Marune: Alastor 933 Read Free Page B

come to like and respect, and boarded the transport for Carfaunge. He left Gaswin with a twinge of regret. He had known little pleasure here; still the place had given him refuge. He barely remembered Carfaunge, and the spaceport was no more than the recollection of a dream.
    He saw nothing of Superintendent Mergan, but was recognized by Dinster the night porter, just coming on duty.
    The Ectobant of the Prydania Line took Pardero to Baruilla, on Deulle, Alastor 2121, where he transferred to the Lusimar of the Gaean Trunk Line, and so was conveyed to Calypso Junction on Imber, and thence by the Wispen Argent to Numenes.
    Pardero enjoyed the voyage: the multifarious sensations, incidents, and vistas amazed him. He had not imagined the variety of the Cluster: the comings and goings, the flux of faces, the gowns, robes, hats, ornaments, and bijouterie; the colors and lights and strains of strange music; the babble of voices; haunting glimpses of beautiful girls; drama, excitement, pathos; objects, faces, sounds, surprises. Could he have known all this and forgotten?
    So far Pardero had not indulged in self-pity and his enemy had seemed a baleful abstraction. But how great and how callous the crime which had been performed upon him! He had been isolated from home, friends, sympathy, security; he had been rendered a neuter; his personality had been murdered.
    Murder!
    The word chilled his blood; he squirmed and winced. And from somewhere, from far distant, came the ghost of a sound: gusts of mocking laughter.
    Approaching Numenes, the Wispen Argent first passed by Blazon, the next world out in orbit, to be cleared for landing, by the Whelm - a precaution to minimize the danger of an attack from space upon the Connatic’s Palace. Having secured clearance; the Wispen Argent proceeded; Numenes slowly expanded.
    At a distance of about three thousand miles that peculiar referential displacement occurred; instead of hanging off to the side, a destination across the void, Numenes became the world below, upon which the Wispen Argent descended - a brilliant panorama of white clouds, blue air, sparkling seas.
    The Central Spaceport at Commarice occupied an area three miles in diameter, surrounded by a fringe of the tall jacinth palms and the usual spaceport offices, built in that low airy style also typical of Numenes.
    Alighting from the Wispen Argent, Pardero rode a slideway to the terminal, where he sought information regarding the Connatic’s Hospital. He was referred first to the Traveler’s Aid Station, then to an office at the side of the terminal, where he was presented to a tall spare woman of indeterminate age in a white and blue uniform. She gave Pardero a laconic greeting. “I am Matron Gundal. I understand that you wish to be admitted to the Connatic’s Hospital?”
    “Yes.”
    Matron Gundal touched buttons, evidently to activate a recording mechanism.
    “Your name?”
    “I am called Pardero. I do not know my true name.”
    Matron Gundal made no comment. “Place of origin?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Your complaint?”
    “Amnesia.”
    Matron Gundal gave him a noncommittal inspection, which perhaps indicated interest. “What about your physical health?”
    “It seems to be good.”
    “An orderly will conduct you to the hospital.” Matron Gundal raised her voice.
    “Ariel.”
    A blond young woman entered the room, her uniform somewhat at discord with her sunny good looks. Matron Gundal gave her directions: “Please conduct this gentleman to the Connatic’s Hospital.” To Pardero: “Have you luggage?”
    “No.”
    “I wish you a quick recovery.”
    The orderly smiled politely at Pardero. “This way, please.”
    An aircab slid them northward across the blue and green landscape of Flor Solana, with Ariel maintaining an easy flow of conversation. “Have you visited Numenes before?”
    “I don’t know; I don’t remember anything earlier than the last two or three months.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry to hear