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  “Well,” said Houen-Lun, “did everything go all right?”

  “Absolutely. You had the guard officer's mind in perfect control. They even trusted us with a cargo for Baphom. We’re properly listed on their parchments.”

  “And what is this cargo?” asked Marco Polo.

  "Drugs the Baphomets use,” Garin replied, “and a variety of instruments from Lyzog, a planet recently discovered.”

  “Joubert will examine them. Perhaps he’ll find some interesting information.”

  “The minds of these poor folk have already given me an abundant harvest,” the Tibetan interjected softly. "These satellites, like formidable barbicans, defend the access to Baphom. Nothing can reach this planet without being found out at once by sensitive detectors. What is more, the space forts are covered with demoniac weapons. They can vomit hellfires capable of melting the thickest hulls, and swift rockets equipped with thunderballs far more powerful than ours.”

  “And if we snatch one of these cursed weapons to make copies?” the Venetian suggested.

  “I thought seriously about that,” replied Houen-Lun. “Alas, we wouldn’t know how to use them and those ogrish fellows who guard the fort don’t know the secrets of their manufacture. We’ll have to try to capture a Baphomet versed in these arcane magics, unless I can read into the soul of one of their scholars. Once on Baphom, it will be an easy matter. . . . But I still gathered some interesting data on our adversaries. These miscreants are unbridled libertines who seek pleasure above all else. Drugs, talismans which stimulate the senses, lascivious music, everything of that sort they enjoy. These androgynes copulate and fornicate without letup. Luckily they aren’t fertile except at infrequent seasons, so their race is not numerous. Their perversion will surely be a precious help to us. Being of extreme sensitivity, they fear all pain. Being devastated by the least discomfort, these cowards seek tranquility by recourse to all sorts of calming drugs. Moreover, if the drugs should prove ineffectual, they’d not hesitate to suicide, preferring death to suffering. Ceaselessly they explore new planets to gain new pleasures to sate that inexhaustible thirst for pleasure....”

  To the vast disappointment of his companions, the Tibetan fell silent again and plunged back into his meditative state.

  Marco Polo, Joubert, Garin and Djaffar entered long discussion of this intriguing information.

  Clement and Guiot had better things to occupy them. Seated apart from the others, they discussed in low voices the exotic charms of the fascinating Wrera. The two of them would have gladly stayed some time on the satellite to make a more intimate acquaintance with her.

  Chapter IV

  ☆

  While the ship headed toward Baphom, Marco Polo, Joubert and Djaffar hastened about in the process of a minute inventory of the cargo.

  They carefully deciphered the grimoires which gave the use of the strange elixirs, the odoriferous unguents, the multicolor powders. All of them were supposed to give the Baphomets paradisiacal visions, marvelous dreams, subtle pleasures.

  Certain of these drugs must be burned in incense burners, others swallowed in little cups containing a dose which must never be exceeded under pain of severe intoxication, and still others were meant to be consumed in long, curiously curved pipes.

  In certain boxes were unknown pieces of apparatus which drew the attention of the alchemist and the learned Templar. Most acted directly on the nervous system, increasing sensory perception, transforming the least music into a celestial symphony, or the foulest broth into refined nourishment.

  That gave Joubert an idea. “Why not,” he suggested, "take advantage of these filthy Baphomets’ inexhaustible thirst for pleasure? The Baphomets aren’t familiar with these machines yet, since this cargo is coming from a recently annexed planet. With the help of Djaffar and Houen-Lun, I might make bold to arrange a talisman which will plunge these vile beings into such an ecstasy. . . .”

  “But to what purpose?” Garin wondered. “How will that lessen the power of the Baphomets?”

  “I shall explain. If the virtues of our talisman can far surpass those of these Lyzogan machines, the principal dignitaries are going to want to get one.”

  "Of course, but how does that profit us?”

  “Suppose that we add to it a second effect, a delayed effect which will activate at our command. For example, an atrocious sensation of pain. We could then put our adversaries beyond harming anyone, at the moment we choose.”

  “That’s not at all a knightly method,” Garin muttered. “Until now we’ve always fought our enemies honorably. Our Grand Master would never condone the use of such vile tricks.”

  “What scruples, my friend I This demoniac race has never hesitated to enslave peaceful people, and it desires to reduce our compatriots to slavery, don’t forget that The Odeous undergo such moral tortures that they hope only to die, to put an end to a hopeless existence. So why have scruples in fighting the Baphomets by taking advantage of their vices?”

  “Joubert is right,” Marco Polo broke in. “I don’t see how the tactic would be more damnable than the use of the thunder-balls which themselves risk killing innocent slaves. In all probability, when we fight the Baphomet ships in space they’ll not be guided by those vile cowards, but much more likely by the poor Odeous, incapable of disobeying their despotic masters. So this solution offers then an immense advantage of getting at the ones really to blame. It only remains to know if the adjustment of such apparatus won’t present insurmountable difficulties.”

  Houen-Lun came out of his trance. “Once for all, I can assure you that we lamas can control pain at will, as well as the rhythm of our breathing, the beating of our hearts. To do that one has only to educate the mind to let it command the bodily organs. Certainly the Baphomet mind is different from ours, but we have sufficient knowledge of it to try to make the project work.”

  “Yes," said the learned Joubert. “We’ve studied the minute waves emitted by our brain by means of magic boxes in which there are woven threads as thin as spiderweb, fashioned after the documents aboard the ships which came to Earth. On a magic window, Djaffar and I could see the materialization of three sorts of waves, one corresponding to sleep, one to conscious activity and the third to meditative thought, prayer for example. The last lets us command the organs of our body, and our Tibetan friend has gained an extraordinary mastery of it So we know how to act on the

  Baphomets’ sensations, and therefore these demoniac machines can be turned on their own thoughts.”

  “In my opinion,” Djaffar remarked, who had remained silent thus far, “we have to use Tibetan methods as much as possible so as not to risk having our secret discovered— should the Baphomets be moved by these unfamiliar contrivances to start an investigation. The mechanism which reverses their action, in particular, must be commanded by human thought, and not by techniques known to our enemies.”

  “That’s possible," Houen-Lun agreed. “But we may run into trouble if our devices are put in places inaccessible to my thought waves—underground, for example, or even in the middle of a metal fortress.”

  “Doubtless," muttered Joubert, “we won’t reach perfection on the first try. At least nothing is stopping us from trying.”

  Everyone agreed with the Templar and he set to work, aided by Djaffar.

  Both of them occasionally asked Houen-Lun his opinion, and he briefly interrupted his meditation to give them advice.

  So the voyage seemed very short to the learned Terrans. After having worked out this Machiavellian plan, they helped Houen-Lun create the marvelous device which would subjugate their enemies.

  Prudent addition to their plan, Marco Polo had decided to use one of the trinkets they found in the cargo and modify it, retaining its original shape, so the object seemed to come from the planet Lyzog, and would arouse no suspicions.

  This solution offered the advantage that they might introduce a new twist, intercepting ships of-Lyzog origin and adding to their cargo a few utensils adjusted by brother Joubert.

  Clement and Guiot had acquired some gifts of science during the recent weeks, but these esoteric discussions were still clearly beyond their comprehension.

  Houen-Lun had them undergo several seances of hypnosis, and the two brothers then found themselves able to fill in for Joubert at the controls of the ship. Their role was limited otherwise to watching the sighting apparatus and the luminous serpents which twisted across the screens, to give the alert if they took on certain configurations.

  Whatever else, they showed themselves enormously proud of their promotion and accomplished this new duty with the greatest seriousness.

  While Djaffar and Joubert were proceeding with their delicate experiments, Marco Polo was studying the best means to get this malefic talisman accepted among the highest Baphomet dignitaries. Would it not provoke their mistrust if they attempted to sell it? After all, the plunder came from an enslaved planet. ... It would be more likely to offer it without compensation. But according to Houen-Lun, the despotic Baphomets respected their new subjects’ commercial practices. The best course then would be to pass himself off as a merchant anxious to improve his standing by bringing the most precious Lyzogan merchandise, while getting some reward out of it. .. . That would not quite match the observations of the occupants of the satellite, but the Tibetan could remodel their memories when they came back. The more the Venetian thought on the matter, the more he was seduced by this project. It only remained to take on the appearance of a Lyzogan. That did not present any insurmountable difficulty. These aliens had a look near that of Terrans, close except that their skin was olive green. The disguise would be easy. Whatever the risk, the stakes were worth playing for. The Venetian rogue then shared his project with his companions. Joubert, always full of g
ood sense, advised him to declare that the apparatus would only work for a year. Then it must be recharged by Lyzogan specialists. Marco Polo was only a modest merchant and would pretend to be ignorant of the secrets of this delicate technique. So he would have the opportunity to leave on a mission, first to go find other such instruments, then to put the first ones back into working order.

  The folk of Lyzog were apt to blow the lid off it, of course, but they had to hope that William of Beaujeu would hasten his offensive rapidly, so that the Baphomets would have other matters to occupy them.

  Garin still raised a timid objection: could Christians act on the souls of other creatures, perverted ones to be sure, but created by God?

  Joubert swept his scruples aside. The Pope had not settled the question and nothing proved that the Baphomets ever had been endowed with an immortal soul. Besides, it was no time for waffling. The ship was reaching its destination.

  A little later, the heralds of Baphom made contact with the arriving ship. Joubert gave the requisite information and sat down at the controls.

  Thank God! The satellite had announced the arrival of the ship with a cargo coming from Lyzog, and the vessel was authorized to land at once. Then it was taken over by long-distance commands and began its descent toward Baphom. The scarlet sphere grew in their sight. The Terrans put a last touch on their makeup, all of them looking like Odeous except Marco Polo, Guiot and Clement, who were disguised as Lyzogans.

  The Venetian had judged that it was appropriate for his person to be escorted by servants who would serve as his bodyguards. Besides, the ships’ crews seemed usually to have four persons: the crew would thus be reduced to the normal figure.

  The vessel did a long spiral orbit to the level of the atmosphere, then plunged toward the surface, passing through red clouds which, under the rays of the scarlet sun, gave the planet its fiery look.

  Soon the surface of the earth became visible.

  Its aspect was astonishingly like that of Earth: continents covered with luxurious vegetation, snow-crowned mountains, oceans, lakes, rivers, vast deserts. In sum, without the ruddy tint over the whole, the passengers of the ship would have believed they were coming home.

  As they descended, details sharpened. They spied other ships leaving a vapor trail behind them, and then cities took form.

  This time the Terrans fully realized that they were very far from their homeworld. The houses reached an incredible height, thrusting toward the sky until some of them brushed the clouds. These immense towers were walled rather like the walls of a medieval city, but not walls of stone. A moiré played between them, closing together into a dome over the city to form a glittering vault.

  The sites designated for ship landings were outside this luminous dome; each site was provided with a pylon crowned by countless dishes, which the Terrans knew now to be antennae for scanning and communication.

  The ship, in an impeccable parabola, came to rest quite gently on a semispherical cradle.

  When that was in place, the whole contraption started to move and the vessel stopped near several other ships, sitting near a dome provided with long appendages.

  One of them came to place itself over the lock, repeating the operation done on the satellite, and the hatch opened on a long, brilliantly lit passage.

  “My friends, let’s not keep our hosts waiting!" Marco Polo exclaimed in the Odeous language. “Stay on your guard constantly. Houen-Lun is going to stay on board alone. 1 don’t think he’ll have problems with the crew that will come to refit the ship. He’ll keep in contact with us and advise us of his location so we can rejoin him if the need arises. Don’t forget that you’re slaves, and that I’m only a merchant. Scrupulously obey the orders given you. If you are at a loss, Houen-Lun will help you. I’m taking our apparatus with me to present it in person to the Baphomets. May the Lord aid you and His Holy Mother guard you."

  On these words, the Venetian went bravely into the long tube followed by his friends, who, to tell the truth, did not go with enthusiasm....

  Apparently the masters of this planet did not suspect their visitors in the least They had no men-at-arms in view at all.

  The little group thus reached a room where an Odeous slave was waiting on them.

  Joubert, who was reckoned as the captain of the ship, banded him one of the tiny parchments given him on the satellite. The officer examined the document in a scanner and with a weary gesture gave them a sign to pass on.

  Marco Polo obeyed and calmly opened the door before him. A curious vehicle formed of little carts attached one behind the other was drawn up along the dock. They all took their places on the seats, and the whole machine rolled at once on a hissing air cushion, to plunge into a tunnel lit by luminous plaques in the walls.

  The cars, following a pronounced slope, plunged deep underground. The convoy thus made a long passage at great speed. The wind whipped the faces of the passengers, who sat plastered against their upholstered cushions.

  Finally after a spectacular climb up again, the machine stopped at the end of the line. There, guards outfitted in metal armor ranged themselves on one side and the other of the guests, and escorted them through several corridors.

  Marco Polo and his companions quickly ascertained that they were dealing with automatons and not with living beings.

  They arrived finally in an austere room where sat a Odeous and an Ethir, the first representative of that race the Ter-rans had met

  The birdman looked them up and down a moment in curiosity. “Well,” he exclaimed, “the folk of satellite 289 were right. You have been roughly handled. You are hardly recognizable. No question, under the circumstances, of trusting you with another mission. I’m going to advise the personnel center to put you on rest and recuperation until further orders. But who are these three strangers?"

  Joubert stepped forward a pace. “We were given the mission,” he said in a dull voice, “of contacting the natives of the planet Lyzog, recently discovered. We took on a cargo and brought back three native specimens. One is a trader who desires peaceful commerce with our masters. He calls himself Polo; his companions are Garoun and Clem.”

  “Surely, noble stranger,” Marco Polo agreed, expressing himself unasked, and in a strong accent “Our friend says aright I hear tell that their lordships the Baphomets are eager for new toys, amulets, talismans and drugs which refine the pleasure of die senses. So I made it my duty to bring my most precious samples to acquaint them with the use of them.”

  The Ethir with broken wings gave him a curious look, as if he could not believe that a being in possession of good sense could deliver himself voluntarily to their tormentors, but he limited himself to piping; “You are well informed. The powerful Baphomets do adore this sort of novelty. One of them will receive you soon."

  So saying, he pointed out a chair, while the robots surrounded the rest of the crew to take them to the Odeous barracks, where they could wait for their next assignment.

  “Many thanks for your help!” Marco Polo called. Then, turning to Joubert he added: “Thanks for the excellent voyage, captain. I’ll see you again, perhaps on my next voyage.”

  Joubert gave no answer. He followed his guides with the downcast air which suited an Odeous.

  The Venetian and his two companions then found themselves alone with the slaves, who regarded them with a puzzled air, leafing through several dossiers to cover their confusion.

  The ambiance of the Baphomet residence was vastly differ* ent from that of Terran castles. The smooth walls bore no ornament, not the least picture or tapestry. The costumes themselves presented a drab uniformity. The most humanlike were, paradoxically, the automatons of metal armor who, from a distance, might have passed as knights.

  Gloom and sadness reigned here. The slaves did their duty without sloth, but without enthusiasm. Yet the scribes showed a certain compassion regarding these strangers who would soon be slaves like themselves and who seemed not at all to suspect the fate which awaited them.

  A luminous signal lighted on a table and put an end to the Odeous’ reflections. The door had just opened and two robots were waiting.