Henry Kuttner - The Well of The Worlds

Outside the hotel window Clifford Sawyer could see the lights of Fortuna burning in the Poles noonday darkness along all the plank paths of the little mining camp, glowing blue in the hospital windows, shining yellow in bunk houses and offices. He couldnt see the mine, of course, from here, but he could feel it. That deep, steady, almost sub-sensory whump-whump-whump had never stopped, day or night, for seventeen years now, since the mine was first opened in 1953. A great many people wanted uranium ore. The government needed its share, too, and the pumps never stopped, down under the frozen cap of the world.

Reflected in the glass, he saw the girl behind him stir impatiently. He turned his gaze back toward her, thinking that he had never seen eyes quite the shape and color of Klai Fords. There was a touch of exoticism about her which he had been trying in vain to place, remembering what he had read yesterday in the files of the Royal Atomic Energy Commission, back in Toronto, about the curious background of this girl who had inherited half a uranium mine a few months ago.

She had smooth, caramel-colored hair. Her brow was bland and her eyes round, confiding and a singularly deep blue. Sawyer liked the way her front teeth stuck out ever so slightly, in an appealing sort of way that made him think of the ill-fated Lise Bolkonskaya in War and Peace, whose pretty little upper lip was too short for her teeth. The planes of Klai Fords cheeks and the way the round eyes were set fascinated him. He had never seen just those structural lines before in any face on earth, and his experience had been wide.

Sawyer smiled at her. He had very white teeth in a very brown face, and his hair and eyes were a few shades lighter than his skin. About him was that relaxed air of alertness a man acquires who has reached a satisfactory compromise with life, and knows there will always be more compromises to make, as long as life lasts.

Ill do my best, he told her, trying to place the curious little accent that had sounded in the girls voice. I dont even carry a gun, though. Our outfit usually works more with adding machines than with revolvers. Maybe youd better tell me a little more. The Commissioner wouldnt have sent me up here if he hadnt figured I could solve your problem, in my own plodding waywhich may be the best way to tackleyou said ghosts?

Yes, ghosts, the girl said firmly, and her odd little accent was as maddening as a tune you cant quite remember. Theyre ruining our output. The miners wont even work some of the levels any more. Our refineries down south report the percentage of uranium in the pitchblends is dropping like that.

She snapped her fingers and looked at him anxiously. The mine is haunted. Im not crazy, Mr. Sawyer, but Im perfectly sure my partner would like you to think I am. That mans trying to close the mine. I think She clasped her hands tight and looked appealingly at Sawyer. I know it sounds mad, she said, but somebodys trying to kill me.

Can you prove it? Sawyer asked mildly.

I can.

Good. As for closing the mine, I dont think the Commissioner would allow it, so you neednt worry about

He wont have any choice, if the uranium ore keeps melting away, the girl interrupted. After all, the government only manages the mines by courtesy these days. And Alper She paused, drew a long breath and met Sawyers quiet gaze squarely.

Im afraid of him, she said. Hes a strange old manhalf crazy, I think. Hes up to something very odd. Hes found something down in the mine. I should say hes found someone She broke off, laughing helplessly. It doesnt make sense. But film doesnt lie, does it? What Ive got on film, photographed in the mine, would be evidence, wouldnt it? Thats why I sent for you, Mr. Sawyer. I want to put a stop to this before Alper and I go stark raving crazy together. Theres a woman down in Level Eightor the shadow of a woman. Oh, I know how it sounds! But I can show you.

The ghost? Sawyer inquired. He was watching her alertly, keeping his mind open or trying to. This wasnt the time to believe or disbelieve anything.

No. They look like She hesitated, and then, oddly, said, Wheat. They look like wheat.

Wheat, Sawyer echoed thoughtfully. I see. He paused. Then: About this woman, thoughyou mean he meets one of the Fortuna women down in the mine?

Oh no. I know all the Fortuna women. Besides, this isnt a real woman. Youll see what I mean in a minute. Alpers forbidden me to set foot in Level Eight, and the miners wont work there either; but he goes down and talks to thisthis shadow of a woman, and when he comes back hehe frightens me. Im afraid to go out alone any more. I take two men with me whenever I check the cameras in Level Eight. It seems idiotic to be so afraid of an old man like Alper, when he even has to walk with a cane, but

No, Sawyer said carefully. Youre quite right about William Alper. He could be dangerous. We have a pretty complete file on him. In the old days hed never have been allowed near this mine, you know. Owner or not. Luckily there are enough uranium sources now to let the owners have their whims, up to a point. But Alpers still on our list of potentially dangerous people. Partly because hes a very wealthy man, partly because hes an expert technician, and partly, you know, because of that peculiar obsession of his aboutrejuvenescence.

I know. The girl nodded. Hes a strange man. I dont think hes ever failed at anything in his whole life. Hes got an absolute conviction that hes the only man on earth whos always perfectly right about everything. Hes determined the mine must close, and it drives him wild when I say no. Powers another obsession with him, Mr. Sawyer. Hes imposed his will on so many people he must feel as basic as the law of gravity by now.

Hes getting old, Sawyer said. Hes getting panicky. Most people learn to compromise with age, but I doubt if Alper ever will.

He isnt really as old as all that, Klai Ford said. Its just that hes driven himself so hard all his life, as hard as he tries to drive others. Now hes beginning to pay for it and it makes him furious. I think hed do anything in the world to get his youth back. Hehe seems to think there may be a chance of it, Mr. Sawyer. That womanthat shadowhe meets in the mine seems to be playing on his obsession. She could talk him into doing anything at all. And she seems to want to get rid of me.

Sawyer regarded her with a steady gaze.

This woman in the mine, he said, leads me right into a personal question Ive got to ask you, Miss Ford. A strange woman appearing from nowhere, right down there in the mine. Is that what you say is happening?

All Klai Ford said was, Oh, dear! in a voice of misery.

Ive been trying to place your accent, Sawyer went on with calm relentlessness. Would you mind telling me, Miss Ford, what country you come from?

She jumped up abruptly, leaving the little nest of furs which was her thrown-back coat and hood. She paced up and down the room twice, then whirled.

You know perfectly well! she said accusingly. Dont make it harder!

Sawyer smiled and shook his head.

I know, but I never really believed it, he said. Naturally the Commission ordered a full investigation when youahturned up here, but

I dont know who I am! the girl said angrily. I dont know where I came from. Can I help it if I have a funny accent? I dont do it on purpose. How would you like to wake up with amnesia some morning and find yourself down in a uranium mine youd never even heard of before, with no idea how you got there or who you were? She hugged herself with both arms and shivered. I hate it, she said. But what can I do about it?

If you hadnt picked out a uranium mine to appear in Sawyer began.