Choice of the Gallant - Paradox Equation I Read online

  He wandered through the ship. He kept getting lost. He loved it. His existence had been limited to a corridor of cells, an arena, link room, preparation room and Hensk's banquet halls. He vaguely remembered wide streets and green lands. He tried to remember his mother, but no image would come. He had one clear memory of learning at a station and a man's smile and nod he had done well. He knew he was very young and from a great house, but that was all. Hensk had taken his name, and with it, every voice that had ever spoken it.

  ****

  "Hey! You're stepping on my tulips!"

  "Oh! I'm sorry. I was looking at--"

  "Whoa! Are you all right?"

  "I really doubt it. Can you understand me?"

  "That's a very strange question. Of course I can. Look you'd better sit down. Here. Lawn chair. Would a glass of water help?"

  "Thank you, Mistress."

  "You sit right there and I'll go in and get you one."

  Julie sighed as she walked into the house. An angel had just tromped her tulips, swayed dizzily when she spoke to him, then been totally amazed when she offered him a chair and a glass of water. Typical Saturday in LA. Too bad he was on something. When she carried the water out, he was staring down at the city from the middle of her tulip bed again.

  "You're in my tulips."

  "I've been very careful not to step on them. It's murky. Smells awful."

  "The air or the water?"

  "The air, but I think the water may qualify as well."

  "Out of towner. Tourist?"

  "Definitely."

  "Yeah, the LA smog is pretty intense the first time. You get used to it. Today's not bad. Pretty good onshore flow."

  "You've got to be joking! The hydrocarbon by-products are absolutely noxious! Fossil fuel?"

  "You're beginning to make me nervous."

  "Probably not half as nervous as I am. I'm sorry. I'll leave. Your tulips attracted me, then I saw the view... Yes, I should definitely leave. Would you answer one more very strange question? What's the name of this world?"

  "You're the most gorgeous man I've ever seen and you're crazy. Just my luck. The world is Earth. Now go before your keepers tromp my tulips trying to catch you."

  "Yes, I should get back to my ship. She'll have most of the information I need by now. Thank you for your kindness, Lady."

  "Hold it. You're bleeding."

  "Yes, but it's minor. One of the dark brothers found me too far from my ship. It's the first time I ever made that mistake. I shall not make it again."

  "Sit down. I'll clean it up. Who'd you run into? One of the Bloods? I've seen them in the neighborhood."

  "Bloods?"

  "Gangs. Where are you from, anyway?"

  "Somehow, I doubt you'd believe me."

  "Try me."

  "Well, I'm eight galaxies and several hundred years from my home world."

  "You're right. I don't believe you. That knock on the head shook something loose. I'll probably be sorry I did this, but come inside and I'll get you... What are you doing?"

  "Listening. RUN! Don't argue!"

  He grabbed her hand, then scooped her up and carried her. They'd found him already. Somehow, they were tracking him. He dodged the beam fire and ran for his ship. The Earth girl was hardly a hindrance. She was very light. He thanked the Powers he hadn't locked his ship. He ran through the door, slammed it and dematerialized. Since they were tracking him, it made no sense to leave.

  "LOOK OUT!"

  He spun and saw the girl on the back of the hooded figure of a dark brother. She'd saved his life. Now he needed to save hers. She'd kept the brother from using his weapon, but she was merely a temporary hindrance. He ran to aid her. When the dark one struck her, something happened inside him. He screamed in rage and killed it. He began to shake in reaction and shock.

  Julie was kind of surprised she woke up. The guy in the hood didn't look like he was going to. Necks didn't bend like that. She realized she was hearing whimpering. Soft, terrified, crying. It was her angel. He was curled in a corner.

  "Shh. It's all right. You got him. He can't hurt us now."

  "I... I killed him. I didn't intend it, but he hit you. I lost control. He really didn't have a chance. He was helpless and I killed him."

  "Helpless?! He was trying very hard to fry you with that gun! If I hadn't yelled, he'd have succeeded! You saved your life and probably mine! You've... never killed anything before, have you? Nothing."

  "I've never seen anything die."

  "I hope I wake up and find out this is all pepperoni pizza. Look, I'm Julie. What's your name."

  "I haven't got one. They took it."

  She decided to call it pepperoni pizza and get on with it. It was either that or have screaming meemies.

  "Who took it?"

  "The Lord Master's servants. He never allowed me to have one. It pleased him to use me nameless."

  "All right. From the top. Where are we?"

  "My ship."

  "And where did you get the ship?"

  "I built it. I built all the ships."

  "Who did you build the ships for?"

  "My master. It was my labor of twelve years."

  "And who was this master?"

  "Lord Hensk."

  "The one who took your name? So, why'd you work for him?"

  "The question is meaningless to me?"

  "Why'd you work for some creep that... took your name?"

  "I was too young to wish to die. Nameless ones were only fed if the master remembered to order it. My master usually remembered."

  "Wait a minute. Are you talking about... slavery?"

  "Yes, but I ended it. I burned out the power satellites. I fed the power of the star I harnessed through them. Without power, weapons would not work and locks would open. The servants of the Dark One could not have stopped my people leaving."

  "So you started a slave revolt and your people got rid of these servant guys."

  "No. They would have just left. Although, some of the other imprisoned species may have destroyed them. My trainer wanted to kill his master. Perhaps I am guilty of two deaths. I told him thank you, instead of no."

  "If you freed them, why didn't you stay?"

  "I had set twelve servants of the Dark One loose in the universe. I decided, if they were chasing me, they'd be too busy to destroy unsuspecting worlds. I must find his ship and destroy it."

  "I was right the first time. You're an angel. A complete innocent. Well, LA can change that in a hurry. Why am I doing this? Come on. Let's get you some survival skills. Wait a minute. I'm not thinking straight. Where are his friends?"

  "Friends?"

  "Yeah. You know. The ones that took potshots at us on the hill."

  "Oh, that was him. He just kept landing a few seconds further in the future and trying again, then he went back to the past and laid an ambush in here."

  "I see. He had a time machine."

  "That's what the ships are. It's why I have to keep the dark brothers busy."

  She giggled. She just couldn't help it. She was sitting on the floor of a good-size room, that couldn't be in her yard, talking in calm tones about a dead man that hopped around in a time machine, built by an angel, who... Too much.

  "All right. Are any more likely to show up?"

  "No. I don't know how he followed me. When I locate his ship, I hope to learn."

  "OK, let's find his ship. What do you want to do with him?"

  "Leave him. My ship will dispose of him. He is a... contaminant. She'll feel the evil and rid herself of it."

  "She didn't before."

  "But he was alive then. He isn't now."

  "Now stop that. No more crying. Ship, get that thing out of here. WOW! Did I do that?"

  "I think she agreed with you."

  "I feel like Alice in Wonderland. Come on, little white wabbit. Let's find a ship and then you'll only have eleven chasing you."

  "I hadn't thought of that. What's a wabbit?"

  She had pepper
oni pizza delivered. It just seemed appropriate. He loved it.

  ****

  "You have to have a name."

  "I like Wabbit."

  "No. That's just between us. Hasn't anyone ever called you anything but--ooh, I hate this-- slave, or boy?"

  "Only in a dream. I once said I would use the name if I freed my world."

  "Well, don't you think it's time you dusted it off and stuck it on?"

  "Julie, I like this world. Your people have wonderful ways to say things. 'Yo, bro.' 'Hey, dude.' 'What's shakin'?' So many greetings."

  "The name."

  "I've never said it before."

  "And you never will, at this rate. Say it."

  "Gallant."

  "Yes! Perfect! It fits you. Belongs. See, you did know your name. OK, Gallant, you've watched four days of TV. You understand the difference between fiction and reality and you have a name. Want to meet some people? Don't look so shocked. I'm dying to show you off. You're an incredible blond hunk. Just one thing. Don't dance slow with anyone but me. Two heartbeats would land you in some government research lab. Probably in pieces."

  "E.T."

  "Yeah, E.T. all the way. Did you figure it out? Why we understand each other?"

  "Yes, but I'm afraid to tell you."

  "Why?"

  "E.T."

  "Gallant, I doubt you'll send me running to the gov at this point."

  "I'm a telepath."

  "Yeah. Makes sense. Why haven't you... read anyone?"

  "That would be very impolite!"

  "Yep. Gallant. Change clothes. Not here! In the bedroom."

  She shook her head and laughed. Carla would never believe she'd stopped a beautiful man from stripping in front of her. She wasn't sure she believed it. It was the innocence. It made him seem like a child.

  "Wow! I think I bought those jeans a bit small. They look like they were sprayed on."

  "They said, 'shrink to fit,' so I used hot water and air to make them smaller. Perhaps I should have stopped after the first wash, but they didn't look like the ones you wear."

  "Caught. Come on, gorgeous, let's go strut our tight pants."

  ****

  "Get away from him, or I'll break your limp wrist."

  "Ooh, aren't you the possessive one."

  "Gallant? Hey, you! Come back here a minute!"

  "Look, Missy, I am not… He looks like he's in shock."

  "I think he was badly abused."

  "I think you're right. Let's see if this works. Take his hand and gently massage it. See if you can get his attention."

  The rather attractive man sat down on the floor in Gallant's line of sight. It was obviously for a reason. It was going to leave a large dirty smudge on his immaculate white pants. It surprised her a bit when he assumed lotus position and closed his eyes. They were beginning to attract attention. Gallant suddenly blinked and turned to look at her and she sighed in relief.

  "Gallant! Are you OK?"

  "Yes. Just a bad memory."

  "I'm sorry I brought it back. I'm Chuck."

  "Gallant, tell Chuck he's forgiven."

  "Forgiven. No, wait. Thank you for the compliment, Chuck, but I like girls."

  "Thanks, Chuck."

  "You're more than welcome, Julie. I have a friend to tell her 'technique' worked. I'll have some friends help watch pushy types don't head this way. There are a few."

  "I like this world."

  "World?"

  "L.A.'s pretty far out, Chuck. Different world."

  "Especially this part of it. Julie, the Boulevard might not have been the best place to bring him."

  "Yes it was, Chuck. Anyplace else, we wouldn't have met you. Right, Gallant?"

  "Yes. It was nice meeting you, Chuck."

  "Never met anyone whose name fit better. Later."

  "He liked my name, Julie. He thought it fit."

  "Yeah. He liked the way your pants fit, too."

  "Yes. That too."

  She burst into giggles and he smiled.

  "I felt you both calling me, Julie. He was… very focused."

  "I noticed that lotus position was practiced."

  "Dance with me. I've watched. I know who you think looks well. I won't look foolish and embarrass you."

  "You peeked."

  "Only at your face as you watched them. You see? It made you mistrust me."

  "Yeah, you're right. Forgive me?"

  "I will, if you dance with me."

  "Blackmail. I love it."

  "I learn quickly.

  ****

  "Gallant, get your head back in the van."

  "Your moon is so beautiful. I've never seen a more beautiful world."

  "How many have you seen?"

  "Hundreds, but this is the first I landed on with people. I'm glad. Humans are wonderful!"

  "You're bombed out of your mind."

  "Julie, can we stop? I want to walk in the moonlight by the sea."

  "Exactly what I had in mind. There's a beach I like just ahead, Leo Carillo. We'll go home through Topanga Canyon after daybreak. Want to show you some forest. We'll nap in the back of the van. Gallant, I've got to go back to work Monday. My vacation's over."

  "I know. You've been looking at the calendar and sighing for two days. I'm glad I tromped your tulips on your vacation. You've been a wonderful teacher. YES!"

  She laughed and turned the lights off. He'd been out and running for the beach before she'd gotten the brake on. She grabbed a jacket for herself and a blanket for him. She just knew he was going to get wet. She ran after him. His laughter stopped her cold. It was... wild. She sat down in the sand and cried for him. He'd been caged for so long. His spirit was just learning to be free.

  "You're crying. What did I do?"

  "Not you, Gallant. The past."

  "My past. Your tears are for me. May I kiss you?"

  "I'd like it very much."

  "You'll... "

  "What is it?"

  "You'll have to teach me how."

  She decided he had a gift for understatement. He learned very fast.

  ****

  "Julie... "

  "You're leaving."

  "I never said good-by before. It hurts."

  "Yes, it does. Gallant, don't forget me."

  "Never. Julie, may I come back someday? Take you dancing? Show you all I've learned?"

  "Oh, yes!"

  "One year from the day I tromped your tulips. Is it a date?"

  "I'll mark it on the calendar. See you March Eighth, Nineteen Ninety-one."

  "In your tulips."

  "I'll be there."

  ****

  Gallant knew how much he still had to learn. Of course he chose Earth as the place to learn it.

  "All right, Mike, what are you laughing about?"

  "Clara, I've been drafted. It seems I'm about to go to war."

  "You're the last decent young man in this neighborhood. The young ladies will miss you."

  "Oh, I'll be back. The war won't last too much longer. We'll beat them."

  "When do you report?"

  "By the day after tomorrow, but I'm going to the recruiter today."

  "Give the Kaiser a punch on the nose for me."

  "I will, Clara. Would it be all right if I left my things here?"

  "Of course. You've become more like family than a boarder in the last two years. The only family I've got. Outlived all the others. Mike, if I'm not here when you get back, the place is yours."

  "Clara... "

  "Now don't argue. I did it months ago. I've got no one else to give it to."

  "Thank you. I love you, too."

  "Oh, go on. Say good-by to all the pretty young things you squire around."

  She died before he got back to the big house in Chicago. He signed the documents that had been awaiting the return of 'Sergeant Gallant' and took possession. He aired out the closed house, repaired the damage two years of emptiness had caused and settled into life in the time known as the roaring twent
ies.

  He began establishing the identity of a nephew. He'd need it before too many years passed. He talked about his nephew a great deal to the others at his place of employment and the people on his beat. He'd gotten the job by a bit of hypnosis. The physician who checked him hadn't noticed his two hearts. He became one of Chicago's finest and helped fight the lawlessness of the gangs.

  ****

  He dragged himself from the lake and sought shelter from the biting wind. They'd disposed of the 'body' of Detective Gallant in their usual effective manner. He almost hadn't gotten out of the chains they'd weighted him with in time. It had been very close. He dragged his shattered body to the shelter of an empty beach house and sank into trance. He hadn't been hurt as badly since Hensk had dropped a building on him. When he left the house more than a month later, he was nearly an inch taller.

  He carefully replaced all the food he'd used, then went to collect his inheritance. Mitchell Gallant looked a lot like his uncle Mike. He needed a place to live. So many had lost everything when the great drought had turned dreams to dust.

  ****

  "Mitch, that laugh of yours sends chills through me. It's... I don't know. Wild. Crazy."

  "Yeah, I've been told that before. You guys stay here. I'm going to see if I can get close enough to lob a grenade into that machine gun nest. You'll know if I make it."

  "Sarge, be careful."

  "Always am. I like being alive."

  "Jesus, Joey, do you think he really believes that?"

  "Mac, I gave up second guessing the sarge a year ago. I just wait for his eyes to go glittery, then duck."

  "Sometimes I think he's crazy. Especially when he laughs like that."

  "If he's crazy, it's the best kind. We've been in practically every battle in Europe and he's kept all of us alive. All but Smitty."

  "The guy I replaced?"

  "Yeah, kid. The only one the sarge ever lost. Sat and cried when he got hit, then took apart the patrol that got him. Never seen anything like it. Look, one thing you gotta' know. None of us talk about the sarge. We don't mention the things he does. He wants it that way. He'll keep you alive, kid. So just you don't say nothin' about him. Ever."

  "But he's a hero. He should get promoted and decorated."

  "You make a fuss, someone'll check him out. He don't want that and, if you're smart, neither do you."

  "Why? What's wrong with him?"

  "Nothin's wrong with him. He's as good a man as ever lived. Better than any I ever met. Just don't talk about him."