The Poet's Promise or Hnow's the Time

by John R. Mabry | 1975

Note: This story, amazingly, bears MANY resemblences to CE3K (Close Encounters of the Third Kind), but is totally original, since it was written in 1975.

I.

"Lear, get in here on the DOUBLE!" The intercom clicked off.

"Yes sir, Professor Arnold, sir!" Chris Lear ran hurridly through the carpeted halls of the starbase, a sort of intergalactic mobile home. Sweat poured from his skin as he ran past the reactor room, always at the temperature of, at the very least, 81 degrees eonic (approximately 160 degrees f.). Chris burst into the door, throwing containers of chemicals across the floor, smashing them to bits. Lear cringed, as Arnold exploded, "Lear, you...you...I'll have you courtmarshalled, you snotty-nosed little pipsqueak of a dropout!"

Chris backed away, his face showing anguish. "Professor, please, sir, I--"

"Shut your ever-running mouth, Lear, I'm not done with you. I'm gonna--"

"You're gonna what, Arnold? It's my shift; get out!" Lon Arnold stared grimly at Col. Steven Parker, who had just entered. Arnold turned and left, the sound of a hydraulic door shutting immediately behind him. "Lear, get this mess cleaned up! Then meet me in the cafeteria. We're gonna have a talk. I'll be in Evelyn's lab."

He was speaking of Evelyn Snead, Arnold's assistant, who also helped her fiance, Col. Parker on his shift.

Chris smiled, "Oh! Yes sir! Thanks, Colonel!"

"Any time, Chris. Until then."

II.

Eorl sheathed his dagger, which he had just sharpened. He ws the leader of the Wals, a tribe of Hnow species, the only intelligent life form in the double star system, Luminos II. Star Republic had classified the Hnows as a mid-rennaisance technology. Hnows are small, strong, and look more like hairy frogs than anything else. Tribes often battle. The Wabs were, at the moment, overall citors, and Eorl then was the most powerful on the planet. Other Hnows would accept his leadership until he was dethroned and another replaced him. Comfortable temperature for Hnow's is 80.7 eonic (159 degrees F).

"Greetings, Eorl," Eorst telepathized.

"Salutations, Eorst. Pray, who is challinging now?"

"Thy realm is unchallenged, sire. The Eoens, who live inthe cold regions (76 E/125 F) have sad news, as you have heard."

"I have heard nothing. The Eoens--are not they those that search to explain, the ah...the...scientists, as they call themselves? Very well--the news. Tell."

"Sire, the tribes shake with fear. The time which the poets predicted so long ago--the time has come."

Eorl looked up. His hand strayed to his dagger. The poet's words filled his mind:

Daysthenarenumbered
The time is nigh.
One to lead evermore.
One to follow--where to fly?
We will come, not a hnow.
We will save, to the sky.
We will know,
We will try,
Together we go
One to die.

There was more, but it spoke of things unknown until the time comes; things like Black Balls, and the end of Gnow (the planet).

"I am the One they speak of, the leader. but the strangers, who--know not, the Kcaggs, in their big silver hut, will they save us?" Eorl thought.

"Indeed, yes, they are the ones" teled Eorst.

"You listented to theleader's secret thoughts! I could have thee executed for that, Eorst."

"Aye, no doubt you could, Eorl, but you won't."

"It is so; you are friend--and kindred."

"And I have learned that their brainwaves are the same as ours, or at least one of them at least. We can communicate. the people of the tribes praise your name, for they know you are the One, and all war has stopped forever."

Eorl looked happily at his kindred, Eorst. "You are truly they magesty's kindred, Eorst. We will speak tomorrow to the Kcagg you speak of."

III.

Chris saw the Colonel and Evelyn Snead coming towards his table, hand in hand. He rose to meet them. Chris thought they made a nice couple. They, well, they contrasted. She was light haired, rather small in height, young, slim, and extremely attractive. While Col. Parker was rather stocky, tall, middle aged, with jet black hair overlooking a rugged expression.

They sat down. Chris looked morose. Steve Parker noticed it. "Okay, Chris, spill it, what's wrong? It's Arnold, isn't it? Cripes, how I wish I hadn't retirede, I'd have Arnold back in sanitation. And what's better, I'd be out making reports on new star systems like I used to instead of cooped up here doing chemical tests under high-gravity conditions."

He looked at his companions. And, after seeing Evelyn had second thoughts. "But then, I wouldn't be happy anywhere else but here with you, Evelyn."

She smiled, and he continued: "I still have some influence on the general, if Arnold doesn't start treating the help with more gratitude and respect, I'll have something done about him."

Christopher Lear still looked steadily at his coffee, saying nothing.

"Chris, it isn't the Professor, is it?" The Colonel exclaimed. Chris shook his head.

"What is it, Chris?," Evelyn was concerned.

"Well," he stammered, "I'm not supposed to say, yet...but I know I can trust you; there's a black hole expected to come within a hundred miles of this planet!"

IV.

Chris put away his filing key and resigned himself to quarters fo eight hours of sleep. He plopped down on the bed, when a strange geometrical figure prodded his mind, no longer shapes, but words, conplete sentences, and complete lines of thought: "Our doom is near. Gnow will be no more. Only you can help Hnow. You know what will happen. You see doom coming. Starhnow take Hnow in flying ball. Take us. Save Hnow! Please!"

:Uf bitgubg eksem tget were polite," thought Chris. "No! Wait! That must have been a Hnow talking, but how could it know about the black hole--how?" He tried to think of ways to help the Hnows. Chris spoke of this to none of the 647 crewmen and women of the Starbase save Col. Parker and Evelyn.

By two days later, the daily reports stated that a clack hold was coming towards teh planet. All projects were abandoned, save for packing material and preparing for lift-off.

At present the planet's climate was humid/the giant red sun blared out of half the sky and the white dwarf twin diluted some of the redness. Already gravitational effects were beginning to show, which was in fulfilment of the Hnow folk song:

The seas shall rise,
'bove cities high,
And land washed away.
Plants uprooting, shooting, to the sky,
In the very last of the days.

V.

Chris and Col. Parker dug silently at the base of the weather station, it had to be packed up before tomorrow's lift-off time. They did not see the procession coming; a royal parade of variously-colored hairy frogs of about waist-height.

"At once geometrical shapes again raced through Chris' mind, and he straightened up, peering through the glass mask of his heat-protecting suit. One Hnow was being carried on many a broad head, and he was of a purple tint with a dagger of beautiful gems. They lowered him. Chris stared in wonder at the natives, and they never ceased to amaze him. Col. Parker leaned on his shovel., and the Hnow turned to them. Steve felt a slight tremor on his temples, and he knew the Honw was talkign but not on his brain wave. "What's he saying, Chris?"

"Shh--quiet, Col." Chris paused, "His name is Eorl, and he's the One. Somehow he says it to symbolize power, like a king, he...Steve! They know about the black hole, Steve. I see poets and prophets. I see a world-smashing--Steve! It's this world!! They know, and they want us to take them with us! We msut, fo the poets said we will!"

"But how could we? They have to live in a temperature far above ours--"

"The reactor room, Seve, and the surrounding rooms would supply the head and sufficient radiation that they need to survive."

"I'm game, but we'd have to check with Star Republic. Anything else, Chris?"

"Let's see, ah..." At that moment, Professor Arnold appeared at the window, dressed in full heat protection gear, and he walked around to the door and stepped out, saying, "Lear, you idiot! Get in here and straighten up--"

He was cut off by Chris' sushing, "Be quiet, sir."

"Sush! Be quiet!??" Lon Arnold screeched. "Why you little imbicile..."

"Quiet, Arnold," Col. Parker whispered.

"No, I--Arnold for the first time saw the Hnows. He was surprised at their visit. He did not, however, discard his gruffness for a few measly frogs with gland trouble. "No, I won't be quiet," Lon continued. "I'll do what I--"

"PLEASE! Mr. Arnold, just...just...SHUT UP. I'm trying to receive their--" Arnold didn't hear him, because he (Arnold) punched Chris in the gut, hard. Chris moaned, and fell into the dust, clutching at his suit and breathing in short gasps.

Steve dropped his shovel and leaped for Chris; Eorl, however, took more savage action on the attacker of his interpreter, the brave Hnow drew his dagger and with two strong legs leapt 130 feet to Arnold. The Kcagg, however, was quicker, Lon aimed a mazor at the hurling Hnow and globulated him, and a mass of hairy jelly landed just at his right. As Arnold looked at the glob, he laughed at their stupidity. The angered Hnow, when the death of the One became realized to them, landed together. In an instantaneous attack, they leapt upon what was to be the late Professor Lon Arnold, and not even a screech was heard.

VI.

Chris watched as the Hnows lined up to enter the Starbase. Everything was packed and ready for lift-off, although somehow that was doubtful; all that extra weight plus the heavier gravity of the planet. Chris shook his head.

Slowly the songs were being fulfilled:

Days are numbered
85 to be exact
The time is nigh
One to lead ever more
One to follow--where to fly?

Obviously Eorl was the last leader on Gnow, he would show them where to go to safety. Thge last verse told about his death, ended by Arnold, drat! Chris swore again, as he remembered the poet's folk song:

We will come, not a Hnow
sure we we human.
We will save, to the sky--
Starbase will take them.
We will know
We will try--we have the technology to get us up there or at least "try."
Together we go--Hnow and Kcragg's in Starbase. Wait! We? How would...no. Why would a Hnowish poet call himself a Kcragg, a human? This puzzled Chris, but what puzzled him most was what was happening in the sky.

A vibrant hmming was felt by the Kcraggs, save one, Chris. He heard distinctly what the Hnows heard--a thin voice, rather high, saying:

"Come, Hnows of Gnow,
The time is nigh, ride
with us to the sky.
Come from this world to another,
Leave none behind, save Eorst's brother,
Stop thy battles,
Stop they fighters,
We are THEY, the poets
the songwriters!"

A grea flash seared the clouds and a tremendous shining ball of fire appeared. The fire disappeared, but the brilliance of the flames remained. It hovored not a decimeter from the sandy ground. The procession of Hnow's stopped and flew to the golden sphere.

Chris looked back at the Col. and Evelyn beside him, their gloved hands clasped. They understood what Chris ws aboutt to do. He stooped and picked up the One's dagger, fastened it to his belt, after removeing his heat-protective suit. The head did him no harm and never would again.

Evelyn cluchted at the Colonel's arm. "Steve!" He softly laid his hand on her opposite shoulder. "He was always a Hnow at heart, and he is now one in mind and body, but his memory will remain with us."

The new One, Kragg, joined at the end of the line, and he was the last to enter the flaming cirlce, before it flitted into the deep recesses of unknown space.