long as I stay with him, Fd better not get in with an outfit. I’m not sure I can handle a grown human being without giving myself away,
    ‘Til go over there with you, my son. So don't worry.
    The alien child replied:
    Fm not afraid for myself. But I don't want to be found out before my mission is completed. I should tell you, however, that I already believe that I, a mere boy of my race, overmatch these human beings completely, and I might even deduce that they have no defense against people like us. I already feel, my father, that we could capture this planet.
    The watcher was disturbed by what seemed to it to be a too- rapid judgement.
    Don't be hasty, my son. Things are not always what they seem , Take the allotted time. Complete your espionage mission.
    The rapid interchange ended and Bud looked up at Mike, and said aloud, slowly, ‘Sack - Mike.’
    Alike Sutter and Marianne Baker stood side by side as Bud walked off beside Albert. When they were out of earshot, Mike said, half to himself, ‘Funny kid. Look at the way he walks. Kind of shuffling.’
    The watcher, who was still focused on them, waited grimly. Was it possible the boy suspected? That the close contact situation had not been properly handled?
    Mike was shaking his head. Well, there’s another problem, Looks like there’s no end to them.’
    Marianne caught his arm. Her pretty little egg of a face looked up at him worshipfully. ‘Alike, what’s the push about Lee?’
    The watcher was relieved to realise that her words distracted the human boy. Mike shrugged. ‘He ended the evening before it was time for a private reason that he didn’t jack out.’- ‘Then why didn’t you push?’
    Mike was thoughtful, the tolerant expression back on his face. 'It’s not always easy to know when to push, and when not to. Susan’s dad came home today after the longest hike in the history of Spaceport.’
    ‘Oh! You think Lee - 1
    Mike nodded. ‘I think Lee wanted Susan to get home early.’ ‘What’s wrong with that? Why didn’t we just let Susan off for the evening? We’ve done it before.’
    The boy shook his head. His Ups tightened. ‘No. Her old man is a booter, if there ever was one - just like my dad. The outfits cannot compromise with people like that, became they don’t compromise. And a concession merely looks like weakness.’
    He had started walking as he spoke these words. Marianne hastily