CHAPTER 9

 

 

‘The most fundamental fact in the Universe,’ said Melichrone, ‘is that species eat other species. It may not be pretty, but there it is. Eating is basic, and the acquisition of foodstuffs underlies all other phenomena. This concept involves the Law of Predation, which can be stated as follows: any given species, no matter how high or how low, feeds upon one or more species and is fed upon by one or more species.

‘That sets forth a universal situation, which can be aggravated or ameliorated by a variety of circumstances. For example, a species resident in its own habitat can usually maintain itself in a state of Equilibrium, and thus live out its normal lifetime despite the depredations of predators. This Equilibrium is usually stated as the Victor-Vanquished equation, or VV. When a species or a species member moves to an alien and exotic habitat, the VV values necessarily change. Occasionally, there is temporary improvement in the species’s Eat-Eaten Situation (Vv=Ee plus 1). More typically, there is a deterioration (Vv=Ee minus 1).

‘That is what has happened to you, Carmody. You have left your normal habitat, which also means that you have left your normal predators. No automobiles can stalk you here, no virus can creep into your bloodstream, no policeman can shoot you down by mistake. You are separated from the dangers of Earth, and immune to the dangers of other galactic species.

‘But the amelioration (Vv=Ee plus 1) is sadly temporary. The ironclad rule of Equilibrium has already begun to assert itself. You cannot refuse to hunt, and you cannot escape being hunted. Predation is Necessity itself.

‘Having left Earth, you are a unique creature; therefore your predator is unique.

‘Your predator was born out of a personification and solidification of universal law. This predator can feed exclusively and solely on you. The creature is shaped as a respondent and complement to your characteristics. Even without seeing it, we can know that its jaws are shaped to bite Carmodys, its limbs are articulated to seize and grasp Carmodys, its stomach has the peculiar and unique ability to digest Carmodys, and its personality is designed to take advantage of the Carmodic personality.

‘Your situation has rendered you unique, Carmody; therefore your predator is unique. It is your death that pursues you, Carmody, and it does so with a desperation equal to your own. You and it are bound together. If it seizes you, you die; if you escape to the normal menaces of your own world, your predator dies for lack of Carmodic sustenance.

‘There is no more I can say that will help you to evade it. I cannot predict the tricks and disguises it will attempt, no more than I can predict yours. I can only warn you that the probabilities always favour the Hunter, though escapes are not entirely unheard-of.

‘That is the situation, Carmody. Have you understood me?’

Carmody started like a man awakened from a deep sleep.

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘I don’t understand everything you said. But I do understand the important parts.’

‘Good,’ Melichrone said. ‘For we have no time left. You must leave this planet at once. Not even I on my own planet can arrest the universal Law of Predation.’

‘Can you get me back to Earth?’ Carmody asked.

‘Given sufficient time, I probably could,’ Melichrone said. ‘But of course, given sufficient time, I could do anything at all. It is difficult, Carmody. To begin with, the three W variables must be solved each in terms of the other. I would have to determine exactly Where in space- time your planet is at the present moment; then I would have to discover Which of the alternate-probability Earths is yours. Then I would have to find the temporal sequence you were born into in order to determine When. Then there is the skorish effect and the doubling factor, both of which must be allowed for. With all of that done, I could, with a little luck, slip you back into your own Particularity (a surprisingly delicate operation) without wrecking the whole works.’

‘Can you do this for me?’ Carmody asked.

‘No. There is no time left. But I can send you to Maudsley, a friend of mine, who should be able to help you.’

‘A friend of yours?’

‘Well, perhaps not exactly a friend,’ Melichrone said. ‘More of an acquaintance, really. Though even that may be overstating the relationship. You see, once, quite some time ago, I almost left my planet for a sightseeing trip; and had I done so, I would have met Maudsley. But I didn’t leave for various reasons, and therefore never actually met Maudsley. Still, we both know that if I had gone on my trip, we would have met, and would have exchanged views and outlooks, had an argument or two, cracked a few jokes, and ended with a mild fondness for each other.’

‘It seems a kind of feeble relationship to presume upon,’ Carmody said. ‘Isn’t there anyone else you could send me to?’

‘I’m afraid not,’ Melichrone said. ‘Maudsley is my only friend. Probabilities define affinities just as well as actualities, you know. I’m sure Maudsley will take good care of you.’

‘Well –’ Carmody began to say. But then he noticed that something large and dark and menacing was beginning to take shape just behind his left shoulder, and he knew that he had used up all of his time.

‘I’ll go!’ he said. ‘And thanks for everything!’

‘No need to thank me,’ Melichrone said. ‘My duty in the Universe is to serve strangers. Good luck, Carmody!’

The large menacing form was beginning to solidify; but before it could finish, Carmody had disappeared.