It was the double-take phenomenon, then. He looked again, jerkily this time, and simultaneously caught at Lee’s arm, stopping him. From that moment, and for the minute or so that followed, it was all automatic. First, their heads turned and became fixed. Then, more slowly, their bodies moved around until they were standing almost touching. Throughout, they stared at what was happening on the veranda.
Susan and Sennes had reached the point, after some verbal maneuvering by the man, where he was unlocking the door for her. He turned from the task in such a way that he blocked any intent she might have had to simply take the key and slip past him into the house. Truth was, the possibility that she might attempt such a disappearing act was a thought in the man’s mind only. Truth was, the erotic implications of Senne’s earlier holding remarks had passed completely over the girl’s head. And now, she accepted the key from him and presented her right cheek for him to kiss, like the good little jabber that she was.
Without hesitation, Captain Sennes put his arms around her and kissed her on the mouth, firmly but briefly. Susan started to struggle, and then as he removed his lips from hers, she protested in a muffled voice, ‘Not my lips ,,. my cheek. It’s all right on my cheek.’ The reason her voice was muffled was because, as she started to resist, the man expertly drew her face against his chest. For him it was the moment he needed to shift his hold on her and obtain a firmer grip on his next maneuver.
‘No,’ he said, ‘not your cheek.’ Having spoken, he used the hand that held the back of her head to keep her head steady while, with a quick movement, he again placed his Ups against hers. All she could do after that was squirm helplessly. She apparently soon realised that she was completely captured by his overwhelming strength^ for she presently merely stood there, her lips passive against his, and waited.
During the almost-minute of that kiss, Mike and Lee at the gate watched with differing emotions. It was all happening too quickly for genuine emotions to break through. What both boys showed at first was shock. At no time during the actual event did Lee indicate jealousy. He simply remained in a physiologic reaction of something akin to dismay. On the other hand, Mike with his quicker responses came out of his freeze state, and lunged at the gate. He was fumbling at the catch when Lee’s restraining hand stopped him. Lee made a peremptory gesture, and after a moment Mike nodded. The two boys backed slowly to the right until they were standing behind a tree.
As they did so, on the veranda Captain Sennes relaxed his hold on Susan. She began to fight again, and he thereupon allowed her to break free. As she did so, she gasped, ‘Till I’m nineteen, I should only be kissed on my right cheek, and I want you to remember that in future.’ She spoke in a severe, censuring tone.
‘Lips are much sweeter,’ said Sennes.
‘Good night,’ said Susan firmly.
'You liked it, didn’t you?’ Sennes persisted.
It’s against outfit rules.’ Her voice implied that that was all that needed to be said about the matter.
The man was not to be put off. ‘But you did like it?’ he said.
There was a pause. 'Well/ said the girl finally in her honest fashion, ‘I’m looking forward to when I’m nineteen.’
"You weren’t wishing it was someone else kissing you?’ Sennes asked.
It was too complicated a thought for Susan. Since she hadn’t wanted
anyone
to lip-kiss her, the idea of wanting it to have been
someone else
that kissed her, was outside of her reality. And - just like that - she was confused. The confusion manifested in a sudden shyness. Her body twisted in a girlish gesture of modesty, a muscle effort hitherto unknown to her. Abruptly, she
didn’t want to hurt his feelings,
which was also something she had not previously experienced. Thus, in the space of moments, her energy level fell from the height where one couldn’t hurt other people with simple, unantagonistic honesty into that negative depth where one tried to withdraw from situations with false responses.
While she was in that abyss, she said,
1.
didn’t have time to wish.’
‘Now, you’re be
ginnin
g to sound like a woman,’ the man said in an accusing tone.
And
that
was a new thought. “How do you mean?’ Puzzled.
‘I mean, playing a game, pretending you don’t understand - avoiding a direct answer.’
That was too much twist even for a Susan in a confused state. Since she hadn’t had the original feeling attributed to her, the concept that she was now being false about a falseness simply, and abruptly, snapped her back to a semblance of normalcy. Not quite, but almost. ‘You want a direct answer?’ she said.
The officer hesitated. His experience told him that she was somehow escaping him. He forced a smile. ‘I don’t like the gleam in your eye,’ he said.
And that was false. There was no gleam, no ulterior motive; no concept of what he was talking about. All in a flash he realised that he was losing control of the situation. Because he wasn’t quite clear as to what was going wrong, he made a hasty attempt to salvage her for the future. ‘Remember,’ he said, ‘you promised to go with me on a flight Sunday,’
‘Cap it,’ said jabber Susan Lane. ‘If mother says yes.
’
'
Sennes turned away. ‘I’ll be here at eight.’ He headed rapidly down the steps, before she could deny him. ‘ ’Night,’ he flung over his shoulder.
On her part, Susan started to enter the house. In the doorway she seemed to run into an invisible barrier. She actually took a step backward in order to turn and look after the man. The action was as automatic as it was because, in truth, it had no clear thought behind it. The series of madnesses that had been projected at her during those final minutes were still spinning around in her head. And so, she was still shy as she watched Captain Sennes open the gate, step out to the street, and close the gate behind him. He looked up and saw Susan. He waved at her. She returned the wave uncertainly.
The young officer smiled with triumph. Once more he waved, and then in his best military walk paraded off down the street. Since he was magnificently strong, one of the physical marvels who had been selected and trained for the special hazardous work of active flight duty, he made a graceful movement out of every step. He disappeared from Susan’s sight behind a high hedge. It was a good exit.
On the porch, Susan stood with a faraway look in her eyes, not really thinking, and not feeling. ‘ ’Night,’ she murmured in such a low voice that only she heard it.
Whereupon, she went inside, and closed the door.
Slowly, Lee and Mike emerged from behind the tree. They stood, then, watching the distant figure of Captain Sennes as he entered the elevator of the monorail. On Lee’s face there was finally a tiny suggestion of grief. Mike was grim, but he put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. ‘Now, you’re going to leave this to me, aren’t you, Lee?’ The older boy did not reply, and Mike’s expression and manner indicated, that he took the silence as agreement.
At this point, Mike said, ‘Here I was thinking that these late monthly district meetings are pretty hard to take; and then we run into an unsuspected situation with one of our members, and maybe they’re not so bad after all.’
Again, there was no answer from Lee. ‘Let’s go,
’
said Mike, He grabbed the blond boy’s arm and pulled at him. Lee went without a word.
Inside the Lane house, the figure on the far right side of the king-size bed slowly changed position. In the almost darkness, it was difficult to make out the difference, but the impression that came up from the alteration in shape was that, suddenly, the woman there had relaxed.
Moments after that - since Susan had already made it into bed in another part of the house in one minute and thirty-eight seconds — the entire Lane household was sound asleep.
Next
morning ..
The invisible watcher moved at the pace that a human walks behind Bud Jaeger. The alien child, who maintained the shape of a human boy, did his shuffling walk and appeared to be carrying his books under one arm exactly like the other teenagers. The communication that passed between father and son was brief.
The father said:
We ha
ve
the impression that the human
-
manned space fleet in orbit around Earth has been alerted against a possible attack.
You mean,
said the boy,
they know our fleet is out there in the near distance?
No,
was the reply.
Obviously, if they knew txie were around or located us, they would attack. What this means is that John Lane has made his report, and the human space authorities are
taking no chances.
Why are you telling me this?
I want you to hear anything Susan Lane says about her father when you are with the outfit. His movements may be the key to our decision. If, for example, he is suddenly placed back aboard his command skip, that could be the signal that they have spotted us.
You have nearly always been present, my father, when I am with the outfit. So you are as aware as I.
Yes, and that will continue where possible. But I cannot enter buildings, and it is my intention to follow John Lane occasionally, and so you will be by yourself. I assure you I shall be absent no oftener that is absolutely necessary.
Very well,
said the boy,
I will watch Susan.
The had come to the school gate, and Bud now entered the campus. His unseen father remained hovering just off the sidewalk and away from the human traffic, but he also was up high enough to avoid any kind of energy conflict with passing vehicles. From this position he watched Bud walk along toward the school steps that would presently take him to that entrance. And he was starting along the road in that direction when he saw Mike Sutter. The alien came back to the gate. Moments later, Mik emerged from the gate and stationed himself outside. It was an unexpected development. The watcher stayed where he was, and waited.
Approximately one minute and a hundred teenagers passed by. At that time, one of the approaching boys suddenly had a familiar look to him. The familiar figure was first only a head among many heads, then a head and shoulders. Still almost hidden by a group of other young people, Lee David approached the gate. He was evidently in deep thought because he did not see Mike until the slender youth stepped out, took his arm, and drew him off to one side. To the invisible watcher there was no longer any doubt. Something different was about to happen.
The fact (of the difference) did not seem to occur to Lee. The blond leader of the Red Cats outfit nodded at Mike, and then said, 'About last night, Mike . . . I’ve decided to trust Susan. Sack?’
The dark-haired boy shook his head in a slow, grave way. ‘It’s too late,’ he said.
Lee stared at him, blankly at first. In that state, he echoed, ’Too late?’
Mike nodded. He looked unhappy but determined.
For a moment longer, the blankness remained on the older boy’s face. Then a rush of color darkened his cheeks and forehead. He said through clenched teeth, ‘Damn you, you had no
business -
‘
He broke off. ‘I’m the leader of
this outfit.’
‘I’m sorry, Lee/ said Mike, ‘but the outfit is in agreement that where Susan is concerned you can’t be trusted completely.’- Lee began furiously, ‘But that’s — ’ He stopped. His eyes narrowed with sudden thought. ‘I remember, the other night, You wouldn’t push.’
‘You broke up that meeting early on account of Susan’s dad,
1
Mike nodded.
‘Oh!’ The outfit leader gazed off into space, a slightly bitter expression on his face. But the color faded from his cheeks. He seemed to be more thoughtful. ‘I’m sorry you didn’t push,’ he said. ‘I let something happen there that we shouldn’t have done.’ ‘You mean,’ corrected Mike, ‘you did something
you
shouldn’t have done.’
‘No” - firmly - ‘because of my anxiety not to let concern for Susan influence me, I let you - particularly you - judge someone to be a booter before he did anything. And Mr Lane hasn’t done anything, Mike.’
You mean,’ Mike flashed, ‘he hasn’t done anything yet.’ ‘Mike,’ said Lee chidingly, ‘that’s all that we ever need to know.’
A change had come over the slender youth. His dark eyes misted. He stood there, and it was he, now, who was disturbed. The blond boy said, ‘Sack, Mike?’
A long pause. Finally, in a low voice, Mike said, ‘Sack, Lee.’ The older youth seemed to have recovered completely. ‘Wha
t’
s the chatter?’ he asked.
It was a sober Mike who glanced at his watch. ‘I spoke to the outfit,’ he said, ‘and Marianne is facing Susan’ - once more he looked at the time, as if because of his inner turmoil he had already forgotten what he saw the first time - ‘just about now!’ he finished breathlessly.
The reality wasn’t quite like that. Susan was late. She arrived bleary-eyed, and she was in an awful hurry. If she hadn’t seen Marianne first, the facing might have been postponed by the inexorable fact that school bells would be ringing in a minute or so. But she did glimpse the smaller girl. Whereupon, she faltered - and waved. And that was the moment. Marianne, her blue eyes bright with urgency, came running.
‘Outfit sent me to face you,’ she blurted. Having spoken, she burst into tears. ‘What kept you?’ she sobbed. ‘First time I ever faced anybody, and you spoil it by arriving late.’
Because of the tears, it was not exactly a dear communication. Susan stood for a long moment, her body all geared to go toward the near entrance of the school. The fact that she hadn't had
enough sleep added its confusion. And now, the mumbled words from Marianne. Yet, suddenly, the meaning came through, and she was startled. “You’re here to face me?’ She spoke slowly,
Whatever for?’
Marianne was in process of gulping back her self-control. But she still glopped her words, as she said. ‘I’m to tell you: Stay away from the outfitters today. Just go to your classes. You’ll be judged over at Lee’s tonight at 7.30.’
The meaning was no longer in doubt, and the taller girl changed color. There was a distinct energy drop visible in the way her body suddenly seemed less alive. But is was like somebody who had been hit hard, and was now angry. Her voice went up half an octave. ‘What kind of chatter is this?’ she demanded.
‘I’m sorry, Susan,’ said Marianne in a subdued tone, ‘but you were seen.’
Blankness - or at least what looked like blankness. If the first dim awareness of what this might be about was stirring in Susan, she was neverthless struggling against letting that fact through to her consciousness. But the possibility was in her voice as she now, also, said in a subdued voice, ‘What do you mean?’
For Marianne, it was the high moment.
‘
Last night,’ she said, and now her voice clear and even loud, ‘lip-kissing.’
The incredible. The impossible. The long-after-midnigilt hidden act for which she was not responsible in the first place. The secret that she had intended to keep secret - because she was innocent . . . Susan swallowed her sense of disaster, yet there was grief in her voice finally as she said, ‘B-but he grabbed me.’
Somewhere the bells were buzzing, calling jabbers good and not-so-good to their student duties. But the two girls were totally captured by the intensity of the moment. ‘I’m just the one that’s facing you,’ said Marianne loftily. Yet it was more than that, for she looked up at Susan with wide, fascinated eyes, and said, ‘What was it like?’
The blonde girl’s attention had gone on to another thought. And so the question really blanked her. ‘What?’ she said, astonished.
‘Lip-kissing,’ said the dark-haired girl, her blue eyes wide open and absorbed with
that
thought.
It was not a question to which Susan could give her attention. ‘I don’t remember,’ she said vaguely. Her misty eyes, as blue as Marianne’s but shadowed now, fixed on the other girl’s face. ’Who saw me?’ she asked.
‘Mike and Lee.’ Because there was no reply, because Susan merely stood there with a kind of cringing look on her face as she
considered that meaning, Marianne added, ‘Mike says you may not be a jabber anymore.’
The words were like a blow struck at a spirited animal ; even if it was sick, it would get up. Susan mentally stood up and defended herself. ‘I am, too,’ she said, fiercely. And just like that, in a flash, she was angry again. ‘Oh, that Mike - wait till I see him. This is ridiculous.’
The rage in her tone alarmed Marianne. ‘You leave Mike alone. He’s only doing his outfit duty.’
‘There’s something too much about that jabber,’ said Susan furiously. ‘I’ll bet he turns into a booter when he grows up - just like his father.’
‘
You have no right to say things like that,’ the younger girl shrilled. ‘You’re just mad ’cause you were caught.’
‘I was
not
caught!’ yelled Susan.
The sound of her voice was a single, echoing noise on what had become a silent campus. A few late students were hurrying silently, and singly, here and there; but except for that they were alone. Both girls became aware of that reality at the same moment. ‘Oh, my goodness!’ gasped Marianne.
Susan grabbed her aim, and said, ‘Come along!
’
She began to run, half dragging Marianne. It quickly became apparent that her companion was as strongly motivated as she, and was fully capable of keeping up with her, and no assistance needed, and so she released the younger girl’s arm.
At the top of the steps, the two girls separated. Marianne ran off to the right, and Susan to the left. They entered separate doors, were briefly visible through the transparent plastic. They disappeared simultaneously into a blur of light and shadow inside.
Late that afternoon - after school - while Mike stood by, Bud Jaeger performed
his first
outfit duty. The object of
his minis
trations was an eight-year-old boy
named
Martin Rilby whose mother described how
he
would
go
into a wild tantrum whenever he couldn’t
have his own way. Having
graphically described
his
behavior, the mother left the room, and Bud delivered the outfit
lecture
on that specific,
common
behavior of
many
little boys
and girls.
Bud completed
his
indoctrination: ‘And if you
don’t stop,
do you know what
will
happen?’
The tense child, speechless, eyes wide and fascinated, could only shake his head.
‘You’ll be taken to a room, and locked in; and for a whole hour
a
recording will be played of you in your last tantrum. That’s the first time. If you do it again, it will be an hour and a half.' He broke off. ‘The outfit has checked into the way your mother treats you at home, and she’s doing perfectly fine. So it’s you that has to make the change. Sack?’
The boy was staring at him, round-eyed. Something about that expression alarmed Bud, and he teiapathed to his father who was hovering just beyond the window a few feet away;
Could it be, my father, that young children can see me as I am?
Very young children, probably,
was the reply.
But this one is a little old.
Perhaps the reason the outfits have to deal with him is because he has remained childlike in some way,
said Bud.
There was no time for further communication on that level. The boy had crowded up close to him. ‘Do you always look that strange?’ he asked.
‘Martin!’ said Bud.
‘
You also must be courteous.
5
The boy backed away. ‘I beg your pardon,’ he said.
Bud recognised victory, and he was relieved. He continued his indoctrination hastily, ‘You’re going to have to measure up, Martin. Usually, we don’t start raising little boys and girls until they’re ten, but in your case we’re making a special situation. When you finally get into an outfit, the way you’re treated will depend on how you behave now. Sack?... Say sack.
’
It was the overwhelm. The need to belong to a group. The wanting to be accepted. Martin swallowed hard, and mumbled, ‘Sack.’
‘Pretty good/ said Mike judiciously, when Bud and he were finally out on the street again. ‘But now - Marty is your responsibility. You call his mother. You keep an eye on him . . . And you refer back to me only if you have to carry through on that threat - sack?’
‘Sack,’ nodded Bud.
The
invisible watcher was searching. In the darkness of early evening, he floated up the side of the apartment building. The Red Cat outfit had gone into the elevator; that was all he knew. How far up had they gone? His view through the gleaming plate glass of the entrance doors had not shown the signal light over each elevator, for the reason that the elevators were at a 90° angle to the door. And so he had to trace them with only one bit of information to guide him: that they were not on the first floor,