Childhood's End - Arthur C. Clarke [79]
"Telepathy, as you have called it, is something like this. In suitable circumstances minds can merge and share each other's contents, and carry back memories of the experience when they are isolated once more. In its highest form, this power is not subject to the usual limitations of time and space. That is why Jean could tap the knowledge of her unborn son."
There was a long silence while George wrestled with these astounding thoughts. The pattern was beginning to take shape. It was an unbelievable pattern, but it had its own inherent logic. And it explained-if the word could be used for anything so incomprehensible-all that had happened since that evening at Rupert Boyce's home. It also accounted, he realized now, for Jean's own curiosity about the supernormal.
"What has started this thing?" asked George. "And where is it going to lead?"
"That is something we cannot answer. But there are many races in the universe, and some of them discovered these powers long before your species-or mine-appeared on the scene. They have been waiting for you to join them, and now the time has come."
"Then where do you come into the picture?"
"Probably, like most men, you have always regarded us as your masters. That is not true. We have never been more than guardians, doing a duty imposed upon us from-above. That duty is hard to define; perhaps you can best think of us as midwives attending a difficult birth. We are helping to bring something new and wonderful into the world."
Rashaverak hesitated; for a moment it almost seemed as if he was at a loss for words.
"Yes, we are the midwives. But we ourselves are barren."
In that instant, George knew he was in the presence of a tragedy transcending his own. It was incredible-and yet somehow just. Despite all their powers and their brilliance, the Overlords were trapped in some evolutionary cul-de-sac. Here was a great and noble race, in almost every way superior to mankind; yet it had no future, and it was aware of it. In the face of this, George's own problems seemed suddenly trivial.
"Now I know," he said, "why you have been watching Jeffrey. He was the guinea pig in this experiment."
"Exactly-though the experiment was beyond our control. We did not start it-we were merely trying to observe. We did not interfere except when we had to."
Yes, thought George-the tidal wave. It would never do to let a valuable specimen be destroyed. Then he felt ashamed of himself; such bitterness was unworthy.
"I've only one more question," he said. "What shall we do about our children?"
"Enjoy them while you may," answered Rashaverak gently. "They will not be yours for long."
It was advice that might have been given to any parent in any age; but now it contained a threat and a terror it had never held before.
Chapter 19
There came the time when the world of Jeffrey's dreams was no longer sharply divided from his everyday existence. He no longer went to school, and for Jean and George also the routine of life was completely broken, as it was soon to break down throughout the world.
They avoided all their friends, as if already conscious that soon no one would have sympathy to spare for them. Sometimes, in the quietness of the night when there were few people about, they would go for long walks together. They were closer now than they had been since the first days of their marriage, united again in the face of the still unknown tragedy that soon would overwhelm them.
At first it had given them a feeling of guilt to leave the sleeping children alone in the house, but now they realized that Jeff and Jenny could look after themselves in ways beyond the knowledge of their parents. And, of course, the Overlords would be watching too. That thought was reassuring; they felt that they were not alone with their problem, but that wise and sympathetic eyes shared their vigil.
Jennifer slept; there was no other word to describe the state she had entered. To all outward appearances, she was still a baby, but round her now was a sense of latent power so terrifying that Jean could