Incredible Treason

After receiving this report, and reassurances of support from the Big Bosses of the neighboring Gangs, Hart determined to reestablish the Wyoming Valley community.

After receiving this report, Hart also received promises of support from the Big Bosses of the neighboring Gangs. He decided to rebuild the Wyoming Valley community.

A careful survey of the territory showed that it was only the northern sections and slopes that had been "beamed" by the first Han ship.

A careful survey of the area showed that the first Han ship had "beamed" only the northern sections and slopes.

The synthetic-fabrics plant had been partially wiped out, though the lower levels underground had not been reached by the dis ray. The forest screen above it, however, had been annihilated, and it was determined to abandon it, after removing all usable machinery and evidences of the processes that might be of interest to the Han scientists, should they return to the valley in the future.

The synthetic-fabrics plant had been partly destroyed, though the dis ray had not reached its lower underground levels. The forest screen above it, however, had been wiped out. They decided to abandon the plant after removing all usable machinery and evidence of its processes. These might interest Han scientists if they returned to the valley in the future.

The ammunition plant, and the rocket-ship plant, which had just been about to start operation at the time of the raid, were intact, as were the other important plants.

The ammunition plant and the rocket-ship plant were intact, as were the other important plants. The rocket-ship plant had been about to start operating when the raid occurred.

Hart brought the Camboss up from the Susquanna Works, and laid out new camp locations, scattering them farther to the south, and avoiding ground which had been seared by the Han beams and the immediate locations of the Han wrecks.

Hart brought the Camboss up from the Susquanna Works and chose new camp locations farther south. He spread them out, avoiding ground scorched by the Han beams and the areas immediately around the Han wrecks.

During this period, a sharp check was kept upon Han messages, for the phone plant had been one of the first to be put in operation, and when it became evident that the Hans did not intend any immediate reprisals, the entire membership of the community was summoned back, and normal life was resumed.

During this period, Han messages were closely monitored because the phone system had been one of the first things restored. When it became clear that the Hans did not intend to retaliate immediately, the entire community was called back. Normal life resumed.

Wilma and I had been married the day after the destruction of the ships, and spent this intervening period in a delightful honeymoon, camping high in the mountains. On our return, we had a camp of our own, of course. We were assigned to location 1017. And as might be expected, we had a great deal of banter over which one of us was Camp Boss. The title stood after my name on the Big Boss' records, and those of the Big Camboss, of course, but Wilma airily held that this meant nothing at all—and generally succeeded in making me admit it whenever she chose.

Wilma and I had married the day after the ships were destroyed. We spent the time since then on a delightful honeymoon, camping high in the mountains. When we returned, we had a camp of our own, of course. We were assigned to location 1017. As you might expect, we joked a lot about which of us was Camp Boss. The Big Boss and the Big Camboss had listed me as Camp Boss in their records, of course. But Wilma casually insisted that the records meant nothing. Whenever she chose, she generally managed to make me admit it.

I found myself a full-fledged member of the Gang now, for I had elected to search no farther for a permanent alliance, much as I would have liked to familiarize myself with this 25th Century life in other sections of the country. The Wyomings had a high morale, and had prospered under the rule of Big Boss Hart for many years. But many of the gangs, I found, were badly organized, lacked strong hands in authority, and were rife with intrigue. On the whole, I thought I would be wise to stay with a group which had already proved its friendliness, and in which I seemed to have prospects of advancement. Under these modern social and economic conditions, the kind of individual freedom to which I had been accustomed in the 20th Century was impossible. I would have been as much of a nonentity in every phase of human relationship by attempting to avoid alliances, as any man of the 20th Century would have been politically, who aligned himself with no political party.

I was now a full member of the Gang. I had decided not to look any further for a permanent alliance. Still, I would have liked to explore 25th Century life in other parts of the country. The Wyomings had high morale and had prospered under Big Boss Hart’s rule for many years. But I found that many of the gangs were badly organized, lacked strong leaders, and were full of intrigue. Overall, I thought it wise to stay with a group that had already shown me friendship. I also seemed to have a chance to advance within it. Under these modern social and economic conditions, the individual freedom I had known in the 20th Century was impossible. If I tried to avoid alliances, I would be a nobody in every part of human life. I would be as much a nobody as a 20th Century man who joined no political party would have been in politics.

This entire modern life, it appeared to me, judging from my ancient viewpoint, was organized along what I called "political" lines. And in this connection, it amused me to notice how universal had become the use of the word "boss." The leader, the person in charge or authority over anything, was a "boss." There was as little formality in his relations with his followers as there was in the case of the 20th Century political boss, and the same high respect paid him by his followers as well as the same high consideration by him of their interests. He was just as much of an autocrat, and just as much dependent upon the general popularity of his actions for the ability to maintain his autocracy.

From my old-fashioned point of view, all of modern life seemed to be organized along what I called "political" lines. In this connection, I was amused to see how widely the word "boss" was used. Any leader or person in charge of something was a "boss." His relationship with his followers was as informal as that of a 20th Century political boss with his followers. They held him in just as high regard, and he gave just as much consideration to their interests. He was just as much an autocrat. And he was just as dependent on the general popularity of his actions to maintain his autocracy.

The sub-boss who could not command the loyalty of his followers was as quickly deposed, either by them or by his superiors, as the ancient ward leader of the 20th Century who lost control of his votes.

A sub-boss who could not keep his followers loyal was quickly removed by them or by his superiors. The same was true of an old 20th-century ward leader who lost control of his votes.

As society was organized in the 20th Century, I do not believe the system could have worked in anything but politics. I tremble to think what would have happened, had the attempt been made to handle the A. E. F. this way during the First World War, instead of by that rigid military discipline and complete assumption of the individual as a mere standardized cog in the machine.

Given how society was organized in the 20th century, I don't believe the system could have worked outside politics. I shudder to think what would have happened if anyone had tried to run the A. E. F. this way during the First World War. Instead, it was run with rigid military discipline, treating each individual as a standardized cog in the machine.

But owing to the centuries of desperate suffering the people had endured at the hands of the Hans, there developed a spirit of self-sacrifice and consideration for the common good that made the scheme applicable and efficient in all forms of human co-operation.

But the people had suffered terribly under the Hans for centuries. As a result, they developed a spirit of self-sacrifice and concern for the common good. This made the scheme practical and effective in all forms of human cooperation.

I have a little heresy about all this, however. My associates regard the thought with as much horror as many worthy people of the 20th Century felt in regard to any heretical suggestion that the original outline of government as laid down in the First Constitution did not apply as well to 20th Century conditions as to those of the early 19th.

However, I have a slightly heretical view about all this. My associates are horrified by it. Many worthy people of the 20th Century felt just as horrified by a heretical suggestion about the First Constitution. The suggestion was that its original plan of government did not suit 20th Century conditions as well as it suited those of the early 19th Century.

In later years, I felt that there was a certain softening of moral fiber among the people, since the Hans had been finally destroyed with all their works; and Americans have developed a new luxury economy. I have seen signs of the reawakening of greed, of selfishness. The eternal cycle seems to be at work. I fear that slowly, though surely, private wealth is reappearing, codes of inflexibility are developing; they will be followed by corruption, degradation; and in the end some cataclysmic event will end this era and usher in a new one.

In later years, I felt that people’s moral strength had weakened somewhat. The Hans and all their works had finally been destroyed, and Americans had developed a new luxury economy. I have seen signs of greed and selfishness returning. The eternal cycle seems to be at work. I fear that private wealth is slowly but surely returning, and rigid codes are developing. Corruption and degradation will follow. In the end, some catastrophic event will end this era and begin a new one.

All this, however, is wandering afar from my story, which concerns our early battles against the Hans, and not our more modern problems of self-control.

But all this takes me far from my story. It concerns our early battles against the Hans, not our more modern problems of self-control.

Our victory over the seven Han ships had set the country ablaze. The secret had been carefully communicated to the other gangs, and the country was agog from one end to the other. There was feverish activity in the ammunition plants, and the hunting of stray Han ships became an enthusiastic sport. The results were disastrous to our hereditary enemies.

Our victory over the seven Han ships had set the country ablaze. The secret had been carefully shared with the other gangs, and the whole country was buzzing with excitement. Ammunition plants worked feverishly, and hunting stray Han ships became a popular sport. The results were disastrous for our hereditary enemies.

From the Pacific Coast came the report of a great transpacific liner of 75,000 tons "lift" being brought to earth from a position of invisibility above the clouds. A dozen Sacramentos had caught the hazy outlines of its rep rays approaching them, head-on, in the twilight, like ghostly pillars reaching into the sky. They had fired rockets into it with ease, whereas they would have had difficulty in hitting it if it had been moving at right angles to their position. They got one rep ray. The other was not strong enough to hold it up. It floated to earth, nose down, and since it was unarmed and unarmored, they had no difficulty in shooting it to pieces and massacring its crew and passengers. It seemed barbarous to me. But then I did not have centuries of bitter persecution in my blood.

From the Pacific Coast came a report of a great transpacific liner with 75,000 tons of "lift". It had been brought down from an invisible position above the clouds. At twilight, a dozen Sacramentos had spotted the hazy outlines of its rep rays coming straight toward them. The rays looked like ghostly pillars reaching into the sky. The Sacramentos fired rockets into the liner with ease. They would have had trouble hitting it if it had been moving across their path. They hit one rep ray. The other was not strong enough to keep the liner aloft. It floated down to earth, nose first. Since it was unarmed and unarmored, they easily shot it to pieces and massacred its crew and passengers. It seemed barbaric to me. But then, I did not have centuries of bitter persecution in my blood.

From the Jersey Beaches we received news of the destruction of a Nu-yok-A-lan-a liner. The Sand-snipers, practically invisible in their sand-colored clothing, and half buried along the beaches, lay in wait for days, risking the play of dis beams along the route, and finally registering four hits within a week. The Hans discontinued their service along this route, and as evidence that they were badly shaken by our success, sent no raiders down the Beaches.

From the Jersey Beaches, we heard that a Nu-yok-A-lan-a liner had been destroyed. The Sand-snipers lay in wait for days, half buried along the beaches. Their sand-colored clothing made them almost invisible. They risked exposure to dis beams sweeping along the route and finally scored four hits within a week. The Hans stopped service along the route. Showing how badly our success had shaken them, they sent no raiders down the Beaches.

It was a few weeks later that Big Boss Hart sent for me.

A few weeks later, Big Boss Hart sent for me.

"Tony," he said, "There are two things I want to talk to you about. One of them will become public property in a few days, I think. We aren't going to get any more Han ships by shooting up their repellor rays unless we use much larger rockets. They are wise to us now. They're putting armor of great thickness in the hulls of their ships below the rep-ray machines. Near Bah-flo this morning a party of Eries shot one without success. The explosions staggered her, but did not penetrate. As near as we can gather from their reports, their laboratories have developed a new alloy of great tensile strength and elasticity which nevertheless lets the rep rays through like a sieve. Our reports indicate that the Eries' rockets bounced off harmlessly. Most of the party was wiped out as the dis rays went into action on them.

"Tony," he said, "there are two things I want to talk to you about. I think one of them will be public knowledge in a few days. We won't capture any more Han ships by shooting at their repellor rays unless we use much larger rockets. They know what we're doing now. They're putting very thick armor in their ships' hulls below the rep-ray machines. This morning, near Bah-flo, a party of Eries fired at one of the ships without success. The explosions rocked the ship, but didn't penetrate it. From their reports, we gather that Han laboratories have developed a new alloy with great tensile strength and elasticity. Yet it lets the rep rays through as easily as a sieve. Our reports indicate that the Eries' rockets bounced off harmlessly. Most of the party was wiped out when the ship's dis rays opened fire on them.

"This is going to mean real business for all of the gangs before long. The Big Bosses have just held a national ultrophone council. It was decided that America must organize on a national basis. The first move is to develop sectional organization by Zones. I have been made Superboss of the Mid-Atlantic Zone.

"This is going to get serious for all the gangs soon. The Big Bosses have just held a national ultrophone council. They decided that America must organize nationally. The first step is to organize by Zones. I have been made Superboss of the Mid-Atlantic Zone.

"We're in for it now. The Hans are sure to launch reprisal expeditions. If we're to save the race we must keep them away from our camps and plants. I'm thinking of developing a permanent field force, along the lines of the regular armies of the 20th Century you told me about. Its business will be twofold: to carry the warfare as much as possible to the Hans, and to serve as a decoy, to keep their attention from our plants. I'm going to need your help in this.

“We’re in trouble now. The Hans are sure to send expeditions to retaliate. If we’re going to save the race, we must keep them away from our camps and plants. I’m thinking of creating a permanent field force like the regular armies of the 20th Century you told me about. It will have two jobs: to take the fight to the Hans as much as possible, and to serve as a decoy, keeping their attention away from our plants. I’m going to need your help with this.

"The other thing I wanted to talk to you about is this: Amazing and impossible as it seems, there is a group, or perhaps an entire gang, somewhere among us, that is betraying us to the Hans. It may be the Bad Bloods, or it may be one of those gangs who live near one of the Han cities. You know, a hundred and fifteen or twenty years ago there were certain of these people's ancestors who actually degraded themselves by mating with the Hans, sometimes even serving them as slaves, in the days before they brought all their service machinery to perfection.

"The other thing I wanted to talk to you about is this: As incredible and impossible as it seems, a group, or perhaps an entire gang, somewhere among us is betraying us to the Hans. It may be the Bad Bloods, or it may be one of the gangs living near a Han city. You know, 115 or 120 years ago, some of their ancestors actually degraded themselves by mating with the Hans. Some even served them as slaves, before the Hans had perfected all their service machinery.

"There is such a gang, called the Nagras, up near Bah-flo, and another in Mid-Jersey that men call the Pineys. But I hardly suspect the Pineys. There is little intelligence among them. They wouldn't have the information to give the Hans, nor would they be capable of imparting it. They're absolute savages."

"There is a gang called the Nagras up near Bah-flo, and another in Mid-Jersey that people call the Pineys. But I hardly suspect the Pineys. They have little intelligence. They wouldn't have the information to give the Hans, and they wouldn't be capable of passing it on. They're absolute savages."

"Just what evidence is there that anybody has been clearing information to the Hans?" I asked.

"What evidence is there that anyone has been passing information to the Hans?" I asked.

"Well," he replied, "first of all there was that raid upon us. That first Han ship knew the location of our plants exactly. You remember it floated directly into position above the valley and began a systematic beaming. Then, the Hans quite obviously have learned that we are picking up their electrophone waves, for they've gone back to their old, but extremely accurate, system of directional control. But we've been getting them for the past week by installing automatic re-broadcast units along the scar paths. This is what the Americans called those strips of country directly under the regular ship routes of the Hans, who as a matter of precaution frequently blasted them with their dis beams to prevent the growth of foliage which might give shelter to the Americans. But they've been beaming those paths so hard, it looks as though they even had information of this strategy. And in addition, they've been using code. Finally, we've picked up three of their messages in which they discuss, with some nervousness, the existence of our 'mysterious' ultrophone."

"Well," he replied, "first of all, there was that raid on us. That first Han ship knew exactly where our plants were. You remember it floated directly into position above the valley and began systematically beaming it. Then, the Hans have obviously learned that we're picking up their electrophone waves. They've gone back to their old but extremely accurate system of directional control. But for the past week, we've been picking up their waves by installing automatic re-broadcast units along the scar paths. That's what the Americans called the strips of country directly beneath the Hans' regular ship routes. As a precaution, the Hans frequently blasted these strips with their dis beams. This kept foliage from growing there and giving shelter to the Americans. But they've been beaming the paths so heavily that it looks as though they even knew about our strategy. And besides that, they've been using code. Finally, we've picked up three of their messages discussing the existence of our 'mysterious' ultrophone. They seem somewhat nervous about it."

"But they still have no knowledge of the nature and control of ultronic activity?" I asked.

"But they still don't know what ultronic activity is or how to control it?" I asked.

"No," said the Big Boss thoughtfully, "they don't seem to have a bit of information about it."

"No," said the Big Boss thoughtfully, "they don't seem to know anything about it."

"Then it's quite clear," I ventured, "that whoever is 'clearing' us to them is doing it piecemeal. It sounds like a bit of occasional barter, rather than an out-and-out alliance. They're holding back as much information as possible for future bartering, perhaps."

"Then it's quite clear," I suggested, "that whoever is 'clearing' us to them is doing it bit by bit. It sounds like occasional trading, rather than a full alliance. Perhaps they're holding back as much information as possible to trade later."

"Yes," Hart said, "and it isn't information the Hans are giving in return, but some form of goods, or privilege. The trick would be to locate the goods. I guess I'll have to make a personal trip around among the Big Bosses."

"Yes," Hart said, "and the Hans aren't giving information in return. They're giving some kind of goods or privilege. The trick would be to find the goods. I guess I'll have to visit the Big Bosses myself."