Planet Of No Return

The Sergeant nodded and spoke a quick order into his helmet microphone. Brion felt his gastric juices surging against his stomach wall. The few minutes that passed before the meal arrived seemed like hours. A soldier came in with the large tray, set it on the table and left. They attacked the food.

“Best steak I have ever had,” Brion mumbled around a giant mouthful.

“Not to mention the best beer,” Lea said, sighing as she lowered the frosted glass. “You people ought to run tours to this place from the vegetarian planets. Show them what good food is like,”

“Yes, m’am,” the Sergeant replied, eyes firmly front, his jaw set and stern. “Why don’t you join us in a beer?” Brion said.

“Not on duty.” Voice toneless, eyes never moving from the far wall.

“What did you do before you went into the army, Sergeant?” Lea asked, nibbling delicately on her food now that the first rush of hunger had been removed. Brion looked at her out of the corners of his eyes and nodded slightly.

“Always been in the army.”

“And the rest of your family? In the army too — or perhaps working in factories …” The question seemed harmless enough; but the Sergeant knew better. He moved his eyes just enough to glower down at Lea, then looked back to the wall.

“No discussions while on duty.”

End of conversation. But Lea would not be put off. “All right, no discussions. But can you tell us about the war? Do you supervise it or watch it or anything?”

“Military secret, not to be discussed. But everyone on Arao watches the war. On television every day, all day, very popular too. People bet on different results. Very exciting for everyone.”

“I’m sure that it is,” Brion said. What was it he had read in a history book once about bread and circuses? “I don’t wish to pry, and of course you won’t answer if it is a military secret. But do both countries on this planet use the same DMT facility to reach Selm-II? The one where you picked me up.”

The Sergeant gave him a cold penetrating look while he made his mind up. “No military secret there. Same facility used by both. Accurate check made that way to see that disarmament is equilateral at all times.”

“Then what is there to stop one side — the enemy of course — from lying in wait outside to ambush your forces as they emerge?”

“Milneutzone, sir. Known about by everyone who watches television. Coded radio broadcasts prevent any weapons of war from being used within a thirty mile radius of the Delta Beacon. A military neutralized zone.”

“That explains it,” Brion said. “Coming up the valley towards the beacon I confronted a tank with a broken tread. Otherwise it was fully operational. It aimed its guns at me — but never fired. Is that your milneutzone?”

“Probably, sir. Guns won’t fire inside thirty miles.”

“Did you ever wish that war would end so you …”

“No more questions!” The Sergeant barked the words loudly and harshly. The conversation was obviously at an end. They finished the meal in silence. Had just finished when Hegedus returned. The Sergeant snapped to attention, turned and left.

“I sincerely hope that you enjoyed your food

“That’s enough!” Brion’s voice was as rough as the Sergeant’s. “No politeness. Just tell us what happened.”

Hegedus extended this little moment of torture by crossing the room and sitting down before he spoke. After first crossing his legs and smoothing a crease from his trousers.

“I am the bearer of very good tidings. Although you have caused us immense amounts of trouble and disturbance, we are not an unjust people. We do not believe in killing the messenger who brings the bad news. It has been decided to return you at once to Selm-II. All of your equipment will be returned to you upon your arrival there and a staff car will take you to the plain where you can send for your ship. This will be the only machine of ours operating, so you need not be afraid. As soon as you leave it, it will become immobilized as well. The Delta Beacon will also be destroyed as you pass through. All contact with Selm-II will end. Forever.”

“You are letting us go — just like that?” Lea seemed shocked — this was the last thing she had expected.

“Why not? I said that we were humane. You were only doing your duty as you saw it — as we do ours. You intended us no injury, nor will you be able to do us any injury in the future.”

“What if we do? What if we tell the galaxy about you, so people can come here …”

Hegedus smiled coldly while Brion shook his head in a solemn no. “It won’t be that easy — or even possible. There are millions, probably billions, of stars in this lenticular galaxy. How can we ever find this solar system? We haven’t a clue — we have never even seen the sun so we have no idea of even what type it is. Or in what direction it lies. We’re out of luck. When the delta beacon goes, so goes all contact with Arao. Forever. Unless they want to contact us.”