Read Online Storm Over Saturn by Mack Maloney - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Mack Maloney
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scare them. To make them laugh, even if they wanted to cry from fright. That's what's really going on down there—Multiplied several million times."
"You mean like a mind ring trip?" Hunter asked.
The old man laughed. "A mind ring trip is like a drop in the ocean compared to what this man created. These places exist in another state of mind. Based on his beliefs, his desires, his dreams. His designs. And because they were built with the same technology as terra-forming, elaborate doesn't even scratch the surface of what they are all about. He'll try to get into your head, that is if he is still the same person I remember. And it will be useless to ask for him, or to ask anyone about him, until you get to the end of each ride, so to speak. I mean, there's a reason no one has ventured into this place for more than a thousand years. It's not considered holy like Luna, or off limits, like Mars. It's just too weird, too scary—which of course is the whole point of a dizzylando. Or at least it's what he thought one should be like. Just be aware that some surprises may be awaiting you down there."
The Astronaut sipped his Tang martini.
"Just go with the flow. Be discreet. Eventually you'll find him—if he doesn't find you first. But have respect for any people you might meet along the way be they real or not. You're entering into their existence now, whatever that existence might be. It will probably seem crazy to you, but it is very real to them."
"You know a lot about this place," Hunter said. "Almost like you've been there before."
The Astronaut laughed. "I don't have to have been there
to know what it is like. As I said, this particular person had a very weird sense of humor. Although, that was the least of his problems or his attributes, depending on your point of view."
"Please explain," Hunter asked him.
The Astronaut sipped his Tang martini again and thought for a few moments. "Let me put it this way," he said. "The man you are seeking is indeed a bit of an enigma. A riddle. A mystery. He could be your greatest friend or your worst enemy. He's cultured, yet he's also a brute. He loves to drink, but he's God-fearing. He's an intellectual, but he wouldn't hesitate a moment to change history to suit his purposes. Or to fuel his amusement. He could be a cold-blooded killer. But in a way, he's just a big softy, too. He has this thing about him where he wants every story to have a happy ending, every dream to come true. But most of all, he was very jealous of the way we used to live—you and I and the rest of the people back in twentieth-century America, so long ago."
Hunter took it all in and thought he'd arrived at some kind of profile of his quarry.
"So, he's a madman then," he told the Astronaut.
The Ancient Astronaut paused another moment, and then shook his head no.
"A madman? Well, not exactly," he replied. "Actually, he's a Russian."
Two minutes later, Hunter was gone.
The DATT shimmered brightly as soon as he'd stepped in and activated its balky controls. It then began shuddering madly as it seemed to resist fading out as it was supposed to.
When it finally left, it did so with a mighty bang and a brilliant and disturbing flash of light, leaving behind a cloud containing a very nasty stench that smelled a little too much like burned hair and bone.
The dramatic departure stunned even the spy. Suddenly all eyes were on him.
Erikk especially turned back to the Imperial interloper. "If any harm comes to our friend…" he said, letting his words trail off.
The spy waved away his concerns. "I'm well aware of the power of the Third Empire," he said seriously. "And I have no desire to have it come down on my head."
Now an awkward silence descended on the room. With Hunter's considerable presence gone, the place seemed empty, barren. The Ancient Astronaut had faded out, too, making the presence of the Imperial spy even odder.
But then another thought came to Erikk. A very worried look washed across his
"You mean like a mind ring trip?" Hunter asked.
The old man laughed. "A mind ring trip is like a drop in the ocean compared to what this man created. These places exist in another state of mind. Based on his beliefs, his desires, his dreams. His designs. And because they were built with the same technology as terra-forming, elaborate doesn't even scratch the surface of what they are all about. He'll try to get into your head, that is if he is still the same person I remember. And it will be useless to ask for him, or to ask anyone about him, until you get to the end of each ride, so to speak. I mean, there's a reason no one has ventured into this place for more than a thousand years. It's not considered holy like Luna, or off limits, like Mars. It's just too weird, too scary—which of course is the whole point of a dizzylando. Or at least it's what he thought one should be like. Just be aware that some surprises may be awaiting you down there."
The Astronaut sipped his Tang martini.
"Just go with the flow. Be discreet. Eventually you'll find him—if he doesn't find you first. But have respect for any people you might meet along the way be they real or not. You're entering into their existence now, whatever that existence might be. It will probably seem crazy to you, but it is very real to them."
"You know a lot about this place," Hunter said. "Almost like you've been there before."
The Astronaut laughed. "I don't have to have been there
to know what it is like. As I said, this particular person had a very weird sense of humor. Although, that was the least of his problems or his attributes, depending on your point of view."
"Please explain," Hunter asked him.
The Astronaut sipped his Tang martini again and thought for a few moments. "Let me put it this way," he said. "The man you are seeking is indeed a bit of an enigma. A riddle. A mystery. He could be your greatest friend or your worst enemy. He's cultured, yet he's also a brute. He loves to drink, but he's God-fearing. He's an intellectual, but he wouldn't hesitate a moment to change history to suit his purposes. Or to fuel his amusement. He could be a cold-blooded killer. But in a way, he's just a big softy, too. He has this thing about him where he wants every story to have a happy ending, every dream to come true. But most of all, he was very jealous of the way we used to live—you and I and the rest of the people back in twentieth-century America, so long ago."
Hunter took it all in and thought he'd arrived at some kind of profile of his quarry.
"So, he's a madman then," he told the Astronaut.
The Ancient Astronaut paused another moment, and then shook his head no.
"A madman? Well, not exactly," he replied. "Actually, he's a Russian."
Two minutes later, Hunter was gone.
The DATT shimmered brightly as soon as he'd stepped in and activated its balky controls. It then began shuddering madly as it seemed to resist fading out as it was supposed to.
When it finally left, it did so with a mighty bang and a brilliant and disturbing flash of light, leaving behind a cloud containing a very nasty stench that smelled a little too much like burned hair and bone.
The dramatic departure stunned even the spy. Suddenly all eyes were on him.
Erikk especially turned back to the Imperial interloper. "If any harm comes to our friend…" he said, letting his words trail off.
The spy waved away his concerns. "I'm well aware of the power of the Third Empire," he said seriously. "And I have no desire to have it come down on my head."
Now an awkward silence descended on the room. With Hunter's considerable presence gone, the place seemed empty, barren. The Ancient Astronaut had faded out, too, making the presence of the Imperial spy even odder.
But then another thought came to Erikk. A very worried look washed across his
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