PATROL
By Richard H. Nelson
MacMartree knew that Man was omnipotent—Master
of the Universe. But could he expect his
patrol to fight and conquer an invisible enemy?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy
October 1952
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
They made their camp high on the breast of the gently swelling hill. Asthe small planet turned toward the sunset, MacMartree stood a moment onthe hillside, watching. Far out on the grass-covered plain their shipstood gleaming, a slender candle, touched by the flame of the sinkingsun. Then, quickly, the far horizon caught the sun and pulled it under,and the gloom of night rushed in to drown the pale twilight.
"Night comes so fast here," Abner said, at MacMartree's side.
"Yes," MacMartree agreed, turning to him. "And day comes even faster.Time for sleep now, with morning only four hours away."
"I can't get used to it," Abner said as they moved back into the camparea. "Sleeping and waking in four hour bits!"
MacMartree laughed at that. "Abner, you're getting old. You can't adaptanymore."
Abner laughed, too, and unrolled his sleep-kit for the night.
MacMartree walked to the place where Phillips and Cole lay on theground, talking casually and watching the stars.
"Time to switch on the screen, Phillips," MacMartree reminded theyounger man.
Phillips nodded, sat up and reached for the control box that lay on theearth beside him. He closed the circuit, and the force-screen bloomedaround them, glimmering softly like a thin veil of glowing fireflies.
"Kind of useless, that, don't you think?" Cole asked.
MacMartree sat down beside them.
"It's one of the rules, and no patrol ever came to grief by followingthe rules."
Phillips lay back on the turf. "No patrol ever came to grief at all,you mean. I'm bored to death."
MacMartree smiled tolerantly. "I know. It's a quiet life."
Abner came over and joined them, completing the party. "What're youthree up to?" he wanted to know.
MacMartree yawned. "They're trying to get me to argue with them, as anexcuse for not sleeping."
"Not a bad idea, either," Cole grinned.
"You youngsters will be the death of me," MacMartree complained. "Don'tyou know an old man needs his sleep?"
"Come on, Mac," Phillips teased. "Tell us why the patrols arenecessary."
They all laughed then, and MacMartree grinned. "I know how it is withyou young ones," he said. "You're tired of the dull and safe life backhome and joined the Service, only to find it just as dull and safe asanything else."
"Tell me," Phillips put in, "can't anything happen to us anymore?"
"Yes," Cole said. "We can die of old age."
It didn't take much. The three young men had known it wouldn't takemuch to get MacMartree started ... it seldom did.
"Youth never fails to amaze me," he said. The younger men recognized itas a preamble, and settled themselves comfortably in the warm darknessto listen.
"Look at you now," he went on. "You complain that your life here onPatrol is tedious and uninteresting. Nothing ever happens, you say.And it means nothing to you that the dangers and misfortunes you talkof never threaten you because you have been given the power to preventand cope with anything."
He sat up now, warming to his subject. "You take no pride in yourheritage. Man is completely sufficient