The Ming Vase and Other Science Fiction Stories. E.C. Tubb
poor devil, to live a little before he died.”
It made sense. Even to Penn it made sense. He had seen the secret records, the breakdown of a man’s character, the psychological dissection and extrapolations. Security was very thorough.
“I—” Penn swallowed. “I can’t believe it.”
“It’s the truth.” Don remembered his cigarette. “He told me—we had plenty of time for talking. How else do you think we managed to catch him? He could have remained free forever had he tried. But he was tired, afraid, terrified. He wanted to see the exhibition and he expected to die by Bronson’s bullet.”
“Now wait a minute!” Earlman frowned, a crease folding his forehead. “No man in his right mind would willingly go to his death. It doesn’t make sense.”
“No?” Don was grim. “Think about it.”
“A bullet is quick and clean,” mused Earlman. “But he didn’t die! Bronson was stopped!”
“That is why I turned ‘traitor’.” Don crushed out his cigarette. “By stopping Bronson I proved that the future is a variable, that even an expert clairvoyant like Klieger can only see the probable future, not the inevitable one. It gave us hope. Both of us.”
He rose, looking down at Penn slumped behind his desk, trying not to let the hate he saw in the general’s eyes disturb him. He had no need to worry.
“I had no choice. The pattern must be broken if we are to avoid the future Klieger saw. So I gave him to the Reds—he was willing to do his part. They will learn the truth.”
“They will copy us!” Penn reared to his feet. “They will form their own project and we will lose our greatest advantage. Gregson, do you know what you have done?”
“I’ve opened a window to the future—for them as well as for us. Now there will be no ultimate war.”
“Smart!” Penn didn’t trouble to hide his sneer. “You’re so smart! You’ve taken it on yourself to do this without authority. I’ll see you dead for this!”
“No, General.” Don shook his head. “You won’t see me dead.”
“That’s what you think. I’ll have you shot!”
Don smiled, warm in the comforting knowledge of his new awareness.
“No,” he said. “You won’t have me shot.”
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