Space Opera Read Free

if you like, speculate as to a possible congruence of musical symbology among the worlds of the galaxy. It is conceivable, through processes of acculturation, or parallel development —” he held up a hand as someone started to laugh “— don’t be too skeptical too soon! The diatonic scale is not a freak, or a chance discovery! It is based on fundamental harmonic relationships. To exemplify: start with any note at random. For simplicity’s sake C, which we will use as our base tone: the tonic. Even a child’s ear can hear that another C an octave up or down the scale is the most obvious concord. A vibrational relationship of 2:1. Almost as basic will seem a concord with the vibration ratio 3:2. The note turns out to be G, the so-called dominant. What note occupies the same pragmatic relation to G that G does to C? It turns out to be the note we call D. With D as the tonic A becomes the dominant. With A as the tonic E is the dominant. Twelve different notes reveal themselves in this way before suddenly we find ourselves back at a note which is very close to C. Shift all these notes into the same octave, tinker and temper a little, and we have our familiar diatonic scale. Nothing mysterious, the most basic rule-of-thumb procedure imaginable. What is the point of all this? Simply that it should be no surprise to find a totally strange race on a totally strange planet using instruments similar to our own, employing our own familiar do re mi fa sol la si do .”
    “Ha, ha!” cried Dame Isabel. “This of course is what I have been telling stupid folk who cavil at Adolph Gondar and the Ninth Company!”
    Bernard Bickel smilingly shook his head. “A different matter entirely! Agreed that the diatonic scale is a universal tool, like hinges, or the bowline, or the Pythagorean Theorem, the case of the evasive Adolph Gondar is something else again. No —” he held up a remonstrative hand “— do not accuse me of inconsistency. I merely find it hard to believe that the musical symbols and conventions of an alien race — as this ‘Ninth Company of Rlaru’ purports to be — could mesh so neatly and completely with our own as to affect us emotionally. Is this not reasonable?”
    “Very reasonable,” said Dame Isabel. “So reasonable as to indicate a flagrant fallacy in your chain of logic. The facts are these. I personally have sponsored Mr. Gondar. I am in full financial control of the tour, and I am not a woman to be fooled.”
    Bernard Bickel laughed. “In that case, I must review my thinking and seek out my ‘flagrant fallacy’.”
    “I suggest that you attend a performance,” said Dame Isabel. “You may, if you like, join me in my box at tomorrow’s performance.”
    Bernard Bickel said gravely, “I shall look into my appointments, and if at all possible, I shall do so.”

     
    But Bernard Bickel was never to enjoy a performance of the Ninth Company of Rlaru from Dame Isabel’s luxurious box. During the night the entire Ninth Company vanished — completely, without trace or clue, as if they had dissolved into thin air.

Chapter II
    Roger Wool, after flying Dame Isabel to her beautiful old home Ballew, overlooking Ballew Valley, had elected to spend the night, rather than return to his apartment in the city. Hence he was present when Holker the butler placed the visiphone on the breakfast table with a murmured: “Mr. Gondar, madame. An urgent message.”
    “Thank you, Holker.” Dame Isabel pushed down the key, and Gondar’s face appeared on the screen. His eyes were more brooding than ever; his expression was remote, with no trace of the exuberance to be expected of an impresario.
    “Well, Adolph?” inquired Dame Isabel. “What is the trouble?”
    “It’s simple enough,” said Gondar. “The Ninth Company has disappeared.”
    “Disappeared, you say.” Dame Isabel gave Gondar a long thoughtful glance; and Roger reflected that Bernard Bickel’s remarks had possibly carried more weight than