Enemies of the System by Brian W. Aldiss Read Free Book Online Page A

II. The whole grazer-predator system is human in origin.”
    With his toecap, he rolled the mud-covered tunneler over until it sprawled on its back with its wound visible, one arm stretched across the road, one limp across its chest.
    â€œLook at it, Fererer, and you others. Look and feel pity. See its retractable genitals, its joints, its anatomical structure. It is made what it is by harsh conditioning. It is just a poor savage misfit. This is what it has been reduced to, generation by generation. But its ancestors were our ancestors. They were human, homo sapiens , a poor confused race that blundered around until it found the stars. Same goes for every damned animal we are likely to encounter in this valley. They’re ex-human stock. That’s the danger we have to understand. We are up against—not instinct, but cunning.”
    It was the statement, “Its ancestors were our ancestors,” which provoked the biggest murmur. Sygiek’s voice cut through their comments.
    â€œUtopianist Dulcifer, I hereby give you notice that you will be reported for deviationism on our return to Unity. You waste valuable time, and you discuss Classified information before someone who is not a member of the élite.”
    â€œBut the guide knows ,” exclaimed a ferrous metal analyst called Che Burek. “She knows, she lives here, she’s been indoctrinated.”
    â€œShe is still only a guide, a worker,” said Sygiek. “No offense, Comrade Constanza. Except for Fererer, we did not need reminding that all Lysenkan animals claim descent from the capitalists who crashed here. Of course there are dangers; but the fact that the animals are semi-human will enable us to use the system’s most powerful weapon— reason !”
    Dulcifer uttered a dry laugh and kicked the corpse so that it rolled against the chassis of the bus.
    â€œThat comes well from you, Sygiek! You should know better. You shot this thing.”
    â€œRetract, Sygiek,” called Che Burek.
    â€œEnough. No indulging in personalities,” said Kordan, stepping forward. “More than one of us is capable of making reports. We understand our position, don’t we? The bus log tells us that we are approximately two hundred and fifty kilometers out from the Unity Hotel. Six hours of daylight remain. We have emergency flares and torches and other equipment in the vehicle, also a trolley which will carry supplies. We are now going to march in a body back to the safety of our hotel. The likelihood of attack on the road is remote.”
    Usla Denning, a woman from the Cupran State who was accompanying Che Burek, said, “Such a walk will take us over two E-days, without allowing for rest periods. That means a Lysenkan day and a half. And by the way, I’m one of the System’s leading seasons technicians, and I believe a storm is brewing.”
    â€œWe have made our decision,” said Kordan and Fererer together.
    â€œMay I put forward an alternative, although I am only a worker?” asked Constanza. She was a slight, trim figure, and she regarded them almost with an amused air. “Unity is a stiff uphill march, and I presume none of you is used to walking far. There is a nearer refuge, and it lies downhill. At the Gorge itself is a comfortable restaurant with plenty of restrooms, saunas, and so on, plus a swimming pool in part of the lake especially for your convenience.”
    â€œHow far away is the Gorge?” asked a dozen voices.
    â€œUnder an hour’s LDB travel. Say one hundred and eighty, one hundred and eighty-five kilometers. We shall be safe at the Gorge.”
    They held an impromptu discussion.
    While they were talking, a distant note of a horn was heard.
    â€œA vehicle!” someone exclaimed, and they all ran to look up and down the road. One or two of them climbed on the bus.
    The freeway lay empty in both directions, fading into dun-colored haze. They were completely